Wireless Access Point Location Determination Without GPS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital telephony devices without integrated GPS systems, such as laptops and desktops, face challenges in determining their location, especially in environments where satellite signals are unavailable, leading to issues with providing accurate location information during emergency calls.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves obtaining location information from other devices within a wireless network, using methods like trilateration and clustering algorithms, where access points' known locations are used to estimate the location of devices without positioning equipment, and prompting users for input when accuracy is insufficient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS positioning systems are integrated into digital telephony devices, then location determination accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless access points as intermediary devices that perform location determination functions. Instead of requiring GPS in each telephony device, the access points act as mediators that calculate device locations using trilateration based on signal strength measurements from multiple access points, thereby externalizing the positioning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service location determination where the network infrastructure (access points and controller) automatically performs positioning calculations without requiring active user participation or additional hardware in the telephony devices. The location is determined autonomously through signal measurements and algorithmic processing.
2Measurement precision
If trilateration and clustering algorithms are used to determine device locations, then location accuracy for devices without GPS is improved, but computational complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the location determination task into distinct segments: access points collect signal strength data, the controller performs trilateration calculations to determine coordinates, and clustering algorithms refine positions by analyzing multiple measurements. This segmentation distributes computational complexity across different system components rather than concentrating it in a single device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by having access points continuously measure and report signal strengths to the controller, which pre-calculates and maintains a database of access point locations and characteristics. This preliminary data collection and processing reduces the computational burden during actual emergency calls, as the heavy lifting is done in advance.
3Reliability
If location information is required for emergency calls, then safety and compliance are improved, but call rejection rates increase when location cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors whether location information can be determined for incoming emergency calls. When location data is unavailable or insufficient, the system provides feedback by prompting the user to move to a different location or provide manual location input, rather than immediately rejecting the call. This iterative feedback loop maintains call completion while ensuring location reliability.
4Measurement precision
If manual configuration of access point locations is required, then location accuracy is improved, but administrative burden and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service location configuration for access points by automatically determining their positions through the same trilateration process used for telephony devices. Access points report their observed signal strengths from neighboring access points, and the controller automatically calculates and stores their coordinates, eliminating the need for manual surveying and configuration by administrators.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosed embodiments process a message by determining location information for a device originating the message. In some aspects, a method includes obtaining location information for each of a first set of stations, receiving, from each station in the first set of stations and a second set of stations, a list identifying access points of the first and second set of stations from which signals have been received by the respective station, receiving a message originating from the originating station, the message received via a first access point (AP) included in the second set of stations, determining a location for the first access point based on the location information for the first set of stations and the received lists, determining a location of the originating station based on the determined location of the first access point, and processing the message based on the determined location of the originating station.