Automatic Detection of Changes in Signal Strength Characteristics in a Wi-Fi Network for an Indoor Localisation System

Abstract

This paper faces the issue of changing the received signal strength (RSS) from an observed access point (AP). Such a change can reduce the Quality of Service (QoS) of a Wi-Fi-based Indoor Localisation System. We have proposed a dynamic system based on an estimator of RSS using the readings from other APs. Using an optimal threshold, the algorithm recognises an AP that has changed its characteristics. Next, the system rebuilds the localisation model excluding the changed AP to keep QoS. For the tests, we simulated a change in the analysed Wi-Fi network by replacing the measured RSS by an RSS obtained from the same AP model that lies in another place inside the same multi-floor building. The algorithm was evaluated in simulations of an isolated single-floor building, a single-floor building and a multi-floor building. The mean increase of the localisation error obtained by the system varies from 0.25 to 0.61 m after the RSS changes, whereas the error increase without using the system is between 1.21 and 1.98 m. The system can be applied to any service based on a Wi-Fi network for various kinds of changes like a reconfiguration of the network, a local malfunction or ageing of the infrastructure.