An approach to increase the scalability of location systems in WLAN networks

This paper presents a software layer designed to reduce the consumption of network resources and, at the same time, the amount of location traffic being carried by indoor location systems that are able to use a variety of location techniques. This new layer in the user equipment selects the optimum technique depending on the request, i.e. the location technique that fulfils the required quality of service (QoS) and minimizes the resource operating expense. The factors used to compute resource consumption in WLAN networks are defined and quantified. Simulation is used to assess the impact of including the software developed in a network that supports several technologies, namely A-GPS, WLAN fingerprinting and inertial MEMS. Performance analysis shows how the application layer improves performance in terms of use of resources and percentage of successful location services (LCS).