BluePoint : a bluetooth-based architecture for location-positioning services

Mobile computing has induced a class of killer applications recently by extending the paradigm of parallel and distributed computing across a mobile environment. A very important class of applications involves the location-awareness of a mobile user. Two major issues must be addressed to deliver appropriate services to mobile users. One is the availability of a good location-positioning system and the second is an infrastructure that enables the positions to be tracked for the perusal of user applications. In this paper, we propose the BluePoint architecture that allows mobile user locations to be managed effectively and transparently. This is realized through a middleware for the application developers, shielding the applications from the distribution and heterogeneity of the underlying communication networks and the locating infrastructures. The middleware offers a set of location-based support functions and high-level APIs to the application programmers. Other useful components are built around the architecture. We built a prototype of BluePoint, with some sample applications set in the context of a hospital environment. In this paper, we will focus on the middleware-based architecture of BluePoint, providing services which are integrated seamlessly to the user applications. Services provided in the middleware include Location Information Management, Location Information Retrieval, Location Event Notification and Access Control on Mobile Units.Department of ComputingRefereed conference pape