Overview of Location based Services Technologies

A location-based service (LBS) is a software application for a IP-capable mobile device that requires knowledge about where the mobile device is located. Location-based services play an important role in the future applications of satellite navigation. Location based services (LBS) are services offered through a mobile phone and take into account the device’s geographical location.

An LBS requires five basic components. They are the service provider’s software application, a content provider to supply the end user and a mobile network to transmit data and requests for service by combining positioning, navigation and mobile communication with services that provide additional relevant information for the user.

Some of the most common LBS applications include local news, directions, points of interest, directory assistance, fleet management, emergency, asset tracking, location-sensitive /building, and local advertisement. Depending on the known user position, the handheld is provided with additional information to the surrounding area like restaurants, hospitals etc.

LBS typically provide information or entertainment. Because LBS are largely dependent on the mobile user’s location, the primary objective of the service provider’s system is to determine where the user is. There are many techniques to achieve this.

Techopedia explains Location Based Services (LBS):

Many systems use GPS satellites. This GPS method is more accurate than the previous one and were made easier by some smartphones which have built-in GPS receivers. Software development platforms particularly which have mobile applications such as Android and J2ME have specialized APIs that support LBS.

GPS (Global Positioning System) is one major component of systems which are combined with cell tower signals, Bluetooth sensors, wireless internet signals, local Positioning Systems and IP addresses. It provides information, content and services through positioning technologies and this is the platform for new services for users and developers and with this technology it creates new revenue channels for service providers.

Global positioning systems technology has the ability to know the location of people, to navigate to any destination and to find your way home or any other places. The GPS application will be embedded in PCs, laptops, mobiles, car navigation systems, music, video players, etc. The main aim of the developer and user in real world of web services is in the field of mobile application which is known as Location Based services (LBS) and this provides information specific to a location.

Another common method is the use of short-range positioning beacons. Such devices typically employ WiFi or Bluetooth technologies and are ideal for indoor LBS applications. An LBS points a user to the nearest hotel or restaurant. In another example, an LBS can send an SMS message advertising a sale at a nearby shopping mall.

Developing Location-Based Applications:

To develop and deploy an application such as directions that uses LBS we need to –

• Install the location-based middleware server, Web Sphere Everyplace Server LBS
• Establish a partnership with Location Content Provider
• Write the location-based service application
• Install the Web Sphere Everyplace Server LBS API
• Establish a partnership with a Mobile Location Provider

Location-Based Services (LBS) gives information about the position of a device by means of media. It is apparently explains the reason of indoor positioning becoming a much higher-value item than outdoor from commercial perspective by assuming some data about where the mobile devices are used. So the LBS easily provide accuracy in every location. Location-based services (LBS) are one of the fastest growing segments in mobile applications with geo-specific information, a positioning component and the end user’s mobile device.

LBS Applications:

1. Locating people on a map displayed on the mobile phone
2. Turn by turn navigation to any address
3. Assistive Healthcare Systems
4. Receiving alerts, such as notification of a sale on gas or warning of a traffic jam
5. Location-based mobile advertising
6. The LBS application solutions support both legacy devices and smart phones and are easily deployed. The position can be combined with spatial information so as to integrate an LBS system with Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

Location based services (LBS) about to grow widely in the next generation of communications. The third generation mobile communication networks and mobile Internet-enabled devices becomes reality.

Hybrid Location Technology Solution (HLTS):

Hybrid positioning systems are the systems used for finding the location of mobile by several different Positioning technologies. Hybrid Location Technology provides integration of Wi-Fi, Micro Electro- Mechanical Systems sensor and cellular positioning technologies in one system with an intuitive GUI. Location-based services (LBS) are one of the fastest growing segments in mobile applications. The position can be combined with spatial information so as to integrate an LBS system with Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

Hybrid location technology provides mobile the ability to support a fusion of location technologies.

They are as below –

• Wi-Fi gives better accuracy in dense urban environments.
• Cellular positioning (OTDOA, Cell ID, Enhanced Cell ID) works in areas where there will be cell coverage.
• Integrated sensors (accelerometers, magnetometers, and barometers) enable more accurate location when indoors
• A-GNSS: provides better than 5m accuracy in clear sky

Location-Based Services (LBS) gives information about the position of a device by means of media.

It is apparently explains the reason of indoor positioning becoming a much higher-value item than outdoor from commercial perspective by assuming some data about where the mobile devices are used. So the LBS easily provide accuracy in every location. Location based services (LBS) about to grow widely in the next generation of wireless communications.

