Where it Works
To pinpoint location, WPS uses a massive reference network comprised of the known locations of tens of millions of access points. To develop this database, Skyhook has deployed drivers to survey every single street, highway, and alley in tens of thousands of cities and towns worldwide, scanning for Wi-Fi access points and plotting their precise geographic locations.
Skyhook currently provides coverage to 70 percent of the U.S., Canadian, and Australian populations. The top 50 metropolitan areas of Europe are covered along 70 percent of the population in Germany, France, and the UK. Skyhook is also expanding its Asian coverage.
Skyhook's European Tour
Check out our drivers as we expand coverage throughout Europe. Learn more about becoming a driver for Skyhook today.
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Coverage Area Management
A core component of WPS is the Reference Database of known 802.11 access points used as beacons for calculating location. The technology and operational effort to develop and maintain that datastore and the geographic coverage areas that result are fundamental to WPS' capability to deliver uniform accuracy and availability across that coverage area.
Baseline Data Collection and Establishing Coverage Areas
San Francisco Coverage Area
Data collection begins with identifying target geographic areas using population analysis. Skyhook territory planners build coverage schedules starting with population centers and then moving into residential and suburban areas.
Skyhook deploys a fleet of data collection vehicles to conduct a comprehensive access point survey within the target coverage areas. Every single passable street is included in the survey providing consistent coverage throughout the territory.
On-Going Reference Data Maintenance
Skyhook maintains the accuracy of the access point reference database through an ongoing and continuous process of data monitoring, analysis, and collection. The two main components are:
- 1. Automated Self-Healing Network
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Each WPS location transaction starts with a scan for nearby access points. The resulting access point information is then compared against the central reference network. Known access points (those already in the reference network) are used to calculate the location of the device.
Any access point that is either not in the database or was previously associated with a different geographic location is automatically identified and its current position entered into the database. In this manner, WPS automatically fixes and expands the reference network as it is being used.
- 2. Periodic Rescan
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Depending on the aging of the survey data and the density of user-generated updates, Skyhook periodically will rescan entire coverage areas to recalibrate the reference network, ensuring that performance remains consistent over time. Every territory added to Skyhook coverage is continuously monitored to assess the quality of the reference network and determine whether a rescan is required.