[Geowanking] [nycwireless] Wifi Positioning Systems (fwd)

[Andrew Turner]

Navizon is "peer to peer" , using a blend of wifi, cellular and other
users to 'traingulate'. Runs on PocketPC's. They were "AlwaysOnGPS".
http://www.navizon.com/

There are a lot of open-databases of wifi-hotspots with location, so
creating a new system would not be that difficult. Large base of
information is already available.

Andy

On 12/15/05, Lars Aronsson <lars at aronsson.se> wrote:
> The following just in from the mailing list of New York City
> Wireless (nycwireless.net), a free wi-fi group.
>
>
> --
>   Lars Aronsson (lars at aronsson.se)
>   Aronsson Datateknik - http://aronsson.se
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2005 08:53:43 -0800 (PST)
> From: Rob Kelley <robjkelley at yahoo.com>
> To: nycwireless at lists.nycwireless.net
> Subject: [nycwireless] Wifi Positioning Systems
>
> We've heard that GPS doesn't work well in the city (too many
> skyscrapers, not enough open sky).  Wifi-based location tracking seems
> to be an alternative worth considering.  The idea is to have the device
> identify (but not necessarily connect) to surrounding access points and
> then determine its location by triangulation.
>
> A little research has shown a couple wifi efforts.  But before checking
> the options, it'd be wise to to formulate a couple requirements from
> the savvy wireless consumer's point of view:
>
> 1. Open infrastructure, open protocol and open source (no proprietary
> funniness)
> 2. 802.11 but not platform-specific (windows, linux, macintosh)
> 3. Able to have API to build services on top of it ("Wifi positioning
> says I'm here")
> 4. User privacy (user chooses who gets their location information on a
> case by case basis)
> 5. AP owner privacy (respect owner's wishes)
>
> So what do we have?  A quick ''informal'' Google search reveals two
> wide area options (speak up if you know of others):
>
> ''SkyHook Wireless''
> [http://skyhookwireless.com/ ]
> This Boston firm has press releases all over the place (financing,
> contracts, awards).  They used to be QuarterScope.  They use a client
> software on PocketPC and Windows Mobile, with something coming out for
> Palm later.  They also point to theft identification of stolen laptops.
> They claim to have mapped a network on 1.5 million access points.  How?
>  Like this:
> [http://www.skyhookwireless.com/scanning/upload.php ]
>
> ''HereCast''
> [http://www.herecast.com/ ]
> By comparison, check out HereCast.  This is a developer community
> working to provide an open infrastructure for wifi positioning.  It is
> not a hotspot directory, but simply a directory of access point
> location.  The directory is made up by submission.
>
> ---
> It's interesting to see how this space will develop. It seems any
> municipal wifi would do well to consider having a location-based
> service of its own.  For example, if Hoboken deployed Access Points on
> each lamp post, the city could then provide simple wifi positioning
> information from them.
>
> Rob
>
> @@@
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ______________
--
Andrew Turner
ajturner at highearthorbit.com        42.4266N x 83.4931W
http://highearthorbit.com              Northville, Michigan, USA