Patent ID: 7898977
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: G01S,H04L,H04W,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of determining a physical location of a device connected to a data network infrastructure including a plurality of fixed connection points fixed at different physical locations, the method comprising: storing location information of the plurality of fixed connection points and one or more signal characteristics of one or more signals passing through at least a first fixed connection point of the plurality of fixed connection points in the data network infrastructure, wherein the at least the first fixed connection point is connected to a network entry device in the data network infrastructure using a cable-based transmission medium; establishing a connection between the device and the network entry device in the data network infrastructure via the at least the first fixed connection point, wherein a communication signal passes through the cable-based transmission medium and the at least the first fixed connection point; utilizing the established connection to determine a connection point identifier based, at least in part, upon the communication signal; measuring at least a first signal characteristic of the communication signal; determining a first physical location of the device based on the determined connection point identifier, including accessing the stored location information using the determined connection point identifier; and determining a second physical location of the device based on the determined first physical location, the at least the first measured signal characteristic, and the one or more stored signal characteristics.