Unlike landline phones that are pinpointed to specific places within large structures such as office buildings and hotels, the specific location of a wireless device often cannot be determined more precisely than the building in which it is in use. In skyscrapers or similar buildings, this can cause great difficulty for rescuers trying to respond to a distress call made via a mobile device when the caller is unable to accurately provide a specific location, such as floor number, room location or other information necessary for emergency personnel.
That is why CommScope, a global leader in infrastructure solutions for communication networks, is introducing the GeoLENs® Indoor location solution. This easy-to-deploy location system, part of the Andrew Solutions Network Applications portfolio, integrates with wireless indoor coverage systems including distributed antenna systems (DAS), repeaters, and other RF equipment.
“Just as wireless coverage and capacity inside large public venues has attracted significant attention and resources so, too, are indoor location solutions,” said Navin Vohra, vice president, Wireless Sales, Asia Pacific, CommScope. “It’s an interest due to both a public safety concern and a commercial opportunity.”
GeoLENs Indoor can be deployed with existing DAS infrastructure or as a stand alone indoor location solution and offers the advantage of working with existing handsets. The streamlined architecture is highly reliable and easy to install. Not only will wireless operators be able to offer improved accuracy for callers in-building, they can also utilize the capability for commercial applications including mobile advertising and social networking applications, among others.
The GeoLENs Indoor solution operates by determining a caller’s proximity to signal detection devices and other network components that are part or independent of the in-building coverage system. The company expects deployments to occur first in large public venues such as stadiums, office buildings, malls, airports, and hospitals. CommScope has already deployed GeoLENs Indoor in a U.S. Tier I network to provide locations in an airport, high rise office building, and urban canyon environment.
“We have combined a decade of experience in location solutions with our versatile wireless indoor coverage systems to offer operators an integrated, reliable indoor location solution,” said Vohra.
The GeoLENs location portfolio includes all the components needed to locate almost any user across a wireless network and then relay that information between location-based service providers and the user's mobile device. GeoLENs offers operators cost efficiencies, capacity and algorithm enhancements, and greater technology integration in addressing commercial and regulatory applications in an era of rapidly evolving networks, devices and customer usage requirements.
