CAPTURE - Cooperatively Applied Positioning Techniques Utilizing Range Extensions

Abstract

The most commonly implemented Indoor Location Based Solution uses existing Wi-Fi network components to locate devices within its range. While this technique offers obvious economic rewards by utilizing a preinstalled infrastructure, these network topologies were typically designed to provide network coverage to mobile devices rather than deliver an Indoor Location Based Solution. Large areas without coverage are common in these networks because network designers were not typically concerned about providing 100% coverage for mobile data. Hallways, toilet areas or other general purpose areas that ordinarily would not require network coverage did not get dedicated WAPs installed. Transient users navigating these areas of the network were un-locatable using this infrastructure. Furthermore the indoor arena is an especially noisy atmosphere, being home to other wireless devices such as Bluetooth Headsets, Cordless Phones and Microwave Ovens. Considering users spend more time in an indoor environment, over 88%, the need for a solution is obvious. Therefore, we propose a solution to resolve the issue of restricted coverage of Indoor Location Based solutions, using a cooperative localization technique - Cooperatively Applied Positioning Techniques Utilizing Range Extension (CAPTURE). CAPTURE offers a method of locating devices that are beyond the range of the current in-house location based solution. It presents a unique contribution to research in this field by offering the ability to utilize devices that know their location within a Location Based Solution (LBS), to evaluate the position of unknown devices beyond the range capacity of the LBS. This effectively extends the locating distances of an Indoor LBS by utilizing the existing mobile infrastructure without the need for any additional hardware. The proliferation of smart phones and the tablet form factor, bundled with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and gyroscopes – technologies currently used to track position, provide a fertile community for CAPTURE to cooperatively deliver a location solution.