WiFi AP Controller Location Services via SUPL and MSE
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional WiFi location techniques are limited to a single venue and do not scale across different locations, as they rely on local access point controllers and lack cross-network or cross-venue location-based services.
Innovation Solution
A method and equipment that enable WiFi-based location determination by accessing an access point to WiFi controller mapping database, allowing queries to multiple WiFi controllers to determine the location of a mobile device across venues, utilizing Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) protocols and mobility services engines (MSE) to provide accurate positioning across networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional WiFi location techniques are used with local access point controllers, then location determination works well within a single venue, but the system does not scale across multiple venues or networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a location server as an intermediary component that receives location requests from mobile devices, queries multiple access point controllers across different venues using MAC addresses, and returns consolidated location information. This mediator enables cross-venue location capability without requiring each local controller to independently handle all venues, thus scaling the system while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The location server provides universal location determination functionality that works across multiple venues and networks. Instead of each access point controller being limited to its local venue, the universal location server can query any controller in the network using the device's MAC address, enabling multi-venue location services through a single unified system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple access point controllers are queried across different venues, then cross-network location services are enabled, but the system complexity and query overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The location server acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of querying multiple access point controllers. It receives a single location request, automatically determines which controllers to query based on the device's MAC address and stored mappings, and coordinates the queries. This centralizes the complexity management and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining a database that maps MAC addresses to access point controller identities before location queries are needed. When a location request arrives, the location server can quickly determine which controllers to query without real-time discovery, reducing query overhead and system complexity during actual location determination.
3Measurement precision
If only the MAC address is known to access point controllers, then local position locating works well, but WiFi positioning cannot be made available to network-wide location based services
Solution Approach 1:
The location server serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between local MAC address-based positioning and network-wide services. It receives the device's MAC address, queries the appropriate access point controllers that have precise local location data, and returns the location information. This enables network-wide location services while preserving the accuracy of local MAC address-based positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the location determination function: access point controllers handle precise local position locating using MAC addresses within their local venues, while the location server handles network-wide service coordination by routing requests to the appropriate controllers. This segmentation maintains local positioning accuracy while enabling network-wide service availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A WiFi Access Point (AP) controller with location capabilities (e.g., an MSE) provides location to a SUPL location server platform (SLP), for response to a network location request. WiFi AP controllers are enabled to communicate with the SLP. WiFi location measurements are transferred via SUPL to the SUPL location server. An AP to WiFi AP controller mapping database provides an association of a WiFi AP controller list to the access points (AP) they manage. The AP to WiFi controller mapping database, together with SUPL messaging between a SUPL location server and the AP controllers, provides WiFi-determined precise location across networks from the SLP. A specific MSE is identified by the AP to WiFi controller mapping database, and queried, by the SLP for WiFi based positioning of mobile devices. In other embodiments a plurality of MSE's are identified, and queried, and a WiFi location is received from at least one.