Skip to main content

EasyLoc: Plug-and-Play RSS-Based Localization in Wireless Sensor Networks

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Cooperative Robots and Sensor Networks

Part of the book series: Studies in Computational Intelligence ((SCI,volume 507))

Abstract

Localization based on Received Signal Strength (RSS) is a key method for locating objects in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). However, current RSS-based methods are ineffective at both deployment and operation design levels. First, they usually require a labor-intensive pre-deployment profiling operations to map the RSS to either locations or distances. Second often rely on heavy processing operations. These two design problems limit the possibility of implementing such localization techniques on resource-constrained sensor nodes, and also restrict their scalability and use in practice. In this book chapter, we discuss the challenges and limitations of RSS-based localization mechanisms and we propose, EasyLoc, an autonomous and practical RSS-based localization technique that improves on previous approaches in terms of ease of deployment and ease of implementation, while still providing a reasonable accuracy. EasyLoc is a plug-and-play and fully distributed RSS-based localization method that requires zero pre-deployment configuration. The idea consists in exploiting the available distance information between anchors to derive an online and anchor-specific RSS to distance mapping. We show that, in addition to its simplicity, EasyLoc provides, in the best case, a reasonable average distance error of \(2\) m in an indoor environment of 30 \(\mathrm{m}^2\).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. He, T., Huang, C., Blum, B.M., Stankovic, J., Abdelzaher, T.: Range-free localization schemes for large scale sensor networks. In: MobiCom ’03: Proceedings of the 9th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking, San Diego (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Stoleru, R., He, T., Stankovic, J.A.: Range-free localization. In: Chapter in Secure Localization and Time Synchronization for Wireless Sensor and Ad Hoc Networks, vol. 30 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Zhong, Z.: Range-free localization and tracking in wireless sensor networks. Phd dissertation, University of Minnesota. http://www-users.cs.umn.edu/zhong/papers/dissertation.pdf (2010)

  4. Amundson, I., Koutsoukos, X.D.: A survey on localization for mobile wireless sensor networks. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Mobile Entity Localization and Tracking in GPS-Less Environments, MELT’09, pp. 235–254. Springer, Berlin (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gu, Y., Lo, A., Niemegeers, I.G.: A survey of indoor positioning systems for wireless personal networks. IEEE Commun. Surv. Tutor. 11(1), 13–32

