P2P Multiuser Low-Cost Universal Solution for On-Demand GPS Positioning and Tracking in Large Environments

Abstract

This paper presents the design and development of an on-demand low-cost positioning and tracking (P&T) system for large environments based on standard mobile phones and Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled devices, which allows the position of a terminal to be tracked by exchanging text or multimedia messages using short message service (SMS) and/or multimedia message service (MMS). In contrast with other works in the state of the art, the presented method and system do not require an intermediate server or an intermediation center (location-based service (LBS) providers) since communication is performed, following a peer-to-peer (P2P) paradigm. The P2P communication established between two devices with means of access to the mobile network is carried out, guaranteeing the privacy, security, and anonymity in their use and avoiding third-party intervention. Moreover, the proposed procedure protects the user from unwanted tracking through exchange of specific information, following a predefined protocol. In addition, the confidentiality of the information exchanged is guaranteed, in part, by the underlying wireless communication protocols that encrypt the messages swapped. The presented method and system represent an improvement with respect to the state-of-the-art P&T devices since it runs on standard mobile platforms, avoiding the need for a specific hardware and guaranteeing the universalization of the service. Another major advantage with respect to existing devices is that one peer can track multiple users, and each user can be tracked by multiple peers with no third-party intervention.