Wireless Network Location Determination Without GPS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital telephony devices without integrated GPS positioning systems, such as laptops and desktops, face challenges in determining their location, especially when making emergency calls, as they cannot provide precise location information, which is often required by emergency services.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves obtaining location information for originating stations in a wireless network by using the known location of access points and signal strength from other devices, with techniques like trilateration and clustering to estimate the location of devices lacking positioning equipment, and prompting users for input if accuracy thresholds are not met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS positioning systems are integrated into digital telephony devices, then location information can be obtained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses access points as intermediary devices to determine the location of telephony devices. Instead of requiring GPS in each telephony device, the system employs access points with known locations and signal strength measurements as mediators to calculate the position of calling devices through trilateration or clustering algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/GPS-based positioning system with a signal-based positioning system. Instead of using satellite signals and GPS receivers, the system uses wireless signal strength measurements from access points to determine location, substituting one technical approach with another that avoids adding hardware to telephony devices.
2Reliability
If location determination methods are implemented for devices without GPS, then emergency call requirements can be met, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having access points automatically perform location determination for telephony devices. The access points measure signal strengths, apply clustering algorithms or trilateration calculations, and provide location information without requiring manual configuration or complex processing at the telephony device end.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by pre-configuring access point locations and maintaining updated visibility lists of accessible access points. This preparatory work enables rapid location determination during emergency calls without requiring complex real-time processing when the emergency call is placed.
3Measurement precision
If signal strength measurements from multiple access points are used, then location accuracy improves, but measurement and processing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using a limited set of visible access points for location determination rather than requiring measurements from all possible access points. The system identifies and uses only those access points that are currently visible and accessible to the telephony device, reducing measurement complexity while maintaining sufficient accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by maintaining visibility lists that replicate information about accessible access points. These visibility lists contain pre-collected information about which access points are visible from different locations, allowing the system to quickly determine location without performing complex real-time measurements of all possible access points.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables the inclusion of location information in emergency calls, even from devices without GPS, ensuring compliance with emergency call requirements and reducing configuration burdens for wireless networks by approximating locations based on visible access points and signal strengths.
Implementation Method 1
signal strength from other devices, with techniques like trilateration and clustering to estimate the location
Data Source
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AI summary
In some embodiments, a location of a mobile terminal is determined by obtaining a location of a first access point (AP), receiving a visibility indication indicating that a second AP received a signal from the first AP or the first AP received a signal from the second AP, determining a location of the second AP based on the received visibility indication and the location of the first AP, determining a location of the mobile terminal in communication with the second AP based on the determined location of the second AP, and transmitting a message indicating the location of the mobile terminal on a digital communication network.