Fingerprint-Based Location Estimation With Virtual Access Points

Location fingerprinting techniques generally make use of existing wireless network infrastructure. Consequently, the positions of the Access Points (APs), which constitute an integral part of a location system, will invariably be dictated by the network administrator's convenience regarding data communication. But the localization accuracy of fingerprint-based solutions is largely dependent on the APs' placements over the area. In this paper, the authors developed the idea of Virtual Access Point (VAP), where one can have AP's functionality at a desired position for localization purpose, without physically placing an AP there. They argue that, placing VAPs at favorable positions helps to improve localization accuracy.