Location tracking technologies

1. LOCATION
TRACKING
TECHNOLOGIES

2. Thespiesinour
pockets
Your devices - computers, mobile
phones, and tablets - are constantly
telling others where you are. Your
mobile phone in particular is a very
effective tracking device: Where you
go, it goes, and it records your
location all the time - even when
you're not connected to the internet.
2

3. Mobilephonetowersandyourphone
Mobile phone towers
• To send and receive calls and
messages, your phone must
constantly communicate
with mobile phone towers.
This activity is monitored
and logged by your mobile
phone provider, allowing
them to identify where you
are and where you've been.
GPS tracking
• Your smartphone is a GPS
device. Most smart phones
are equipped with a GPS
chip and if your phone's
'location services' are on it
will communicate with the
GPS satellites, allowing you
and others to pinpoint your
location to a remarkably
accurate degree.
Location logs
• Location information can
then be logged by your
phone and various apps on
it. Most smartphones have a
map app installed, and this
goes so far as to log your
location as you move, and
even store where you've
been in the past.
3

4. Whohasaccess?
• Your location history is accessible to anyone
who has, or who can get, access to your
phone. It is assumed
that Google or Apple also have access to
your phone's location log, since they own
the location tracking apps in the first place,
as well as the Operating Systems (OSs) that
almost everyone's phones run on.
4

5. GPS
5
The tracking technology most people are
familiar with is the Global Positioning
System, or GPS, satellite technology owned
by the U.S. government and operated by the
Air Force but now a commercial part of our
everyday lives. GPS is used for purposes
ranging from locating lost pets to planning
road trips. In the past decade or so, GPS has
gone from guiding submarines to optimizing
delivery truck drivers, and its application is
only expanding as more consumer devices
become popular.

6. GPS
6
The tracking technology most people are
familiar with is the Global Positioning
System, or GPS, satellite technology owned
by the U.S. government and operated by the
Air Force but now a commercial part of our
everyday lives. GPS is used for purposes
ranging from locating lost pets to planning
road trips. In the past decade or so, GPS has
gone from guiding submarines to optimizing
delivery truck drivers, and its application is
only expanding as more consumer devices
become popular.

7. APPLICATIONS
OFTRACKING
TECHNOLOGIES

8. Navigation/Routing
8
In addition to identifying the location of
various destinations, location-based services
can also be employed to guide users along
the best routes. Automobile manufacturers
are already offering services such as GM’s
Onstar, using vehicle-based GPS receivers
and mapping/route guide services in
selected cars. Collectively these types of
services are often referred to as telematic
services and automatic vehicle location
services by the automotive companies. If
integrated with real time traffic data, such
route guide services may also make routes
contingent on current traffic conditions.

9. AssetTrackingandFleet Management
9
Location services can be used to track the
locations of people, pets, objects, vehicles,
etc. Trucking companies are putting in their
own systems, for example, that not only
track the location of vehicles, but also the
contents inside delivery trucks using an
onboard wireless LAN. Last minute delivery
changes can be made based on truck
inventory and location (Brewin, June 11,
2001), enhancing efficiency and customer
service. Tracking can also be combined with
navigation services to help with route
optimization for deliveries. Tracking services
can also aid in preventing theft of valuable
items, and even in locating people (e.g. lost
children), or pets.

10. AssetTrackingandFleet Management
10
Location services can be used to track the
locations of people, pets, objects, vehicles,
etc. Trucking companies are putting in their
own systems, for example, that not only
track the location of vehicles, but also the
contents inside delivery trucks using an
onboard wireless LAN. Last minute delivery
changes can be made based on truck
inventory and location (Brewin, June 11,
2001), enhancing efficiency and customer
service. Tracking can also be combined with
navigation services to help with route
optimization for deliveries. Tracking services
can also aid in preventing theft of valuable
items, and even in locating people (e.g. lost
children), or pets.

11. IndoorTechniquesforLocationSpecificServices
Infrared Ultrasound Radio Frequency Wireless LAN
(WiFi)
Bluetooths
11