WiCLoc: A Novel CSI-based Fingerprint Localization System

Abstract

With the rapid development of smart devices and WiFi networks, WiFi-based indoor localization is becoming increasingly important in location-based services. Among various localization techniques, the fingerprint-based method has attracted much interest due to its high accuracy and low equipment requirement. Traditional fingerprint-based indoor localization systems mostly obtain positioning by measuring the received signal strength indicator (RSSI). However, the RSSI is affected by environmental influences, thereby limiting the precision of positioning. Therefore, we propose a new indoor fingerprint localization system based on channel state information (CSI). We adopt a novel method, in which the amplitude and phase of the CSI are fused to generate fingerprints in the training phase and apply a weighted [Formula: see text]-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm for fingerprint matching during the estimation phase. The system is validated in an exhibition hall and laboratory and we also compare the results of the proposed system with those of two CSI-based and an RSSI-based fingerprint localization systems. The results show that the proposed system achieves a minimum mean distance error of 0.85[Formula: see text]m in the exhibition hall and 1.28[Formula: see text]m in the laboratory, outperforming the other systems.