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Atracking system, also known as alocating system, is used for theobserving of persons or objects on the move and supplying a timely ordered sequence of location data for further processing.
A myriad of tracking systems exist. Some are 'lag time' indicators, that is, the data is collected after an item has passed a point for example, abar code or choke point or gate.[1] Others are 'real-time' or 'near real-time' likeGlobal Positioning Systems (GPS) depending on how often the data is refreshed. There are bar-code systems which require items to be scanned and other which haveautomatic identification (RFID auto-id). For the most part, the tracking worlds are composed of discrete hardware and software systems for different applications. That is, bar-code systems are separate fromElectronic Product Code (EPC) systems and GPS systems are separate from active real time locating systems orRTLS. For example, a passive RFID system would be used in a warehouse to scan the boxes as they are loaded on a truck - then the truck itself is tracked on a different system using GPS with its own features and software.[2] The major technology “silos” in the supply chain are:
Indoors assets aretracked repetitively reading e.g. a barcode,[3] any passive and activeRFID, then, feeding read data into Work in Progress models (WIP) or Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) or ERP software. The readers required per choke point are meshed auto-ID or hand-held ID applications.
However, tracking could also be capable of providing data monitoring without being bound to a fixed location by using a cooperative tracking capability such as anRTLS.
Outdoors mobile assets of high value are tracked by choke point,[4]802.11,Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), Time Delay on Arrival (TDOA), active RFID or GPS Yard Management; feeding into either third party yard management software from the provider or to an existing system. Yard Management Systems (YMS) couple location data collected by RFID and GPS systems to help supply chain managers to optimize utilization of yard assets such as trailers and dock doors. YMS systems can use either active or passive RFID tags.
Fleet management is applied as atracking application using GPS and composing tracks from subsequent vehicle's positions. Each vehicle to be tracked is equipped with a GPS receiver and relays the obtained coordinates viacellular orsatellite networks to a home station.[5] Fleet management is required by:
Person tracking relies onunique identifiers that are temporarily (RFID tags) or permanently assigned to persons likepersonal identifiers (includingbiometric identifiers), ornational identification numbers and a way to sample their positions, either on short temporal scales as through GPS or forpublic administration to keep track of a state'scitizens ortemporary residents. The purposes for doing so are numerous, for example fromwelfare andpublic security tomass surveillance.
Mobile phone services
Location-based services (LBS) utilise a combination ofA-GPS, newer GPS and cellular locating technology that is derived from thetelematics and telecom world.Line of sight is not necessarily required for a location fix. This is a significant advantage in certain applications since a GPS signal can still be lost indoors. As such, A-GPS enabled cell phones andPDAs can be located indoors and the handset may be tracked more precisely. This enables non-vehicle centric applications and can bridge theindoor location gap, typically the domain ofRFID andReal-time locating system (RTLS) systems, with an off the shelf cellular device.
Currently, A-GPS enabled handsets are still highly dependent on the LBS carrier system, so handset device choice and application requirements are still not apparent. Enterprise system integrators need the skills and knowledge to correctly choose the pieces that will fit the application and geography.
Regardless of the tracking technology, for the most part, the end-users just want to locate themselves or wish to find points of interest. The reality is that there is no "one size fits all" solution with locating technology for all conditions and applications.
Application of tracking is a substantial basis forvehicle tracking in fleet management,asset management, individual navigation, social networking, or mobile resource management and more. Company, group or individual interests can benefit from more than one of the offered technologies depending on the context.
GPS has global coverage but can be hindered by line-of-sight issues caused by buildings and urban canyons;Map matching techniques, which involve several algorithms, can help improve accuracy in such conditions.[6] RFID is excellent and reliable indoors or in situations where close proximity to tag readers is feasible, but has limited range and still requires costly readers. RFID stands forRadio Frequency Identification. This technology uses electromagnetic waves to receive the signal from the targeting object to then save the location on a reader that can be looked at through specialized software.[7][8]
RTLS are enabled byWireless LAN systems (according toIEEE 802.11) or otherwireless systems (according toIEEE 802.15) withmultilateration. Such equipment is suitable for certain confined areas, such as campuses and office buildings. RTLS requires system-level deployments and server functions to be effective.
Invirtual space technology, a tracking system is generally a system capable of rendering virtual space to a human observer while tracking the observer'scoordinates. For instance, in dynamicvirtual auditory space simulations, a head tracker provides information to a central processor in real time and this enables the processor to select what functions are necessary to give feedback to the user in relation to where they are positioned.[1]
Additionally, there isvision-based trajectory tracking, that uses a color and depth camera known as aKINECT sensor to track 3D position and movement. This technology can be used in traffic control, human-computer interface, video compression and robotics.[9]
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)New access-control devices are an important addition to the sophisticated work that one Texas school district is doing to protect its students.
Imagine a world where children all wear wristbands about the size of a Zippo lighter'-not as the newest fashion statement, but instead for security. These wristbands can transmit a signal with an effective range of over two football fields, narrowing down each child's position to within thirty feet. Furthermore, the system can track the children over a two square mile area surrounding their school. If a child walks off their path or does not make it to school on time, the centralized system automatically sends an e-mail or text message to the child's parents. ... In addition, cars near the children's school are fitted with the same technology, and if a vehicle drives near a child, a voice prompt will alert the driver ... While this scenario may seem fitting for the newest science fiction motion picture, the scene is reality inYokohama City, Japan
