find the nearest wireless access point

Is this a class project or skool project?

Access points do not move. Clients move. Therefore, all that would be necessary is a database of access points and their location. These can be found in various hot-spot locators on the web or you can make your own using Netstumbler and a GPS. There is mapping and data conversion software available.

Please note that no matter what system you use, you're displaying YOUR location, not that of the access point. If you pickup a signal from far away, you'll have a large potential area in which the access point might be located. Such sniffing is full of errors.

"Give" is a dirty word. That implies push technology which shoves information at the user or into his laptop when not desired. I suggest you rephrase your project definition into something where the user requests, or polls for information.

That's roughly what "wireless mobile IP" is suppose to do.

An API is an application programming interface. In other words, a collection of libraries necessary to impliment some specific application. I can't really tell what your assignment or project actually requires as your project definition is rather vague and excessively broad. (I'm also the worlds worst programmist).

You might be interested in reading RFC3825. ftp://ftp.rfc-editor.org/in-notes/rfc3825.txt Basically, it pre-loads the Lat-Long and altitude (or floor number) in the access point. When a user associates, it delivers the location info the users computer. When they call 911 using a VoIP phone, the location info is forwarded to the PSAP (public safety answering point). If Netstumbler can add a feature to convince the wireless router to disgourge the required info, the maps might be more useful. It would be interesting to impliment this technology into common access points as part of the DHCP server, and supply AP location information without a GPS or sniffing.