The Third generation mobile communication networks and mobile Internet-enabled devices becomes reality. A hybrid mobile-based location technique using the global positioning system (GPS) and cellular mobile network infrastructure are employed which provides the capability of location tracking.

The following are needed to be tested to enable the use of hybrid location technologies in the wireless device:

• Handling in difficult situations
• Location accuracy, yield, Time-To-First-Fix (TTFF)
• “Fusion” of information from discrete GNSS, sensors, Wi-Fi and mobiles.
• Protocols were needed to communicate the data having measurement at multi-locations
• Accuracy, acquisition speed and sensitivity

Example – A hybrid mobile-based patient location tracking system for personal healthcare applications.

These advance in location based services brought new opportunities in real time patient tracking for personal healthcare applications. It shows relative accuracy for position tracking and potential of using integrated wireless technology to enhance the communication systems through location based services. Location-based Services (LBS) are the applications widely used on mobiles.

This will be used into the patient location tracking system (PLTS) to assist the family members in locating patients such as elderly or dependents especially in emergency cases. The capability of mobile-based patient location tracking system is illustrated through a series of location detection tests conducted over different operating conditions.

GPS (Global Positioning System) is one major component of systems which are combined with cell tower signals, Bluetooth sensors, wireless internet signals, local Positioning Systems and IP addresses. It provides information, content and services through positioning technologies and this is the platform for new services for users and developers and with this technology it creates new revenue channels for service providers. Global positioning systems technology has the ability to know the location of people, to navigate to any destination and to find your way home or any other places.

The GPS application will be embedded in PCs, laptops, mobiles, car navigation systems, music, video players, etc. The main aim of the developer and user in real world of web services is in the field of mobile application which is known as Location Based services (LBS) and this provides information specific to a location.

Wireless Geo-Location Systems:

There are two methods which provides information on wireless position location-

• Network-based solutions
• Handset-based solutions

Network-based solutions rely on the signal transmitted from the wireless handset and received at multiple fixed base stations, using Angle of Arrival (AOA) and Time of Arrival (TOA) to find the position. Network-based solutions have a number of problems including base station availability, weak signal conditions, diffraction and multipath propagation.

Handset-based solutions always use the Global Positioning System (GPS)  or satellite communication technology which are a worldwide system of 24 satellites along with their ground stations. By accurately measuring the distance from three satellites, the receiver triangulates its position anywhere on earth. Handset-based solutions also have many problems and have the inability of the handset to acquire satellites due to physical obstructions such as buildings, foliage and topography and the GPS receiver state (in a cold-start, for example, it could take the receiver up to 10 minutes to acquire the first fix).

Generally, cell tower signals are not hindered by buildings or bad weather, but usually provide less precise positioning. Wi-Fi positioning systems gives exact positioning in urban areas with high Wi-Fi density. Hybrid positioning systems were increasingly in civilian and commercial location-based services.

Many location-based service (LBS) providers are developing systems that rely on data provided over a mobile network with the limitation that where there is no coverage, there can be no service. Accuracy and availability can only be provided by a combination of location technologies. One of the important factors of LBS is personal safety particularly locating the user in emergency situations.

Location-Based Services (LBS) have great potential ability to provide value and has faster innovation to benefit the economy of consumers. Location-based services(LBS) enables content and app providers to write and validate their applications using some set of tools and that makes it very easy for them to port from one environment to another.

Location-based services (LBS) mobile services required for safety and security services combine information about a user’s physical location with online connectivity and a location-enabling platform for LBS applications links up to the servers of the client side.

Location-Based Services (LBS) are capable of determining and using a user’s physical location. The latest systems use GPS, WiFI, cell towers, etc.

New issues continue to emerge timely and responsively. Industry is taking steps to respond to these challenges but the degree of responsiveness varies among companies and industry segments and they attempt to provide consumers with appropriate notice and choice with respect to the use of the data generated by Location-Based Services (LBS) and the devices and networks that host them.

Photo Credits:

• Mobility and Location Based Services by fidis
• Various Means of Combined LBS by gnss-technology
• GIS Application Frame Work by ec-gis
• Flow and Architecture of Location Based Services by ibm
• Location-Based Services by directionsmag
• Hybrid Location Technologies by directionsmedia
• A Hybrid Mobile-based Location Technique by telecomsys
• Location Based services (LBS) by geoawesomeness
• Hybrid positioning systems by tmcnet
• Location-based services Testers by rohde-schwarz