Cluster-based RF fingerprint positioning using LTE and WLAN outdoor signals

In this paper we evaluate user-equipment (UE) positioning performance of three cluster-based RF fingerprinting methods using LTE and WLAN signals. Real-life LTE and WLAN data were collected for the evaluation purpose using consumer cellular-mobile handset utilizing ‘Nemo Handy’ drive test software tool. Test results of cluster-based methods were compared to the conventional grid-based RF fingerprinting. The cluster-based methods do not require grid-cell layout and training signature formation as compared to the grid-based method. They utilize LTE cell-ID searching technique to reduce the search space for clustering operation. Thus UE position estimation is done in short time with less computational cost. Among the cluster-based methods Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster based RF fingerprinting provided best positioning accuracy using a single LTE and six WLAN signal strengths. This method showed an improvement of 42.3 % and 39.8 % in the 68th percentile and 95th percentile of positioning error (PE) over the grid-based RF fingerprinting.