阅读说明：本技术 固定/便携式设备的位置确定 (Position determination for fixed/portable devices ) 是由 A·A·哈桑 于 2018-10-29 设计创作，主要内容包括：与在接入点的覆盖区域中操作的移动设备相关联的位置数据和信号参数被用于确定接入点的位置。位置数据可以包括设备位置和与设备位置的准确度相关联的质量指示。信号参数可以包括在每个设备和接入点之间传输的信号的强度。可以使用设备位置以及根据合适的信号参数确定的接入点与每个移动设备之间的距离来确定接入点位置。质量指示可以用于选择提供良好的接入点位置准确度的设备位置集合。随着时间的推移,可以基于从不同移动设备接收到的位置数据和信号参数来更新接入点位置,以提高准确度。(Location data and signal parameters associated with mobile devices operating in a coverage area of an access point are used to determine a location of the access point. The location data may include a device location and a quality indication associated with an accuracy of the device location. The signal parameters may include the strength of the signal transmitted between each device and the access point. The access point location may be determined using the device location and the distance between the access point and each mobile device determined from the appropriate signal parameters. The quality indication may be used to select a set of device locations that provide good accuracy of access point location. Over time, access point locations may be updated based on location data and signal parameters received from different mobile devices to improve accuracy.)

1. An access point, comprising:

a receiver;

one or more processors coupled to the receiver; and the number of the first and second groups,

memory in communication with the one or more processors, the memory comprising code executable by the one or more processors to control the access point to:

receiving, at the receiver, a plurality of device locations and a plurality of quality indications from a plurality of mobile devices operating in a coverage area of the access point, wherein each of the plurality of quality indications corresponds to one of the plurality of device locations;

determining a set of device locations from the plurality of device locations based at least on the plurality of quality indications; and

determining a location of the access point based at least on the set of device locations.

2. The access point of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of device locations comprises a positioning system location and a corresponding one of the plurality of quality indications comprises an indication of an accuracy of the positioning system location.

3. The access point of claim 2, wherein the indication of the accuracy of the positioning system position comprises data associated with a signal used to determine the positioning system position.

4. The access point of claim 2, wherein the indication of the accuracy of the positioning system position comprises a level of the accuracy of the positioning system position.

5. The access point of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the one or more processors to control the access point to update the location of the access point by repeating: the receiving the plurality of device locations and the plurality of quality indications, the determining the set of device locations, and the determining the location of the access point.

6. The access point of claim 1, wherein the plurality of mobile devices are configured to automatically transmit the plurality of device locations and the plurality of quality indications to the access point, and the code is further executable by the one or more processors to control the access point to identify the plurality of device locations and the plurality of quality indications received from the plurality of mobile devices as location data for use in determining the location of the access point.

7. The access point of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the one or more processors to control the access point to send a request for device location to each of the plurality of mobile devices.

8. The access point of claim 1, wherein a plurality of mobile devices comprises a first plurality of mobile devices, the plurality of device locations and the plurality of quality indications comprise a first plurality of device locations and a first plurality of quality indications, the set of device locations comprises a first set of device locations, the location of the access point comprises a first location of the access point, and the code is further executable by the one or more processors to control the access point to:

receiving, at the receiver, a second plurality of device locations and a second plurality of quality indications from a second plurality of mobile devices operating in the coverage area of the access point, wherein each quality indication of the second plurality of quality indications corresponds to one device location of the second plurality of device locations;

determining a second set of device locations from the first plurality of device locations and the second plurality of device locations based on first location quality information and second location quality information; and

determining a second location of the access point based on the second set of device locations.

9. The access point of claim 8, wherein the first plurality of mobile devices comprises mobile devices operating in the coverage area of the access point during a first time period, and the second plurality of mobile devices comprises mobile devices operating in the coverage area of the access point during a second time period different from the first time period.

Background

In both private and public locations, it has become common to use wireless local area networks (W L AN) to enable wireless communications for mobile devices network administrators typically implement W L AN. by placing access points in locations that can provide wireless coverage in a desired area, which may include fixed/portable access points.

Disclosure of Invention

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to exclusively identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, methods, and apparatuses for determining a location of an access point in a wireless network. Embodiments utilize location data and signal parameters associated with one or more mobile devices operating in a coverage area of a particular access point to determine a location of the particular access point. In one implementation, the location data may include a device location of one or more mobile devices, and a quality indication associated with an accuracy of the device location. The signal parameters may include a signal strength of at least one signal transmitted between each mobile device and the access point. The location of the access point may be determined by determining a distance between the access point and each device location based on suitable signal parameters and determining the location of the access point based on the device location. The quality indication may be used to select a set of device locations from the received device locations that provides a desired accuracy for determining the location of the access point. Over time, as mobile devices enter, move within, and leave the coverage area of an access point, the determination of the access point location may be updated based on the device locations, quality indications, and signal parameters received from a plurality of different mobile devices. This update provides a larger sample of location data for determining the location of the access point and allows a higher level of accuracy to be obtained.

One implementation includes an access point in a wireless network that determines its own location based on information received from mobile devices operating within its coverage area. The access point receives location data including a device location and a quality indication from each of one or more mobile devices operating in a coverage area of the access point, determines a signal parameter for each of the one or more mobile devices, and determines a location of the access point based on the location data and the signal parameter for each of the one or more mobile devices. The access point may request location data by sending a location data request to one or more mobile devices. Alternatively, one or more mobile devices may be self-triggered to send location data to an access point. The quality indications included in the location data received from the mobile device may be used to determine a most accurate set of device locations used to determine the location of the access point to provide greater accuracy. The signal parameter may be a signal strength level associated with a signal transmitted between each mobile device and the access point. The access point may also provide its determined location to a server that maintains a database of access point locations for the wireless network.

Another implementation includes a server for determining a location of an access point in a wireless network based on information received from a mobile device operating in the network. The server may receive location data from each of one or more mobile devices operating in a coverage area of an access point of a wireless network. The server may determine a location of each access point based on location data received from the mobile device and signal parameters associated with the mobile device. The server may request location data by initiating transmission of a location data request to one or more mobile devices. Alternatively, one or more mobile devices may trigger themselves to send location data to the server. The location data may include a device location and a quality indication associated with an accuracy of the device location. The quality indication may be used to select the most accurate set of device locations to provide greater accuracy in determining the location of the access point. The signal parameter may be a signal strength level associated with a signal transmitted between each mobile device and the access point. The server may generate a network access point map based on the determined access point locations. Over time, the server may repeat the determination of the location of the access point as the mobile device enters the coverage area of the access point, moves within the coverage area of the access point, and leaves the coverage area of the access point to update the network access point map.

