Patent ID: 7543045
Filing Date: 2009-06-02
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for estimating locations of devices in a network, the method comprising: identifying each of the devices; inputting an approximate location of at least one of the devices; constructing a constrain for the each of the devices, the constrain comprising a type of connectivity of the device; deriving an optimization criterion on a location for the each of the devices, the optimization criterion assigning a positive weight to each of the constrain for the each of the devices that is satisfied by at least one of an estimated location and the approximate location and assigning a negative weight to each of the constrain for the each of the devices that is not satisfied by at least one of the estimated location and the approximate location; calculating by a processor a best fit location for the each of the devices that maximizes the optimization criterion; presenting the best fit location for the each of the devices to a user, the user either accepting or rejecting each of the best fit location, the user providing additional information for constructing the each of the constrain for the each of the devices associated with the best fit location rejected; and iterating the identifying, the inputting, the constructing, the deriving, the calculating, and the presenting using the additional information until the user accepts the each of the best fit location for the each of the devices.