QiLoc: A Qi wireless charging based system for robust user-initiated indoor location services

This paper presents the design and implementation of a novel user-initiated indoor localization system called QiLoc. QiLoc is a simple yet effective way to accurately locate and identify occupants of Qi-compatible devices inside buildings. The system is composed of QiLoc Stations and a QiLoc Server. A QiLoc Station is usually embedded inside or under a desk/table. By using the Qi wireless charging protocol, it can extract the unique ID of a charging device, thus locating the occupant. The QiLoc Server maintains the location information of all occupants, and provides a set of APIs via standard web services such as location, ad hoc group membership, and authentication. Using these primitives, QiLoc enables various smart home applications. We have deployed QiLoc in an office building and implemented a number of applications, including a smartphone app that identifies people in the same physical space, and a Windows-based notification system that provides live updates of colleagues´ locations. We also demonstrate how QiLoc can enhance human interaction and productivity by integrating with industrial solutions like calendar, instant messaging, and email systems.