Next Question
RSS
Looks to me like the answers above essentially have it all answered. As I understand it, Skyhook essentially references a database of known wireless access points, where it knows their physical location in the world based on their MAC address (the unique serial-number embedded in every piece of network equipment), and tries to work out where you are based you your position relative to the wireless access-points you device can see.
Here's the Wikipedia entry on Skyhook: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyhook_Wireless
Of course, your iPod touch can't work out *exactly* where these Wi-Fi points are, but the more of them it can see, the better it can refine its estimate of your current position. So (usually urban) areas more-densely saturated with Wi-Fi hotspots are the best place to make use of Skyhook.
Of course, sometimes the people who own some of these Wi-Fi devices might occasionally move them. At times like that, if there aren't other Wi-Fi devices in range to show up the erroneous one, your position might be shown incorrectly. The Skyhook people do try to keep their info up to date though, both themselves and from submissions on their website.
Even though the iPhone has GPS, Skyhook works well in tandem with it. Skyhook is faster, and (relatively) well indoors, whereas GPS is slower and works better outdoors. Put the two together and you can get a rough guesstimate of your position quickly, with GPS refining the info soon after.
Source(s):
My own knowledge of Skyhook.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyhook_Wireless
Permalink | Report
imdashiy
Permalink | Report
Answered Question
January 03, 2009 10:47 PM
How does the iPod Touch Skyhook system work to determine the user's location through wireless LAN?
The iPhone can determine a user's location through cell towers and GPS, but how does the iPod Touch do this without either of those capabilities?
Interesting Question?
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
RSS
Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| January 04, 2009 01:31 AM |
Here's the Wikipedia entry on Skyhook: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyhook_Wireless
Of course, your iPod touch can't work out *exactly* where these Wi-Fi points are, but the more of them it can see, the better it can refine its estimate of your current position. So (usually urban) areas more-densely saturated with Wi-Fi hotspots are the best place to make use of Skyhook.
Of course, sometimes the people who own some of these Wi-Fi devices might occasionally move them. At times like that, if there aren't other Wi-Fi devices in range to show up the erroneous one, your position might be shown incorrectly. The Skyhook people do try to keep their info up to date though, both themselves and from submissions on their website.
Even though the iPhone has GPS, Skyhook works well in tandem with it. Skyhook is faster, and (relatively) well indoors, whereas GPS is slower and works better outdoors. Put the two together and you can get a rough guesstimate of your position quickly, with GPS refining the info soon after.
Source(s):
My own knowledge of Skyhook.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyhook_Wireless
| Asker's Rating: |
Permalink | Report
Reply
Cancel
Other Answers (2)
imdashiy
January 03, 2009 11:54 PM
There is a setting to turn on "location-aware," which also requires wireless Internet. Google Maps was then able to determine my location down to the block where I live, but I've heard it doesn't always work.
Tip imdashiy for this comment
Report
January 04, 2009 12:03 AM
- New Source
As a follow up I just found this article which lends some insight into the technology.
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/16158/
Report
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/16158/
January 04, 2009 12:09 AM
They actually have people drive around and record id's and gps locations of access points around North America and record those to database. So when you request your location to be found it sends the data of all the access points near by to Skyhook and then Skyhook returns a location back based on the data in their database.
Permalink | Report
Reply
Cancel
January 04, 2009 12:13 AM
They also have a submission form on their page where you can submit your own wireless LAN's MAC address and mark your geographical location on a Google map, if it's not there.
Needless to say, Skyhook is going to work the best in metropolitan areas.
Report
Needless to say, Skyhook is going to work the best in metropolitan areas.
Answer this Question
Related Questions
Adding songs to my ipod. anyone have any song suggestions?
Anyone have any ideas how make an unlocked Cdn #iPhone fully functional in the UK? Ph...
Awake and working. Anyone have any tips on PC building? This one's seen better days.
I am on NutriSystem Diet. I am trying to eat the MeatLoaf w potatoes. It isn't very g...
Anyone have any ideas how make an unlocked Cdn #iPhone fully functional in the UK? Ph...
Awake and working. Anyone have any tips on PC building? This one's seen better days.
I am on NutriSystem Diet. I am trying to eat the MeatLoaf w potatoes. It isn't very g...
No questions found.
In the currrent version, can Trillian Astra (pro or free) use webcam functions throug...
ITunes can authorize/play songs bought from different user id... how can I remove/de...
Anyone have any ideas how make an unlocked Cdn #iPhone fully functional in the UK? Ph...
I can't figure out why my pdf isn't linking to my wordpress blog. I insert it through...
ITunes can authorize/play songs bought from different user id... how can I remove/de...
Anyone have any ideas how make an unlocked Cdn #iPhone fully functional in the UK? Ph...
I can't figure out why my pdf isn't linking to my wordpress blog. I insert it through...
No questions found.
