Patent Publication Number: US-9420419-B2

Title: Providing location-based information in local wireless zones

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a continuation of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/831,028, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, titled “Providing Location-Based Information in Local Wireless Zones,”which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/233,524, filed Sep. 15, 2011, titled “Providing Location-Based Information in Local Wireless Zones,”, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,401,568 which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/745,836, filed Dec. 24, 2003, titled “Providing Location-Based Information in Local Wireless Zones,” now U.S. Pat. No. 8,046,000, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Given the significant amount of information available over packet-based networks and the ease with which such information can be delivered wirelessly to mobile users, significant efforts have been made to provide information to mobile users based on their relative locations. Location-based information services may provide information such as advertising for local businesses, providing directions, or providing other information based at least in part on the location of the user. 
     Despite the apparent usefulness of such location-based services, these services have yet to gain popularity. One hindrance to the acceptance of location-based services has been the relative inaccuracy of cellular-based tracking techniques used to determine the location of the user. Cellular systems may use triangulation techniques among proximate based stations, or may simply identify the location of the user based on the base station currently serving the user. The triangulation and base station identification techniques for determining user location are unable to provide a relatively high degree of resolution for location determination. In mot instances, the location of the user can only be determined at best within 50 meters or more, depending on the layout of the cellular network. With such poor resolution in determining a user&#39;s location, the association of services with a particular location is very limited. 
     Other location-determining systems incorporate Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment in the mobile terminal. Unfortunately, the addition of more accurate positioning equipment to mobile devices is expensive and often requires extensive upgrades to the cellular network to take advantage of the more accurate positioning information. Accordingly, there is a need for an efficient and effective way to provide location-based information to mobile users. There is a further need to provide a way to determine the location of the mobile user with greater accuracy, such that the location-based information provided to the mobile user is more specific to the actual location of the mobile user. 
     SUMMARY 
     Mobile terminals to exchange location-based information upon entering a local wireless zone established by an access point are described. The access point includes or is associated with one or more servers, which may provide the location-based information and control access. The local wireless zone is a limited area in which communications between the access point and the mobile terminal are possible. Once the mobile terminal enters into one or more local wireless zones, the presence of the mobile terminal in the local wireless zone is detected. Once detected, the mobile terminal is afforded access to a server on which the location-based information is stored. The server is associated with the local wireless zone. In one embodiment, an IP address is provided to the mobile terminal, which can use the IP address to access the location-based information. If the mobile terminal is within multiple local wireless zones at any given time, location-based information for a particular local wireless zone may be selected. The mobile terminal will then establish communications with the access point for the selected local wireless zone, and request the location-based information from the associated server. 
     By using local wireless communications and associating servers and location-based information with each local wireless zone, the location-based information can be better configured for the area encompassed by the local wireless zone. In one embodiment, a host configuration protocol, such as the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, is used to provide configuration information to the mobile terminal to allow the mobile terminal to communicate with various entities associated with the access point. The configuration information may be provided in light of a zone identifier, which is associated with at least one of the local wireless zones. The configuration information may be used to gain access to the server providing the location-based information. Alternatively, the configuration information may directly provide an IP address for accessing the location-based information. The location-based information may be various types of information to facilitate any number of services, such as web services; communications, including voice call, video call, instant messaging, email, voicemail, and fax; file transfer; streaming media; real-time media applications; electronic commerce transactions; user authentication; and geo-location services. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the subject matter described herein and realize additional aspects thereof after reading the following detailed description of the embodiments in association with the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects, and together with the description serve to explain the described principles. 
         FIG. 1  is a block representation of a communication environment having three independent and non-overlapping local wireless zones according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block representation of a communication environment having three independent and overlapping local wireless zones according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a communication flow illustrating operations according to the communication environment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a block representation of a communication environment having three independent and non-overlapping local wireless zones according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a block representation of a communication environment having three independent and non-overlapping local wireless zones according to a fourth embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a block representation of a communication environment having three independent and non-overlapping local wireless zones according to a fifth embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a block representation of a communication environment having three independent and non-overlapping local wireless zones according to a sixth embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a block representation of an access point according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a block representation of a content server according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a block representation of a mobile terminal according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the described concepts and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims. 