Further implementations include a mobile device configured to provide location data to a wireless network, the location data including a device location and a quality indication associated with an accuracy of the device location. The mobile device may also be configured to provide a signal parameter to the wireless network, the signal parameter indicating a signal strength of a signal received at the mobile device from one or more access points of the network. In an example, the location data and signal parameters can be provided by the mobile device to an access point with which the mobile device communicates. The access point may then utilize the location data and the signal parameters in determining the location of the access point. In another example, the location data and signal parameters may be provided by the mobile device to a server in communication with the wireless network. The server may then use the location data and the signal parameters to determine the location of one or more access points in the network. The mobile device may be configured to provide location data and/or signal parameters to the network upon receipt of a location data request, or automatically upon the occurrence of a triggering event.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example network having devices configured to operate in accordance with implementations of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating portions of an example access point;

fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating operations performed by an example access point;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating portions of an example mobile device;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations performed by an example mobile device;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating portions of an example server;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operations performed by an example server;

FIG. 8A is a simplified block diagram illustrating an example mobile device;

fig. 8B is a simplified block diagram illustrating an example access point; and the number of the first and second electrodes,

FIG. 8C is a simplified block diagram illustrating an example server.

Detailed description of the invention

The system, method and apparatus will now be described using example embodiments. Example embodiments are presented in this disclosure for illustrative purposes and are not intended to restrict or limit the scope of the disclosure or claims presented herein.

In addition, even if GPS functionality is implemented in the access points, the access points may be prevented from receiving GPS signals due to the walls and ceilings of the facility in which the access points are located.

If the location of one or more access points of the W L AN are used to determine the location of a mobile device operating in the W L AN, the accuracy of the determined location of the mobile device will be affected by any inaccuracies in the location of the one or more access points.

In the above cases, implementations of the present disclosure may be advantageously used. Embodiments utilize location data received from mobile devices operating in a coverage area of an access point to determine a location of the access point. The access point does not require GPS functionality. The location data received from each mobile device advantageously includes a device location and a quality indication associated with the accuracy of the device location. In environments where mobile devices may have varying capabilities to provide accurate device locations, the quality indication allows for selection of a set of best available device locations for use in determining the location of the access point. These implementations also advantageously utilize a process to update the determined locations of the access points. The updating may be performed by collecting device locations and associated quality indications from the mobile device over time so that an updated location of the access point can be determined from a large sample of the device locations and quality indications. This update can be performed as the mobile device moves into and out of the coverage area of the access point to provide a diverse set of device locations and associated quality indications. The quality indication may be utilized in the update process to select a set of optimal device locations from a diverse set of device locations for use in each update. This may allow a more accurate determination of the location of the access point when the update is repeated.

Although implementations disclosed herein are described in connection with examples using a W L AN, these implementations are applicable to any type of wireless network/system that utilizes any type of device as AN access point to provide wireless mobile devices access to the network/system through a network interface, as used in this disclosure and claims, the term access point is used generically and is intended to include any type of device that serves as AN access point to the network/system, such as a Wi-Fi access point, a base station, a micro base station, a cellular base station, a transmitter station, or any other type of device/device that provides wireless device access to the network through a communication interface.

Network 100 includes W L AN and server 130, where W L AN includes access points AP1, AP2, AP3, and AP4. Server 130 includes access point location database 132. Mobile devices 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, and 122 may move within the coverage area of network 100 while communicating with server 130 over data links 122, 124, 126, and 128, respectively, through access points AP1-AP 4. data links 122-128 may also provide connections for access points AP1-AP4, respectively, to the infrastructure of network 100 that allow mobile device 102 to access the corporate network and/or the Internet 122. Server 130 may be implemented as any type of computing device and may be located in the infrastructure of network 100 or remotely.

The network 100 may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of various IEEE 802Wi-Fi standards, for example, the access point AP1-AP4 and the mobile device 102-122 may operate in accordance with one or more IEEE 802.11Wi-Fi standards, moreover, the mobile device 102-122 may be a multi-mode device capable of operating in a Wi-Fi mode using Wi-Fi to communicate with the network 100 and also capable of operating in a cellular mode using a cellular protocol to communicate with the cellular network, for example, the mobile device 102-122 may operate in accordance with a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) cellular system protocol, a Long term evolution (L TE) cellular system protocol, a 5G protocol, or any other cellular protocol.

In fig. 1, mobile devices 102, 104, and 106 are within and communicate with the coverage area of access point AP1, mobile devices 108, 110, and 112 are within and communicate with the coverage area of access point AP2, mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120 are within and communicate with the coverage area of access point AP3, and mobile device 122 is within and communicate with the coverage area of access point AP 4. Each mobile device communicates with the access point using an uplink and a downlink. For example, the mobile device 102 is shown receiving communications from the access point AP1 over the downlink a1 and transmitting communications to the access point AP1 over the uplink a 2. In an example configuration of network 100, the uplink and downlink used by mobile devices to communicate with a particular access point may be implemented on shared frequency channels. For example, the mobile devices 102, 104, and 106 may transmit communications to the access point AP1 over uplinks al, bl, and cl, respectively, on a Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) channel of the same frequency, and receive communications from the access point AP1 over downlinks a2, b2, and c2, respectively, on a shared data channel of the same frequency, respectively. Other access points and mobile devices in system 100 may function similarly.

In other configurations of network 100, the uplink and downlink channels used by different mobile devices to communicate with a particular access point may be implemented on different frequencies. In this case, two mobile devices, each communicating with the same access point, may send and receive communications on different frequency channels. In other implementations, the mobile device can communicate with the access point using any assigned frequency channel in accordance with a particular wireless standard that defines network operation.

