# US 9,439,168 B2 · Use of RF signatures to detect moved wireless transmitters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,439,168 B2 - Document ID: US9439168B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/284,860 - Filed: 2014-05-22 - Published: 2015-11-26 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-22 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Douglas Neal Rowitch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9439168B2 ## CPC - H04W 64/003: {locating network equipment} - G01S 5/0249: {Determining position using measurements made by a non-stationary device other than the device whose position is being determined} - H04B 17/0082: {using service channels; using auxiliary channels} - H04B 17/309: Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters - H04W 4/025: {using location based information parameters} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract Location-independent approaches are provided for determining, using a mobile device, whether a wireless transmitter has been moved to a new location. An example method includes obtaining at least a portion of a reference radio frequency (RF) signature database; measuring signals from a plurality of wireless transmitters proximate to the mobile device; identifying a candidate wireless transmitter; deriving an observed radio frequency (RF) signature for the candidate wireless transmitter from signals from at least one wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters other than the candidate wireless transmitter; determining whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to a new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to a reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter; and generating an indicator that the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved responsive to the candidate wireless transmitter having been moved. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for identifying, using a mobile device, that a wireless transmitter has been moved, the method comprising: measuring, at the mobile device, signals from a plurality of wireless transmitters proximate to the mobile device; identifying, at the mobile device, a candidate wireless transmitter from the plurality of wireless transmitters, wherein identifying the candidate wireless transmitter comprises determining whether a wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters is a mobile wireless access point by determining whether the wireless transmitter has moved more than a predetermined number of times over a predetermined period of time, and identifying the wireless transmitter as the candidate wireless transmitter responsive to the wireless transmitter not being a mobile wireless access point; obtaining, at the mobile device, a reference radio frequency (RF) signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter, the reference RF signature comprising location-independent information associated with the candidate wireless transmitter; deriving, at the mobile device, an observed radio frequency (RF) signature for the candidate wireless transmitter from the measured signals of at least one wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters other than the candidate wireless transmitter; determining, at the mobile device, whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to a new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to the reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter; and generating, at the mobile device, an indicator indicative of whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the reference RF signature further comprises: receiving, at the mobile device, the reference RF signature from a location server. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the reference RF signature further comprises: accessing the reference RF signature in a memory of the mobile device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending the indicator to a location server responsive to the indicator indicating that the candidate wireless transmitter has moved. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to the new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to the reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter further comprises: comparing at least one identifier associated with at least one wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters other than the candidate wireless transmitter with at least one identifier of at least one wireless transmitter associated with the reference RF signature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the reference RF signature and the observed RF signature are derived based on at least one of a received signal strength or measured path loss associated with the at least one wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to the new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to the reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter further comprises: comparing a first distance from the candidate wireless transmitter associated with the reference RF signature at which the reference RF signature was generated with a second distance from the candidate wireless transmitter associated with the observed RF signature at which the observed RF signature was generated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: adjusting a weight associated with the candidate wireless transmitter in response to the indicator indicating that the candidate wireless transmitter has moved, the weight indicative of a reliability of a location associated with the candidate wireless transmitter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a new position of the candidate wireless transmitter at the mobile device responsive to the indicator that the candidate wireless transmitter has moved. ### Claim 10 An apparatus for identifying, using a mobile device, that a wireless transmitter has been moved, the apparatus comprising a memory and a processor, the apparatus further comprising: means for measuring signals, at the mobile device, from a plurality of wireless transmitters proximate to the mobile device; means for identifying, at the mobile device, a candidate wireless transmitter from the plurality of wireless transmitters, wherein the means for identifying the candidate wireless transmitter comprises means for determining whether a wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters is a mobile wireless access point by determining whether the wireless transmitter has moved more than a predetermined number of times over a predetermined period of time and means for identifying the wireless transmitter as the candidate wireless transmitter responsive to the wireless transmitter not being a mobile wireless access point; means for obtaining, at the mobile device, a reference radio frequency (RF) signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter, the reference RF signature comprising location-independent information associated with the candidate wireless transmitter; means for deriving, at the mobile device, an observed radio frequency (RF) signature for the candidate wireless transmitter from the measured signals of at least one wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters other than the candidate wireless transmitter; means for determining, at the mobile device, whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to a new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to the reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter; and means for generating, at the mobile device, an indicator indicative of whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: means for receiving, at the mobile device, the reference RF signature from a location server. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for obtaining the reference RF signature further comprises: means for accessing the reference RF signature in a memory of the mobile device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: means for sending the indicator to a location server responsive to the indicator indicating that the candidate wireless transmitter has moved. