Asset Locating and Recovery

Introduction

GSM operators’ interest in Location Based Services (LBS) has increased since the early 1990s, led by the increased “context awareness” of computer devices, the ’911 mandate’ of the US Federal Communication Commission (which required embedded locating functionality) and the developments in next generation cellular networks.

Operators recognise that location information can dramatically increase the average revenue per user through a wide range of GSM locating-specific applications (both retail and M2M), such as:

  • location-targeted advertising
  • location applications applied to social networking
  • personnel, vehicle and other asset tracking.

Many positioning techniques are available. They are clustered around Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for close range work, satellite dependent systems (GPS), WiFi mapping locators and traditional cell mast location based GSM systems. Often more than one technology is combined (to deal with the limitations of each).

“Traditional” GSM-based technologies, such as the ubiquitous LBS system, rely on cell mast ID and enhancements (such as timing advance) for locating, but the accuracy is not good enough for many applications. GPS locating technology offers good accuracy but:

  • relies on sight of satellites so is ineffective or impaired indoors or in urban environments (the “canyon effect”)
  • has poor latency (time to first fix)
  • has high power consumption
  • is costly
  • needs to be hard-wired.

WiFi-based locating is only feasible where WiFi hotspots exist (i.e. generally in urban locations), is non-directional and often non-static and can create privacy issues.

Delma MSS’s ProVect™ locating technology

Delma MSS has developed a proprietary and unique locating technology which has demonstrable advantages over other technologies. ProVect™ gives coverage, cost and latency advantages over GPS and WiFi based systems (but can be combined with them) and is significantly more accurate than “traditional” LBS technologies.

ProVect™:

  • works indoors and in built-up urban environments
  • has low latency
  • is low on battery usage
  • has lower installation costs
  • is network agnostic
  • can be hard-wired onto a network.

Comparison of Delma technology with competing locating technologies

trackar comparison

Sources: Delma data, operator system tests