DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A MOBILE PHONE-BASED ROUTE DETECTION SYSTEM FOR SECURITY APPLICATIONS

This work focused on the  design and implementation of a mobile phone-based route detection system for security applications. In this work, an optimal mobile phone-based route detection application has been developed. It locates and monitors the users‟ movements and notifies the required personnel if deviation from the predesignated route is detected. This client-server application is made up of mainly four software parts. The first client part runs on the users‟ GPS, Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME)-enabled mobile phone and periodically sends its position data to an internet enabled database server after every 30 seconds. It is developed using the Sun‟s J2ME, Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP), under the Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC). The Netbeans Wireless Tool Kit (WTK) was used as a testing and emulation environment. The route-geo-system application part then uses the point-in-polygon algorithm to determine whether the user is within the required route and speed. If not, it generates and sends an alert message to the „message-out‟ table of the database server. The Ozeki-NG Short Message Service (SMS) gateway then picks this message and delivers it to the required personnel. In testing the performance of whole system, no alarms are sent between 0-30 meters from the middle of the road. However, as one deviates several meters from the road, alarms are sent. The systems response to the speed limits is 100% successful. The total time taken as from the time the user deviates from the route to the time the alert is send is averagely 40 seconds.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION
ii
DEDICATION
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
v
LIST OF TABLES
viii
LIST OF FIGURES
ix
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
xi
ABSTRACT
xiv

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study
1.2 Problem statement and justification
1.3 Objectives of the study
1.3.1 Main objective
1.3.2 Specific objectives
1.4 Rationale of the research

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Location Based Services (LBS) technology applications
2.2.1 Emergency relief, public safety and security
2.2.2 Navigation aids, commercial and information services
2.2.3 Business safety and efficiency, transaction and billing
2.3 Other related work
2.3.1 Monitoring systems on mobile phones

CHAPTER THREE: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Determination of the location of a mobile terminal
3.2.1 Device-based positioning methods
3.2.2 Network-based positioning methods
3.2.3 Hybrid positioning methods
3.3 Software developer methods for obtaining position data
3.3.1 Handset-initiated location requests
3.3.2 Network-initiated location requests
3.4 Global Positioning System (GPS) technology
3.4.1 GPS signal transmission and reception
3.5 The point-in-polygon problem
3.5.1 The angle summation algorithm
3.5.2 The grid test
3.5.3 The ray casting method
3.6 Calculation of speed using GPS coordinates
3.7 Client/server systems
3.8 Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications network
3.8.1 Mobile Station (MS)
3.8.2 Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
3.8.3Network and Switching Subsystems (NSS)
3.9Short Message Service (SMS)

CHAPTER FOUR: MATERIALS AND METHODS

4.1 Introduction
4.2 Block diagram of the complete mobile phone-based security system
4.3 The J2ME application (TrackMe)
4.3.1 The J2ME code
4.4 The server-side development
4.4.1 The My Structured Query Language (MySQL) database
The route-geo-system application
4.6 The Ozeki-NG SMS gateway

CHAPTER FIVE: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

5.1 Introduction
5.2The J2ME application
5.3 The server-side
5.4 The route-geo-system
5.4.1 The system‟s response to deviation from the route
5.4.2 The system‟s response to the speed limits
5.5 The Ozeki-NG SMS gateway
5.6The working of the whole system

CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 Conclusion
6.2 Recommendations

REFERENCES67

APPENDICES70

APPENDIX A: THE J2ME CODE
APPENDIX B: THE ROUTE-GEO-SYSTEM CODE
APPENDIX C: THE SERVER SIDE
APPENDIX D: OZEKI-NG SMS GATEWAY

 

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

 

1.1 Background to the study

The first generation mobile phones which used analog technology were heavy and their coverage was patchy. Technical innovations in terms of hardware, software and protocols have contributed to the success of the mobile phones and have added them new capabilities. The handsets have become smaller and lighter, the battery life has increased and the reception has improved due to the improvements in digital technology and better use of the finite spectrum. The current generation of mobile phones is built using digital technology and they connect to the internet via the new generation of wireless communications. Therefore, they provide higher information transfer capability than the earlier generations (Yesim and Kivanc, 2007).

