IP Library Granted Patent US 12672092
Granted Patent B2
US 12672092 · App. 18/360,869 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Device type and location resolution in a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network

Inventors: Richard Chang (Los Altos, CA); Trevor Condon (Kelowna, CA); Sean Li (Campbell, CA); Cuong Vu (Newark, CA); Jeff Chao (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: PLUME DESIGN, INC.
H04W64/00G01S13/765
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12672092
App. No.
18/360,869
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some implementations, the techniques described herein relate to a method including: transmitting, by an access point, a message to a wireless device and receiving a response to the message, the response including a list of access points nearby the wireless device; determining, by the access point, a location of the wireless device based on the list of access points utilizing a trilateration algorithm; determining, by the access point, a type of the wireless device; identifying, by the access point, one or more nearby wireless devices within a threshold proximity to the wireless device; and categorizing, by the access point, one of the wireless device or a location of the wireless device based on the one or more nearby wireless devices and the type of the wireless device.

Claims (37)

1 . A method comprising:

transmitting, by an access point, a message to a wireless device and receiving a response to the message, the response including a list of access points nearby the wireless device;

determining, by the access point, a location of the wireless device based on the list of access points utilizing a trilateration algorithm;

determining, by the access point, a type of the wireless device;

identifying, by the access point, one or more nearby wireless devices within a threshold proximity to the wireless device; and

categorizing, by the access point, one of the wireless device or a location of the wireless device based on the one or more nearby wireless devices and the type of the wireless device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the message comprises one of an IEEE 802.11k Radio Measurement Request or IEEE 802.11v BSS Transition Management Request.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each access point in the list of access points is associated with a value measured by the wireless device in response to the message.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the value comprises one or more of a Channel State Information value, Received Signal Strength Indicator, Received Channel Power Indicator, or Received Signal to Noise Indicator.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the location of the wireless device comprises determining an absolute position of the wireless device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the location of the wireless device comprises determining a relative position of the wireless device.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a visual representation of an environment including the location based on a type and position of the wireless device and a second type and second position of a second wireless device.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing computer program instructions capable of being executed by a computer processor, the computer program instructions defining steps of:

transmitting a message to a wireless device and receiving a response to the message, the response including a list of access points nearby the wireless device;

determining, based on the list of access points, a location of the wireless device utilizing a trilateration algorithm;

determining a type of the wireless device;

identifying one or more nearby wireless devices within a threshold proximity to the wireless device; and

categorizing one of the wireless device or a location of the wireless device based on the one or more nearby wireless devices and the type of the wireless device.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the message comprises one of an IEEE 802.11k Radio Measurement Request or IEEE 802.11v BSS Transition Management Request.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein each access point in the list of access points is associated with a value measured by the wireless device in response to the message.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the value comprises one or more of a Channel State Information value, Received Signal Strength Indicator, Received Channel Power Indicator, or Received Signal to Noise Indicator.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein determining the location of the wireless device comprises determining an absolute position of the wireless device.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein determining the location of the wireless device comprises determining a relative position of the wireless device.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , the steps further comprising generating a visual representation of an environment including the location based on a type and position of the wireless device and a second type and second position of a second wireless device.

15 . A device comprising:

a processor; and

a storage medium for tangibly storing thereon logic for execution by the processor, the logic comprising instructions for:

transmitting a message to a wireless device and receiving a response to the message, the response including a list of access points nearby the wireless device,

determining, based on the list of access points, a location of the wireless device utilizing a trilateration algorithm,

determining a type of the wireless device,

identifying one or more nearby wireless devices within a threshold proximity to the wireless device, and

categorizing one of the wireless device or a location of the wireless device based on the one or more nearby wireless devices and the type of the wireless device.

16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the message comprises one of an IEEE 802.11k Radio Measurement Request or IEEE 802.11v BSS Transition Management Request.

17 . The device of claim 15 , wherein each access point in the list of access points is associated with a value measured by the wireless device in response to the message.

18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the value comprises one or more of a Channel State Information value, Received Signal Strength Indicator, Received Channel Power Indicator, or Received Signal to Noise Indicator.

19 . The device of claim 15 , wherein determining the location of the wireless device comprises determining an absolute position of the wireless device.

20 . The device of claim 15 , wherein determining the location of the wireless device comprises determining a relative position of the wireless device.