Attaching visible networks for synchronous local search results
Aspects of the technology employ an integrated location identification and query processing technique. Network scan information is attached to or otherwise combined with a query at a client device and is sent to a web server or other entity for processing. When a query is initiated, the client device determines whether location services are enabled. If not, upon authorization they are enabled and visible network scan data is quickly obtained for transmission with the query. The server may include both a location identification service and a search service, and can split the received information accordingly among these elements in an efficient manner that minimizes data transfers and latency. From the client device's perspective, only one query is transmitted. Relevant results based on the resolved location are received quickly by the client device. This reduces system latency and power consumption, and also minimizes network overhead by eliminating unnecessary packet transmissions.
1. A method comprising:
determining, by one or more processors of a client device, whether a threshold condition corresponding to current location information for the client device has been met, the threshold condition being either a change of location permission of an application executable by the client device, or a determination that there has been a network connectivity change for the client device;
upon determining that the threshold condition corresponding to the current location information for the client device has been met, obtaining, by the one or more processors, visible network data from a wireless communication module of the client device, wherein obtaining the visible network data includes:
selecting a subset of visible network elements from among all visible network elements; and
obtaining the visible network data from the wireless communication module for the subset of visible network elements;
generating, by the one or more processors, an integrated request packet including at least some of the obtained visible network data and a client query;
transmitting the integrated request packet to a server;
receiving a location-enabled response to the client query in accordance with resolution of a location for the at least some of the obtained visible network data; and
generating, for presentation to a user of the client device, a result including the received location-enabled response.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the change of the location permission includes an authorization to use information associated with at least one of a WiFi network and a cellular network for location services.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to determining that the threshold condition corresponding to the current location information for the client device has been met, precomputing at least one of WiFi access point and cellular base station information for connected networks.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visible network data includes at least one of an access point ID, a base station ID, and received signal strength information.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the threshold condition corresponding to current location information for the client device has been met includes determining whether location information stored on the client device is older than a predetermined amount of time.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the result includes providing an electronic map for presentation on a display of the client device.
7. A client device, comprising:
a user interface module including one or more user input devices configured to receiver a user query;
a processing module including one or more processors;
a memory module having one or more memories configured to store data and instructions for execution by the processing module; and
a communication module including a wireless transceiver configured for bidirectional communication with one or more remote devices;
wherein the processing module is operatively coupled to the communication module, and is configured to:
determine whether a threshold condition corresponding to current location information for the client device has been met, the threshold condition being either a change of location permission of an application executable by the client device, or a determination that there has been a network connectivity change for the client device;
upon determining that the threshold condition corresponding to the current location information for the client device has been met, obtain visible network data from the wireless transceiver, wherein the processing module is configured to obtain the visible network data by:
selecting a subset of visible network elements from among all visible network elements; and
obtaining the visible network data from the wireless communication module for the subset of visible network elements;
generate an integrated request packet including at least some of the obtained visible network data and a client query;
cause the communication module to transmit the integrated request packet to a remote server;
receive a location-enabled response to the client query in accordance with resolution of a location for the at least some of the obtained visible network data; and
generate for presentation to a user of the client device, a result including the received location-enabled response.
8. The client device of claim 7 , wherein the change of the location permission includes an authorization to use information associated with at least one of a WiFi network and a cellular network for location services.
9. The client device of claim 7 , wherein the processing module is further configured, prior to determining that the threshold condition corresponding to the current location information for the client device has been met, to precompute at least one of WiFi access point and cellular base station information for connected networks.
10. The client device of claim 7 , wherein the processing module is configured to determine whether the threshold condition corresponding to current location information for the client device has been met by determining whether location information stored on the client device is older than a predetermined amount of time.