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Wi-Fi Device Localization in an Indoor Environment Using Graph Mapping

Authors:
Abheek Saha
Mayank Maheshwari

Keywords: Wi-Fi tracking; Wi-Fi Probe requests; RSSI fingerprint; group dynamics; MAC address randomization

Abstract:
Indoor location tracking is an emerging technology that enables consumer oriented businesses such as retailers and hoteliers to better track movement patterns of visitors and generate key metrics like in/out count (footfall), dwell time and understand the popular route(s) inside the facility. These are in turn used for maximizing customer safety, scheduling of optimal workforce and optimal product placements. In this paper, a method is demonstrated for user position mapping by tracking the Wi-Fi signals sent by their smartphones as they walk through an indoor environment, using only the anonymous network probing signals emitted intermittently by each device. Our approach is scalable, unobtrusive and does not require active participation or installation of any special software on tracked devices, with minimal infrastructure costs. Since the devices are not connected to any access point, the signal is anonymized, which aids in protection of user privacy. It is shown how the raw metrics are used to generate accurate position data and ensemble dynamics over a known indoor topology, and how individual models of human behaviour can be used to predict mass movement of crowds in an indoor setting.

Pages: 1 to 7

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2020

Publication date: September 27, 2020

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4030

ISBN: 978-1-61208-802-0

Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Dates: from September 27, 2020 to October 1, 2020