A multi-classifier approach for WiFi-based positioning system

Abstract

WLAN fingerprint-based positioning systems are a viable solution for estimating the location of mobile stations. Recently, various machine learning techniques have been applied to the WLAN fingerprint-based positioning systems to further enhance their accuracy. Due to the noisy characteristics of RF signals as well as the lack of the study on environmental factors affecting the signal propagation, however, the accuracy of the previously suggested systems seems to have a strong dependence on numerous environmental conditions. In this work, we have developed a multi-classifier for the WLAN fingerprint-based positioning systems employing a combining rule. According to the experiments of the multi-classifier performed in various environments, the combination of the multiple numbers of classifiers could significantly mitigate the environment-dependent characteristics of the classifiers. The performance of the multi-classifier was found to be superior to that of the other single classifiers in all test environments; the average error distances and their standard deviations were much more improved by the multi-classifier in all test environments. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.