Abstract
In December, 2011, Grizzly Analytics released our first comprehensive report
on indoor location positioning technology, predicting that indoor location
technologies were going to revolutionize the mobile industry. In our updated
report in May, 2012, we predicted that indoor location technologies were
poised to reach market. Now, in March, 2013, we see how true these predictions
have been. Indoor location technology is nearing its tipping point, with new
announcements in mass-market and location-specific solutions coming out on a
daily basis.
In this fully revised and updated 268-page report, Grizzly Analytics gives an
up-to-date analysis and comprehensive overview of indoor location positioning
R&D. Read about the research activity of all the major mobile companies -
Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Apple, Nokia, RIM, Sony Ericsson, Motorola &
others - the major chip and network makers - Cisco, Qualcomm, Broadcom,
STMicroElectronics, CSR, Aruba & others - other major technology vendors, and
also over fifty start-up companies that are actively bringing indoor location
services to market.
This updated report also explains the newest trends in the industry. Why are
companies integrating multiple methods of indoor positioning instead of
focusing on one? In what way is Apple limiting indoor location technology on
iPhones, and how are start-ups working around this? Which companies are moving
to network-centric approaches?
In this updated technology trend report, Indoor Location Positioning
Technology: Research, Start-ups and Predictions, Grizzly Analytics answers the
questions you have about this new technology. What approaches are being
researched by different companies? Which companies have mature research? What
are the gaps in each company's research that they are likely to fill by
acquiring start-up companies? What indoor location applications and services
are being explored? Which start-up companies are likely to be acquired or to
emerge successful in the market?
Table of Contents
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
- Industry Trends since the May 2012 Report Update
- Summary & Trends in Major Company Indoor Location R&D
- Summary & Trends in Start-Up Companies in Indoor Location
- Grizzly Analytics Predictions for Indoor Positioning
- Broader Commerce Implications of Indoor Positioning
- Table of Contents
- Complete List of Companies Analyzed
- The Push for Indoor Location Positioning
- Indoor Positioning
- Indoor Navigation
- Indoor Location Sharing
- Indoor Location-Based Promotions
- Indoor Location-Based Reminders
- Workforce Management and Asset Tracking
- Overview of Methods of Indoor Positioning
- Location Positioning by Wi-Fi or Other Existing Radio Signals
- Radio Signal Method #1: Triangulation
- Radio Signal Method #2: Fingerprinting
- Tracking Location by Sensors Detecting Movements
- Indoor Positioning by Dedicated Beacons
- Integrating Multiple Methods
Research & Development by Mobile Software Companies
- Google Activity in Indoor Location Positioning
- Google Location Services Moving Indoors
- Uploading Indoor Maps to Google
- Google Enabling Site Owners to Refine Location Positioning
- Technology Underlying Google Indoor Positioning
- Collecting Wi-Fi Locations and Using Them for Positioning
- Google Maps using Device Sensors
- Google Research on Positioning by Motion Sensing
- Research in Integrating Multiple Positioning Methods
- Additional Google Research in Indoor Location Positioning
- Google Funding Academic Research in Indoor Positioning
- Refining Location Positions by User Profiles
- Apple Research in Indoor Positioning
- Apple Withholding Wi-Fi RSSI Data from Applications
- Early Pre-Cellphone Patent for Beacon-Based Positioning
- Apple Research & Activity in Wi-Fi Network Location Logging
- Apple Research in Indoor Positioning by Radio Reception
- Research by Microsoft
- Indoor Positioning Research at Microsoft
- Early Research: The Cricket Project
- The Radar Project
- Core Location Service Team
- Using Wireless Access Point Location Tables
- Gathering Access Point Locations
- Microsoft R&D and Partnerships in Sensor Fusion
- Microsoft Research in Positioning by Fingerprinting
