Detection of access point location errors in enterprise localization systems
View Patent ↗Method and apparatus for validating location information associated with an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) by subjecting neighborhood node proximity information retrieved from an AP and neighborhood node location information retrieved from a database to a likelihood ratio tests (LRT). The neighborhood node proximity information retrieved from an AP comprises a list of nodes exhibiting at the AP a signal strength above a threshold level T, or link quality information associated with those nodes having a signal received by the AP.
1. A method for validating location information associated with an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the location information being stored within a database, the method comprising:
retrieving, from a memory storing the database, neighborhood node location information associated with the AP;
receiving, from the AP, neighborhood node proximity information; and
comparing the retrieved neighborhood node location information to the received neighborhood node proximity information using a likelihood ratio test (LRT) in which the likelihood that the location as recorded in the database is correct is compared to the likelihood that the location as recorded in the database is incorrect.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neighborhood node proximity information received from the AP comprises a list of nodes exhibiting at the AP a signal strength above a threshold level T.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neighborhood node proximity information received from the AP comprises link quality information associated with those nodes having a signal received by the AP.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the signal strength threshold level T is indicative of a node within n-hops of the AP.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein n is 1, 2 or 3.
6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
forming a first adjacency matrix using the neighborhood node location information retrieved from the database; and
forming a second adjacency matrix using the neighborhood node proximity information received from the AP;
wherein the comparing neighborhood node location information comprises comparing the first and second adjacency matrixes.
7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
forming a first adjacency matrix using the neighborhood node location information retrieved from the database; and
forming a second adjacency matrix using the neighborhood node proximity information received from the AP;
wherein the comparing neighborhood node location information comprises comparing the first and second adjacency matrixes.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LRT is performed substantially in accordance with the following equation:
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9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LRT is performed using a perceived connectivity of nodes proximate the AP.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LRT is performed using an actual link quality of nodes proximate the AP.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neighborhood node proximity information received from the AP comprises the signal strength of each of the nodes capable of communicating with the AP.
12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the threshold level T is determined using propagation parameters associated with the WLAN.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nodes proximate the AP comprise those nodes within 1 hop of the AP.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nodes proximate the AP comprise those nodes within 2 hops of the AP.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is repeated for each of a plurality of APs within the network.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the location information being stored within a database for each AP is updated in response to location information validated for multiple APs.
17. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing software instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for validating location information associated with an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the location information being stored within a database, the method comprising:
retrieving from the database neighborhood node location information associated with the AP;
receiving, from the AP, neighborhood node proximity information; and
comparing a neighborhood metric of a node to a threshold value determined using a neighborhood metric test to determine thereby whether the neighborhood node location information received from the database includes any errors.
18. Computing apparatus comprising a memory for storing computer instructions and a processor for executing the stored instructions, wherein the software instructions adapt the operation of the computer to perform a method for validating location information associated with an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the location information being stored within a database, the method comprising:
retrieving from the database neighborhood node location information associated with the AP;
receiving, from the AP, neighborhood node proximity information; and
comparing a neighborhood metric of a node to a threshold value determined using a neighborhood metric test to determine thereby whether the neighborhood node location information received from the database includes any errors.
19. The computing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the computing apparatus is part of a network management system.
20. A method for validating location information associated with an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the location information being stored within a database, the method comprising:
retrieving from the database neighborhood node location information associated with the AP;
receiving, from the AP, neighborhood node proximity information; and
comparing a neighborhood metric of a node to a threshold value determined using a neighborhood metric test to determine thereby whether the neighborhood node location information received from the database includes any errors.