Probabilistic location prediction for a mobile station

1. A method for probabilistic prediction of a location of a mobile station in a wireless local area network, the method comprising:

calculating by said mobile station a vector representing movement of said mobile station through a space in which two or more access points of said wireless local area network are located; and

determining a region surrounding said vector in which said mobile station has at least a given probability to be located within a certain period of time,

wherein calculating said vector includes using signal strength information regarding signals received at said mobile station over said wireless local area network and using the locations of one or more access points generating said signals.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating said vector further comprises using global positioning system data for said mobile station.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying which of said access points are accessible by said mobile station from within said region.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

reserving resources for said mobile station at one or more of said access points that are accessible.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

pre-authenticating said mobile station with one or more of said access points that are accessible.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein pre-authenticating said mobile station includes at least:

pre-authentication at the Data Link layer of said network according to the Open Systems Interconnection communication model.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein pre-authenticating said mobile station includes at least:

pre-authentication at the Data Link layer and the Network layer of said network according to the Open Systems Interconnection communication model.

8. A method for probabilistic prediction of a location of a mobile station in a wireless local area network, the method comprising:

calculating a vector representing movement of said mobile station through a space in which two or more access points of said wireless local area network are located; and

determining a region surrounding said vector in which said mobile station has at least a given probability to be located within a certain period of time,

wherein as said mobile station moves from a stationary state, said region is a deformed circle that is deformed in a direction of motion of said mobile station, and

wherein said mobile station comprises a wireless local area network controller that enables said mobile station to communicate over said wireless local area network.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying which of said access points are accessible by said mobile station from within said region.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

reserving resources for said mobile station at one or more of said access points that are accessible.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

pre-authenticating said mobile station with one or more of said access points that are accessible.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein pre-authenticating said mobile station includes at least:

pre-authentication at the Data Link layer of said network according to the Open Systems Interconnection communication model.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein pre-authenticating said mobile station includes at least:

pre-authentication at the Data Link layer and the Network layer of said network according to the Open Systems Interconnection communication model.

14. A server comprising:

an antenna;

a radio coupled to said antenna;

a wireless local area network controller coupled to said radio through which said server is able to communicate over a wireless local area network with mobile stations;

a processor coupled to said wireless local area network controller; and

memory to store code which, when executed by said processor, collects data of when, where and at what received signal strength indication said mobile stations roam and dynamically calculates therefrom a coverage area of an access point in said wireless local area network.

15. The server of claim 14 , wherein said code, when executed by said processor, calculates a vector representing movement of a wireless-enabled mobile station through a space in which two or more access points of said network are located and determines a region surrounding said vector in which said mobile station has at least a given probability to be located within a certain period of time.

16. The server of claim 15 , wherein said code, when executed by said processor, identifies, using at least said calculated coverage area and said determined region, which of said access points are accessible by said mobile station from within said region.

17. The server of claim 16 , wherein said code, when executed by said processor, reserves resources for said mobile station at one or more of said access points that are accessible.

18. The server of claim 16 , wherein said code, when executed by said processor, pre-authenticates said mobile station with one or more of said access points that are accessible.

19. The server of claim 16 , wherein said code, when executed by said processor, pre-authenticates, at the Data Link layer of said network according to the Open Systems Interconnection communication model, said mobile station with one or more of said access points that are accessible.

20. The server of claim 16 , wherein said code, when executed by said processor, pre-authenticates, at the Data Link layer and the Network layer of said network according to the Open Systems Interconnection communication model, said mobile station with one or more of said access points that are accessible.