A resource utilizing approach towards implementing indoor localization using Wi-Fi network

Abstract

Outdoor positioning system like GPS tracks an object using the established satellite links and performs triangulation to locate it on the 2D surface of earth using signals from at least three satellites. The need for a specifically designed indoor localizing system is felt strongly since the GPS is useless within indoor environment. Indoor positioning systems are at the vanguard of providing context aware services such as path finding or roaming facilities in public places such as railway stations, airports, hospitals, shopping malls etc. which are often equipped with local wireless networks which mostly comprise of Wi-Fi routers being used for data transferring purposes only. Considering these already available infrastructure and the relatively unutilized nature of the resources, we propose a model that uses these resources to establish an indoor positioning system. This proposed model uses the signal propagation characteristics of the RSSI from Wi-Fi routers and trilateration method to locate an object inside the indoor area. This model also incorporates an efficient technique to stabilize the signals collected for evaluation and also takes the historical data into consideration to increase the accuracy. The arrangement of the routers or Access Points (APs) within the area is also maintained in such a way that highest coverage and accuracy is ensured. Since the components necessary for the proposed model are relatively cheaper and easily deployable, it would be feasible to establish such a model to provide the users with indoor localization services with good accuracy.