Continuous data optimization of new access points in positioning systems

1. In a location-based services system, a method of utilizing WiFi-enabled devices to monitor WiFi access points in a target area to indicate whether a WiFi access point is newly-observed, the method comprising the acts of:

a) a WiFi-enabled device communicating with WiFi access points within range of the WiFi-enabled device so that observed WiFi access points identify themselves;

b) accessing a reference database to obtain information specifying a recorded location for each observed WiFi access point in the target area;

c) identifying observed WiFi access points for which the reference database has no information specifying a corresponding recorded location;

d) using the recorded location information for each of the observed WiFi access points obtained in act (b) to calculate the position of the WiFi-enabled device;

e) informing the reference database of the WiFi access points identified in act (c) and providing the position calculated in step (d) in conjunction therewith to serve as location information for the newly-observed WiFi access points.

2. The method of claim 1 further including recording signal strength information for WiFi access points and using the signal strength information when calculating the position of the WiFi-enabled device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference database is located remotely relative to the WiFi-enabled device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein Wi-Fi access points identified as new are added to the reference database immediately.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein WiFi access points identified as new are stored in the WiFi-enabled device and added to the reference database at a later time.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference database is part of a location-based services system with a large plurality of subscribers each having WiFi-enabled devices with logic to determine the geographical position of the WiFi-enabled device of the respective user and wherein acts (a) through (e) are repeatedly performed by the large plurality of WiFi-enabled devices using the system.

7. A system for utilizing WiFi-enabled devices to monitor WiFi access points in a target area to indicate whether a WiFi access point is newly-observed, the system comprising:

a) a first logic for communicating with WiFi access points within range of a WiFi-enabled device so that observed WiFi access points identify themselves;

b) a second logic for accessing a reference database to obtain information specifying a recorded location for at least one of the observed WiFi access point in the target area;

c) a third logic for identifying observed WiFi access points for which the reference database has no information specifying a corresponding recorded location;

d) a fourth logic for using the recorded location information for at least one of the observed WiFi access points obtained by the second logic to calculate the position of the WiFi-enabled device;

e) a fifth logic for informing the reference database of the WiFi access points identified by the third logic and providing the position calculated by the fourth logic to serve as location information for the newly-observed WiFi access points.

8. The system of claim 7 , the first logic including logic for recording signal strength information for WiFi access points within range of the WiFi-enabled device and the fourth logic using the signal strength information when calculating the position of the WiFi-enabled device.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth logics are located on the WiFi-enabled device.

10. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a sixth logic for storing WiFi access points identified as new for addition to the reference database at a later time.