     One or more embodiments described herein allow a mobile terminal capable of communicating over a local wireless interface to readily access content based on the relative location of the mobile terminal. The content is generally referred to as location-based information, because the location of the mobile terminal plays a role in determining what content is made available to the mobile terminal. The location-based information may be the only content provided to any mobile terminal at a certain location, or various types of content may be provided in light of specific location information. In essence, when a mobile terminal comes within communication range of a local wireless interface, location-based information may be provided to the mobile terminal. Additional factors or information provided by the mobile terminal may assist in determining new location-based information to provide to the mobile terminal. Thus, a close association is created between a local wireless zone in which communications with the mobile terminal are possible and a content server, so that a mobile terminal entering the local wireless zone can readily access the content server and receive the location-based information. Prior to delving into the details, an overview of exemplary communication environments is provided. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a communication environment  10  is illustrated as having three independent local wireless systems  12 A,  12 B, and  12 C capable of facilitating local wireless communications. Local wireless communications are defined as limited-range wireless communications, such as those used in wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, and other limited-range communication technologies. For the purposes of illustration, the embodiments specifically described herein may incorporate WLAN communication techniques as defined in the IEEE 802.11 and 802.15 standards. Those skilled in the art will recognize other applicable local wireless communication technologies that provide wireless communications in ranges substantially smaller than those provided by traditional cellular technologies. 
     Each of the local wireless systems  12 A,  12 B, and  12 C includes an access point  14 A,  14 B,  14 C, which may facilitate wireless communications with a mobile terminal  16  when the mobile terminal  16  is within a corresponding one of local wireless zones  18 A,  18 B,  18 C. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the local wireless zones  18 A,  18 B,  18 C do not overlap, and the mobile terminal  16  will only be able to communicate with one of the access points  14 A,  14 B,  14 C at any given time, and only when it is in with a local wireless zone  18 A,  18 B,  18 C. 
     Each of the local wireless systems  12  is independent and configured to allow location-based information to be delivered to the mobile terminal  16  when the mobile terminal  16  is within one of the respective local wireless zones  18 . Given the limited range for local wireless communications afforded by each of the access points  14 , the location of the mobile terminal  16  is known to a high degree of specificity when communications with an access point  14  are possible. Thus, the location-based information provided to the mobile terminal  16  within a given local wireless zone  18  can be very specific, given the known location of the mobile terminal  16 . 
     To facilitate the delivery of the location-based information to the mobile terminal  16 , the local wireless system  12  is able to recognize that the mobile terminal  16  is within a local wireless zone  18  afforded by an access point  14 , provide access to the mobile terminal  16 , and then deliver the location-based information to the mobile terminal  16 . As illustrated, local wireless systems  12 A and  12 B include a stand alone content server  20  for providing the location-based information, wherein the content server  20  is coupled to the access points  14 A and  14 B through a dedicated Ethernet switch  22  or other local network (not shown). Access to the local wireless systems  12 A and  12 B by the mobile terminal  16  is governed by access servers  24 . The access servers  24  may take the form of Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) servers, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers, or Domain Name Service (DNS) servers. Those skilled in the art will recognize other types of servers and corresponding protocols through which authorization, accounting, address provisioning, and address translation can be provided. Notably, all of these functions are not required, but are beneficial in select embodiments as will be described in further detail below. Further, the various access servers  24  and the content server  20  may take various forms and may be implemented as functions in a variety of devices. 
     As illustrated with respect to the local wireless system  12 C, the functionality of the access servers  24  and the content servers  20  may be integrated within the access point  14 C, wherein only a single access point  14 C is required to provide the local wireless zone  18 , control access by the mobile terminal  16 , and provide location-based information to the mobile terminal  16 . Determinations as to whether the mobile terminal  16  is within the local wireless zones  18 , and thus capable of communicating with the respective access points  14 , are generally provided within the respective local wireless communication protocol used to facilitate the local wireless communications. 
     For the communication environment  10  of  FIG. 1 , the independent local wireless zones  18  generally indicates that only one local wireless system  12  can service the mobile terminal  16  any given time. As such, the location-based information may be configured accordingly, and selection of the location-based information may be automatic once the mobile terminal  16  enters the local wireless zone  18  or based on information received from the mobile terminal  16 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the local wireless systems  12  are still independent of one other, yet the local wireless zones  18  afforded by each of the local wireless systems  12  overlap one another. As illustrated, the mobile terminal  16  is within local wireless zones  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C, and thus can communicate with each of the access points  14 A,  14 B,  14 C at the same time. When local wireless zones  18  from different local wireless systems  12  overlap, each local wireless zone  18  or access point  14  may be associated with a respective zone ID: ZONE ID A, ZONE ID B, and ZONE ID C, for local wireless systems  12 A,  12 B, and  12 C, respectively. Accordingly, each access point  14  or an associated component in the respective local wireless system  12  can provide the zone ID to the mobile terminal  16 , such that the mobile terminal  16  or the user thereof can select the local wireless system  12  from which the location-based information is received. The zone ID may be used by the mobile terminal  16  to help identify or otherwise control the location-based information provided from the corresponding local wireless system  12 . As will be described further below, the local wireless zones  18  may have unique zone identifiers (IDs), or may share the same zone ID, depending on the configuration of the communication environment  10  as well as the local wireless systems  12 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a communication flow diagram is provided to illustrate operation of one embodiment, in light of the communication environment  10  of  FIG. 2 . Assume that the mobile terminal  16  is positioned such that it is within the local wireless zones  18 A and  18 B of local wireless systems  12 A and  12 B, respectively, but not within the local wireless zone  18 C. Notably, the access server  24  may actually be multiple servers or a single device providing multiple server functions. In this example, the access server(s)  24  takes the form of a DHCP server  24 ′, a DNS server  24 ″, and a AAA server  24 ′″. 
