Good day!
Today update we've released the following features:
Wi-Fi positioning
When the GPS system cannot determine the unit geolocation, we have added unit coordinates detection with the help of Wi-Fi access points.
How Wi-Fi geolocation works
Now devices that support Wi-Fi-based positioning can send data about the closest Wi-Fi access points to the Wialon platform. The data is used for detecting the unit coordinates.
For this location option, you have to configure certain settings of the system.
A user should go to the Advanced properties tab in the Messages validity filtration section, select the Determine location by Wi-Fi points option.
Then a user indicates the minimum and maximum amount of Wi-Fi points the signal of which Wialon should receive from the unit.
The Accuracy parameter specifies the accuracy of the unit location to be considered valid.
Here is a step-by-step description of how the Wi-Fi geolocation process looks like:
When a device with the enabled Determine location by Wi-Fi points option finds itself between multiple Wi-Fi points, it sends a message with the information about the access points. The purpose of the message is to determine the unit location in relation to the Wi-Fi points.
Wialon determines the coordinates. The system processes the data about the access points, tests them according to the pre-set criteria, and selects the valid ones. Wialon takes the selected points and sends a request to Google Maps to receive the unit coordinates.
Wialon replaces the coordinates in the message. If the data does not meet the established criteria of accuracy, then Wialon leaves the message in its original form.
Turning on the Wi-Fi positioning feature, it's worth keeping in mind its natural limitations.
For some operations – for example, a trip calculation – Wialon requires positional data: speed, altitude, satellite info, etc. If you determine the unit location with Wi-Fi coordinates, you cannot take the rest of the data from GPS. Therefore, Wialon won’t be able to determine, let’s say, trips (stops and parking) using Wi-Fi geolocation.
Some types of notifications won't work either, for example, speed notifications. Therefore, Wialon will consider messages with Wi-Fi coordinates only when it is relevant. Primarily it concerns:
- tracks;
- notifications of the Geofence type;
- the columns of reports with addresses and coordinates.
Automatic vehicle type detection
In February, we announced the creation of the unit type library in Wialon Hosting. The idea to launch such a library is to facilitate work with the system for every user.
Now, Wialon can automatically determine the vehicle type. You don’t need to select it yourself – the system will do it for you.
In the future, Wialon will be able to determine other unit types, for example, personal trackers.
In order to teach Wialon to determine vehicle types as accurately as possible, we need to collect as much data from our users as possible. For users with the right to edit the unit properties, we suggest going to the Profile tab and check the vehicle type determined by Wialon.
The more users interact with this parameter (confirm or reject the proposed vehicle type), the more precise the automatic unit type detection will be.
Diana Cheley
Wialon Hosting Expert
Gurtam