 

Due to the advancement of mobile phones and wireless technologies, data functionalities (such as the text or multimedia messages, email and streaming video) are now possible at a variety of broadband speeds, making the popularity of these media soar. The mobile terminals are developing, getting new features and enhanced hardware at a fast pace. The new mobile phones are called smart phones, because their features can be added and modified. Most of these smart mobile phones are programmable and can run any conceivable application. They readily support General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Bluetooth, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), inbuilt or attachable camera, as well as other sophisticated applications. The smart phones have high-resolution color display (176x208 pixels with 4096 colors) and several megabytes of internal memory, which can be supplemented with memory cards. They are small, light, but powerful mobile terminals (Dival et. al, 2015).

 

Mass production has substantially lowered the cost of smart phones on the cellular phone market making them more affordable to the average consumer. It is estimated that currently over one half of the world’s population own a mobile phone (Winters et al., 2008). The convergence of multiple technologies including GPS, GIS, mobile information systems, internet, wireless communications, location identification and mobile devices has given rise to exciting new types of information utilities called Location Based Services (LBS).  They provide the capability to find the geographical location of the mobile device and then offer services based on information of this location (Steiniger et al., 2006).

Hence, this thesis focuses on the design and implementation of a mobile phone-based route detection system for security applications. In this work, a GPS-enabled phone detection system will be programmed to periodically obtain and send its location data to a database server.

1.2 Problem statement

We are living in an insecure society where people are in danger from criminal attacks like kidnaps to internet predators. Systems that can detect situations where the care-givers attention is required exist in form of domestic fire and burglar alarms. In the area of security and health care, industry and academia have actively conducted research using various external sensors such as visual monitors, motion detectors and proximity sensors. However, these sensors may not always be available in outdoor activities. An easily portable and a versatile device like a mobile phone then become handy for enhancing personal security. The expectation that mobile phone users are able to answer phone calls most of the time enables one to determine the well-being of another by simply calling them. However in case of an accident or emergency situation, conditions may not be favorable for any phone call. This raises a question of how to increase awareness of our dependents‟ situations in order to provide help when needed.

 

Mobile phones equipped with GPS receivers can enable the tracking of one’s location. This functionality can be used by individuals to identify where they are on a map. However, there are a few problems with the existing GPS security systems. First, the interface for monitoring position requires a lot of user input and is based on plotting a dot on an electronic map. A moving dot on a map only shows information about where the user is located but does not give detailed information about the type of situation in which he/she may be. Secondly, current GPS systems do not detect any deviations. Guardians are constantly required to focus their attention on the map and assess the situations themselves. In this work, the above issues are addressed by developing a system which can store the user’s regular routes, monitor him/her while on transit and alert required personnel if there is deviation from the expected route or speed range.

 

1.3 Objectives of the study

1.3.1 Main objective

The general objective of this study is to develop and design a mobile phone-based route detection system for security applications.

1.3.2 Specific objectives

1. To develop an optimal method for detecting deviations from the predetermined route and speed range.
2. To develop a mechanism for sending an alert to the required personnel in case of any deviation.

1.4 Rationale of the research

Currently, security all over the world has become a serious issue, raising a lot of concern among the affected parties. This study increases awareness of the dependents‟ situations and be able to provide help remotely. Therefore, it is deemed that this study is necessary due to the following reasons;

1. It will enable the dissemination of mobile terminal’s position data to third party security service providers ensuring that in case of any criminal attack, necessary measures are taken quickly and effectively.
2. It will enable care-givers have peace of mind because they are aware of their dependents‟
3. The system can also be extended to applications like vehicle tracking, asset monitoring and management, monitoring of criminals and location based emergency warnings for public safety.

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A MOBILE PHONE-BASED ROUTE DETECTION SYSTEM FOR SECURITY APPLICATIONS

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