Abstract
No attribute is more distinguishing and valuable to mobile network operators and their
constituents (customers, suppliers, and investors) than customer location information.
Location-based Services (LBS) are predicted to finally take off beginning in late 2005 to early
2006. Many people do not understand the underlying technologies necessary to position wireless
devices. This publication provides the reader with an easy to understand, step-by-step approach to
location determination - crucial knowledge for exploiting location as a value-added service enabler
for mobile communications.
Features and Benefits
This publication will answer your most important questions including:
- What are the primary positioning technologies for cellular communications and how do they work?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of various positioning methods for various types of
location-based services (LBS)?
Target Audience for this Publication
- Entrepreneurs and investors in the LBS applications and services industry
- Infrastructure and service providers in the positioning and location management sector
- Wireless carriers and location-based services providers
- Engineers, planners, product managers, and business development personnel
Table of Contents
Introduction
Overall Purpose
Why Is Mobile Positioning Important?
Mobile Positioning Technologies
Introduction to Positioning
Location Determination Methods (Non-Telephony)
Landmarks
Dead Reckoning
Celestial Navigation
Magnetic Tracking
Location Determination Methods for Mobile Applications
Location Positioning Determination Technologies
Satellite-Types Overview
Geostationary Satellites
Medium Earth Orbits
Low Earth Orbit Satellites
Elliptical Orbit Satellites
The Global Positioning System
Overview
GPS Coverage
GPS Calculations
Satellite Position Determination
GPS Device Distance From A Satellite Calculation
GPS Device Location Calculation
GPS Error Sources
- Selective Availability
- Tropospheric Delays
- Ionosphere Delays
- Multi-Path Delays
- GDOP/Visibility Delay
GPS Calculation Refinement
- Pseudo-Ranges
- Differential Correction
- WAAS
Other Considerations
- Alternatives to GPS
- Time To First Fix
- Cold Start
- Autonomous Start
- Warm Star
- Hot Start
- Obscuration
GPS Technical Data
Assisted GPS
A-GPS Historical Background
How A-GPS Works
GPS-Based Mobile Applications
Overview
Critical Success Factors
Business Case Development
Terrestrial Network-Based Location Technologies
Overview
GSM
History of GSM
Architecture
- Mobile Station
- Base Station Subsystem
- BTS
- BSC
- LMU
- Network and Switching Subsystem
- MSC
- HLR
- VLR
- EIR
- SMLC
- GMLC
Operations and Support Subsystem
GSM Location Management (Cell Handover for LBS)
GSM Basic Location Management
- Cell ID
- Cell and Sector
- Timing Advance
Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) and Angle of Arrival (AOA)
What Happened to Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD)
E-OTD versus TDOA
Comparing Handset-Based and Network-Based Location Strategies
RFID
- RFID Overview
- RFID Applications
- RFID Dimensions
The Strategic Implications of Wal-Marts RFID Mandate
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi/802.11 Overview
FHSS
DSSS
Specifications Overview
- 801.11
- 802.11a
- 802.11b
- 802.11g
Wi-Fi Location Technology
Received Signal Strength (RSSI)
Pattern Matching
Wireless Grid
Wi-Fi Location-Enabled Applications
