TECHNIQUES FOR WIRELESS POSITION DETERMINATION UTILIZING A COLLABORATIVE DATABASE

摘要

In one embodiment, a technique is provided for wireless position determination wherein a wireless computing device both consumes and provides geographic locations for Wi-Fi access points to a collaborative database. The wireless computing device receives signals from one or more first Wi-Fi access points. Using the collaborative database, a geographic location of each of the one or more first Wi-Fi access points is determined and a position of the wireless computing device is estimated. The wireless computing device may receive signals from one or more second Wi-Fi access points. A Wi-Fi access point of the one or more second Wi-Fi access points may be determined to be a new Wi-Fi access point whose geographic location is not contained in the collaborative database and the wireless computing device may update the collaborative database based, at least in part, on one or more positions of the wireless computing device.

主权项

1. A method of wireless position determination utilizing a collaborative database comprising:
receiving, by a receiver unit of a wireless computing device, signals from one or more first Wi-Fi access points in reception range of the wireless computing device and determining therefrom a unique or semi-unique identification of each first Wi-Fi access point; determining from the collaborative database a geographic location of each of the one or more first Wi-Fi access points based on the unique or semi-unique identification of each first Wi-Fi access point; estimating, by a wireless positioning system, a position of the wireless computing device based on the geographic location of the one or more first Wi-Fi access points; receiving, by the receiver unit of the wireless computing device, signals from one or more second Wi-Fi access points in reception range of the wireless computing device, and determining therefrom a unique or semi-unique identification of each second Wi-Fi access point; determining that a Wi-Fi access point of the one or more second Wi-Fi access points is a new Wi-Fi access point whose geographic location is not contained in the collaborative database; and updating the collaborative database to include the geographic location of the new Wi-Fi access point based, at least in part, on one or more positions of the wireless computing device, such that the wireless computing device both consumes and provides geographic locations for Wi-Fi access points to the collaborative database.