In an implementation of the network 100, each of the access points AP1-AP4 may be configured with a location determination application. Moreover, each mobile device 102 and 122 may be configured with a mobile locator application that interacts with a location determination application. The access points AP1-AP4 and the mobile device 102-122 may operate in accordance with the 802.11Wi-Fi standard and may use Wi-Fi action frames to enable messaging/signaling between the mobile locator application and the position determination application. Each access point AP1-AP4 may request and receive location data from one or more mobile devices 102 and 122. The location data may include a device location and a quality indication associated with the device location. Each access point AP1-AP4 may then determine its own location based on the mobile device location data it receives. In another example, each mobile device 102-122 may be configured to automatically transmit device location data to access points AP1-AP4 as the mobile devices 102-122 move throughout the network 100. Each access point AP1-AP4 may then determine its own location using the automatically transmitted device location data received from the various mobile devices 102 and 122.

A location determination application and a mobile locator application may be installed on each access point and mobile device by a network administrator. For example, network 100 may be a corporate/organization network, where access points AP1-AP4 and mobile device 102-122 are owned by the corporation/organization. In this case, the network administrator may install a location determination application on each access point and a mobile locator application on each mobile device on behalf of a company/organization. In another example, the network 100 may be a corporate/organization network, where the access points AP1-AP4 are owned by the corporation/organization, but the mobile devices 102 and 122 are each owned by a private person, such as an employee or student. In this case, a network administrator may install a location determination application on each access point, and the owner of the mobile device may allow the associated mobile locator application to be installed on their mobile device voluntarily. In another example, the mobile devices 102, 122 of the network 100 may comprise a hybrid of mobile devices, where only some of the mobile devices in the network 100 at a time are configured with a mobile locator application capable of communicating with the location determination applications in the access points AP1-AP 4. In this case, the location determination application on the access points AP1-AP4 may be configured to receive capability/compatibility information from an associated mobile locator application on the one of the mobile devices 102 and 120 that is equipped with the mobile locator application. For example, the capability/compatibility information may be requested by an access point polling procedure or may be received in a registration procedure when the mobile device first enters the coverage area of the access point. The access points AP1-AP4 will then know which mobile devices 102 and 120 are available for location determination.

In an alternative implementation of the network 100, the location determination application may be configured on the server 130 instead of on the access points AP1-AP 4. In this case, the server 130 may receive location data and signal parameters associated with one or more of the access points AP1-AP4 from one or more of the mobile devices 102 and 122. The location data may include a device location and a quality indication associated with the device location. The server 130 may then determine the location of one or more of the access points AP1-AP4 based on the location data and the signal parameters.

Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating portions of an example access point. Fig. 2 shows an example configuration of the access point AP 3. Any of the other access points, AP1, AP2, and AP4, shown in the network 100 of fig. 1 may also be configured as shown in fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows a portion of the access point AP3 including a mobile device location data processor 214, a signal strength level determiner 208, a location data request generator 202, a mobile device selector 204, a location determination timer 206, an access point location determiner 210, a device location/quality indication database 212, and a transceiver 216. The transceiver 216 provides communication with mobile devices via the uplink/downlink 128. The portions of the access point AP3 shown in fig. 2 may be implemented in any type of hardware (including processors and/or circuitry) or any type of software, or in any combination of hardware and software. One or more of the blocks shown in fig. 2 may be implemented in a location determination application deployed on the access point AP 3. In operation, the access point AP3 operates in conjunction with mobile devices that each is configured with an associated mobile locator application that interacts with various portions of the access point AP3 shown in fig. 2. In one implementation, messaging/signaling between the mobile locator application and the position determination application may be implemented using Wi-Fi action frames. The operations performed by the access point AP3 of fig. 2 will be further described in conjunction with fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating operations performed by an example access point to determine its location. Fig. 3 may be explained using the example of the access point AP3 of fig. 1 and 2. An example will be given in which each of the mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120 operating in the coverage area of access point AP3 of fig. 1 is configured with a mobile locator application compatible with the position determination application configured in access point AP 3.

The process begins at 302 where the access point AP3 initiates a position determination process. The initiation of the location determination procedure may be triggered by an update timer configured in the location determination timer 206. The update timer may generate an update trigger signal that causes the access point AP3 to initiate a position determination procedure to determine an initial position or update a previously determined position. For example, the update timer may be configured to generate the update trigger signal periodically, e.g., weekly or based on a different time period, such that the determined location of the access point AP3 is periodically updated. Alternatively, the sending of an update trigger signal to the access point AP3 to trigger the initiation of the location determination procedure may be initiated by the network operator at 302. This may be performed whenever the network operator finds it suitable to update the determined location of the access point AP 3. In one implementation, the ability of the network operator to trigger the location determination process may be implemented in conjunction with the use of the location determination timer 206, such that location determination may be triggered by the network operator or an update timer.

At 304, in response to initiation of the location determination process, the access point AP3 selects a mobile device and sends a location data request to the selected mobile device. The mobile device selector 204 may receive the update trigger signal generated at 302 and select the mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120 in response to the update trigger signal. The selection of mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120 can be based on each mobile device being configured with a mobile locator application that is compatible with the location determination application in access point AP 3. In one implementation, when mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120 enter the coverage area of access point AP3, access point AP3 may use a capability registration procedure or a query/response procedure to determine that these devices have installed compatible mobile locator applications. The identification of the mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120 may then be stored in the database of the mobile device selector 204 for selection performed at operation 304.

The mobile device selector 204 provides an indication of the identity of the selected mobile device 114, 116, 118, and 120 to the location request generator 202. In response to receiving the identity from the mobile device selector 204, the location request generator 202 initiates transmission of a location data request from the transceiver 216 on the appropriate downlink of the uplinks/downlinks 218 to each of the mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120.

At 306, access point AP3 receives a response to the request for location data sent at 304. the response includes location data for each of the mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120. the location data includes a device location and a quality indication related to the device location accuracy the device location and quality indication may be associated in access point AP3 with the MAC ID of the mobile device from which the device location and quality indication was received. the response may be received at transceiver 216 on a suitable uplink of uplink/downlink 218 and provided to mobile device location data processor 214. the device location may take the form of global system positioning system (GPS) coordinates, such as in degree, minute, second (DMS) or decimal (DD) format.

Where the mobile device is unable to determine its location, its response to the location data request at 306 may include an indication that the signal strength of the GPS signals on the mobile device is insufficient to determine its location, or that no GPS signals have been received on the mobile device.

