Mobile Device Identification via Dual Wi-Fi Fingerprints
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile device identification methods, particularly in indoor environments, face challenges with accuracy due to signal blockage and multipath issues, and existing techniques rely heavily on GPS, which may not be effective indoors, and struggle with associating data from mobile devices to identifiers when data travels through different paths.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the generation of first and second mobile device fingerprints using distinct fingerprint generating processes, with the first fingerprint associated with an identifier and the second with a MAC address, allowing for accurate identification and data association, even when data traverses different communication paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS is used for mobile device positioning, then outdoor positioning accuracy is improved, but indoor positioning accuracy deteriorates due to signal blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Wi-Fi access points as intermediary devices to enable indoor positioning. Instead of relying directly on GPS satellites which are blocked indoors, the system uses locally available Wi-Fi infrastructure as a mediator to determine device position through fingerprinting techniques that match observed Wi-Fi signal characteristics against pre-collected indoor maps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the GPS satellite-based electromagnetic positioning system with a Wi-Fi-based positioning system for indoor environments. This substitution involves using Wi-Fi fingerprinting (comparing signal strength patterns from multiple access points) instead of satellite triangulation, thereby adapting the positioning mechanism to work within indoor signal conditions.
2Measurement precision
If Wi-Fi fingerprinting is used for indoor positioning, then indoor positioning accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple fingerprint generating processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the Wi-Fi positioning system into two distinct fingerprint generating processes: a first process that creates fingerprints based on Wi-Fi signal characteristics for location identification, and a second process that creates fingerprints based on device identifiers for device recognition. This segmentation allows each process to specialize in its specific function, improving overall system accuracy while organizing complexity into manageable, separate modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal fingerprinting framework where the same basic Wi-Fi scanning and data collection mechanism serves multiple purposes: generating location-based fingerprints for positioning and generating device-based fingerprints for identification. This multi-functionality reduces redundant code and infrastructure while maintaining the benefits of specialized processing paths.
3Adaptability or versatility
If data association is performed across different communication paths, then data tracking capability is improved, but association accuracy deteriorates due to path variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates copies of device fingerprints through different communication paths (e.g., Wi-Fi direct communication versus cellular network communication) and uses these fingerprint copies to associate data across paths. By generating and comparing fingerprint representations of the same device through multiple channels, the system can track devices across different networks while verifying identity through fingerprint matching, thereby maintaining association accuracy despite path variations.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, computer program products, and systems are presented. The method computer program products, and systems can include, for instance: generating a first mobile device fingerprint of a mobile device and associating the first mobile device fingerprint to an identifier, and generating a second mobile device fingerprint of the mobile device and associating the second mobile device fingerprint to a MAC address of a mobile device. The methods, computer program products, and systems can include, for instance: receiving a first mobile device fingerprint of a mobile device and an identifier associated to the first mobile device fingerprint; receiving a second mobile device fingerprint of the mobile device and a MAC address associated to the second mobile device fingerprint; and associating received data received from the mobile device to the identifier.