Using area-based presentations and metrics for localization systems in wireless LANs

• Published in: 29th Annual IEEE International Conference on Local Computer Networks pp. 650 - 657
• Main Authors: Elnahrawy, E., Xiaoyan Li, Martin, R.P.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Los Alamitos CA IEEE 2004; IEEE Computer Society
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Computer errors; Computer networks; Computer science; Computer science; control theory; systems; Computer systems and distributed systems. User interface; Costs; Exact sciences and technology; Investments; Local area networks; Measurement; Software; Ultrasonic imaging; Uncertainty; Wireless LAN; Wireless network; Uncertainty; Metric; Critical point; Distributed system; Localization
• ISBN: 9780769522609; 0769522602
• ISSN: 0742-1303
• DOI: 10.1109/LCN.2004.132

We show the utility of WLAN localization using areas and volumes as the fundamental localization unit. We demonstrate that area-based algorithms have a critical advantage over point-based approaches because they are better able to describe localization uncertainty, which is a common theme across WLAN based localization systems. Next, we present two novel area-based algorithms. To evaluate area-based approaches, we introduce several new localization performance metrics. We then evaluate the two algorithms using our metrics with data collected from our local WLAN. Finally, we compare our area-based algorithms against traditional point-based approaches. We find that using areas improves the ability of the localization system to give users meaningful alternatives in the face of position uncertainty.