2d web trilateration

Abstract

The invention provides systems and methods of locating a network device based on the time latency between a request by a user device and the receipt of the request by a plurality of satellite servers provided at different locations. Preferably three or more satellites may be employed. The request may be for an item, which may have a known file size, and which may or may not exist. Triangulation techniques may be utilized to determine the location of the device relative to the satellite servers.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A system for determining the physical location of a user device, comprising:
 the user device, configured to send an item request originating from the physical location of the user device;   a first plurality of satellite servers, wherein each satellite server is configured to receive the item request originating from the physical location of the user device and wherein each satellite server of said first plurality is positioned at a known location;   a master server, configured to determine a region of the physical location of the user device based on known locations of the satellite servers and relative times that the satellite servers receive the item request originating from the physical location of the user device, using a triangulation technique; and   a second plurality of satellite servers, wherein the second plurality of satellite servers are within the region of the physical location of the user device, and wherein the master server is configured to determine the physical location of the user device based on a known location of the second plurality of satellite servers and relative times that the second plurality of satellite servers received the item request originating from the physical location of the user device, using a triangulation technique.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the second plurality of satellite servers includes at least one satellite server from the first plurality of satellite servers. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the first plurality of satellite servers comprises at least three satellites. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the second plurality of satellite servers comprises at least three satellites. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the master server is further configured to determine, for each satellite server of the first plurality, an amount of time for the item request originating from the physical location of the user device to travel from the user device to the satellite server based on the relative time the satellite server receives the item request, and correlate the amount of time for the item request to travel with a distances between the user device and the satellite server. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the master server is further configured to determine, for each satellite server of the second plurality, an amount of time for the item request originating from the physical location of the user device to travel from the user device to the satellite server based on the relative time the satellite server receives the item request, and correlate the amount of time for the item request to travel with a distances between the user device and the satellite server. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the correlation is a linear correlation. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the correlation is a linear correlation. 
     
     
         32 . A system for determining the physical location of a user device, comprising:
 the user device, configured to send an item request originating from the physical location of the user device;   a first plurality of satellite servers, wherein each satellite server is configured to receive the item request originating from the physical location of the user device and wherein each satellite server of said first plurality is positioned at a known location;   a master server, configured to (1) determine a region of the physical location of the user device based on (a) the known location of the first plurality of satellite servers and (b) relative times that the satellite servers of the first plurality of satellite servers receive the item request originating from the physical location of the user device, using a triangulation technique, and (2) determine a measure of accuracy of the region of the physical location of the user device; and   a second plurality of satellite servers, wherein the master server is configured to further determine the physical location of the user device based on (a) known locations of the satellite servers of the second plurality and (b) relative times that the satellite servers of the second plurality of satellite serves received the item request originating from the physical location of the user device, using a triangulation technique, wherein the second plurality of satellite servers is employed when the accuracy of the region of the physical location of the user device determined by the master server falls below a predetermined accuracy tolerance.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the second plurality of satellite servers includes at least one satellite server from the first plurality of satellite servers. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the first plurality of satellite servers comprises at least three satellites. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the second plurality of satellite servers comprises at least three satellites. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the master server is further configured to determine an amount of time it took for the item request originating from the physical location of the user device to travel from the user device to the second plurality of satellite servers based on the relative times the satellite servers received the item request, and correlate an amount of time it took for the item request to travel a distance between the user device and the second plurality of satellite servers. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the correlation is a linear correlation. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the correlation is a linear correlation. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the accuracy tolerance is related to an error in the known location of the first set of satellite servers.