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Smartphone Basics - Cell Tracking and Cell Phone Location

By: PhoneBeagle

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A Smartphone is basically a modern and sophisticated two-way radio. Of course they don't work alone and are part of a cellular network. At the center of the system are towers and base stations, positioned into a network of cells, that transmit and receive radio signals. Mobile phones contain low-power transmitters that connect to a nearby tower.
As someone travels from one cell tower to another, the radio base stations monitor the strength of the cell phone's signal. As the mobile phone moves toward the edge of one cell, the signal strength diminishes. At the same time, the next radio base station in the cell being approached notices the strength of the signal strengthening. As mobile phones travel from cell position, to cell position, the towers transfer the signal from one to the next.
In remote locations, cell towers may be too far apart to provide a consistent signal. Even when cell towers are plentiful GPS satellite signals may be impeded by tall buildings, or mountains. Signals do not reach building interiors very well and sometimes people have a hard time receiving clear signals inside buildings, particularly in elevators.
Even without a GPS receiver, or when a satellite signal is not strong enough, mobile phones can provide information about phone position. This way of calculating smartphone position is called Triangulation or Mobile Location Services (MLS). Cell Tower Triangulation uses signal analysis data, including power, to compute the time it takes signals to travel from your phone to at least three cell towers to estimate device exactly where it is. There are many variables affecting estimates and this method is often less reliable than GPS measurement.
In America following the terrible events of September 11, the requirement for enhanced 911 (e911) emergency calling capability, forced increased GPS tracking technology in mobile phones. In 2005, all cell phone network carriers were required to provide the ability to trace cell phone calls to a position accurate within 100 meters or less.
To conform with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirements, cellular phone network providers determined to incorporate GPS equipment into handsets, rather than renovate the cell tower network. But However the GPS in most mobile phones are not like those in typical GPS receiver that you take hiking or bicycling. Most cell phones, do not give the user direct access to the GPS information; precise location estimation requires the assistance of the cellular network. Under FCC rules for emergencies (e911) GPS data, is sent only if a 911 emergency call is made.
Cell phones may have GPS and the device may"know" exactly where it is, but it is unable to "tell" anyone else its position, until connected to a cellular network.
It is relevant to note that Wi-Fi complements the wirelessnetwork grid with supplemental conduits for location data to pass along to the net. Smartphones have a unique electronic identifier and if enabled can pass this information, locating handsets within the geographic area covered by the wifi hotspot.
Using device GPS as a consumer requires third-party software to take advantage of capabilities inherent to GPS Cell Tracking and Mobile Location. To be a mobile tracker you need a software package like PhoneBeagle. Mobile Monitoring Software compatible with BlackBerry and Android Smartphones, used or Parental Monitoring and Small Business Employee Monitoring.
A few relevant technical capabilities related to GPS cell tracking to consider include:
Tracking Application "Persistence". The tracking application on a handset typically must be enabled by the user. Depending on the smartphone, the application may persist - remaining enabled when the phone is turned on after having been turned off. This feature can be especially useful if phone tracking is important and you do not want to require the person using the phone to turn tracking on and off.
Another issue relevant to Tracking Application "Persistence" and mobile phone GPS tracking is the possibility of wasting the battery. It is important to be able to remotely adjust how often of taking GPS position. Choosing real-time or periodic sampling affects both the accuracy of finding location along with battery life.

One typical means of controlling battery and data use is Passive Tracking. Some handset GPS tracking devices will store location data internally so that it can be downloaded later. Also known as "data logging," which can maintain location data even when the device has traveled outside the wireless network. Passive tracking is not a universal feature built-in to standard mobile phone, but the latest cell phones tend to offer Passive tracking ability.
Throughout this discussion keep in mind that there is a fundamental difference between handset GPS Tracking and Navigation. GPS cell tracking is typically related to a third-party keeping records of either real-time or historical handset location, while Navigation deals with the mobile phone user determining how to get from point A to point B. Just because a smartphone has GPS doesn't mean that it can easily be used as a navigation device. Just like mobile phone tracking, navigation requires third-party software.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

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