No questions found.
Ask a Question
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal
Top Members
Most Popular Tags
Categories
-
Arts & Design
-
Beauty & Style
-
Accessories
-
Clothing Types
-
Fashion
-
Hair
-
Make-up
-
Skin & Body
-
-
Books & Authors
-
Business
-
Cars & Transportation
-
Aircraft
-
Alternative Fuel
-
Bicycles
-
Boats & Watercraft
-
Buying & Selling
-
Cars & Trucks
-
Commuting
-
Motorcycles
-
Rail
-
Repairs & Maintenance
-
RVs
-
Vehicles
-
-
Consumer Electronics
-
Coupons and Deals
-
Education
-
Entertainment
-
Actors
-
Awards Shows
-
Beauty Pageants
-
Celebrities
-
Celebrity Chefs
-
Celebrity Gossip
-
Comedy
-
Documentaries
-
Entertainment Events
-
Fictional Characters
-
Models
-
Movies
-
1970s Films
-
1980s Films
-
1990s Films
-
Action Movies
-
Animated Movies
-
Bollywood
-
Christmas Movies
-
Classic Films (Pre-1960)
-
Comedy Movies
-
Contemporary Films
-
Crime Films
-
Crime Movies
-
Drama Movies
-
Fantasy Films
-
Film
-
Film Festivals
-
Filmmakers and Producers
-
Foreign Language Films
-
Horror Movies
-
Independent Films
-
Independent Movies
-
Movie Reviews
-
Movie Trailers
-
Musical Films
-
Oscars 2009
-
Romance Films
-
Sci-Fi Films
-
Sci-Fi Movies
-
Westerns
-
-
Musicals
-
Plays
-
Radio
-
Socialites and Adult Entertainers
-
TV
-
-
Environment
-
Fitness
-
Food & Drink
-
Alcoholic Beverages
-
Asian Cuisine
-
Beverages
-
Breakfast
-
Candy
-
Condiments
-
Cooking & Recipes
-
Dairy
-
Dessert
-
Dining Out
-
Entertaining
-
European Cuisine
-
Food
-
Fruits
-
International Cuisine
-
Local Food
-
Meat
-
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
-
Organic Food
-
Seafood
-
Snacks
-
Soup
-
Special Diets
-
Vegetables
-
-
From Email
-
From iPhone
-
From Twitter
-
Health
-
Alternative Medicine
-
Dental
-
Dermatology
-
Diet
-
Diseases & Conditions
-
Acne
-
ADHD
-
Allergies
-
Amyloidosis
-
Anemia
-
Arthritis
-
Asthma
-
Autism Spectrum Disorder
-
Burns
-
Cancer
-
Chicken Pox
-
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
-
Cystic Fibrosis
-
Diabetes
-
Diseases
-
Down Syndrome
-
Eczema
-
Emphysema
-
Epilepsy
-
Gout
-
Hearing Loss
-
Heart Disease
-
Hemorrhoids
-
Hepatitis
-
High Cholesterol
-
HIV/AIDS
-
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
-
Influenza
-
Insomnia
-
Kidney Stones
-
Lupus
-
Lyme Disease
-
Malaria
-
Meningitis
-
Migraines
-
Multiple Sclerosis
-
Obesity
-
Osteoporosis
-
Parkinson's Disease
-
Pneumonia
-
Psoriasis
-
Sexually-Transmitted Diseases
-
Swine Flu
-
Tuberculosis
-
-
Drugs
-
General Health Care
-
Health News
-
Health Stubs
-
Medications
-
Meditation
-
Men's Health
-
Mental Health
-
Nutrition
-
Optical
-
Public Health Concerns
-
Wellness
-
Women's Health
-
-
History
-
African History
-
Ancient History
-
Asian History
-
Australian History
-
European History
-
Middle Eastern History
-
North American History
-
South American History
-
Today in History
-
U.S. History
-
-
Hobbies
-
Home & Garden
-
How Tos
-
Humor
-
Jobs
-
Careers
-
Accounting & Finance
-
Advertising & PR
-
Arts & Entertainment
-
Banking & Finance
-
Clerical
-
Education Jobs
-
Engineering Jobs
-
Government & Military
-
Green Jobs
-
Hospitality
-
Human Resources
-
Journalism
-
Law Enforcement
-
Legal Jobs
-
Marketing
-
Medical
-
Pharmaceutical
-
Publishing
-
Real Estate
-
Sales Jobs
-
Technology Jobs
-
Travel Agent
-
Writing Jobs
-
-
Employee Benefits
-
Freelancing
-
Job Interviews
-
Job Search
-
Job Training
-
Networking
-
Resumes & Cover Letters
-
Telecommuting
-
Unemployment Benefits
-
-
Legal
-
Local
-
Love & Relationships
-
Mahalo Answers Community
-
Money
-
Music
-
News