awiloc® software kit and process chain

Fraunhofer awiloc® software library is a comprehensive software kit for the positioning based on IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN. Various control and position transfer interfaces are available together with a 3D ModelBuilder and calibration software.

Software tools

The following software tools are available:

• MobileLocator
  Positioning software for mobile devices
• Training Suite: PointTrainer, PathTrainer
  to record reference points on the mobile device 
• Recording Suite: PathRecorder, BoxRecorder
  to record measurements for server-based reference point generation
• ReferencePointGenerator
  to generate reference points from pre-recorded measurements
• ReferencePointIntegrator
  to integrate multiple measurements into one reference carpet
• PositionServer
  central management of positions of mobile devices
  

Positioning algorithms

We offer special positioning algorithms for specific environments. They can be split up in basic and application algorithm. The basic algorithm determines the principle of the positioning process; the application algorithm allows a customization of the positioning calculation.

Building of Environment Models

To build environment models the following software is available:

• ModelBuilder
  to compile 2D and 3D surrounding models from bitmap and CAD files
• ModelServer
  for the central administration of environment models
• ModelIntegrator
  for automated tests of extensions and changes in the models

Position Transfer Interfaces

 For the position transfer the following socket-based interfaces are available:

• PositionInformation
  applications can request the position on the mobile device
• LocationInformation
  applications can request the logical position (e.g. room number) on the mobile device
• VirtualGPS
  provides a virtual GPS adapter

System Control Interfaces

Interfaces to support system control:

• LocatorControl
  to control the localization via application
• LocatorTrainingControl
  to control the calibration via application
• LocatorConfigurationControl
  to monitor the configuration parameters via application

Infrastructure Measurement

To evaluate a calibrated reference floor for the localization or quality testing of the radio reception and the area coverage in Wi-Fi infrastructures, special software for mobile platforms is available.

awiloc® Evaluation Kit

For testing purposes we designed two different awiloc®-Evaluati­on-Kits to help you to gain an idea of how your application will bene­fit from the localization in Wi-Fi networks.

Please ask for our demonstration and evaluation agreement.
Please don’t hesitate to ask for customized configurations and our terms and conditions for licensing.

System requirements

Standard Wireless LAN transmitters can be used as infrastructure. The Wireless LAN transmitters need no connection.

Our evaluation-kit software is suited for

• Android (version 2.1 and higher)
• iOS (version 4.2 and higher)
• Windows Mobile (Version 6, 6.1, 6.5, Prozessortype: ARM) 
• Linux (on request)

15 MB memory (iOS: 25 MB) and 10 MB data memory (iOS: 50 MB) should be available. A stylus is helpful for the exact placement of training points. For some devices, a stylus must be purchased separately. 

Most commercial Wireless LAN cards provide adequate measurement results. We will evaluate your specific Wireless LAN cards and mobile devices on request.

Application

There are two steps to be carried out before the software can be started the first time:

• Upload of a bitmap (png, gif, jpg) as ground plan
• Calibration of the system by using the Training Suite

With our Evaluation-Kits the software can be tested directly in its intended environment. You can use it to estimate the current wireless LAN infrastructure, visualize the location and then have a first look at the user interface.

Evaluation-Kit 2 additionally offers the »PositionInformation« programming interface with which you can develop your own application.

• awiloc information [ PDF 98KB ]