Indoor positioning systems (IPS) locate people or objects inside a building using radio waves, magnetic fields, acoustic signals, or other sensory information collected by a smartphone device or tablet. These systems are used to detect and track a position. Just think of it as GPS, but for indoors.

Since GPS does not work indoors, Bluetooth is a good alternative for indoor positioning and indoor navigation. Bluetooth beacons are able to send out signals, but they can’t receive them. They are relatively cheap, can run on button cells up to two years and have a maximum range of 30 meters indoors. Accuracy is up to one meter. On the one hand they are used in client based solutions, that is to say, positioning via app on the smartphone itself. In this case, Bluetooth must be activated on the device. On the other hand, server based tracking solutions using beacons are possible as well.

For positioning in client based applications, several beacons are required. They send out unique signals with which the app determines the position by means of fingerprinting. Based on beacons, it is possible to trigger an action, for example displaying a coupon or information on the smartphone.