Systems and methods for determining location over a network

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining location over a network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method comprises scanning, by a digital device, an area for one or more wireless networks, receiving one or more BSSIDs associated with the one or more wireless networks, generating a location request in a DNS protocol formatted message, the location request comprising the one or more BSSIDs, providing the location request, receiving a location response based on the location request, and retrieving at least one location identifier from the location response.

1 . A method comprising:
 scanning, by a digital device, an area for one or more wireless networks;   receiving one or more BSSIDs associated with the one or more wireless networks;   generating a location request in a DNS protocol formatted message, the location request comprising the one or more BSSIDs;   providing the location request;   receiving a location response based on the location request; and   retrieving at least one location identifier from the location response.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location response is formatted as a DNS protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising encoding the one or more BSSIDs in the location request. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decoding the at least one location identifier from the location response. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location request is provided to a location server on a network using an open port of a network access device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the open port is port 53. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one location identifier comprises a latitude and a longitude. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the at least one location identifier to an application of the digital device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing GPS coordinates and one or more network device identifiers to a server. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a scan module configured to scan an area for one or more wireless networks and to receive one or more BSSIDs associated with the one or more wireless networks;   a DNS module configured to generate a location request in a DNS protocol formatted message, the location request comprising the one or more BSSIDs and to provide the location request; and   a location module configured to receive a location response based on the location request and to retrieve at least one location identifier from the location response.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the location response is formatted as a DNS protocol. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the DNS module is further configured to encode the one or more BSSIDs in the location request. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the location module is further configured to decode the at least one location identifier from the location response. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the DNS module is configured to provide the location request to a location server on a network using an open port of a network access device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the open port is port 53. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one location identifier comprises a latitude and a longitude. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the location module is further configured to provide the at least one location identifier to an application of the digital device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the DNS module is further configured to provide GPS coordinates and one or more network device identifiers to a server. 
     
     
         19 . A computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions, the instructions comprising a method, the method comprising the steps of:
 scanning, by a digital device, an area for one or more wireless networks;   receiving one or more BSSIDs associated with the one or more wireless networks;   generating a location request in a DNS protocol formatted message, the location request comprising the one or more BSSIDs;   providing the location request;   receiving a location response based on the location request; and   retrieving at least one location identifier from the location response.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the location response is formatted as a DNS protocol.