Efficient AoA-based wireless indoor localization for hospital outpatients using mobile devices

The motivation of this work is to help outpatients find their corresponding departments or clinics, thus, it needs to provide indoor positioning services with a room-level accuracy. Unlike wireless outdoor localization that is dominated by the global positioning system (GPS), wireless indoor localization is still an open issue. Many different schemes are being developed to meet the increasing demand for indoor localization services. In this paper, we investigated the AoA-based wireless indoor localization for outpatients’ wayfinding in a hospital, where Wi-Fi access points (APs) are deployed, in line, on the ceiling. The target position can be determined by a mobile device, like a smartphone, through an efficient geometric calculation with two known APs coordinates and the angles of the incident radios. All possible positions in which the target may appear have been comprehensively investigated, and the corresponding solutions were proven to be the same. Experimental results show that localization error was less than 2.5 m, about 80% of the time, which can satisfy the outpatients’ requirements for wayfinding

Wi-Fi Fingerprinting for Indoor Positioning

Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Fingerprinting is a remarkable approach developed by modern science to detect the user’s location efficiently. Today, the Global Positioning System (GPS) is used to keep track of our current location for outdoor positioning. In GPS technology, satellite signals cannot reach indoor environments as they are shielded from obstructions so that indoor environments with a lack of Line of Sight (LoS) do not provide enough satellite signal accuracy. Since indoor environments are very difficult to track, thus, a wide variety of techniques for dealing with them have been suggested. The best way to offer an indoor positioning service with the current technology is Wi-Fi since the most commercial infrastructure is well equipped with Wi-Fi routers. For indoor positioning systems (IPS), Wi-Fi fingerprinting approaches are being extremely popular. In this paper, all the approaches for Wi-Fi fingerprinting have been reviewed for indoor position localization. Related to Wi-Fi fingerprinting, most of the algorithms have been interpreted and the previous works of other researchers have been critically analyzed in this paper to get a clear view of the Wi-Fi fingerprinting process

Wi-Fi Fingerprinting for Indoor Positioning

Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Fingerprinting is a remarkable approach developed by modern science to detect the user’s location efficiently. Today, the Global Positioning System (GPS) is used to keep track of our current location for outdoor positioning. In GPS technology, satellite signals cannot reach indoor environments as they are shielded from obstructions so that indoor environments with a lack of Line of Sight (LoS) do not provide enough satellite signal accuracy. Since indoor environments are very difficult to track, thus, a wide variety of techniques for dealing with them have been suggested. The best way to offer an indoor positioning service with the current technology is Wi-Fi since the most commercial infrastructure is well equipped with Wi-Fi routers. For indoor positioning systems (IPS), Wi-Fi fingerprinting approaches are being extremely popular. In this paper, all the approaches for Wi-Fi fingerprinting have been reviewed for indoor position localization. Related to Wi-Fi fingerprinting, most of the algorithms have been interpreted and the previous works of other researchers have been critically analyzed in this paper to get a clear view of the Wi-Fi fingerprinting process

Indoor Localization for Fire Safety : A brief overview of fundamentals, needs and requirements and applications

An indoor localization system for positioning evacuating people can be anticipated to increase the chances of a safe evacuation and effective rescue intervention in case of a tunnel fire. Such a system may utilize prevalent wireless technologies, e.g., Bluetooth, RFID and Wi-Fi, which today are used to survey incoming and outgoing traffic to a certain space or location, to estimate group sizes and to measure the duration of visits during normal operation of buildings. Examples also exist of where the same wireless technologies are used for safety purposes, for example to assess real-time location, tracking and monitoring of vehicles, personnel and equipment in mining environments. However, they are relatively few, and typically rely on a high degree of control over the people that are to be tracked, and their association with (connection to) the localization system used for the tracking. In this report, the results of a brief overview of the literature within the field of indoor localization in general, and the application of indoor localization systems within the field of particularly fire safety, is summarized. This information forms the underlying basis for the planning and execution of a future field study, in which an indoor Wi-Fi localization system will be tested and evaluated in terms of if, and if so how, it can be used to position evacuating people in tunnels. Whereas such a system allows digital footprints to be collected within a wireless network infrastructure (also already existing ones), questions remains to be answered regarding aspects such as precision and accuracy, and furthermore, how these aspects are affected by other independent variables. In the end of this report, examples of research questions deemed necessary to answer in order to enable a sound evaluation of the system is presented. These need to be addressed in the future planning of the above-mentioned field study

