Location-based tracking in a wireless network environment

Abstract

A communication system includes a base station disposed in a wireless network environment. During operation, the base station receives a first message communicated over a first fixed wireless access communication link from a mobile communication device. The base station receives a second message communicated over a second fixed wireless access communication link from the mobile communication device. Via the first message and the second message, the base station tracks a current location of the mobile communication device in the wireless network environment.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 retrieving data associated with a communication device;   producing a communication in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol;   encoding a portion of the communication to be decodable via a second wireless communication protocol, the portion of the communication including the data; and   wirelessly transmitting the communication.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 producing the communication to include a notification that the communication includes the portion that is decodable via the second wireless communication protocol. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the data includes: i) location information indicating a current location of the communication device in the wireless network environment, and ii) a unique identifier value assigned to the communication device. 
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 producing the portion of the communication to include a notification that the portion of the communication is encoded in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the first wireless communication protocol is a WiFi™ protocol; and
 wherein the second wireless communication protocol is an LTE wireless communication protocol. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein wirelessly transmitting the communication includes:
 transmitting the communication from the communication device over a first wireless communication link to a wireless access point via the first wireless communication protocol.   
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 6  further comprising:
 wherein wirelessly transmitting the communication further includes: transmitting the received communication from the wireless access point to a wireless station supporting a fixed wireless access communication link. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 7  further comprising:
 from the wireless station, transmitting a message via the second wireless communication protocol over the fixed wireless access communication link, the message including the portion of the communication transmitted over the first wireless communication link between the communication device and the wireless access point. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the data indicates an identity of a wireless access point to which the communication is transmitted. 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 9 , wherein the communication is a first communication; and
 wherein the wireless access point supports wireless transmission of a second communication in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol.   
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a communication device operative to:
 retrieve data; 
 produce a communication in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol; 
 encode a portion of the communication to be decodable via a second wireless communication protocol, the portion of the communication including the data; and 
 wirelessly transmit the communication. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system as in  claim 11 , wherein the communication device is further operative to:
 produce the communication to include a notification that the communication includes the portion that is decodable via the second wireless communication protocol.   
     
     
         13 . The system as in  claim 11 , wherein the data includes: i) location information indicating a current location of the communication device in the wireless network environment, and ii) a unique identifier value assigned to the communication device. 
     
     
         14 . The system as in  claim 11 , wherein the communication device is further operative to:
 produce the portion of the communication to include a notification that the portion of the communication is encoded in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol.   
     
     
         15 . The system as in  claim 11 , wherein the first wireless communication protocol is a WiFi™ protocol; and
 wherein the second wireless communication protocol is an LTE wireless communication protocol. 
 
     
     
         16 . The system as in  claim 11 , wherein the communication device is further operative to:
 transmit the communication from the communication device over a first wireless communication link to a wireless access point in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol.   
     
     
         17 . The system as in  claim 16 , wherein the wireless access point is operative to:
 transmit the received communication from the wireless access point to a wireless station supporting a fixed wireless access communication link.   
     
     
         18 . The system as in  claim 17 , wherein the wireless station is operative to transmit a message in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol over the fixed wireless access communication link, the message including a portion of the communication transmitted over the first wireless communication link between the communication device and the wireless access point. 
     
     
         19 . The system as in  claim 11 , wherein the data indicates an identity of a wireless access point to which the communication is transmitted. 
     
     
         20 . The system as in  claim 19 , wherein the communication is a first communication; and
 wherein the wireless access point supports wireless transmission of a second communication in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol.   
     
     
         21 . Computer-readable storage hardware having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when carried out by computer processor hardware, cause the computer processor hardware to:
 retrieve data associated with the mobile communication device;   produce a communication in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol;   encode a portion of the communication to be decodable via a second wireless communication protocol, the portion of the communication including the data; and   wirelessly transmit the communication.