Wireless Access Point Location Data Broadcasting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining a client device's location in wireless networks are unreliable due to dependence on high-quality signals and specialized hardware, and often require establishing a connection to a single access point, limiting the ability to calculate precise locations from multiple sources.
Innovation Solution
Wireless access points broadcast location data in control messages or announcement transmissions, allowing client devices to determine their location without establishing a connection, by segmenting location data into multiple information elements with indicators of the number and order of elements, enabling location calculation from multiple sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional location determination methods using GPS or signal strength monitoring are employed, then location information can be obtained, but the methods require specialized hardware, high-quality signals, or connection establishment which limits reliability and precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts location data from existing wireless network control messages and announcement transmissions that are already being broadcast by access points. Instead of requiring specialized GPS hardware or additional dedicated location systems, the invention utilizes existing communication infrastructure to carry location information, thereby eliminating the need for specialized location-determining hardware while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes wireless control messages and announcement transmissions serve multiple functions: they simultaneously maintain network communication and convey location data. By encoding location information in existing message structures, the system achieves multi-functionality where the same communication channel provides both network management and location determination services, reducing hardware complexity while improving reliability.
2Measurement precision
If location data is transmitted in a single information element, then the structure is simple, but the data capacity is limited and cannot accommodate segmented location information from multiple sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments location data into multiple information elements, each containing a portion of the location information or location data from different access points. Each information element is assigned an order indicator to maintain proper sequence during reassembly. This segmentation allows the system to aggregate location data from multiple sources, improving location calculation precision while managing data structure complexity through systematic organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests multiple information elements within a unified data structure that includes metadata about the number of elements and their ordering. This nested structure allows the receiver to properly reconstruct the complete location data by processing elements in the correct sequence, enabling precise location calculation from segmented information while maintaining manageable structural complexity through hierarchical organization.
3Measurement precision
If client devices establish connections to access points to determine location, then location data can be obtained, but the ability to calculate locations from multiple sources is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts location data from publicly broadcast control messages and announcement transmissions that are accessible to any device within range, without requiring established connections. This extraction approach allows client devices to collect location information from multiple access points simultaneously, improving location calculation precision by utilizing multiple sources while maintaining ease of operation by eliminating connection requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless access point in a wireless network that may be adapted to transmit data indicating its location. The location data may be embedded in a control message or announcement transmission transmitted by the wireless access point, or other message conventionally used to broadcast network characteristics necessary for a client device to establish a connection to the wireless access point. Layer 2 control messages, including beacons and probe responses, may be used to transmit location data. Wireless access points and client devices may receive these control message, and therefore the location data broadcast by the wireless access point, without establishing a connection to the client device. Devices receiving the location data may use the received location data to determine their own locations, and may provide the determined locations to consumers of location data.