fLogger - A WiFi and GSM information logging system for positioning purposes

The use of existing wireless communications infrastructure for positioning to meet the increasing requirement of the location based services is now a viable option. In recent years, the so-called signal “fingerprinting” technique based on WiFi and cellular phone information has been widely accepted as an effective method for indoor and urban positioning (it can also be used as an alternative when the user device does not incorporate a GPS receiver). Fingerprinting has two phases: training and positioning. During the training phase the received signal information across the area of interest is collected. This information includes MAC address (for WiFi), Cell ID (for cellular phone network), signal strength (for all), the position where the information is collected, etc. The software ‘fLogger’ was developed to collect WiFi and cellular station information in as an efficient manner as possible. There are two types of environment: indoors and outdoors. In outdoor situations GPS is used to provide the position (and time) information. Indoors a map of the building is utilised and position based on pixel coordinates is used. The data collected is analysed and stored in a database for the subsequent positioning phase, or other application.