At 308, the access point AP3 selects a set of device locations for determining the location of the access point AP 3. The mobile device location data processor 214 may include the device location received at 306 in the selected device location set. Also, in the previous iteration of the process of fig. 3 in the selection of the set of device locations, mobile device location data processor 214 may include the device locations received at 306 from the other mobile devices or any of mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120. The set of device locations may be selected based on the quality indication associated with each device location. The mobile device location data processor 214 may maintain a device location/quality indication database 112 for storing and/or retrieving device location and quality indications from various iterations of the process. The device location/quality indication database 112 may also include a signal strength level associated with each stored device location and quality indication.

In another example, in an implementation where the quality indication includes an indication of whether to use conventional GPS or assisted GPS (A-GPS) to determine the device location, the set of device locations may be selected based on determining each device location using the A-GPS to determine each device location in the set.

At 310, the access point AP3 determines an associated signal strength level for each device location in the set of device locations selected at 308. For example, if the set of device locations includes device locations from mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120, the signal strength level will include the signal strength level or signal received on uplink gl, hl, il, and jl, respectively, from each of mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120. In one implementation, the mobile device location data processor 214 may obtain the signal strength level, which may include uplink signal strength data for each mobile device in communication with the access point AP3, from the signal level determiner 208 and provide the signal strength level to the access point location determiner 210. If the device location selected for the set of device locations at 308 is stored in the device location/quality indication database 212, the signal strength level for that device location may also be retrieved from the location/quality indication database 212 and provided to the access point location determiner 210.

In an alternative implementation using operation 310 as described above, the signal strength level strength of each mobile device associated with the set of device locations selected at 308 may be measured at the mobile device rather than at access point AP 3. In this implementation, the signal strength level of one or more signals received at each mobile device from access point AP3 may be measured in response to a location data request and transmitted from each mobile device along with the location data. At 310, the received signal strength level may then be correlated with the set of device locations selected at 308.

At 312, access point location determiner 210 of access point AP3 determines a location of access point AP3 based on the set of device locations selected at 308 and the signal strength determined at 310 to determine a location of access point AP3, access point location determiner 210 may use the signal strength level associated with the device location to determine a distance between access point AP3 and each device location in the set selected at 308. access point location determiner 210 may then use the determined distance from access point AP3 to each device location of the set of device locations and the location of each device location of the set of device locations to determine a location of access point AP 3. for example, access point location determiner 210 may use triangulation techniques to determine a location of access point AP 3. at 312, access point location determiner may also determine an access point location quality of the determined location of access point AP 3. at 312, the quality of the location indication may determine a location quality based on a quality indication associated with a device location in the set of device locations used in determining the location of access point AP 3. the location indication may implement a signal quality indicator in the set of satellites (e.g., a signal strength indicator) based on a signal strength level ranking of a high signal strength indicator in the set of GPS signals).

At 314, the access point location determiner 210 of the access point AP3 may transmit the determined location of the access point AP3 and the quality of the determined location to the access point location database 132 of the server 130 over the data link 126. From 314, the process moves to 316.

At 316, the access point AP3 determines whether it is time to update the latest location determined for the access point AP 3. The access point AP3 may determine whether it is time to update the location determination based on the update trigger signal generated by the update timer in the location determination timer 206 described with respect to the location 302. The process may wait at 316 until an update trigger is received. When the update trigger signal is received, the process returns to 302 and the access point AP3 initiates a location determination process to update the location of the access point AP 3.

In another implementation of access point AP3, the request for location data sent from access point AP3 at 304 may be sent by access point AP3 to all mobile devices operating in its coverage area, rather than selecting a particular mobile device. The process location determination procedure will be similar to that described above with respect to fig. 3, except that in this case the selection of mobile devices may be configured to select all mobile devices operating within the coverage area of access point AP 3. In this implementation, an update trigger signal may be generated at 302. At 304, the location data request generator can receive the update trigger signal and initiate transmission of a location data request from the transceiver 216 to all mobile devices operating in the coverage area of the access point AP3, including the mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120. At 306, the access point AP3 will receive location data from any of the mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120 configured with the mobile locator application. Operation 308-316 may then be performed as previously described with respect to fig. 3. Any mobile devices operating in the coverage area that are not configured with a mobile locator application will not recognize the location data request sent at 304 and will not respond.

Likewise, in another implementation of the access point AP3, the access point AP3 may be configured to receive and identify location data transmitted from the mobile device without the access point AP3 needing to transmit a request for location data. In this implementation, the access point AP3 may receive location data including device location and quality indications from a mobile device configured to automatically transmit the location data to the network 100, identify the location data as location data for determining the location of the access point AP3, and process the location data to determine the location of the access point AP 3. For example, the mobile devices of network 100 may each be configured such that the occurrence of a triggering event at the mobile device automatically triggers the determination of location data and the transmission to an access point having a coverage area in which the mobile device operates. The trigger event may be based on a timer or may be based on the occurrence of certain conditions. In an example of a triggering event, the timer may cause the mobile device to periodically determine and transmit location data to access points of the network 100 as the mobile device moves within the network 100. In another example of a triggering event, when the mobile device determines that the mobile device is receiving GPS satellite signals that provide a number of position determination accuracies and signal strengths that exceed an accuracy threshold, the mobile device may determine its position and transmit position data to an access point having a coverage area in which the mobile device operates. In this case, the mobile device uses network bandwidth only when good location data can be sent. In these implementations, the access point AP3 can receive location data from multiple mobile devices over time as the mobile devices move into and out of the coverage area of the access point AP3 and store the location data. In an example, when the access point AP3 determines that it has received location data from enough mobile devices with a desired level of quality, the access point AP3 may update its last determined location with a more accurate location.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating portions of an example mobile device. Fig. 4 illustrates an example configuration of the mobile device 120 of fig. 1. Any of the other mobile devices 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and 122 shown in the network 100 of fig. 1 may also be configured as shown in fig. 4. Fig. 4 shows a portion of the mobile device 120 including a location data generator 410, a signal strength level determiner 414, a quality indication determiner 412, a GPS receiver/location determiner 408, and a location data request processor 404. The portions of the mobile device 120 shown in fig. 4 may be implemented in any type of hardware, including a processor or circuitry, or any type of software, or in any combination of hardware and software. One or more of the blocks shown in fig. 4 may be implemented in a mobile locator application deployed on the mobile device 120. In one implementation, the mobile device 120 may operate in conjunction with access points, each configured with a position determination application that interacts with a mobile locator application configured on the mobile device 120. The mobile locator application controls the mobile device 120 to send location data to the access points to allow the access points to determine their locations. The messaging/signaling between the mobile locator application and the position determination application may be implemented using Wi-Fi action frames. In another implementation, the mobile device 120 may operate with a server configured with a position determination application that interacts with a mobile locator application configured on the mobile device 120. The operations performed by the mobile device 120 of fig. 4 will be further described in conjunction with fig. 5.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating operations performed by an example mobile device according to one implementation. Fig. 5 may be explained using the example of the mobile device 120 of fig. 1 configured as shown in fig. 4. An example will be given in which the mobile device 120 operates in the coverage area of the access point AP3 of fig. 1. In the depicted example, the mobile device 120 is configured with a mobile locator application that is compatible with a location determination application configured in the access point AP 3. The other mobile devices 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and 122 and the other access points AP2-AP4 shown in FIG. 1 may also function as shown in FIG. 5.

