IP Library Granted Patent US 9,763,218
Granted Patent B2
US 9,763,218 · App. 15/205,581 · Granted Sep 12, 2017

System and method for determining a location for a device in a communication network

Inventors: Kevin J. Oerton (Waterloo, CA); Michael Peter Montemurro (Mississauga, CA)
Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
H04W64/00H04L67/42H04W4/00H04W24/02H04W84/02H04W72/0406H04W84/12H04W88/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,763,218
App. No.
15/205,581
Granted
Sep 12, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure recites a system and method of identifying location data for a server device managing communications for a wireless network. The method comprises: obtaining location data for the server device; identifying a location for the server device by analyzing at least the location data; updating data in the server device with the location; identifying a communication transmission range for the location for the server device; and configuring communications generated by the server device to conform to the communication transmission range.

Claims (44)

1. A method of identifying location data for an access point in order to initiate communications for a wireless network, the method comprising:

retrieving, at the access point, an initial location of the access point, the initial location of the access point comprising one of initial geo-location based location data or an initial country code, the initial location obtained from adjacent fixed access points; and, after both retrieving the initial location data, and when a triggering event occurs, the triggering event comprising one or more of a passage of a set amount of time, or detection that the access point has been located to a new network transmission area:

retrieving updated location data comprising an updated location of the access point, the updated location of the access point comprising one of updated geo-location based location data or an updated country code, the updated location obtained from further adjacent fixed access points, the updated location data comprising incomplete location information;

receiving additional location data from a transmission received from the wireless network, the additional location data being more geographically precise than the updated location data and supplementing the incomplete location information;

updating the updated location using the additional location data; and, when the updated location data is different from the initial location data:

identifying a communication transmission range that conforms with regulations of a spectrum management body administrating transmissions for the updated location of the access point; and,

configuring communications generated by the access point to utilize the communication transmission range and to conform to the regulations.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

initiating the wireless network by sending, from the access point to communication devices of the wireless network, a beacon signal to initiate communications with the communication devices of the wireless network, the access point acting as the master of the wireless network, the communication devices comprising portable communication devices.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the regulations define impermissible transmission frequencies for the access point for the updated location.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the regulations define an open communication transmission band for the updated location in a television broadcast band for the access point; and

the communications generated by the access point utilize the open communication transmission band.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the wireless network comprises an 802.11 wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein: the transmission is received from one or more communication devices in the wireless network.

7. An access point for processing communications from a plurality of communication devices to establish a wireless network, the access point comprising:

a processor and a memory device, the processor configured to:

retrieve an initial location of the access point, the initial location of the access point comprising one of initial geo-location based location data or an initial country code, the initial location obtained from adjacent fixed access points; and, after both retrieving the initial location data, and when a triggering event occurs, the triggering event comprising one or more of a passage of a set amount of time, or detection that the access point has been located to a new network transmission area:

retrieve updated location data comprising an updated location of the access point, the updated location of the access point comprising one of updated geo-location based location data or an updated country code, the updated location obtained from further adjacent fixed access points, the updated location data comprising incomplete location information;

receive additional location data from a transmission received from the wireless network, the additional location data being more geographically precise than the updated location data and supplementing the incomplete location information;

update the updated location using the additional location data; and,

when the updated location data is different from the initial location data:

identify a communication transmission range that conforms with regulations of a spectrum management body administrating transmissions for the updated location of the access point; and,

configure communications generated by the access point to utilize the communication transmission range and to conform to the regulations.

8. The access point of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

initiate the wireless network by sending, from the access point to communication devices of the wireless network, a beacon signal to initiate communications with the communication devices of the wireless network, the access point acting as the master of the wireless network, the communication devices comprising portable communication devices.

9. The access point of claim 7 , wherein:

the regulations define impermissible transmission frequencies for the access point for the updated location.

10. The access point of claim 7 , wherein:

the regulations define an open communication transmission band for the updated location in a television broadcast band for the access point; and

the communications generated by the access point utilize the open communication transmission band.

11. The access point of claim 7 , wherein:

the wireless network comprises an 802.11 wireless network.

12. The access point of claim 7 , wherein: the transmission is received from one or more communication devices in the wireless network.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program, wherein execution of the computer program is for identifying location data for an access point in order to initiate communications for a wireless network by:

retrieving, at the access point, an initial location of the access point, the initial location of the access point comprising one of initial geo-location based location data or an initial country code, the initial location obtained from adjacent fixed access points; and, after both retrieving the initial location data, and when a triggering event occurs, the triggering event comprising one or more of a passage of a set amount of time, or detection that the access point has been located to a new network transmission area:

retrieving updated location data comprising an updated location of the access point, the updated location of the access point comprising one of updated geo-location based location data or an updated country code, the updated location obtained from further adjacent fixed access points, the updated location data comprising incomplete location information;

receiving additional location data from a transmission received from the wireless network, the additional location data being more geographically precise than the updated location data and supplementing the incomplete location information;

updating the updated location using the additional location data; and,

when the updated location data is different from the initial location data:

identifying a communication transmission range that conforms with regulations of a spectrum management body administrating transmissions for the updated location of the access point;

configuring communications generated by the access point to utilize the communication transmission range and to conform to the regulations.

Assignments (8)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADDED PATENT NUMBER TO REMOVE PATENT NO. 8,873,407 AT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 64066 FRAME 1. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE DATE MARCH 20, 2023. Recorded Feb 2, 2026
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 074921/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT 12817157 APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 064015 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064807/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE COVER SHEET AT PAGE 50 TO REMOVE 12817157 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 063471 FRAME 0474. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
Reel/Frame 064806/0669 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064066/0001 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064015/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
Reel/Frame 063471/0474 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 31, 2017
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 042126/0115 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2016
From: OERTON, KEVIN J.; MONTEMURRO, MICHAEL PETER
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 039110/0211 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13193979 · Jul 29, 2011
Related Publication 20170013586A1 · Jan 12, 2017