MPSDK helps on Location calculation

By Bin Zhu (Intel) (4 posts) on October 31, 2007 at 12:26 am

Recently when looking into the location technology on mobile platform, I found that network awareness in MPSDK can also support to calculate the location of the device. Besides GPS, now more and more technologies are used to provide location info, like IP, WiFi, WiMAX, TV, etc. PlaceLab and Intel Location Technologies SDK give such a solution to fuse the multiple sources and calculate the best location.

While using WiFi or other wireless network to detect the location, user moves and may stop at a desk or in a room, then plug in a cable to connect wired. If user switches off the WiFi, we assume the device is staying in the same place with the last location by the radio, since it connects to a wired cable. If the WiFi location is still working, this wired connection can help improve the accuracy of location by judging the device is fixed.

So what will Mobile Platform SDK do in this situation? MPSDK contains the API of network adapter management and event notification when media is connected or disconnected for 802.3 link protocol, which means the wired cable is plugged in or out. It's easy for software developers to call in the API and register the event listener to detect the status of device. The multiple languages support of MPSDK will also benefit to Java based project like PlaceLab.

Categories: Mobility

Comments (4)

October 31, 2007 1:40 PM PDT

Jason Zhu (Intel)
 Bin, it's great that MPSDK can help identify the location of user.
How can translate from the status of network connectivity to location information? is there location database required to map WiFi or wireline node? and what about the accuracy?
November 1, 2007 1:46 AM PDT

Bin Zhu (Intel)
 Here the location info will be calculated from multiple sources, which is called fusion. WiFi is one of the sources. Yes, there's a location database to map the wireless access points. Some beason based algorithms are used for location computing, like fingerprint, centroid, etc.
Because the AP signal strength is always changing even at a same place, network awareness can help to determine if the device is fixed or not. It's a very little and easy enhancement for location fusion, specially by MPSDK, but will definitely increase the accuracy of location in some situation.
January 17, 2008 7:57 AM PST


Tyler		 Bin, can you shoot me an email so that I may send you an idea concerning additional points of reference for computing location? Thanks.
January 18, 2008 1:05 AM PST

Bin Zhu (Intel)
 Hi Tyler, thanks for sharing. You can reach me by bin.zhu@intel.com

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