Method and system to confirm co-location of multiple devices within a geographic area

Abstract

A method and system to confirm co-location of multiple devices within a geographic area, while filtering spurious alarms, is provided. An example method comprises processing first GPS data obtained from a first GPS sensor and second GPS data obtained from a second GPS sensor. A sensing data evaluator compares a sensing error from the first GPS data and a sensing error from the second GPS data. Based on the result of the comparing, the sensing data evaluator determines whether the sensing errors are to be ignored. An approach where an alarm that otherwise would be generated is disabled or canceled may be termed as filtering spurious alarms.

1 . A method for monitoring co-location of electronic devices in a geographical zone, the method comprising:
 determining, using a first Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with a first electronic device, a location of the first electronic device;   determining, using a second IP address associated with a second electronic device, a location of the second electronic device;   comparing at least one of the geographic location of the first electronic device and the geographic location of the second electronic device with reference location data associated with the geographical zone; and   based on a result of the comparison, generating an alarm when at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device is external to the geographical zone.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of disabling a service of at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device in response to the alarm being generated. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is a personal computer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said geographical zone is defined by a reference distance around a reference location. 
     
     
         6 . A computer-implemented system for monitoring co-location of electronic devices in a geographical zone, the system comprising:
 a memory; and   at least one processor coupled to the memory;   wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine, using a first Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with a first electronic device, a location of the first electronic device; and 
 determine, using a second IP address associated with a second electronic device, a location of the second electronic device; 
 compare at least one of the geographic location of the first electronic device and the geographic location of the second electronic device with reference location data associated with the geographical zone; and 
 based on a result of the comparison, generate an alarm when at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device is external to the geographical zone. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to disable a service of at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device in response to the alarm being generated. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first device is a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first device is a personal computer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said geographical zone is defined by a reference distance around a reference location.