     The authorization and establishment of communications between the mobile terminal  16  and access point  14 A may be configured such that any user may establish communications wherein the user is effectively anonymous, or the authorization messaging may require a specific user to initiate communications. In the latter case, the authorization request or messaging would include a user ID or other credentials, such as a password, to assist in authenticating the user or mobile terminal  16  for communications. Given the type of available location-based information and the nature of the local wireless system  12 , the decision to allow anonymous users to establish communications may be decided on a case-by-case basis. When a specific authorization process is required, the AAA server  24 ′″ or equivalent function may be accessed by the access point  14 A to provide authorization data received from the mobile terminal  16  to obtain authorization for establishing communications between the mobile terminal  16  and the access point  14 A. 
     On an ongoing basis, the access points  14 A and  14 B will send out signals to assist the mobile terminal  16  in determining that it is within the respective local wireless zones  18 A and  18 B. For wireless LAN embodiments, these signals are referred to as “beacons” and may include the respective zone IDs: ZONE ID A and ZONE ID B. Thus, access point  14 A will send a beacon identifying ZONE ID A to the mobile terminal  16  (step  100 ), and access point  14 B will send a beacon identifying ZONE ID B to the mobile terminal  16  (step  102 ). When present in the local wireless zones  18 (A) and  18 B, the mobile terminal  16  will receive the beacons from access points  14 A and  14 B, and will recognize that communications with access points  14 A and  14 B are possible. The mobile terminal  16  may provide this information to the user through an appropriate user interface. Either based on a response from the user or automatically, the mobile terminal  16  will select one of the access points  14 A or  14 B with which to communicate. Such selection may directly or indirectly involve selecting one of the zone IDs. In this example, assume that the mobile terminal selects ZONE ID A, which is associated with access point  14 A (step  104 ). Accordingly, the mobile terminal  16  will send an authorization request to access point  14 A to authorize local wireless communications (step  106 ). The mobile terminal  16  and access point  14 A will exchange the requisite authorization messaging to obtain the requisite information necessary to authorize a communication session therebetween (step  108 ). The access point  14 (A) may cooperate with the AAA server  24 ′″ to determine whether to authorize communications with the mobile terminal (step  110 ). Assuming that the user is authorized, access point  14 A will send a message to the mobile terminal  16  indicating that the authorization for the communication session is granted (step  112 ). 
     For wireless LAN applications, an association is generally established between the mobile terminal  16  and the serving access point  14 A. Thus, the mobile terminal  16  may send an association request to the access point  14 A (step  114 ), which will respond with an association granted message when the association is granted (step  116 ). Next, the mobile terminal  16  may send a DHCP request to the DHCP server  24 ′ or equivalent function (step  118 ) to obtain the DHCP configuration data, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the mobile terminal  16  to use for communications within local wireless system  12 A, and optionally an address for the content server  20  from which the location-based information may be requested. The DHCP server  24 ′ will send a DHCP response with the configuration data and perhaps the address for the content server  20  back to the mobile terminal  16  (step  120 ). Those skilled in the art will recognize other host configuration protocols to use when initializing the mobile terminal  16  for communications with the local wireless system  12 . 
     Depending on how the configuration data is provided to the mobile terminal  16 , a DNS service may be used to find the IP address of the desired or default content server  20 . For example, if the configuration data provided by the DHCP server  24 ′ took the form of a domain name, the mobile terminal  16  may send a DNS query to a DNS server  24 ″ (step  122 ), which will send a DNS response with the IP address of the content server  20  back to the mobile terminal (step  124 ). The DNS entry of the DNS query may take numerous forms, and may represent or include various types of information, such as the zone ID provided in the form of a domain name. For example, the zone ID for a “restaurant” could be configured as www.restaurant.com. The DNS entry could also be a modified zone ID, such as wlan.www.restaurant.com. Further, the DNS entry may be derived from virtually any type of information provided in the configuration data received from the DHCP server  24 ′. 
