By Steve Ranger, 22 March 2005 16:50
NEWS Mobile operator Orange has unveiled a GSM-based tracking service which it claims is cheaper and easier to use than GPS technology.
Orange predicts that by next year more than 40,000 devices – such as train carriages, machinery and even vending machines - will be tracked using its Cell ID service.
Cell ID gives the developers of location services details of the Orange GSM network.
This data - combined with their own location application and other data - will allow location service providers to offer much more accurate location based services, Orange said.
Melissa Jenkins, M2M product manager at Orange Business Solutions, said Cell ID doesnÂ’t use special antennas or need to be able to see the sky like a GPS system does.
“If you are using a Cell ID-type of solution you can chuck it in anywhere and as long as you can get GSM you can get a location. You don’t have the complexity of deploying it – you can use it in much lower cost solutions,” Jenkins said.
The system helps track devices by their location in relation to mobile phone cells.
“You can see the device is 500 metres from cell A and 800 metres from cell B and work out approximately where it is,” Jenkins explained.
Electronic Tracking Systems (ETS), which manufactures battery-powered security tracking devices under the mtrack brand, is one of the first to pilot the product.
ETS said Cell ID allows it to track assets to within 550 metres, whereas previously the average distance was around 4.5km and could range up to 11km.
Comments
There are 12 comments. Join the discussion
1. MikeW
Bet they'll charge us for it, even though it comes free with the network, like SMS ...
2. anonymous
550m is not accrate tracking even with pooor GPS coverage the accuarcy is 30m and with better systems its down to less than 1 m
This claim is to say the least ?
Who checked the facts on GPS ?
3. anonymous
But the GPS systems can't see through walls in towns whereas I can get a GSM signal.... I wonder if it will work with the pico cells in the office so that I can find lost staff?
4. Simon
Well if they try to track anything round here they'll find that it keeps disappearing and reappearing 'in the general area of ...'. One thing they aren't going to get is a location down to a few hundred meters - "somewhere in the general vicinity of <some town>" is likely to be the best they can do.
Why, well to get a 'fix' needs a minimum of two, and preferably three base stations to be in contactable range. Round here you are lucky to be able to contact one base - on any network.
Oh yes, and call me paranoid if you like, but how long before the government make it a requirement to give your national ID number to the network operator, and for the networks to tell the government where you are ? The way this lot are going, it won't be long.
5. Bob D
No Cell Id based solution is sufficiently (or consistently) accurate to support serious, business-critical LBS. GPS, or even better A-GPS is the way to go. A-GPS solutions now exist for cheap (<€150) devices to support the services Orange mention, with GPS precision and accuracy to 10m, even indoors. My advice - don't waste time and money on Cell Id, go SUPL A-GPS!
6. Mark SPLINTER
nobody cares about cumbria.
but this is all unnecessary. there are better ways of tracking things, like having decent staff who don't lose stuff, or a postal service that takes some pride in its work. technological solutions will kill us all.
7. anonymous
You don't need to worry about the government tracking you. even with an NI number since birth they cannot find me on their lists when I ring up with a tax enquiry!
How will they get a GSM interface to ..interface!
8. Douglas Lau
What are the pros and cons of GPS and Mobile-base LBS?
9. Max
European mobile operators are struggling to monetize cell ID based solutions and they are still trialing more accurate positioning technologies like AGPS. High accuracy undoubtly adds value.
AGPS and a fallback positioning technology like CPS's Matrix technology using a user plane implementation (IP based aka SUPL=Secure User Plane)is the way to go. Major hurdle: lack of AGPS/Matrix enabled devices.
10. Bob D
Pros and cons of GPS versus network-only?
Standard GPS does not work indoors due to signal strength. Mobile networks like GSM use stronger signals, which penetrate walls, etc. reasonably well.
The problem with network-only solutions is that they are based (primarily) on Cell triangulation, which in cities can be quite good, but will still only get to 5-10kms in rural areas. Unfortunately the "multipath" problem associated with network solutions like Cell Id and E-OTD (the main Matrix technology) cause precision problems is cities too. So not too reliable.
New advances in the area of GPS technology now support indoor positioning quite well (10-12m in malls, offices, house, etc.). Several companies now have hardware and firmware combinations that can offer this precision indoors at reasonable cost. One company inparticular is moving to an entirely software based solution that reduces cost still further and outperforms even A-GPS!
Right now network assistance solutions like SUPL (IP-based)and Matrix speed up GPS satellite acquistion times and allow weaker signals to be found.
The problem is cost and device complexity, at both the network and device levels. Matrix is both complex and expensive for both operators and device manufacturers.
SUPL-based Assisted-GPS solutions are MUCH cheaper and so far well over 100 million phones have A-GPS installed already. Other devices are also hitting the streets using this technology and Orange (and their partners) can get devices for the services mentioned for about the same price as a GSM device, but with accuracy outdoors of 3m and indoors 10-12m. Obviously a far better solution than 550m at best.
I hope this summary helps.
11. Melissa Jenkins
The Orange Cell ID service provides location developers with basic information about the Orange network. Using this information, and information obtained by a GSM module from the Orange network, it is possible to perform a triangulation. The exact accuracy is dependant on the solution employed. In the case of ETS they obtained accuracy of approximately 550m, which was what they required for their solution. If more accuracy is required, a customer may use more accurate triangulation techniques (such a E-OTD) to narrow this location further.
Targeted specifically at asset tracking, the Orange Cell ID service provides a cost effective and simple alternative to GPS and A-GPS technologies. Without line-of-sight antennas or network based 'assistance servers' solution providers are able to use the Cell ID information to determine the location of their equipment.
Melissa Jenkins, M2M product manager, Orange Business Solutions, UK
12. anonymous
THE FACTS:
The product we are all talking about - mtrack manufactured by ETS, is able to be accurate to sub 1m.
The figure quoted of 550m, is purely for its initial macro location from theft of the asset through the call centre software. With its onboard RF beacon activated the search and recovery teams get a fix from the GSM signal and then go in and recover the goods by tracking the unit down manually.
The main benefit over GPS systems is that it is not battery hungry and therefore is wireless - meaning it can be installed by the end user within minutes and moved from asset to asset very easily ideal if you change cars regularly or have an old classic you do not want to interfere with the wiring on. In addition, the self powered mtrack means other markets previously not practicable for wired systems such as lorry trailers, caravans and infact any other asset with no power source can now be tracked.
Thieves have become very wise to fixed hardwired systems and simply trace the unit back from the power source and cut the wires. With mtrack you take this risk away and keep the thieves guessing, which means a much higher percentage chance of seeing your asset again.
I hope this clarifies the product, more information can be found at:
www.mtrackonline.co.uk
01489 576222