Location-Aware Systems for Short-Range Wireless Networks

Location-aware systems for short-range wireless networks, also called indoor positioning systems (IPSs), have become considerably popular in recent years with rapid evolution of ubiquitous computing and short-range wireless communications technologies. Much research and commercial IPSs have been developed and many of them have been applied or may soon be adopted in wide domains, like asset and people tracking, healthcare, manufacturing, safety, retail and shopping etc. In this paper, we present a layered conceptual framework of IPSs. Furthermore, a classification of current typical IPSs is introduced. Based on this classification, we discuss various existing IPSs focusing on positioning technical points, applications and analyse possible opportunities and challenges in the future.