     Regardless of whether the IP address for the content server  20  is provided with the configuration data, obtained from the DNS service, or received from any other device, including the access point  14 A, the mobile terminal  16  can use the IP address to request the location-based information from the content server  20  (step  126 ). For example, the request may take the form of a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Get message. Further, virtually any type of information may be provided with the HTTP Get message, including a Uniform (or Universal) Resource Locator (URL) associated with the application, the zone ID, an access point identifier, and a user identifier. Various location-specific or user-specific data can be exchanged with the content server  20  as necessary to obtain or provide the desired location-based information. Based on the request, the content server  20  will respond with the location-based information, preferably in the form of an HTTP  200  OK message (step  128 ). At this point, the content server  20  is acting as a traditional web server, and the mobile terminal  16  is acting as a traditional client running a browser. Thus, the content may be provided to the mobile terminal  16  with links to additional content made available by the content server  20  or other accessible server. The location-based information may be provided in association with any number or type of services, which are a function of the location of the mobile terminal. 
     As seen from the above, the mobile terminal  16  can determine that it is within a local wireless zone  18  of an access point  14 , and take the necessary steps to establish the ability to communicate with the access point  14 , interact with any necessary access servers  24  to obtain authorization for further communications, and perhaps information pertaining to the content server  20 , and then use the information pertaining to the content server  20  to access location-based information. The location-based information may be further specified using a zone ID, an access point ID, a user ID, other information provided by the mobile terminal  16 , or a combination thereof. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a communication environment  10  according to a third embodiment is illustrated. In this embodiment, multiple (three) access points  14  are supported by a common content server  20 , access server  24 , and Ethernet switch  22 . By providing multiple access points  14  in a local wireless system  12 , a larger area may be covered by the respective local wireless zones  18  provided by the access points  14 . In this embodiment, each access point  14  or local wireless zone  18  is associated with the same zone ID (ZONE ID A). Further refinement of the location-based information may be based on an access point ID, which is uniquely associated with each of the respective access points  14 . Thus, if the access point ID is not provided to the content server  20 , more generalized location-based information will be provided to the mobile terminal  16 . If the access point identifier or other identifier associated with the particular local wireless zone  18  is provided to the content server  20 , more specific location-based information may be provided to the mobile terminal  16 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , a fourth embodiment is illustrated. In this embodiment, each local wireless zone  18  is associated with a unique zone ID, which may be used by the mobile terminal  16  to select the location-based information from the content server  20 . In this embodiment, a common content server  20  and access server  24  support each of the three unique local wireless zones  18 . Alternatively, each access point  14  may have a unique identifier, which is used to select the location-based information from the content server  20 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , a fifth embodiment is illustrated, wherein multiple content servers  20 A,  20 B,  20 C are provided. In this embodiment, each local wireless zone  18  has a unique zone ID. In this environment, the mobile terminal  16  may request content from different ones of the content servers  20  and do so using the unique zone identifier or a unique access point identifier. Accordingly, the location-based information from multiple content servers  20  may correspond to different types of applications or services made available to the mobile terminal  16 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that the multiple applications or services may be afforded by a single content server  20 , and thus not require multiple content servers  20  as illustrated. 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , a sixth embodiment is illustrated wherein multiple local wireless zones  18  are supported by a content server  20  and access servers  24  over a data network  26  via a router or firewall  28 , which provides for secure communications between the mobile terminal  16  and the content server  20 . In one embodiment, a tunnel  30  is established between the router or firewall  28  and the content server  20  using layer 2 tunneling protocol (L2TP) or IPSec. As illustrated, the zone IDs are identical for each of the local wireless zones  18 ; however, those skilled in the art will recognize that unique zone IDs may be used as discussed above. 
     Based on the previous description, location-based information may be provided to a mobile terminal  16  in an efficient and effective manner using local wireless communication technology. The use of local wireless communications affords a more limited communication range, and thus, more accurate determination of a user&#39;s location. Further, the local wireless zones  18  afforded by the access points  14  may be controlled by controlling the transmit power for the respective access points  14 . By adjusting the transmit power, the size of the local wireless zone  18  can be adjusted to accommodate the location requirements for providing the location-based information. 
     The location-based information may take many forms, including various types of communication services and web services. The location-based information may provide for basic content delivery associated with marketing, advertising, or other information services. The content may be sent using web-based protocols, file transfer protocols, streaming media, and real-time media. 