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for determining whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to the new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to the reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter further comprises: means for comparing at least one identifier associated with at least one wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters other than the candidate wireless transmitter with at least one identifier of at least one wireless transmitter associated with the reference RF signature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for determining whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to the new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to the reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter further comprises: means for comparing a first distance from the candidate wireless transmitter associated with the reference RF signature at which the reference RF signature was generated with a second distance from the candidate wireless transmitter associated with the observed RF signature at which the observed RF signature was generated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: means for adjusting a weight associated with the candidate wireless transmitter in response to the indicator indicating that the candidate wireless transmitter has moved, the weight indicative of a reliability of a location associated with the candidate wireless transmitter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for determining a new position of the candidate wireless transmitter at the mobile device responsive to the indicator that the candidate wireless transmitter has moved. ### Claim 18 A mobile device for identifying that a wireless transmitter has been moved, the mobile device comprising: a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory; a plurality of modules comprising processor executable code stored in the memory; a processor connected to the memory and configured to access the plurality of modules stored in the memory; and a radio frequency (RF) signature module configured to measure signals from a plurality of wireless transmitters proximate to the mobile device; identify a candidate wireless transmitter from the plurality of wireless transmitters, wherein the RF signature module is configured to determine whether a wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters is a mobile wireless access point by determining whether the wireless transmitter has moved more than a predetermined number of times over a predetermined period of time, and identify the wireless transmitter as the candidate wireless transmitter responsive to the wireless transmitter not being a mobile wireless access point; obtain a reference radio frequency (RF) signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter, the reference RF signature comprising location-independent information associated with the candidate wireless transmitter; derive an observed radio frequency (RF) signature for the candidate wireless transmitter from the measured signals of at least one wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters other than the candidate wireless transmitter; determine whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to a new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to the reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter; and generate an indicator indicative of whether the candidate wireless transmitter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The mobile device of claim 18 wherein the RF signature module is configured to receive the reference RF signature from a location server. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The mobile device of claim 18 wherein the RF signature module is configured to access the reference RF signature in a memory of the mobile device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The mobile device of claim 18 wherein the RF signature module is further configured to: send the indicator to a location server responsive to the indicator indicating that the candidate wireless transmitter has moved. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The mobile device of claim 18 wherein the RF signature module being configured to determine whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to the new location is further configured to: compare at least one identifier associated with at least one wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters other than the candidate wireless transmitter with at least one identifier of at least one wireless transmitter associated with the reference RF signature. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The mobile device of claim 18 wherein the reference RF signature and the observed RF signature are derived based on at least one of a received signal strength or measured path loss associated with the at least one wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The mobile device of claim 18 wherein the RF signature module being configured to determine whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to the new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to the reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter is further configured to: compare a first distance from the candidate wireless transmitter associated with the reference RF signature at which the reference RF signature was generated with a second distance from the candidate wireless transmitter associated with the observed RF signature at which the observed RF signature was generated. ### Claim 25 A non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon computer-readable instructions for identifying, using a mobile device, that a wireless transmitter has been moved, comprising instructions configured to cause at least one processor to: measure, at the mobile device, signals from a plurality of wireless transmitters proximate to the mobile device; identify, at the mobile device, a candidate wireless transmitter from the plurality of wireless transmitters, wherein the instructions configured to cause the computer to identify the candidate wireless transmitter comprise instructions configured to cause the computer to determine whether a wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters is a mobile wireless access point by determining whether the wireless transmitter has moved more than a predetermined number of times over a predetermined period of time, and to identify the wireless transmitter as the candidate wireless transmitter responsive to the wireless transmitter not being a mobile wireless access point; obtain, at the mobile device, a reference radio frequency (RF) signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter, the reference RF signature comprising location-independent information associated with the candidate wireless transmitter; derive, at the mobile device, an observed radio frequency (RF) signature for the candidate wireless transmitter from the measured signals of at least one wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters other than the candidate wireless transmitter; determine, at the mobile device, whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to a new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to the reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter; and generate, at the mobile device, an indicator indicative of whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to obtain the reference RF signature further comprise instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to: receive the reference RF signature from a location server. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to obtain the reference RF signature further comprise instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to: access the reference RF signature in a memory of the mobile device. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to: send the indicator to a location server responsive to the indicator indicating that the candidate wireless transmitter has moved. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to determine whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to the new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to the reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter further comprise instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to: compare at least one identifier associated with at least one wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters other than the candidate wireless transmitter with at least one identifier of at least one wireless transmitter associated with the reference RF signature. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to determine whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to the new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to the reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter further comprise instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to: compare a first distance from the candidate wireless transmitter associated with the reference RF signature at which the reference RF signature was generated with a second distance from the candidate wireless transmitter associated with the observed RF signature at which the observed RF signature was generated.