The process begins at 502, where the mobile device 120 receives a location data request from an access point AP 3. The location data request is received by the transceiver 402 and provided to the location data request processor 404.

At 504, the location data request processor 404 determines whether a mobile locator application compatible with the location determination application of the access point AP3 is enabled. If the mobile locator application is disabled, the process moves to 506 where the position data request processor 404 ends the process at 506. If the mobile locator application is enabled, the process proceeds to 508. For example, operation 504 may be performed in an implementation that allows the user of the mobile device 102 to select the option of disabling the mobile locator application for privacy purposes.

At 508, the location data request processor 404 determines whether sufficient GPS signal strength is available to perform the location determination. In one implementation, the GPS receiver/position determiner 408 may provide an indication to the position data request processor 404 of the number of signals that the GPS receiver/position determiner 408 is currently receiving and capable of decoding. If the GPS receiver/position determiner 408 is unable to receive and decode enough GPS signals to perform position determination, the position data request processor 404 will determine that there is insufficient GPS signal strength for position determination.

If, at 508, the location data request processor 404 determines that the GPS signal strength for location determination is insufficient, the process moves to 512. At 512, the location data request processor 404 provides an indication to the location data generator 410 that the GPS signal strength is insufficient and the process moves to 510. At 510, the location data generator 410 initiates transmission of a response from the transceiver 402 to the access point AP3, wherein the response indicates that the GPS signal strength at the mobile device 120 is insufficient to determine its location. The process then ends at 512. If, however, at 508, the location data request processor 404 determines that sufficient GPS signal strength is available to perform the location determination, the process moves to 514.

At 514, the mobile device 120 determines its own location (device location). In one implementation, the GPS receiver/position determiner 408 may determine the device position using only GPS satellite signals. In another implementation, the GPS receiver/location determiner 408 may use GPS satellite signals in conjunction with an assisted GPS (A-GPS) process to determine the device location. When the device location has been determined, the GPS receiver/location determiner 408 provides the device location to a location data generator 410. The device location may be in the form of GPS coordinates, for example in degree, minute, second (DMS) or decimal (DD) format.

In implementations where the quality indication includes GPS satellite information, the quality indication determiner 412 may generate the quality indication using the data provided by the GPS receiver/location determiner 408 to include information about the number and signal strength of GPS satellite signals used to determine the device location, the quality indication determiner 412 may generate the quality indication based on the quality indication including a rank (e.g., high (H), medium (M), or low (L)) or a numerical rank (e.g., a value on a scale of 1 to 10), the quality indication determiner 412 may generate the quality indication based on the quality indication data provided to the device location generator 410.

At 518, the location data generator 410 configures the device location and quality indications into a set of location data and initiates transmission of the location data containing the device location and quality indications from the transceiver 402 to the access point AP 3. The process then returns to 502.

In an alternative implementation of fig. 5, the mobile device 120 may be configured such that the occurrence of a triggering event at the mobile device 120 automatically triggers the determination of the location data and sends the location data to an access point having a coverage area in which the mobile device 120 operates. The trigger event may be based on a timer or may be based on the occurrence of certain conditions. In an example of a trigger event, the trigger event may be a timer generating a trigger signal. In this case, the timer may cause the mobile device 120 to periodically determine and transmit location data to access points of the network 100 by generating a trigger signal as the mobile device 120 moves within the network 100. In another example of a trigger event, the trigger event may be a determination that the location of the device has been determined with an accuracy above a threshold level. In this case, when the mobile device 120 determines that the number and signal strength of the GPS satellite signals it receives provides a location determination accuracy that is above a threshold level for accuracy, the mobile device 120 may determine its location and send location data to an access point having a coverage area in which the mobile device is operating. For example, the alternative implementation may be used in conjunction with an implementation of the network 100 in which each access point AP1-AP4 receives and identifies location data automatically transmitted from a number of mobile devices. In this implementation, each access point AP1-AP4 may build a database of location data that includes device locations and quality indications sent by many different mobile devices over time. The best/highest quality location data in the database for each access point may then be used to determine the exact access point location for that access point.

In another implementation of fig. 5, the signal strength level of one or more signals received at the mobile device 120 from the access point AP3 may be measured by the signal strength level determiner 414, provided to the location data generator 410, and transmitted at 518 to the access point AP3 along with the location data. The signal strength level may be used by the access point AP3 to determine the location of the access point AP 3.

Also, in another example implementation, the mobile device 120 may be configured to operate in conjunction with the server 130, where the server 130 is configured with a position determination application that interacts with a mobile locator application configured on the mobile device 120. In this case, when the mobile device 120 is operating in the coverage area of an AP1-AP4 of the network 100, the mobile device 120 will perform a process similar to that of fig. 5, wherein a server replaces the access points to send the location data to the server 130.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating portions of an example server. Fig. 6 illustrates an example implementation of the server 130 of fig. 1, the server 130 configured to determine a location of an access point in the wireless network 100. The server 130 includes a location data request generator 602, a network map update timer 606, an access point location determiner 608, an access point location database 610, a network map generator 612, an access point/mobile device location data processor 614, and an access point location quality determiner 616. The server 130 may communicate with the access points AP1-AP4 via a data link 618. Data link 618 may include data links 122, 124, 126, and 128 shown in fig. 1. The portions of the server 130 shown in fig. 6 may be implemented in any type of hardware, including a processor or circuitry, or any type of software, or any combination of hardware and software. One or more of the blocks shown in fig. 6 may be implemented in a location determination application configured on server 130. In one implementation, the server 130 may operate in conjunction with a mobile locator application configured on each mobile device 102 and 122 in the network 100. The messaging/signaling between the mobile locator application and the position determination application may be implemented using Wi-Fi action frames sent between the mobile device 102 and 122 and the access point AP1-AP 4. The operations performed by the server 130 of fig. 6 will be further described with reference to fig. 7. In one implementation, server 130 may be a cloud-based device configured to control/manage location determination functions for multiple networks, such as network 100.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operations performed by an example server. Fig. 7 may be explained using an example of the server 130 of fig. 1 configured as shown in fig. 6. An example will be given in which each of the mobile devices 102 and 122 of fig. 1 is configured with a mobile locator application that is compatible with the location determination application configured in the server 130.