     In essence, the local wireless zones  18  would be established in association with public places, such that mobile terminals  16  moving within the local wireless zone  18  will have access to location-based information for corresponding applications or services. For example, the public place may be a restaurant, airport check-in station, or a museum exhibit. As such, the restaurant may provide coupons, advertisements, menu information, or may communicate with the mobile terminal  16  to make reservations or place orders. The user may cooperate with the mobile terminal  16  to facilitate check-in at the airport. Further, the mobile terminal  16  may communicate with various access points  14  throughout a museum to receive information from different exhibits corresponding to the various local wireless zones  18  afforded by the multiple access points  14  spread throughout the museum. As such, the location-based information may simply be streaming media describing artwork in each exhibit, wherein the mobile terminal  16  will travel from one exhibit to another and access different content based on its location. Further, the above description focuses on the mobile terminal  16  requesting the location-based information from the content server  20 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that the concepts are equally applicable to situations wherein the content server  20  will push information to the mobile terminal  16  upon learning of its presence within the local wireless zone  18 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 8 , a block representation of an access point  14  is illustrated. The access point  14  is centered about a control system  32  having memory  34  with sufficient software  36  to effect operation as described above. The control system  32  will be associated with one or more local wireless interfaces  38  to facilitate local wireless communications with the mobile terminal  16 , as well as a network interface  40  to facilitate communications with the various content servers  20  and access servers  24 . 
     A block representation of a content server  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The content server  20  is centered about a control system  42  having memory  44  with sufficient software  46  to facilitate operation as described above. The control system  42  will be associated with a network interface  48  to facilitate communications with the access point  14  in order to receive requests from the mobile terminal  16  as well as send the location-based information to the mobile terminal  16 . 
     The basic architecture of the mobile terminal  16  is represented in  FIG. 10 . The mobile terminal  16  may take the form of any device capable of local wireless communications, such as a personal digital assistant, personal computer, or mobile telephone. In the illustrated embodiment, the mobile terminal  16  is configured to facilitate both local wireless and traditional cellular communications. The mobile terminal  16  may include a receiver front end  50 , a radio frequency transmitter section  52 , an antenna  54 , a duplexer or switch  56 , a baseband processor  58 , a control system  60 , a frequency synthesizer  62 , and an interface  64 . The receiver front end  50  receives information bearing radio frequency signals from one or more remote transmitters provided by a base station. A low noise amplifier  66  amplifies the signal. A filter circuit  68  minimizes broadband interference in the received signal, while downconversion and digitization circuitry  70  downconverts the filtered, received signal to an intermediate or baseband frequency signal, which is then digitized into one or more digital streams. The receiver front end  50  typically uses one or more mixing frequencies generated by the frequency synthesizer  62 . The baseband processor  58  processes the digitized received signal to extract the information or data bits conveyed in the received signal. This processing typically comprises demodulation, decoding, and error correction operations. As such, the baseband processor  58  is generally implemented in one or more digital signal processors (DSPs). 
     On the transmit side, the baseband processor  58  receives digitized data, which may represent voice, data, or control information, from the control system  60 , which it encodes for transmission. The encoded data is output to the transmitter  52 , where it is used by a modulator  72  to modulate a carrier signal that is at a desired transmit frequency. Power amplifier circuitry  74  amplifies the modulated carrier signal to a level appropriate for transmission, and delivers the amplified and modulated carrier signal to the antenna  54  through the duplexer or switch  56 . 
     As noted above, the mobile terminal  16  may be able to communicate with the access points  14  as well as with a cellular access network. Accordingly, the receiver front end  50 , baseband processor  58 , and radio frequency transmitter section  52  cooperate to provide either a cellular interface for the cellular access network and a connection to the local wireless interface  38  for the access point  14 . These functions may be implemented using redundant circuitry, or by configuring common circuitry to operate in different modes. The configuration of the mobile terminal  16  will be dictated by economics and designer choice. 
     A user may interact with the mobile terminal  16  via the interface  64 , which may include interface circuitry  76  associated with a microphone  78 , a speaker  80 , a keypad  82 , and a display  84 . The interface circuitry  76  typically includes analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, amplifiers, and the like. Additionally, it may include a voice encoder/decoder, in which case it may communicate directly with the baseband processor  58 . The microphone  78  will typically convert audio input, such as the user&#39;s voice, into an electrical signal, which is then digitized and passed directly or indirectly to the baseband processor  58 . Audio information encoded in the received signal is recovered by the baseband processor  58 , and converted by the interface circuitry  76  into an analog signal suitable for driving the speaker  80 . The keypad  82  and display  84  enable the user to interact with the mobile terminal  16 , input numbers to be dialed, address book information, select local wireless zones, or the like. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the embodiments described herein. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein and the claims that follow.