TITLE: Enhancing the geographic location of a mobile device using public, not associated, not authenticated WIFI signalINVENTOR: Philippe LevesqueTECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to determining a geographic location for a mobile device.BACKGROUNDMultiple way exists to determine the geographic location of a mobile device. Using directly internet or by using the cellular network (HSPA, LTE, WiMaX, CDMA). The proposal will add a new way by using public WIFI network anonymously.This will bring new capability like such;
- Having a device without cellular or GPS hardware, the said device will be able to have a basic geographic localization enabled if the device support WIFI. (like for mobile sport device, tracking device, etc..)
- It will greatly enhance geographic localization of a cellular device when only one cellular tower covers the area where the device is standing. Such enhancement will help in urgency call or any other example where the tracking become a priority.
- It would enhance GPS device that can be affected by line of sigh obstacle for geographic localization.
All the proposed change inside this document is backward compatible with actual device to allow an easy implantation.SUMMARYMethods and program’s product are described. WIFI usage as grown enormously globally. According to IEEE 802.11, the protocol use beacon frame periodically to advertising each accessible Access Point (AP). Each device in the range of the signal can receive and use the beacon frame for whatever purpose they need it.The new method will use a new Vendor Specific Tag fields inside that communication (Vendor Specific (221)). The fields will carry the geographic location of the access-point. The use of that field will allow a mobile device to be able to get its location even if he’s not associated with the said access-point.The mobile device need to be aware of that new field to be able to use it, but if unaware, vendor tag got ignored by the mobile device. The mobile device will use standard trigonometry method to locate itself more precisely if more than one access-point is in range by using technic with the signal strength.To prevent over usage of those public access-point, filtering can be easily implanted in the Access-Point and the mobile device should cache the data. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSA more detailed understanding may be had from the following description, given by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:FIG 1: is a process for detecting, locating or tracking a mobile device using emitted or transmitted signals.FIG 2: A example with a mobile device in a neighbourhood.Access-Point 100 got a geographic localization of: Latitude: 48.2398 & Longitude: -79.0278Access-Point 200 got a geographic localization of: Latitude:48.239778 & Longitude: -79.027405Access-Point 300 got a geographic localization of: Latitude:48.239752 & Longitude: -79.027210The mobile device capture three times radio in range.Capture 1: The mobile device captures the first geographic localization with the beacon message from Access-Point 100: 48.2398, -79.0278. This is the start of the geo localization of the mobile device.Capture 2: The mobile device captures the second geographic localization with the beacon message from Access-Point 200: 48.239778, -79.027405, and can see the beacon message from the Access=Point 300: 48.239752, -79.027210. The second capture allow the mobile device to draw a route from the first geographic location and because it capture another signal in range, the mobile device can approximate the route more toward the capture 3.Capture 3: The mobile device captures the third geographic localization with the beacon message from Access-Point 300: 48.239752, -79.027210. This capture is the end of the route for the mobile device.A drawing of the route took can be made by the device, if necessary, and the time of when the three captures was done can make the device approximate the route steps took in time.CLAIMWhat is claimed is:
- A method of geolocating a device using public wireless network, the method comprising of;
- An WIFI access-point unit that is modified to know is geographic location (latitude, longitude) and that is programmed to publicly send the said location with it’s public discovery message.
- A mobile device able to discover WIFI channel and able to cache the new geographic location the access-point send.
- The method step comprising of;
- The mobile device discovers WIFI channel in range (IEEE 802.11) by accepting beacon message, passively, or with a NULL probe for a pull request. (need reference) As the new geo localization tag is included in that step, the mobile device would cache the data.
- The mobile device will detect the signal strength of each said communication network.
- The mobile device will try to use triangulation if possible to calculate a more accurate position. If impossible, it will use the signal strength between WIFI channel in range and the said device will calculate an approximately location.
CITATIONSReferences1Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) Protocol Binding for IEEE 802.11 (https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5416)
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