Face it, Your Phone is Smarter Than You Are
The latest ‘smart’ mobile phones are loaded with features that make them very functional, but they often need additional software to take advantage of them. Handsets may have GPS and the unit might “be aware of” exactlywhere it is, but it is not able to “notify” others where it is, until linked to a wireless network.
Keep in mind that there is a fundamental difference between mobile phone GPS Tracking and Navigation. GPS mobile phone tracking is normally related to someone maintaining details of either real-time or historical handset position, while Navigation refers to the cell phone user determining how to get from point A to point B.
A Smartphone is basically a modern and refined two-way radio. Obviously they don’t work by themselves, they’re a component of a cellular network. At the heart of the system are towers and base stations, arranged into a network of cells, that send and receive radio signals. Mobile phones contain low-power transmitters that connect to the nearest tower.
As someone travels from one cellular tower to a different, the radio base stations check the strength of the smart phone’s signal. As the mobile phone moves toward the edge of one cell, the signal strength lessens. Concurrently, the next cell base station within the cell being approached measures the strength of the signal strengthening. As mobile phones move from cell postion, to cell postion, the towers exchange the signal from one to the next.
In remote areas, cell towers might be too far apart to deliver a dependable signal. Even when cell towers are plentiful GPS satellite signals could be interrupted by large buildings, or mountains. Signals don’t penetrate building interiors adequately and often people have trouble receiving very clear signals inside of buildings, notably within elevators.
Even without having a GPS receiver, or when a satellite signal is not strong enough, mobile phones can offer specifics about mobile phone location. This way of establishing smartphone location is generally known as Triangulation or Mobile Location Services (MLS). Cell Tower Triangulation employs signal analysis data, including power, to estimate the amount of time it takes signals to travel from your mobile phone to a minimum of three cell towers to calculate smartphone accurately where it is. Generally there a wide range of variables impacting computations and this method is often less trusted than GPS solutions.
In America soon after the awful events of September 11, the demand for improved 911 (e911) emergency calling ability, pushed forward much better GPS tracking systems in mobile phones. At the end of 2005, all cell phone network companies were obligated to deliver the ability to trace cell phone calls to a place correct within 100 meters or less.
It is important to remember that Wi-Fi enhances the wireless network grid providing supplemental conduits for position data to pass along to the internet. Handsets contain an unique electronic identifier and if enabled can easily pass this information, locating smartphones within the geographical area covered by the wirelesss hotspot.
In general it is a matter of what location tracking system is available, and the need for accuracy. Hybrid methods are becoming available that use various techniques in tandem to provide best available location given available resources. It might be critical to consider how GPS location software applications handle the data and controls smartphone settings. Having real time tracking on demand, or preferring to minimize battery use and data transmission should be expected. Typically the application determines the location with a GPS receiver and transmits the tracking data to a server through a cellular packet data connection. The data connection to the server is usually made via the Internet. How often GPS samples are taken and how often and by what method the data is sent to the server affect effectiveness and costs.
Do you really know just just where your Mobile Workforce, Family or Loved One is? Programs for Phone GPS Tracking involve questions and answers including Spy SMS Software and Windows Mobile SMS. Software that addresses these issues are able to do a whole lot more than just track location, but having an awareness of the issues behind location monitoring might be valuable.
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