US 9,883,345 B2 · System and method for geography-based correlation of cellular and WLAN identifiers

Abstract

Methods and systems for tracking mobile communication terminals based on their identifiers. The disclosed techniques identify cellular terminals and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) terminals that are likely to be carried by the same individual, or cellular and WLAN identifiers that belong to the same multi-mode terminal. A correlation system is connected to a cellular network and to a WLAN. The system receives location coordinates of cellular identifiers used by mobile terminals in the cellular network, and location coordinates of WLAN identifiers used by mobile terminals in the WLAN. Based on the location coordinates, the system is able to construct routes that are traversed by the terminals having the various cellular and WLAN identifiers. The system attempts to find correlations in time and space between the routes.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for determining a WLAN identifier for a target terminal that communicates on both a cellular network and a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising:

obtaining:
a location of the target terminal in the cellular network from a cellular identifier for the target terminal, and
locations of candidate terminals in the WLAN from WLAN identifiers for the candidate terminals;
comparing the location of the target terminal in the cellular network to the locations of the candidate terminals in the WLAN;
identifying, based on the comparison, candidate terminals in the vicinity of the target terminal at the same time;
repeating the obtaining, comparing, and identifying to determine the WLAN identifier of the target terminal.

3 more elements

A system for obtaining a WLAN identifier for a target terminal that communicates on both a cellular network and a wireless local area network (WLAN), the system comprising

a cell interface connected to a cellular network and receiving cellular identifiers from terminals communicating on the cellular network;
a WLAN interface connected to one or more WLANs and receiving WLAN identifiers from terminals communicating on the one or more WLANs;
electronic memory storing software and data;
a correlation processor in communication with the cell interface, WLAN interface, and electronic memory, wherein upon execution, the software causes the processor to:
obtain a location of the target terminal in the cellular network from a cellular identifier for the target terminal, and locations of candidate terminals in the WLAN from WLAN identifiers for the candidate terminals;
compare the location of the target terminal in the cellular network to the locations of the candidate terminals in the WLAN;
identify, based on the comparison, candidate terminals in the vicinity of the target terminal at the same time;
repeat obtaining, comparing, and identifying to determine the WLAN identifier of the target terminal.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/398,182Filed 4 Jan 2017 · continuation

Priority

IL 22448329 Jan 2013

Published

US 2017/0180940 A122 Jun 2017

Granted

30 Jan 2018

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H04W 4/026
Using location based information parameters: using orientation information, e.g. compass
H04M 1/724
Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection: user interfaces…
H04W 4/02
Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor: services making use of location information
H04W 4/025
Services making use of location information: using location based information parameters

Family

Application14/167,062Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Jan 2014

Application14/924,882Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Oct 2015

US 9,185,519 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Nov 2015

US 2017/0180940 A1Pre-grant publication · published 22 Jun 2017

US 9,578,462 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2014/0221004 A1Published application

US 2016/0050537 A1Published application

US 9,883,345 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

System and method for geography-based correlation of cellular and WLAN identifiers

Life of this patent

System and method for geography-based correlation of cellular and WLAN identifiers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20