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Evolution and Future of Indoor Wi-Fi Location

Kayshav Dattatri Cisco Systems Dec 2011


. Cisco Confidential

A Brief History of Indoor Wi-Fi Location

1999-2002

2003-2004

2005-2007

2007-2009

2010-????

Early Deployment of Indoor Wi-Fi Early Deployment of Location Service using Wi-Fi - Infrastructure based Location/Context

Indoor Location for: - Asset Tracking - Network Diagnostics - Tag based services - Indoor Navigation - Free Wi-Fi Advent of Smartphones -Apps hungry for bandwidth and -Retail industry focus Location on Location - Wi-Fi offload from 3G - Hospitality industry hungry for Location - Infrastructure interested in monitoring density and flow

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Infrastructure Based Location Highlights


Every Wi-Fi Client and RFID tagged entity tracked in real-time (2-8 secs)
Nothing special needed on the endpoints (clients/tags) Enterprise Applications could leverage the Location/Context information
- Monitor and Track IV Pumps in Hospitals - Monitor temperature of critical medicines in freezers - Find missing or stolen assets (university campus) - Track man-down situations in hazardous areas

Location considered a side-benefit of Wi-Fi networks with a small additional investment Primarily using RSSI and RTT technologies, with accuracy of 3-10 meters, depending on density of deployment Improve operational efficiency, reduce capital expenses, enhance worker productivity and safety

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Then came Smartphonesand Tablets


Every smartphone is a Wi-Fi Client
More and more demand for easy indoor navigation to match outdoor GPS Apps that leveraged indoor location became reality
E.g. The American Museum of Natural History deployed a popular app for museum customers

Users demand (free) Wi-Fi access everywhere!!!


Infrastructure based location is useful in some situations but not all
Not truly real-time Infrastructure really not aware of the characteristics of the phone (speed, orientation, etc) Challenging for an App to communicate with the infrastructure to get its own location (security, networks identity, etc.)

The infrastructure wants to monitor and monetize the smartphone traffic

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American Museum of Natural History App


Cisco + Spotlight Mobile

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American Museum of Natural History


Cisco + Spotlight Mobile

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Client Computed Location


Since the Smartphone has enough resources and information, it could potentially compute its own location (probably with some assistance from the infrastructure)
More Accurate only need to compute its own location and nothing else More real-time the phone knows what the user is doing More responsive Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, etc. can be leveraged No Security Issues it is computing its own location and not any other clients

Location/Context is only half the story


Apps need to use the Location to help the user Need quality maps, POIs Turn by Turn navigation Apps

Cisco Confidential

The Infrastructure and Smartphone Interplay


Since every Smartphone is a Wi-Fi device, it can be tracked (anonymously) by the Wireless infrastructure
Collectively knowing the density and traffic patterns of the Wi-Fi devices can help the infrastructure to improve customer experience, as well improve the efficiency of operations
Airports, Train stations Stadiums Shopping Malls Museums

The infrastructure could alert the customer relationship manager when a high-worth customer (carrying a smartphone) walks into the bank Retailers looking to understand customer movement patterns and offer better services
Instant offers based on proximity Place digital signage based on traffic patterns (time of day, day of week, etc.)

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Let Services Find the User


Too many Apps and the user doesnt know which one to use
Common challenges faced by most users at venues:
Where is the restroom, coffee shop? What is the arrival/departure timing of my flight? Any coupons for this Hotspot?

Why cant the venue tell me the most common stuff without me searching, finding and launching an App, and connecting to a Wi-Fi network? Thanks to 802.11u and some infrastructure support, a smartphone can discover interesting/relevant information about the venue, preassociation with a Wi-Fi network Leveraging Wi-Fi has progressed way beyond just Location service
For retailers, it is a tool to attract and retain customers For venue owners, it is a great way to attract tenants and offer enhanced services For many others, it is a great way to understand customer movement and behavior without breaching any privacy concerns
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Cisco Confidential

What is Wi-Fi Local Service Discovery?


Wi-Fi Local Service Discovery (LSD).

Allows Venues to Publish

And Mobile Devices to Discover

Special and Relevant Services Available and Delivered on the Local Wi-Fi Network
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In Conclusion
The advent and proliferation of smartphones and apps has had a big impact on indoor location evolution
Every vertical (retailer, hospitality, airports, etc.) wants to learn more about their customers and offer more services, and indoor location technology and local services discovery fully enables that

Every business/venue wants to leverage the Wi-Fi network they have invested in to do more stuff and increase the ROI
Users expect Wi-Fi to be available everywhere, and mostly free Carriers embracing Hotspot 2.0 to make Wi-Fi experience as seamless and secure as the cellular experience

Cisco Confidential

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