System and method for determining location of rogue wireless access point

A system for determining a location of an unauthorized wireless access point (“AP”) accessing a communication network, comprising:

• a plurality of authorized APs;
• and
• a computing arrangement,
• wherein upon notification of existence of the unauthorized AP, at least three authorized APs of the plurality of the authorized APs track a beacon of the unauthorized AP, the at least three authorized APs generating a tracking data record which includes a location of each of the authorized APs and at least one (i) a first strength data corresponding to a strength of the tracking beacon as measured by each of the authorized APs and (ii) a first time data corresponding to a time period that it takes for the tracking beacon to arrive at each of the authorized APs, and
• wherein the computer determines the precise location of the unauthorized AP as a function of the tracking record and a calibrating data record, the calibrating record including (a) at least one of (i) a second strength data corresponding to a strength of a calibrating beacon as transmitted from a predetermined location within the communication network and received by each of the authorized APs and (ii) a second time data corresponding to a time period that it takes for the calibrating beacon to arrive from the predetermined location at each of the authorized APS, (b) the predetermined location and (c) the location of each of the authorized APS.

A computing device for determining a location of an unauthorized wireless access point (“AP”) accessing a communication network, comprising:

• a memory arrangement storing a calibrating data record;
• a communication arrangement communicating with the authorized APs;
• and
• a processor determining the precise location of the unauthorized AP as a function of at least one of a tracking data record and the calibrating data record,
• wherein the tracking record is generated by at least three authorized APs of a plurality of authorized APs during tracking of the unauthorized AP, the data record including a location of each of the authorized APs and at least one (i) a first strength data corresponding to a strength of a tracking beacon as measured by each of the authorized APs and (ii) a first time data corresponding to a time period that it takes for the tracking beacon to arrive at each of the authorized APs, and
• wherein the calibrating record includes (a) at least one of (i) a second strength data corresponding to a strength of a calibrating beacon as transmitted from a predetermined location within the communication network and received by each of the authorized APs and (ii) a second time data corresponding to a time period that it takes for the calibrating beacon to arrive from the predetermined location at each of the authorized APs,(b) the predetermined location and (c) the location of each of the authorized APs.