Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Authorship by Chapter
- Foreword
- Preface
- Part I Introduction to 802.11
- Part II 802.11 Quality of Service
- Part III 802.11 Security
- Part IV High Throughput 802.11
- Part V 802.11 Mesh Networks
- Part VI 802.11/Cellular Interworking
- Part VII Coexistence
- Part VIII 802.11 Network and Radio Resource Management
- Part IX 802.11 Range
- Part X 802.11 Hardware Design
- Part XI Wi-Fi Hotspots
- Part XII Wi-Fi Applications
- Chapter 30 A Discussion of 802.11 for Sensor Networks
- Chapter 31 Wi-Fi based Tracking Systems
- Chapter 32 Building the Mobile Computing Environment through Context-Aware Service Management
- Chapter 33 Experiments Using Small Unmanned Aircraft to Augment a Mobile Ad Hoc Network
- Part XIII Ultra WideBand (UWB)
- Part XIV Public Wireless Broadband
- Epilogue
- Index
Chapter 31 - Wi-Fi based Tracking Systems
from Part XII - Wi-Fi Applications
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Authorship by Chapter
- Foreword
- Preface
- Part I Introduction to 802.11
- Part II 802.11 Quality of Service
- Part III 802.11 Security
- Part IV High Throughput 802.11
- Part V 802.11 Mesh Networks
- Part VI 802.11/Cellular Interworking
- Part VII Coexistence
- Part VIII 802.11 Network and Radio Resource Management
- Part IX 802.11 Range
- Part X 802.11 Hardware Design
- Part XI Wi-Fi Hotspots
- Part XII Wi-Fi Applications
- Chapter 30 A Discussion of 802.11 for Sensor Networks
- Chapter 31 Wi-Fi based Tracking Systems
- Chapter 32 Building the Mobile Computing Environment through Context-Aware Service Management
- Chapter 33 Experiments Using Small Unmanned Aircraft to Augment a Mobile Ad Hoc Network
- Part XIII Ultra WideBand (UWB)
- Part XIV Public Wireless Broadband
- Epilogue
- Index
Summary
The advent of accurate, low-cost tracking solutions coupled with management requirements that demand to know where high-value assets are at all times have created a market for location systems that use Wi-Fi as their infrastructure. This chapter examines some of the issues and challenges associated with Wi-Fi location technology.
“Where's my stuff?”
One of the most sophisticated and promising applications that can grow out of Wi-Fi LAN implementation is the ability to track the location of assets and personnel within campus and enterprise environments. Network-based tracking uses a combination of networkcentric computers, radio tags or other wireless devices, base stations and application software to locate, track and monitor assets and personnel in real time. For the purpose of this book, we are only concerned with the ones which use existing Wi-Fi networks as their communications infrastructure.
This technology is a marvelous advantage over the manual process of searching for misplaced items and manual inventory. And, in critical healthcare and first-responder situations, the ability to immediately locate life-saving equipment or know the whereabouts of key personnel can be the difference between life and death.
Benefits of Tracking
Some important benefits of positioning and tracking systems include:
Track computers or assets without being in 'line-of-sight' inside or outside;
Monitor real time information via the corporate intranet (or remotely via an internet browser;
Solve expensive logistics and, in the case of hospitals, safety and liability problems by instantly locating high-value assets or the technically proficient people that are required to operate them;
[…]
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- Emerging Technologies in Wireless LANsTheory, Design, and Deployment, pp. 661 - 670Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007