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GSM Based Localisation

GSM based localization involves identifying the location of a mobile phone using multilateration of radio signals between cell towers and the phone. The technology works by measuring power levels and antenna patterns to determine which nearby base station a phone is communicating with, implying it is located near that base station. Location can be determined via network-based techniques using the service provider's infrastructure, handset-based techniques using software on the phone, SIM-based techniques using measurements from the SIM card, Wi-Fi-based techniques using crowdsourced Wi-Fi data, or hybrid techniques combining two or more methods.

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Anmol Asthana
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51 views2 pages

GSM Based Localisation

GSM based localization involves identifying the location of a mobile phone using multilateration of radio signals between cell towers and the phone. The technology works by measuring power levels and antenna patterns to determine which nearby base station a phone is communicating with, implying it is located near that base station. Location can be determined via network-based techniques using the service provider's infrastructure, handset-based techniques using software on the phone, SIM-based techniques using measurements from the SIM card, Wi-Fi-based techniques using crowdsourced Wi-Fi data, or hybrid techniques combining two or more methods.

Uploaded by

Anmol Asthana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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GSM based Localisation

It is a  process for identifying the location of a mobile phone, whether stationary or moving.
Localization may occur either via multilateration of radio signals between (several) cell towers of
the network and the phone, or simply via GPS. To locate a mobile phone using multilateration of
radio signals, it must emit at least the roaming signal to contact the next nearby antenna tower,
but the process does not require an active call. Mobile positioning may include location-based
services that disclose the actual coordinates of a mobile phone, which is a technology used
by telecommunication companies to approximate the location of a mobile phone, and thereby
also its user.

The Basic Technology

The technology of locating is based on measuring power levels and antenna patterns and uses
the concept that a powered mobile phone always communicates wirelessly with one of the
closest base stations, so knowledge of the location of the base station implies the cell phone is
nearby.
Advanced systems determine the sector in which the mobile phone is located and roughly
estimate also the distance to the base station. Further approximation can be done
by interpolating signals between adjacent antenna towers. Qualified services may achieve a
precision of down to 50 meters in urban areas where mobile traffic and density of antenna towers
(base stations) is sufficiently high. Rural and desolate areas may see miles between base
stations and therefore determine locations less precisely.
GSM localization uses multilateration to determine the location of GSM mobile phones, or
dedicated trackers, usually with the intent to locate the user.

1) Network Based
The location of a mobile phone can be determined using the service provider's network
infrastructure. The advantage of network-based techniques, from a service provider's point of
view, is that they can be implemented non-intrusively without affecting handsets. Network-based
techniques were developed many years prior to the widespread availability of GPS on
handsets. The accuracy of network-based techniques varies, with cell identification as the least
accurate and triangulation as moderately accurate, and newer "advanced forward
link trilateration" timing methods as the most accurate. The accuracy of network-based
techniques is both dependent on the concentration of cell base stations, with urban environments
achieving the highest possible accuracy because of the higher number of cell towers, and the
implementation of the most current timing methods.

2) Handset Based
The location of a mobile phone can be determined using client software installed on the handset.
[5]
 This technique determines the location of the handset by putting its location by cell
identification, signal strengths of the home and neighbouring cells, which is continuously sent to
the carrier. In addition, if the handset is also equipped with GPS then significantly more precise
location information can be then sent from the handset to the carrier. Another approach is to use
a fingerprinting-based technique, where the "signature" of the home and neighbouring cells
signal strengths at different points in the area of interest is recorded by war-driving and matched
in real-time to determine the handset location. This is usually performed independent from the
carrier. One proposed work-around is the installation of embedded hardware or software on the
handset by the manufacturers, e.g., Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD). This avenue
has not made significant headway, due to the difficulty of convincing different manufacturers to
cooperate on a common mechanism and to address the cost issue. Another difficulty would be to
address the issue of foreign handsets that are roaming in the network.

3) SIM Based
Using the subscriber identity module (SIM) in GSM and Universal Mobile Telecommunications
System (UMTS) handsets, it is possible to obtain raw radio measurements from the
handset. Available measurements include the serving Cell ID, round-trip time, and signal
strength. The type of information obtained via the SIM can differ from that which is available from
the handset. For example, it may not be possible to obtain any raw measurements from the
handset directly, yet still obtain measurements via the SIM.

4) Wi-Fi
Crowdsourced Wi-Fi data can also be used to identify a handset's location. The poor
performance of the GPS-based methods in indoor environment and the increasing popularity of
Wi-Fi have encouraged companies to design new and feasible methods to carry out Wi-Fi-based
indoor positioning. Most smartphones combine Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS),
such as GPS and GLONASS, with Wi-Fi positioning systems.

5) Hybrid
Hybrid positioning systems use a combination of network-based and handset-based technologies
for location determination. One example would be some modes of Assisted GPS, which can both
use GPS and network information to compute the location. Both types of data are thus used by
the telephone to make the location more accurate (i.e., A-GPS). Alternatively tracking with both
systems can also occur by having the phone attain its GPS-location directly from the satellites,
and then having the information sent via the network to the person that is trying to locate the
telephone. Such systems include Google Maps, as well as, LTE's OTDOA and E-CellID.
There are also hybrid positioning systems which combine several different location approaches
to position mobile devices by Wi-Fi, WiMAX, GSM, LTE, IP addresses, and network environment
data.

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