Method and apparatus for determining a location of a network device in a wireless network

摘要

In a wireless network, a first access point includes a transmitter to transmit a first frame to a first device and a receiver to receive a second frame from the first device. The first and second frames are also received by second and third devices, which are separated from the first access point by predetermined distances. A timing module generates timing information including times of departure and arrival of the first and second frames at the first access point. At the first access point, a feedback module receives feedback information from the second and third devices including times of arrival of the first and second frames at the second and third devices, and a location determining module determines a location of the first device based on the timing and feedback information and predetermined locations of the first access point and the second and third devices in the wireless network.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a transmitter configured to
transmit a first frame from a first access point on a predetermined frequency channel of a wireless network during a predetermined time slot to determine a location of a first device in the wireless network,wherein the first frame is received by the first device, a second device, and a third device in the wireless network, andwherein the first access point, the second device, and the third device (i) are separated from each other by predetermined distances, (ii) are located at predetermined locations in the wireless network, and (iii) are configured to communicate on the predetermined frequency channel during the predetermined time slot; a receiver configured to receive, in response to the transmitter transmitting the first frame, a second frame at the first access point from the first device on the predetermined frequency channel during the predetermined time slot, wherein the second frame is also received by the second device and the third device; a timing module configured to generate timing information including (i) a time of departure of the first frame from the first access point, and (ii) a time of arrival of the second frame at the first access point; a feedback module configured to receive feedback information at the first access point from the second device and the third device including times of arrival of the first frame and the second frame at the second device and the third device; and a location determining module configured to determine, at the first access point, the location of the first device based on (i) the timing information; (ii) the feedback information; and (iii) the predetermined locations of the first access point, the second device, and the third device.