TTL Encoding for Wireless Access Point Location Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Location-based services often return incorrect location data due to stale information associated with nomadic wireless access points, which can lead to persistent errors in determining device locations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating time-to-live (TTL) information into publicly broadcast access point information, allowing network administrators to indicate the freshness of location data, and using this information to determine whether to store or update location data in a database, thereby reducing incorrect location determinations and enhancing privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If location data from wireless access points is stored without freshness indicators, then location-based services can operate quickly and efficiently, but incorrect location data may be returned due to stale information from nomadic access points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating time-to-live (TTL) information directly into the access point data structure before it is stored or transmitted. This pre-established freshness indicator allows the system to automatically filter out stale location data without requiring complex verification processes at query time, thus improving reliability while maintaining efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The TTL field acts as an intermediary element between the access point data and the location determination system. This intermediate freshness indicator mediates the interaction by providing a simple mechanism to assess data validity, eliminating the need for complex data verification algorithms while ensuring only fresh location data is used for service determination.
2Loss of information
If time-to-live information is added to access point data, then freshness of location data can be controlled and privacy can be enhanced, but the complexity of data structure and transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adding a single integer field (TTL) to the existing access point data structure. This minimal parameter addition provides robust freshness control and privacy capabilities without fundamentally altering the data structure complexity. The TTL value can be set to various states (including zero to indicate no storage) to control data lifecycle, achieving information loss prevention with minimal structural overhead.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If location data from nomadic access points is stored indefinitely, then historical location information is available, but persistent errors are returned based on incorrect or stale location data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing time-sensitive data retention through the TTL mechanism. Instead of static indefinite storage, the system dynamically manages data retention based on freshness indicators. Location data from nomadic access points is automatically expired after its TTL period, allowing the system to adapt retention behavior to data reliability rather than maintaining fixed retention policies that compromise accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to relating time-to-live information with location data for wireless network access points. A freshness component determines a value associated with a freshness of location data for an access point. An encoding component encodes the value into a time-to-live information element included publicly broadcast access point information, and a transmitter transmits the publicly broadcast access point information. The publicly broadcast access point information includes at least one of a beacon frame or probe response. Additionally, by providing a value satisfying a non-inclusion threshold for the time-to-live information, emitters or network administrations may use time-to-live information to indicate that they do not wish to have location data for an access point stored.