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A survey on wireless indoor localization from the device perspective
Xiao J., Zhou Z., Yi Y., Ni L. ACM Computing Surveys49 (2):1-31,2016.Type:Article
Date Reviewed: Oct 28 2016

This long survey considers the problems related to wirelessly localizing objects in an indoor setting. For the purpose of dividing the problem, the authors consider two categories: device based and device free. Device-based localization requires the “target” to carry a wireless unit such as a smartphone or have a device attached to the target such as a Bluetooth unit or a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip. In this case, the indoor facility would be equipped with active transponders. Device-free localization requires the indoor area to be equipped with some form of scanning or surveillance capability such as cameras, infrared sensors, or acoustic echolocation transmitters. Device-based localization is suited when the target is a known entity such as an employee or a patient in a hospital. Device-free localization is called for when the target is unknown, such as an intruder.

The authors contrast indoor localization and outdoor localization. With the latter, the pervasive use of a global positioning system (GPS) for locating friends and using maps to create routes and determine traffic patterns is well known. GPS is not suited for indoor use, so other active devices must be employed. This is complicated by the complexities of the indoor floor plans. Interior walls, partitions, furniture, and other obstacles increase the difficulty of arranging the devices. The sensors must compensate for these effects. Wi-Fi operates better in this environment than optical technologies.

The paper discusses the pros and cons among the various technologies, as well as several applications. Targets may be divided into two classes: human (or maybe animals) and inanimate objects. Device-free localization can discover humans, but cannon identify them. Inanimate objects can perhaps be identified from a list of known inventory, but identifying unknown intruder objects is impossible.

Section 2 discusses different applications. Section 3 covers the implications of indoor space. The research space is covered in sections 4 and 5. Many figures illustrate the thesis. The figure numbered 22 should be figure 23, an easily corrected typographical error.

A final comment on the future use of these capabilities may be in order. The indiscriminate applications perhaps foretell an Orwellian 1984 space where the authorities can continually locate any individual with an active device such as a smartphone (or more frighteningly, an embedded device). Thus, while there are many worthwhile applications, society must keep a close eye on this area.

Reviewer:  J. S. Edwards Review #: CR144887 (1702-0133)
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