It is a technology which can be used for location purposes due to its properties. Some technologies used for data transmission (i.e., WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, etc.) can be used for positioning operation due to the nature and characteristics of the emitted signal. Usually these technologies are used to emulate the GPS system.
Published in Chapter:
Location-Based Services to Improve Elderly and Handicapped Citizens’ Mobility
César Benavente-Peces (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain), Ander Garcia-Gangoiti (Vicomtech-IK4, Spain), José Manuel Pardo-Martín (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain), Francisco Javier Ortega-González (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain), and Javier Franco-Arroyo (Vicomtech-IK4, Spain)
Copyright: © 2013
|Pages: 18
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-3990-4.ch030
Abstract
This chapter is aimed at the analysis and description of various wireless technologies and methods for indoor location of mobile/portable devices in order to provide support services to elderly and handicapped people as well as to care and medical services. Indoor location is an open problem that has been analyzed in the last years in order to provide location-based positioning services that can improve the quality of life of end users. GPS location is not possible in these environments due to the lack of satellite coverage. Satellites’ signals are absorbed by buildings’ elements and cannot reach GPS receivers. As a consequence, no location is obtained. One must take into account that many elderly and handicapped people are most of the time in an indoor location. Thus, new technologies and techniques have to be investigated in order to provide additional location services indoors that complement those provided in outdoor situations by the GPS system.