The process begins at 702, where server 130 initiates an access point location determination process for network 100. Initiation of the access point location determination procedure may be triggered by an update timer configured in the network map update timer 606. The update timer generates an update trigger signal that causes the server 130 to initiate the position determination process. For example, the update timer may be configured to generate the update trigger signal periodically, e.g., weekly or based on different time periods, such that the determined locations of the access points AP1-AP4 are periodically updated. The network map update timer 606 may provide an update trigger signal to the location data request generator 602. Alternatively, when the network operator finds a location suitable for updating the determined access point AP1-AP4, an update trigger signal may be sent by the network operator to the server 130 at 702 to trigger initiation of the location determination process. In one implementation, the ability for the network operator to trigger the location determination process may be implemented in conjunction with the use of the network map update timer 606, such that the location determination process may be triggered by either the network operator or the update timer.

At 704, in response to initiation of the location determination process, the server 130 sends a request for location data to mobile devices in the coverage area of the network 100. The location data request generator 602 may initiate transmission of a location data request to each mobile device 102 and 120 configured with a mobile locator application in response to receiving an update trigger signal from the network access point location update timer 606. In one implementation, the location data request generator 602 may be aware that each mobile device 102 and 120 in the network 100 is configured with a mobile locator application. For example, when mobile devices are operating in the coverage area of network 100, server 130 may use a registration procedure or a query/response procedure to determine that these devices have installed compatible mobile locator applications. The identities of these mobile devices may then be stored in a database in the location data request generator 602. For example, the MAC ID of each of the mobile devices 102 and 120 may be stored in the location data request generator 602. For example, as the mobile devices move within the network 100, the server 130 may monitor the location of each mobile device to facilitate sending requests for location data over the data link 618 to each mobile device 102 and 122 through appropriate ones of the access points AP1-AP 4.

At 706, the server 130 receives location data and signal strength/access point information from each mobile device 102 and 120. The access point/mobile device location data processor 614 may receive the location data and signal strength/access point information over a data link 618 and provide the location data and signal strength/access point information to the access point location determiner 608 and the access point location quality determiner 616.

The location data received from each mobile device 102 and 120 at 706 may include a device location and a quality indication associated with the device location may be in the form of GPS coordinates, such as in degree, minute, and second (DMS) or decimal (DD) format the quality indication may include an indication of how many GPS satellite signals the mobile device receives and is used to determine the device location the quality indication may also include a signal strength of each GPS satellite signal used to determine the location.

In the event that the mobile device is unable to determine its location, the response to the location data request may include an indication that the signal strength of the GPS signal at the mobile device is insufficient to determine its location, or that the GPS signal was not received at the mobile device.

The signal strength/access point information received from the mobile device 102-120 at 706 may include one or more signal measurements performed on signals received from one or more access points AP1-AP4 at each of the mobile devices 102-120. For example, signal strength/access point information from mobile devices 102, 104, and 106 may have been obtained by measuring signals received from access point AP1 on uplinks a1, b1, and cl, respectively, signal strength/access point information from mobile devices 108, 110, and 112 may have been obtained by measuring signals received from access point AP2 on uplinks dl, el, and fl, respectively, signal strength/access point information from mobile devices 114, 116, 118, and 120 may have been obtained by measuring signals received from access point AP3 on uplinks gl, hl, il, and j1, respectively, and signal strength/access point information from mobile device 122 may have been obtained by measuring signals received from access point AP4 on uplink kl. The signal strength/access point information received from each mobile device 102-120 may also include an identifier of the access point transmitting the signal from which the signal strength measurements were obtained. In one example, the identifier of the access point may include a MAC ID of the access point.

At 708, the server 130 associates the location data and signal strength/access point information received from each of the mobile devices 102 and 120 with an access point of the network 100. In one implementation, the access point location determiner 608 may use an access point MAC ID associated with signal strength/access point information from a particular mobile device to associate an access point identified by the MAC ID with the particular mobile device. For example, the access point location determiner 608 may associate the mobile device 102 and 106 with access point AP1, associate the mobile device 108 and 112 with access point AP2, associate the mobile device 114 and 120 with access point AP3, and associate the mobile device 122 with access point AP 4.

At 710, the server 130 determines the location and location quality of each access point from the location data received at 706. The access point location determiner 608 may use the received location data and signal strength from the mobile devices associated with each of the access points 102-120 to determine the locations of the access points AP1-AP 4. For example, the access point location determiner 608 may determine the distance between the access point AP1 and each of the mobile devices 102, 104, and 106 based on the signal strength of the signals received on the uplinks a1, b1, and c1, respectively. The access point location determiner 608 may then perform triangulation using the determined distances from the access point AP1 to each of the mobile devices 102, 104, and 106 and the received locations of each of the mobile devices 102, 104, and 106 to determine a location of the access point AP 1. The access point location determiner 608 may also determine the locations of the access points AP2 and AP3 in the same manner. In the case of access point AP4, access point location determiner 608 may make a rough estimate of the location of access point AP4 based only on a single set of data received from mobile device 122. The access point location determiner 608 then provides the determined locations of the access points AP1-AP4 to the access point location database 610. In another implementation, the access point location determiner 608 may select a set of most accurate device locations associated with each of the APs 1-4 based on the quality indications associated with the device locations. This may allow the location of each access point to be determined more accurately.