Optimizing Indoor Location Based Tracking through Proper Filter Selection and Wireless Sensor Network Design

Indoor positioning system (IPS) is a topic that is coming up more and more for various reasons, such as allowing companies to track important objects using radio frequency identification (RFID) and employees with Bluetooth devices inside a facility. Geofencing is one of the biggest topics with IPS and is meant to limit access to a network in specified areas. Devices that incorporate indoor tracking are not initially precise when objects and employees are on the move. This movement requires devices to have a reliable filter for noise and package lose. For this paper, the comparison between extended Kalman filters and unscented Kalman filter in a controlled environment will help indicate which is ideal for IPS tracking. Both filters will be applied and compared on location accuracy metrics. The proper design of the wireless network is also crucial for having an effective IPS method. This will show the difference in wireless networks and how the initial design will lead to greater chance of success for IPS

Femtocell Networks: A Survey

The surest way to increase the system capacity of a wireless link is by getting the transmitter and receiver closer to each other, which creates the dual benefits of higher quality links and more spatial reuse. In a network with nomadic users, this inevitably involves deploying more infrastructure, typically in the form of microcells, hotspots, distributed antennas, or relays. A less expensive alternative is the recent concept of femtocells, also called home base-stations, which are data access points installed by home users get better indoor voice and data coverage. In this article, we overview the technical and business arguments for femtocells, and describe the state-of-the-art on each front. We also describe the technical challenges facing femtocell networks, and give some preliminary ideas for how to overcome them.Comment: IEEE Communications Magazine, vol. 46, no.9, pp. 59-67, Sept. 200

A Survey of Positioning Techniques and Location Based Services in Wireless Networks

International audiencePositioning techniques are known in a wide variety of wireless radio access technologies. Traditionally, Global Positioning System (GPS) is the most popular outdoor positioning system. Localization also exists in mobile networks such as Global System for Mobile communications (GSM). Recently, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) become widely deployed, and they are also used for localizing wireless-enabled clients. Many techniques are used to estimate client position in a wireless network. They are based on the characteristics of the received wireless signals: power, time or angle of arrival. In addition, hybrid positioning techniques make use of the collaboration between different wireless radio access technologies existing in the same geographical area. Client positioning allows the introduction of numerous services like real-time tracking, security alerts, informational services and entertainment applications. Such services are known as Location Based Services (LBS), and they are useful in both commerce and security sectors. In this paper, we explain the principles behind positioning techniques used in satellite networks, mobile networks and Wireless Local Area Networks. We also describe hybrid localization methods that exploit the coexistence of several radio access technologies in the same region, and we classify the location based services into several categories. When localization accuracy is improved, position-dependant services become more robust and efficient, and user satisfaction increases

Survey on Wireless Indoor Positioning Systems

Indoor positioning has finally testified a rise in interest, thanks to the big selection of services it is provided, and ubiquitous connectivity. There are currently many systems that can locate a person, be it wireless or by mobile phone and the most common systems in outdoor environments is the GPS, the most common in indoor environments is Wi-Fi positioning technique positioning. The improvement of positioning systems in indoor environments is desirable in many areas as it provides important facilities and services, such as airports, universities, factories, hospitals, and shopping malls. This paper provides an overview of the existing methods based on wireless indoor positioning technique. We focus in this survey on the strengths of these systems mentioned in the literature discordant with the present surveys; we also assess to additionally measure various systems from the scene of energy efficiency, price, and following accuracy instead of comparing the technologies, we also to additionally discuss residual challenges to correct indoor positioning