Bluetooth low energy microlocation asset tracking (blemat) in a context-aware fog computing system

Abstract

© 2018 Association for Computing Machinery. In this paper we present a Bluetooth Low Energy Microlocation Asset Tracking system (BLEMAT) that performs real-time position estimation and asset tracking based on BLE beacons and scanners. It is built on a context-aware fog computing system comprising Internet of Things controllers, sensors and a cloud platform, helped by machine-learning models and techniques. The BLEMAT system offers detecting signal propagation obstacles, performing signal perturbation correction and beacon paths exploration as well as auto discovery and onboarding of fog controller devices. These are the key characteristics of semi-supervised indoor position estimation services. In this paper we have shown there are solid basis that a fog computing system can efficiently carry out semi-supervised machine learning procedures for high-precision indoor position estimation and space modeling without the need for detailed input information (i.e. floor plan, signal propagation map, scanner position). In addition, the fog computing system inherently brings high level of system robustness, integrity, privacy and trust.