What are indoor positioning systems?
RelationshipIndoor Positioning System (IPS) new to you? If so, you should know that it is similar to a GPS that is designed for indoor environments. IPS is used to locate objects or people in a building through a smartphone or tablet. Although the technology is new, services using IPS are becoming popular in airports, shopping malls, and other places where LBS and navigation are required.
How does this system work?
This technology uses the internal sensors of a smartphone to locate the internal position of the device with mathematical algorithms. It is possible to obtain a precise location by combining the data from the sensors.
For a better user experience, IPS depends on three elements: the IPS applications, the beacons that send signals, and the positioning platform.
technology options
Indoor positioning systems have several approaches. For example, you can take systems that use RFID, Bluetooth, WiFi, or a combination of these technologies. Additionally, when evaluating IPS technology, you may want to consider how extra expensive infrastructure can be minimized and costs reduced. As far as the simplest and lowest cost option is concerned, you may want to go for a WiFi based system.
WiFi-based positioning
WiFi-based systems make use of current infrastructure to locate devices without hardware calibration. For example, you can read about HP’s Cupid system that can locate any WiFi-enabled device with an accuracy of 2 meters.
Actually, this type of system sends and receives wireless signals. On the other hand, the WiFi-based system works by measuring the distance of the signal from different access points in order to calibrate the position of the device. The access point returns the data to the corresponding “location service”. This is the server that runs the analytics and algorithms to pinpoint the exact location.
Benefits of IPS in the office
IPS enables asset tracking, physical security, smart buildings, and network management. For example, if you know the location of a certain device in an office, you can adjust the security settings every time you take the device out of the building.
In a large office, you might choose to make it easy for staff to find roaming staff, printers, or the conference room. Apart from this, it can also monitor the location of the device for a certain period and display the activity of the staff in the office.
When it comes to practical uses, IPS has a lot to offer. In fact, it has become an emerging technology in different industries such as hospitality, healthcare, and retail, just to name a few. So if you’re looking for a way to improve your customer experience or staff productivity, we suggest you try an IPS.
So, this was a brief introduction to the Indoor Positioning System (IPS). If you have an office, we suggest you use this system to improve the production of your staff and manage other things.