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Location-based services What are location-based services?
Location-based services (or LBS) provide geographic context for applications such as wayfinding, asset tracking, and marketing campaigns. Wi‑Fi location-based services rely on ranging techniques from the access point (AP) to the client device to determine position. For this reason, accurate location-based services rely on accurate placement of APs as the reference points for client measurements.
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- Location-based services explained
- What are the use cases for location-based services?
- What is the market opportunity for location-based services?
- How does indoor location differ from outdoor location?
- What is the role of APs in Wi‑Fi location-based services?
- How do APs overcome the challenge of weak GPS signals indoors?
- Why do Wi‑Fi 6E and in the future Wi‑Fi 7 require accurate location?
- What is 802.11mc?
- What is 802.11az?
- What is Open Locate?
- Benefits of Wi‑Fi location-based services
Location-based services explained
Location-based services describe the delivery of applications that are location-aware. Several wireless technologies can be used including:
- Wi‑Fi ranging techniques that are based on 802.11mc (fine time measurement) or Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) method
- Ultra-wideband (UWB) which operates at very high frequencies and requires an expensive overlay network to deliver centimeter-level accuracy
- Bluetooth battery-operated beacons that can work with Wi‑Fi APs
What are the different types of location-based services?
Comparison of Wi‑Fi location-based services techniques
Relative Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) | Angle of Arrival (AoA) | Ultra-wide Band (UWB) | FTM(802.11mc/802.11az) |
---|---|---|---|
Description: The oldest and least accurate method to estimate distance | Description: BLE combined with signal strength method to improve poor accuracy | Description: Location is determined based on high-frequency, close range measurements | Description: Location is determined based on highly granular, round-trip measurement times |
Limitations: Signal is impacted by building and environmental materials, thereby reducing accuracy | Limitations: Requires custom RF hardware | Limitations: Overlay deployment with high effort, high cost | Limitations: Wi‑Fi APs must support FTM |
Level of accuracy: 10 meters | Level of accuracy: Unknown | Level of accuracy: Several centimeters | Level of accuracy: 1-2 meters to several centimeters |