In another implementation of the position determination performed at 710, the position data and received strength/access point information received at 706 may be combined and/or supplemented with the position data and signal strength/access point information received in the previous iteration of the process of fig. 7. In this implementation, the server 103 may receive and collect location data and strength/access point information from multiple iterations of the process performed over time. Multiple iterations of the process may be performed as the mobile device 102 and other mobile devices enter the coverage area of the network 100, move within the coverage area of the network 100 and leave the coverage area of the network 100, while sending the location data and received strength/access point information to the server 130. The server 130 then uses the larger data set of the collected location data and signal strength/access point information for more accurate access point location determination. For example, in the scenario shown in fig. 1, it may be that mobile device 122 only transmitted location data and signal strength/access point information that may be relevant to AP 4. In this case, the server 130 may combine previously collected mobile device location data and signal strengths associated with the access point AP4 with the data received from the mobile device 122 to form a set of device locations from which the location AP4 of the access point may be determined. This allows a more accurate determination of the location of the access point AP 4. In another example using the scenario shown in fig. 1, the following may be the case: although the location data and signal strength/access point information is received from the three mobile devices 108, 110 and 112 and is correlated with the access point AP2, the location data received from the mobile device 108 is inaccurate because it is determined using only weak GPS satellite signals. In this case, the server 130 may replace the location data received from the mobile device 108 with more accurate location data and signal strength information previously received from a different mobile device to form a set of device locations from which the location of the access point AP2 was determined. The server 130 may then use the more accurate previously received location data and signal strength information in conjunction with the received location data and signal strength from the mobile devices 110 and 112 to determine a more accurate location of the access point AP 2.

In an implementation where each mobile device transmitting location data in rank/category (e.g., high (H), medium (M), or low (L)) or numerical rank transmits an indication of location quality at 706, then location quality may be assigned to the determined access point location, which is the average of the mobile device's rank for determining access point location and the access point location may be determined using one or more of the access point location determination factors, AP 710-AP 4-AP location determination may be performed using one or more of the access point location determination factors, AP 710-AP determination, AP determination factors, GPS location determination factors, and GPS location determination factors may be used.

At 712, the server 130 generates a network map of the network 100 that includes the determined locations of the access points AP1-AP 4. In one implementation, the access point location database 610 may provide the newly determined location and associated location quality for each of the access points AP1-AP4 to the network map generator 612, which the network map generator 612 may generate. The network map may be generated, for example, in the form of a data table or in the form of an actual map showing the layout of the facility configuring the network 100 and the locations of the access points AP1-AP4 in the facility. The location quality of each access point location may also be displayed on a map. The network administrator may then use the network map for administration/maintenance of the network 100.

The process moves from 712 to 714. At 714, the server 130 determines whether it is time to update the network map. The server 130 may determine whether it is time to update the network map by monitoring the update trigger signal generated by the network map update timer 606. If no trigger is received from the update timer, the server 130 continues to monitor the server 130 for an update trigger at 714. When an update trigger is received, the process returns to 702 and server 130 initiates another iteration of the access point location determination process.

In one implementation, the access point location database generated in the process of fig. 7 may be updated by repeating iterations of the process as mobile devices configured with a locator application move throughout the coverage area of access points AP1-AP 4. By combining and/or supplementing the location data and signal strength level received in the current iteration of the process with the best/highest quality location data and signal strength level received in the previous iteration of the process, the accuracy and/or quality level of the access point location may be improved over time.

Also, in another implementation of the server 130, the server 130 may be configured to receive and identify the location data and signal strength/access point information transmitted from the mobile device without the server 130 transmitting any requests for location data. In this implementation, the server 130 may receive location data and signal strength/access point information from a mobile device configured to automatically transmit the location data and signal strength/access point information to the server 130 over the network 100. For example, each of the mobile devices 102, 120 of the network 100 may be configured such that the occurrence of a triggering event on the mobile device automatically triggers the determination of location data and signal strength/access point information and transmits the location data and signal strength/access point information to the server 130 through an access point having a coverage area in which each mobile device operates. The trigger event may be timer-based or based on the occurrence of certain conditions. In the example of a triggering event, the timer may cause each of the mobile devices 102 and 120 to periodically determine and send location data and signal strength/access point information to the server 130 as the mobile device moves within the network 100. In another example of a triggering event, when a mobile device of the mobile devices 102 and 120 determines that the amount and signal strength of GPS satellite signals it receives provides a location determination accuracy that exceeds an accuracy threshold, the mobile device may determine its location and send location data and signal strength/access point information to the server 130. In this implementation, the server 130 may receive location data and signal strength/access point information from a plurality of mobile devices, including the mobile device 102 and 120, over time and store the location data and signal strength/access point information as the mobile devices move into and out of the coverage areas of the access points AP1-AP 3. The server 130 may perform updates to the determined locations of the access points AP1-AP3 using the stored location data and signal strength/access point information. Over time, the determined locations of the access points AP1-AP4 will be more accurate as more updates are performed using location data and signal strength/access point information from more and more mobile devices.

Fig. 8A is a simplified block diagram illustrating an example mobile device. The mobile device 800 represents an example implementation of any of the mobile devices 102 and 120 of fig. 1. The mobile device 800 includes a processor 802, a user interface 808, a transceiver 804, a GPS receiver 806, and memory 810. Memory 810 includes code and programs/instructions for a device Operating System (OS)812, a location determination control program 814, a GPS data processing program 816, and a location data determination program 818. The mobile device 800 can communicate with access points of a wireless network and/or a cellular network using a transmitter and receiver implemented in the transceiver 804. User interface 808 allows a user of mobile device 800 to provide control inputs to device 800. For example, in one implementation, a user can provide an input at user interface 808 that enables or disables the functionality in mobile device 800 that provides location data to a wireless network. In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, the processor 802 may include one or more processors, or other control circuitry, or any combination of processors and control circuitry that provides overall control of the mobile device 800. Memory 810 may be implemented as any type of computer-readable storage medium, including non-volatile and volatile memory.

In an example implementation, the processor 802 executing the location determination control program 814, the GPS data processing program 816, and the location data determination program 818 causes the mobile device 800 to operate in accordance with the operations described with respect to the mobile device 120 with respect to fig. 5.

