Bluetooth location networks

Abstract

We propose a Bluetooth location network (BLN) for location-aware or context-driven mobile networks, such as m-commerce networks or e-museums. We assume that, in any of those scenarios, there exist service servers that need to know user location in real-time, to send context-oriented information to user handhelds when necessary. The BLN transmits position information to the service servers, without user participation. It is not subject to line-of-sight constraints and is supported by existing commercial handhelds. BLN users carry either a Bluetooth-enabled handheld or any mobile data terminal and a Bluetooth badge. The BLN is composed of small, wireless Bluetooth nodes, which establish a spontaneous network topology at system initialization. The BLN can coexist with Bluetooth devices that are not part of the location system, such as printers or headphones.