Wayfinding is the process of using wireless technology to determine position
and an algorithm to determine a path to a destination.
Wayfinding inside a building necessitates the use of local signals to compute a position
based on proximity or trilateration.
Determining a path is based on a database that can relate wireless position to a physical location,
and with knowledge of the allowable corridors to proceed towards the destination.
WAIFIND.org offers a common data base for each facility to allow open access for wayfinding.
WAIFIND.org invites facilities to "build-out" their floorplan and wireless infrastructure.
Wireless Position
Position and location are available from GPS or other embedded wireless location facility that is built-in to an operating system. Where public location is not available, a wireless position is determined based on signal strength measurement to received Wi-Fi access points and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons. Proximity is used when only a single signal is received. Trilateration is used when multiple signals are received.
Location
Wireless Position reveals relative proximity to Wi-Fi access points with a broadcast SSID and BLE beacons with a serial number. Using proximity and trilateration provides a relative position to the identified sources. A database associates the identity of each signal to a physical location. Location can be estimated by translating the relative wireless position to a scaled coordinate system.
Wireless signals may emerge or disappear over the course of time. A learning process can adapt to changing signals assuming some known stations and with some contextual concept.
Pathway
Location and Destination provide the boundaries of possible pathways. A model of the facility provides the directions available to proceed. Other factors can be taken into account when choosing a pathway, for example congestion at security points.
Pathways can be learned very easily by monitoring participants location and recognizing well known corridors.