Seamless Guidance System Combining GPS, BLE Beacon, and NFC Technologies

Abstract

Users rely increasingly on Location-Based Services (LBS) and automated navigation/guidance systems nowadays. However, while such services are easily implemented in outdoor environments using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, a requirement still exists for accurate localization and guidance schemes in indoor settings. Accordingly, the present study proposes a system based on GPS, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. Through establishing graphic information and the design of algorithm, this study develops a guidance system for indoors and outdoors on smart phones, wishing to give user perfect smart life through this system. The proposed system is implemented on a smart phone and evaluated on a student campus environment. The experimental results confirm the ability of the proposed app to switch automatically from an outdoor mode to an indoor mode and to guide the user to requested target destination via the shortest possible route.

State of the Art, Trends and Future of Bluetooth Low Energy, Near Field Communication and Visible Light Communication in the Development of Smart Cities

“…in order to create a fairer and friendlier city, giving as an example the initiatives in Korea. Cheng et al [79] propose the combination of NFC and BLE for systems of locating, tracking and information and they apply their proposals to indoor and outdoor settings.…”

“…By working in isolation [76] or combined with WiFi and expanding algorithms based on fuzzy decision tree [77] and κ-Nearest Neighbours [78], the efficiency and low recognition and prediction error of routes is guaranteed. The PDR applications in BLE outdoor settings are normally used in combination with WiFi, GPS and even NFC [79]. …”

A State-of-the-Art Survey of Indoor Positioning and Navigation Systems and Technologies

“…Similarly, the studies by De Silva, Mann, and Gosine (2015) and Marin-Garcia, Chavez-Burbano, Muñoz-Arcentles, Calero-Bravo, and Perez-Jimenez (2015) used a combination of Ultrasound and Optical, while Sosa-Sesma and Perez-Navarro (2016) used Ultrasound and WLAN. There are numerous other studies that have embraced the hybrid positioning model (Vasilateanu et al, 2016;R. S. Cheng, Hong, Wang, & Lin, 2016), and this is a path to tow to resolve the various inhibitions observed in the different positioning technologies.…”

Beacon Technology for Real-Time Informing the Traffic Network Users About the Environment

“…The drawback that is imposed by the mentioned technology is the inaccuracy in reading the POI location, which can be even up to 40 m in the mentioned research. By using Location-Based Services (LBS) based on several different technologies (NFC, Bluetooth and GPS) the users can get accurate information about their environment (Cheng et al 2016;Periša et al 2015). Authors who researched the area of application of GPS technology for guiding and informing users focused their solutions for designing new aids (Brilhault et al 2011).…”