Wireless Router MAC Address Correlation for Indoor Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor location systems face reliability issues due to signal blockage and reflection problems in buildings, and they struggle to accurately determine the position of multiple users without GPS, sound, or triangulation.
Innovation Solution
A system using a wireless router to establish a connection with a mobile device, obtaining its MAC address, and correlating it with the user's identity, allowing for location determination without GPS or cell phone signals, and employing passive cellular signal interception to gather unique identifiers for tracking purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless network triangulation is used for indoor location, then location capability is provided, but reliability deteriorates due to signal blockage and reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a wireless router as a mediator between the mobile device and the location determination system. The router establishes a direct wireless connection with the mobile device to obtain its MAC address, serving as an intermediate that provides reliable location data without relying on problematic signal triangulation through building structures.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple antennas and routers are deployed for triangulation, then location coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of location identification from the complex multi-antenna triangulation system. By taking out only the necessary element (a single wireless router with MAC address capability), the system achieves location determination without requiring the complex infrastructure of multiple synchronized antennas and routers.
3Loss of information
If cellular signal interception is used, then user identification is achieved, but harmful factors increase due to signal interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a copying approach by obtaining the MAC address of the mobile device's wireless network interface, which serves as a digital copy or identifier of the device. This MAC address can be stored and used for identification purposes without requiring active interception or manipulation of cellular signals, thereby avoiding signal interference while maintaining identification capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for allowing a mobile device user's location and or identity to be determined. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a method of creating a database comprises providing a first wireless router at a point of sale where a credit card is used in a transaction by a credit card holder, obtaining an identity of the credit card holder during the credit card transaction, establishing a wireless link between the first router and a mobile device carried by the credit card holder, obtaining a Media Access Control (MAC) address associated with the credit card holder's mobile device over the wireless link, correlating the identity of the credit card holder with the MAC address of the credit card holder, and storing the correlated identity and MAC address on a server. In some embodiments, a cellular identifier is obtained rather than a MAC address.