Theory and Practice of Signal Strength-Based Localization in Indoor Environments

In this chapter, the authors concentrate on signal strength-based localization in indoor wireless networks, with emphasis on 802.11 networks. The authors briefly summarize some architectures and approaches researchers have taken to address this problem. They then present some insight into theoretical limits to location accuracy, and identify that the issues driving research work in this area will not only be location accuracy but other factors like deployment ease, management simplicity, adaptability, and cost of ownership and maintenance. With this insight, they present the LEASE architecture for localization that allows easy adaptability of localization models. The chapter discusses the use of Bayesian networks for localization and presents a zero-configuration Bayesian localization algorithm that simplifies the maintenance of the model. Although presented in the context of signal strength-based localization in indoor environments, the concepts are general enough to be applicable to sensor, ad hoc, mesh, and infrastructure-based deployments. They conclude with some open issues.