Real-time location services

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Real-time location services (RTLS) are a new breed of wireless network service that integrate location tracking capabilities with existing 802.11 (Wi-Fi) wireless networks to allow real-time location of users, assets and other valuable resources within a building, campus or outdoor environment where wireless network coverage is provided. These system can display the location of wireless devices, laptops, PDAs or indeed any item carrying an RFID tag or Wi-Fi tag, on screen, graphically in real-time.

Real-time Location Systems are highly relevant to healthcare, manufacturing and other industries, where new applications can be almost instantly enabled, and the returns on investment can be high.

Third-party software, and sometime hardware, are usually needed, examples of which include the Cisco 2700 Wireless Location Appliance, the Ekahau Positioning Engine (EPE), and Nanotron's nanoLOC. These systems may also be integrated with other IT systems to provide tracking and logging of movements, from which high-level business management information can be obtained.

The location software calculates the location of tracked devices using techniques such as RF fingerprinting, which uses assesses RF characteristics such as reflection, attenuation, and multi-path, along with the signal strength readings of wireless devices calibrated RF environments.

To understand how RF (radio waves) interact with an a particular environment, including building materials, walls, doors and furniture, an RF calibration is required to determine the characteristics of the RF environment.