Fig. 8B is a simplified block diagram illustrating an example access point. Access point 820 represents an example implementation of any of the access points AP1-AP4 of fig. 1. The access point 820 includes a processor 824, a network interface 822, and a memory 826, the memory 826 including code and programs/instructions for a location determination control program 828, a mobile device location data processing program 830, and an access point location determination program 832. The access point 820 may connect to one or more networks and/or servers through a network interface 822. The network interface 822 may be a wireless interface or any other type of interface. The transceiver 834 may include a receiver and a transmitter for communicating with mobile devices of the wireless network on the uplink/downlink 836. In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, processor 824 may include one or more processors, or other control circuitry, or any combination of processors and control circuitry, that provides overall control of access point 820. Memory 826 can be implemented as any type of computer-readable storage medium, including non-volatile and volatile memory.

In one implementation, processor 824 executes location determination control program 828, mobile device location data processing program 830, and access point location determination program 832 to cause access point 820 to operate in accordance with the operations described with respect to access point AP3 with respect to fig. 3.

FIG. 8C is a simplified block diagram illustrating an example server. Server 840 represents an example implementation of server 130 of fig. 1. The server 840 includes a processor 844, a network interface 842, an access point location database 854, and a memory 846, the memory 846 including code and programs/instructions for a location determination control program 848, a mobile device location data processing program 850, an access point location determination program 852, and a network map generation program 854. Server 130 may connect to one or more access points of a wireless network through network interface 842. The network interface 842 may be a wireless interface or any other type of interface. In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, the processor 844 may include one or more processors, or other control circuitry, or any combination of processors and control circuitry, that provides overall control of the server 130. Memory 846 may be implemented as any type of computer-readable storage medium, including non-volatile and volatile memory.

In one implementation, the processor 844 executes the location determination control program 848, the mobile device location data processing program 850, the access point location determination program 852, and the network map generation program 854 to cause the server 840 to operate in accordance with the operations described with respect to the server 130 in relation to fig. 7.

Example embodiments disclosed herein may be described in the general context of processor-executable code or instructions stored on a memory, which may include one or more computer-readable storage media (e.g., tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage media such as memory 810, 826, or 846). It should be readily understood that the terms "computer-readable storage medium" or "non-transitory computer-readable medium" includes media for storing data, code, and program instructions, such as memory 810, 826, or 846, and excludes media portions for storing transitory propagating or modulated data communications multicarrier signals.

While the functionality disclosed herein for mobile devices, access points, and servers has been described by way of illustrative examples using descriptions of various components and devices of implementations with reference to functional blocks and processors or processing units, controllers, and memories comprising instructions, the functions and processes of implementations may be implemented and performed using any type of processor, circuitry, or combination of processors and/or circuitry and code.

Disclosed implementations include an access point including a receiver, one or more processors coupled to the receiver, and memory in communication with the one or more processors. The memory includes code executable by the one or more processors to control the access point to receive, at a receiver, a plurality of device locations and a plurality of quality indications from a plurality of mobile devices operating in a coverage area of the access point, wherein each quality indication of the plurality of quality indications corresponds to one of the plurality of device locations, determine a set of device locations from the plurality of device locations based at least on the plurality of quality indications, and determine a location of the access point based at least on the set of device locations. At least one device location of the plurality of device locations may comprise a positioning system location, and a corresponding quality indication of the plurality of quality indications may comprise an indication of an accuracy of the positioning system location. The indication of the accuracy of the location system position may include data related to signals used to determine the location system position. The indication of the accuracy of the location system position may include a level of accuracy of the location system position. The code may be further executable by the one or more processors to control the access point to update the location of the access point by repeatedly receiving a plurality of device locations and a plurality of quality indications, determining a set of device locations, and determining a location of the access point. The plurality of mobile devices may be configured to automatically transmit the plurality of device locations and the plurality of quality indications to the access point, and the code may be further executable by the one or more processors to control the access point to identify the plurality of device locations and the plurality of quality indications received from the plurality of mobile devices as location data for determining the location of the access point. The code may be further executable by the one or more processors to control the access point to send a request for a device location to each of the plurality of mobile devices.

The disclosed embodiments also include a server comprising one or more processors and memory in communication with the one or more processors. The memory includes code executable by the one or more processors to: the control server receives a plurality of device locations from the one or more mobile devices while each of the one or more mobile devices is operating within a coverage area of the one or more access points, associates one or more of the plurality of device locations with each of the one or more access points, and determines a location of each of the one or more access points based at least on the associated one or more device locations of each of the one or more access points. The code may be further executable by the one or more processors to control the server to receive a plurality of quality indications from the one or more mobile devices, wherein each quality indication of the plurality of quality indications corresponds to one of a plurality of device locations. The code may be further executable by the one or more processors to control the server to determine the location of each of the one or more access points by controlling the server to determine the location of each of the one or more access points based at least on a set selected from the associated one or more device locations of each access point, wherein the set is selected based on one or more of the plurality of quality indications. At least one device location of the plurality of device locations may comprise a positioning system location, and a corresponding quality indication of the plurality of quality indications may comprise an indication of an accuracy of the positioning system location. The code may be further executable by the one or more processors to control the server to generate a network map indicating a location of each of the one or more access points.

The disclosed embodiments also include an apparatus comprising one or more processors and memory in communication with the one or more processors. The memory includes code executable by the one or more processors to control the device to determine a device location, determine a quality indication, wherein the quality indication is associated with an accuracy of the device location, and send the device location and the quality indication to a network. The code may be further executable by the one or more processors to control the device to receive a request for location data from a network and to send a device location and quality indication to the network in response to the request for location data. The code may be further executable by the one or more processors to control the device to determine that a trigger event has occurred, and to send the device location and the quality indication to the network in response to determining that the trigger event has occurred. The trigger event may include a timer generating a trigger signal. The code may be further executable by the one or more processors to control the device to determine that a triggering event has occurred by determining that the device location has been determined with an accuracy above a threshold level. The quality indication may include data associated with signals used to determine the location of the device. The quality indication may include a level of accuracy of the device location.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to networks/systems, structural features, and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example embodiments, implementations, and forms of implementing the claims, and the example configurations and arrangements may be altered significantly without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, although example embodiments have been illustrated with reference to particular elements and operations being facilitated by processes, these elements and operations may be combined with or replaced by any suitable device, component, architecture, or process that achieves the intended functionality of the embodiments. Numerous other changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications may be ascertained to one skilled in the art and it is intended that the present disclosure encompass all such changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications as falling within the scope of the appended claims.