    Google Scholar 

  6. Baccour, N., Koubâa, A., Mottola, L., Zúñiga, M.A., Youssef, H., Boano, C.A., Alves, M.: Radio link quality estimation in wireless sensor networks: a survey. ACM Trans. Sen. Netw. 8(4), 34:1–34:33 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kouâa, A., Ben Jamâa, M., AlHaqbani, A.: An empirical analysis of the impact of RSS to distance mapping on localization in WSNs. In: Proceedings of The Third International Conference on Communications and Networking, ComNet 2012, pp. 1–7. IEEE (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Sugano, M., Kawazoe, T., Ohta, Y., Murata, M.: Indoor localization system using RSSI measurement of wireless sensor network based on zigbee standard. In: Wireless and Optical Communications (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bahl, P., Padmanabhan, V.N.: RADAR: an in-building RF-based user location and tracking system. In: INFOCOM, pp. 775–784 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lorincz, K., Welsh, M.: MoteTrack: a robust, decentralized approach to RF-based location tracking. Personal Ubiquitous Comput. 11(6), 489–503 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Sree Divya, C., Soura, D., Zhi, D.: Distance estimation from received signal strength under log-normal shadowing: bias and variance. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Signal Processing, ICSP’08, pp. 256–259 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Patwari, N., Agrawal, P.: Calibration and measurement of signal strength for sensor localization. In: Guoqiang, M., Baris, F. (eds) Localization Algorithms and Strategies for Wireless Sensor Networks: Monitoring and Surveillance Techniques for Target Tracking, pp. 122–145 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Barsocchi, P., Lenzi, S., Chessa, S., Giunta, G.: Virtual calibration for RSSI-based indoor localization with IEEE 802.15.4. In: Proceedings of the 2009 IEEE International Conference on Communications, ICC’09, pp. 512–516. IEEE Press, Piscataway (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fu, Y.-J., Lee, T.-H., Chang, L.-h., Wang, T.-P.: A single mobile anchor localization scheme for wireless sensor networks. In: Proceedings of the 2011 IEEE International Conference on High Performance Computing and Communications, HPCC ’11, pp. 946–950. IEEE Computer Society, Washington (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ji, Y., Biaz, S., Pandey, S., Agrawal, P., Ariadne: a dynamic indoor signal map construction and localization system In: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Mobile systems, Applications and Services, MobiSys ’06, pp. 151–164. ACM, New York (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Gwon, Y., Jain, R.: Error characteristics and calibration-free techniques for wireless LAN-based location estimation. In: Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Mobility Management and Wireless Access Protocols, MobiWac’04, pp. 2–9. ACM, New York (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Lim, H., Kung, L.C., Hou, J.C., Luo, H.: Zero-configuration, robust indoor localization: theory and experimentation. In: Proceedings of the 25th IEEE INFOCOM Conference, Barcelona (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Dominguez-Duran, M., Claros, D., Urdiales, C., Coslado, F.: Dynamic calibration and zero configuration positioning system for WSN. In: The 14th IEEE MELECON Conference, Ajaccio (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Varshavsky, A., Pankratov, D., Krumm, J., Lara, E.: Calibree: calibration-free localization using relative distance estimations. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Pervasive Computing, Sydney (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Chintalapudi, K., Padmanabha Iyer, A., Padmanabhan, V.N.: Indoor localization without the pain. In: Proceedings of the 16th ACM MobiCom Conference, Chicago (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Larranaga, J., Muguira, L., Lopez-Garde, J.-M., Vazquez, J.-I.: An environment adaptive zigbee-based indoor positioning algorithm. In: Proceedings of the IPIN Conference, Zurich (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bernardos, A.M., Casar, J.R., Tarro, P.: Real time calibration for RSS indoor positioning systems. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Indoor Positioning and Indoor Navigation (IPIN), EEUU, IEEE (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Wu, C., Yang, Z., Liu, Y., Xi, W.: WILL: wireless indoor localization without site survey. In: INFOCOM, pp. 64–72 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Fischler, M.A., Bolles, R.C.: Random sample consensus: a paradigm for model fitting with applications to image analysis and automated cartography. Commun. ACM 24(6), 381–395 (1981)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  25. Langendoen, K., Reijers, N.: Distributed localization in wireless sensor networks: a quantitative comparison. Comput. Netw. 43, 499–518

    Google Scholar 

  26. Blumenthal, J., Grossmann, R., Golatowski, F., Timmermann, D.: Weighted centroid localization in zigbee-based sensor networks. In: IEEE WISP, Alcala de Henares (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  27. iLoc Overview: http://iloc.rtrackp.com (2012)

  28. Savitzky, A., Golay, M.: Smoothing and differentiation of data by simplified least squares procedures. Anal. Chem. 36, 1627–1639 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Tatham, B., Kunz, T.: Anchor node placement for localization in wireless sensor networks. In: WiMob, pp. 180–187 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Chen, Y., Yang, J., Trappe, W., Martin, R.P.: Impact of anchor placement and anchor selection on localization accuracy. In: Buehrer, M., (Reza) Zekavat, S.A. (eds.) Position Location—Theory, Practice and Advances: A Handbook for Engineers and Academics, Chap. 13, Wiley-IEEE (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Rtrack project: http://www.rtrackp.com (2009)

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work is funded by the R-Track project [31] under the grant 8-INF-2008 of the National Plan for Sciences and Technology (NPST), managed by the Science and Technology Unit of Al-Imam Mohamed bin Saud University and by King AbdulAziz Center for Science and Technology (KACST).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maissa Ben Jamâa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Jamâa, M.B., Koubâa, A., Baccour, N., Kayani, Y., Al-Shalfan, K., Jmaiel, M. (2014). EasyLoc: Plug-and-Play RSS-Based Localization in Wireless Sensor Networks. In: Koubâa, A., Khelil, A. (eds) Cooperative Robots and Sensor Networks. Studies in Computational Intelligence, vol 507. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39301-3_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39301-3_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-39300-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-39301-3

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics