Wireless Location Services

Wireless location tracking is the process of determining the physical location of a device connected to an access point. This can be done in many ways, but most commonly is performed but calculating the messages received time from a client on multiple access point antenna radios. Enterprise wireless access points can have built-in 802.11 or Bluetooth radios that allow them to listen for messages in frequency. This means that even if you're not connected to an access point it still knows about your device. While there are other systems like GPS used for tracking, I'll be focusing on how WIFI and Bluetooth location tracking work in this article.

It's not just about the hardware on the access points that allow it to determine the location of your device or that missing scanner that you left behind in the previous patient's room under a blanket. Some requirements must be met and I'd recommend reading the technical documentation from Cisco if you're ecstatic to learn more. In brief, you need to do a few things; Firstly the access point placement is crucial for accurate calibration. Access points need to be deployed in a triangular fashion so it can have 3 to 4 devices reporting response data points from the client to run an algorithm to determine the real-time location of a device. Does the Pythagorean theorem sound familiar, all those triangle calculations in school apply in a real work use case for once. While the exact algorithm used is the basis of the calculation mathematic equation. 

Have you ever walked into a store and got bombarded with ads shortly after? While this isn't precisely the reason behind that it does allow for a collection of data that can be analyzed to help aid the business. Wireless location tracking can help create a more tailored and refined experience for you in the store. It allows engineers to review floor plan layouts to find a more efferent layout or to move staff around a large venue to better support the influx of guests. 

Another use for location tracking is safety and the aid to secure a building. In the post-Covid world, we've been able to reflect on all the positive outcomes of this technology. With proper monitoring and alerting, we've been able to reduce the overall outbreak by reviewing historical data to see who came in contact with sick induvial. Another key takeaway was being able to have automated alerting when a room became overfilled with guests to ensure capacity restrictions were not breached. This helped cut down on leave time and additional staff required to monitor event spaces! Overall, wireless location technology can help businesses improve their bottom line by providing better customer experiences, optimizing their operations, and generating new revenue streams. 

Leveraging data is something everyone in the tech realm is fascinated with, but having access to the necessary data is often a challenge. Many IT staff members are undervalued and underfunded, which can make their schedules chaotic. However, with the data provided through location tracking, IT staff can review historical data of connected devices to troubleshoot network issues, such as slow WIFI under the conference room table. This greatly improves the perceived impact of technical staff and helps ensure that you stay connected at all times, reducing overall response time. Location tracking allows IT staff to collectively combine data from all network devices, assuring overall network health. This allows for a sense of calm in knowing that all systems are operating as expected and helps technical staff resolve issues before they even become apparent, which can greatly aid in business needs. 

A large benefit of location tracking is that it can help from a budgetary perspective, particularly in situations where a device is lost. For instance, in a school environment, students are often careless with their handheld devices and tend to leave them behind. By leveraging historical data, IT staff can locate the lost device and save the cost of having to replace it, which can be a significant cost-saving measure. 

Wireless location tracking has become a crucial tool for businesses and organizations, offering numerous benefits beyond simply tracking the location of devices. By leveraging data from wireless access points, businesses can improve the customer experience, optimize operations, and even generate new revenue streams. In addition, IT staff can use location tracking data to troubleshoot network issues, ensure network health, and reduce costs associated with lost or misplaced devices. Furthermore, location tracking technology has proven useful in the context of safety and security, particularly in a post-COVID world. By monitoring historical data, businesses can quickly identify potential outbreaks and automate alerts for overcrowded spaces, helping to reduce the spread of illness and minimize the impact on staff and customers. The use of wireless location-tracking technology is becoming increasingly important for organizations of all sizes. As technology continues to advance, businesses will undoubtedly find new and innovative ways to leverage location-tracking data to drive success and achieve their goals.