Summary
Using an array of WiFi Receivers, the basic location of a device acting as a WiFi AP can be located in near real time. Use cases include tracking personnel, equipment, or product throughout a facility and trigger cloud-based notifications.
Design
A series of WiFi Receivers with an internet connection are located throughout a facility. An initial signal mapping is conducted with one of the target devices you want to locate, and a map of the facility is created. Areas in the mapping are given names (e.g. Production, Warehouse, West Offices, Breakroom, etc.). With the mapping complete, a near real-time location readout can be plotted showing the location of one or more of the devices as they move throughout the facility. The device being tracked does not have to have an active WiFi connection, but only be an Access Point.
The location data is captured in the cloud and the location shared via API to any application or notification system. The data can be used alongside other metadata in the event the tracked device also creates data (e.g. body worn camera, audio recorder, or other datarecorder). The media can be tagged with the location in the cloud.
Event trigger
An addition to tracking, the system also have the ability for the device being tracked to alert the cloud to an event without the need of having an active WiFi Internet connection. By adjusting the SSID broadcast from the device, the receivers pickup the change and trigger an alert in the cloud. Example: if the device being tracked is a camera and a recording is started, the cloud can notify personnel or security. If the device is a panic button, again, it can trigger proper notification or set off alarms.
Control Interface
A control interface was created in cloud to conduct the mapping and provide the real-time location data. Data maps and location data is kept in JSON formatted objects for easy integration into other solutions.