- Location Positioning by Path Analysis
- Network-level Location Positioning
- Location Positioning by Image Analysis
- Tracking Movement Away from Known Locations
- Using Other Radio Signals to Determine Location
- Using Audio Signals for Location Positioning
- Using Radio Beacons in a Building to Determine Location
Research & Development by Mobile Phone Manufacturers
- Samsung Research in Indoor Positioning
- Location Triangulation based on Collected Antenna Locations
- Tracking Motion from Initial Known Locations
- Calibrating Motion Sensing for Indoor Positioning
- Beacons Transmitting Locations
- Combining Signals and Movement Sensors
- Compensating for Indoor Positioning Errors
- Licensing CSR's Technology for Positioning in Chips
- Positioning by Communicating with Nearby Devices
- Location Positioning from Light Transmissions
- Robots Generating Indoor Maps
- Research and Demonstrations by Nokia
- Nokia's Long History of Research in Indoor Positioning
- In-Location Alliance
- Indoor Location Positioning Demo by Nokia
- Nokia's Use of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- Nokia Vision of Indoor Positioning
- Nokia Research: Details from a 2009 Research Presentation
- Nokia's Patents on Indoor Positioning
- Nokia's Past Demos and Videos on Indoor Positioning
- Other Nokia Research on Indoor Location
- Early Research by Motorola
- Bluetooth-Based Indoor Positioning
- Using Wi-Fi Signals and other Mobile Device Signals
- Inertial Navigation
- Other Motorola Research in Indoor Positioning
- RIM Research in Indoor Location Positioning
- Probabilistically Tracking Movement by Wi-Fi Signals
- Logging Network Locations for Use in Indoor Positioning
- Determining Location in Stages
- Reminders Based on Location Derived from Cell Overlap
- Controlling Device Features Based on Indoor Location
- Sony Ericsson Research in Indoor Positioning
- Retransmitting GPS Signals Indoors
- Wireless Devices in Rooms in a Home
- Positioning Using Beacons
- Distributing Indoor Maps
- Positioning by Rake Receivers
- Determining Position by Modulated Light
Research & Development by Chip Makers
- Qualcomm Research in Indoor Positioning & Location Services
- Qualcomm's View of Indoor Positioning
- Qualcomm Research in Wi-Fi Based Positioning
- Trajectory-Based Location Positioning
- Positioning in an Area with Walls and Furniture
- Positioning based on Image Analysis
- Positioning with Femtocells
- Combining Multiple Positioning Methods
- Research by Qualcomm: Indoor Navigation Services
- Research by Qualcomm: Indoor Location Services
- CSR Research & Development in Indoor Location Positioning
- Positioning with CSR Chips
- CSR Indoor Location Services
- STMicroelectronics Research & Development in Indoor Location
- Broadcom Research & Development in Indoor Location
- Broadcom Chips
- Broadcom Positioning Methods
- Indoor Location Positioning Support by Broadcom
- Invensense Research & Solutions in Indoor Location
Research & Development by Network Companies
- Cisco Research and Solutions in Indoor Location Positioning
- Network-Level Location Positioning
- Navigation to Local Locations
- Locations of Rogue Devices or Access Points
- Location-Based Permissions
- Aruba Research and Solutions in Indoor Location Positioning
- Aruba's Location Positioning Research
- Research & Development by Motorola Solutions and Networks
- Motorola Networks
- Motorola Solutions Partnering with TRX
- Network Location Positioning
R&D by Other Major Technology Companies
- Fraunhofer (Germany)
- Fraunhofer's AWILOC
- Fraunhofer's RedFIR Beacon System
- Fraunhofer's BlackFIR Next-Generation Approach
- AINSI (France)
- Research by Palm (former HP subsidiary)
- Research by BAE Systems
- CRS4 Research Center
- Research by Polaris and NTT DoCoMo
- Research by BMW for Cars in Parking Lots
- Research by Other Companies
- Start-up Companies Deploying Solutions
- (62 pages covering 30 companies)
- Companies Developing Pure Technology
- (13 pages covering 7 companies)
- Companies Delivering Technology to the Mobile Industry
- (8 pages covering 5 companies)
- Companies Delivering Industrial Indoor Positioning Solutions
- (16 pages covering 12 companies)
- Non-Commercialized R&D Projects
- (9 pages covering 6 projects)
