Method and apparatus for wireless network data collection

1. A method, on an electronic device, the method comprising:

collecting a first set of unique wireless access point IDs;

collecting a second set of unique wireless access point IDs;

comparing the first set and the second set to determine intersecting wireless access point IDs of both the first set and the second set and non-intersecting wireless access point IDs of the second set;

if a number of the intersecting wireless access point IDs meets an intersection threshold for the first set, adding the non-intersecting wireless access point IDs of the second set to the first set, wherein the intersection threshold for the first set is a preselected percentage of a number of unique wireless access point IDs of the first set;

updating a confidence level for the unique wireless access point IDs of the first set that correspond to the intersecting wireless access point IDs; and

determining geographic information for the unique wireless access point IDs of the first set that meet a confidence threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collecting the second set of unique wireless access point IDs comprises:

initiating a scan for wireless access point IDs by the electronic device if a time since a previous scan by the electronic device meets a collection threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updating the confidence level comprises:

increasing the confidence level for a unique wireless access point ID of the first set based on a detection time duration for the unique wireless access point ID.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updating the confidence level comprises:

increasing the confidence level for a unique wireless access point ID of the first set based on a detection time for the unique wireless access point ID.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the geographic information comprises:

obtaining a geographic location associated with a wireless access point corresponding to a unique wireless access point ID of the first set.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the geographic information comprises:

determining a geographic proximity between at least two wireless access points, corresponding to the unique wireless access point IDs of the first set, based on a received signal strength indication for the at least two wireless access points.

7. An electronic device for a wireless network, the electronic device comprising:

a non-transitory memory; and

a processor configured to retrieve instructions from the non-transitory memory;

wherein:

the electronic device is configured to collect a first set of unique wireless access point IDs;

the electronic device is configured to collect a second set of unique wireless access point IDs;

the electronic device is configured to compare the first set and the second set to determine intersecting wireless access point IDs of both the first set and the second set and non-intersecting wireless access point IDs of the second set;

the electronic device is configured to add the non-intersecting wireless access point IDs of the second set to the first set if a number of the intersecting wireless access point IDs meets an intersection threshold for the first set, wherein the intersection threshold for the first set is a preselected percentage of a number of unique wireless access point IDs of the first set;

the electronic device is configured to update a confidence level for the unique wireless access point IDs of the first set that correspond to the intersecting wireless access point IDs; and

the electronic device is configured to determine geographic information for the unique wireless access point IDs of the first set that meet a confidence threshold.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:

the electronic device is configured to initiate a scan for wireless access point IDs if a time since a previous scan by the electronic device meets a collection threshold.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:

the electronic device is configured to increase the confidence level for a unique wireless access point ID of the first set based on a detection time duration for the unique wireless access point ID.

10. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:

the electronic device is configured to obtain a geographic location associated with a wireless access point that corresponds to a unique wireless access point ID of the first set.

11. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:

the electronic device is configured to determine a geographic proximity between at least two wireless access points, that correspond to the unique wireless access point IDs of the first set, based on a received signal strength indication for the at least two wireless access points.

12. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:

the electronic device is configured to increase the confidence level for a unique wireless access point ID of the first set based on a detection time for the unique wireless access point ID.

13. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of an electronic device and comprising computer-readable instructions for execution by a processor of the electronic device, the instructions, when executed by the processor, configured to cause the electronic device to:

collect a first set of unique wireless access point IDs;

collect a second set of unique wireless access point IDs;

compare the first set and the second set to determine intersecting wireless access point IDs of both the first set and the second set and non-intersecting wireless access point IDs of the second set;

if a number of intersecting wireless access point IDs meets an intersection threshold for the first set, add the non-intersecting wireless access point IDs of the second set to the first set, wherein the intersection threshold for the first set is a preselected percentage of a number of unique wireless access point IDs of the first set;

update a confidence level for the unique wireless access point IDs of the first set that correspond to the intersecting wireless access point IDs; and

determine geographic information for the unique wireless access point IDs of the first set that meet a confidence threshold.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein instructions, of the instructions, configured to cause the electronic device to collect the second set of unique wireless access point IDs comprises instructions configured to cause the electronic device to:

initiate a scan for wireless access point IDs by the electronic device if a time since a previous scan by the electronic device meets a collection threshold.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein instructions, of the instructions, configured to cause the electronic device to update the confidence level comprises instructions configured to cause the electronic device to:

increase the confidence level for a unique wireless access point ID of the first set based on a detection time duration for the unique wireless access point ID.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein instructions, of the instructions, configured to cause the electronic device to update the confidence level comprises instructions configured to cause the electronic device to:

increase the confidence level for a unique wireless access point ID of the first set based on a detection time for the unique wireless access point ID.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein instructions, of the instructions, configured to cause the electronic device to determine the geographic information comprises instructions configured to cause the electronic device to:

obtain a geographic location associated with a wireless access point corresponding to a unique wireless access point ID of the first set.

18. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein instructions, of the instructions, configured to cause the electronic device to determine geographic information comprises instructions configured to cause the electronic device to:

determine a geographic proximity between at least two wireless access points, corresponding to the unique wireless access point IDs of the first set, based on a received signal strength indication for the at least two wireless access points.