This paper presents a design methodology for positioning sub-platform from the viewpoint of positioning for smartphone-based location-based services (LBS). To achieve this, we analyze a mechanism of positioning error generation including principles of positioning sub-systems and structure of smartphones. Specifically, we carry out the experiments of smartphone positioning performance evaluation by the smartphone basic API (Application Programming Interface) and by the wireless LAN in various environments. Then, we describe the importance of considering three layers as follows: 1) the lower layer that caused by positioning sub-systems, e.g., GPS, wireless LAN, mobile base stations, and so on; 2) the middle layer that caused by functions provided from the platform such as Android and iOS; 3) the upper layer that caused by operation algorithm of applications on the platform.

Mode-by-mode impulse responses, or spectral transfer matrix (STM) of birefringent fibers are measured by using linear optical sampling, with assist of polarization multiplexed probe pulse. By using the eigenvalue analysis of the STM, the differential mode delay and PMD vector of polarization-maintaining fiber are analyzed as a function of optical frequency over 1THz. We show that the amplitude averaging of the complex impulse responses is effective for enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement, resulting in improving the accuracy and expanding the bandwidth of the measurement.

Currently, the proportion of independent travel is increasing in Japan. Therefore, earlier studies supporting itinerary planning have been presented. However, these studies have only insufficiently considered rural tourism. For example, tourist often use public transportation during trips in rural areas, although it is often difficult for a tourist to plan an itinerary for public transportation. Even if an itinerary can be planned, it will entail long waiting times at the station or bus stop. Nevertheless, earlier studies have only insufficiently considered these elements in itinerary planning. On the other hand, navigation is necessary in addition to itinerary creation. Particularly, recent navigation often considers dynamic information. During trips using public transportation, schedule changes are important dynamic information. For example, tourist arrive at bus stop earlier than planned. In such case, the waiting time will be longer than the waiting time included in the itinerary. In contrast, if a person is running behind schedule, a risk arises of missing bus. Nevertheless, earlier studies have only insufficiently considered these schedule changes. In this paper, we construct a tourism application that considers the waiting time to improve the tourism experience in rural areas. We define waiting time using static waiting time and dynamic waiting time. Static waiting time is waiting time that is included in the itinerary. Dynamic waiting time is the waiting time that is created by schedule changes during a trip. With this application, static waiting times is considered in the planning function. The dynamic waiting time is considered in the navigation function. To underscore the effectiveness of this application, experiments of the planning function and experiments of the navigation function is conducted in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. Based on the results, we confirmed that a tourist can readily plan a satisfactory itinerary using the planning function. Additionally, we confirmed that Navigation function can use waiting times effectively by suggesting additional tourist spots.

This paper proposes an algorithm for estimating the location of wireless access points (APs) in indoor environments to realize smartphone positioning based on Wi-Fi without pre-constructing a database. The proposed method is designed to overcome the main problem of existing positioning methods requiring the advance construction of a database with coordinates or precise AP location measurements. The proposed algorithm constructs a local coordinate system with the first four APs that are activated in turn, and estimates the AP installation location using Wi-Fi round-trip time (RTT) lateration and the ranging results between the APs. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is confirmed by conducting experiments in a real indoor environment consisting of two rooms of different sizes to evaluate the positioning performance of the algorithm. The experimental results showed the proposed algorithm using Wi-Fi RTT lateration delivers high smartphone positioning performance without a pre-constructed database or precise AP location measurements.

This paper attempts to identify which side of the road a bicycle is currently riding on using a common camera for realizing an advanced bicycle navigation system and bicycle riding safety support system. To identify the roadway area, the proposed method performs semantic segmentation on a front camera image captured by a bicycle drive recorder or smartphone. If the roadway area extends from the center of the image to the right, the bicyclist is riding on the left side of the roadway (i.e., the correct riding position in Japan). In contrast, if the roadway area extends to the left, the bicyclist is on the right side of the roadway (i.e., the incorrect riding position in Japan). We evaluated the accuracy of the proposed method on various road widths with different traffic volumes using video captured by riding bicycles in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, and Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. High accuracy (>80%) was achieved for any combination of the segmentation model, riding side identification method, and experimental conditions. Given these results, we believe that we have realized an effective image segmentation-based method to identify which side of the roadway a bicycle riding is on.

In this paper, the differences in navigation information design, which is important for kiosk-type pedestrian navigation systems, were experimentally examined depending on presence or absence of carriable navigation information in order to acquire the knowledge to contribute design guidelines of kiosk-type pedestrian navigation systems. In particular, we used route complexity information calculated using a regression equation that contained multiple factors. In the absence of carriable navigation information, both the destination arrival rate and route deviation rate improved. Easy routes were designed as M (17 to 39 characters in Japanese), while complicated routes were denoted as L (40 or more characters in Japanese). On the contrary, in the presence of carriable navigation information, the user's memory load was found to be reduced by carrying the same navigation information as kiosk-type terminals. Thus, the reconsideration of kiosk-type pedestrian navigation systems design, e.g., the means of presenting navigation information, is required. For example, if the system attaches importance to a high destination arrival rate, L_Carrying without regard to route complexity is better. If the system attaching importance to the low route deviation rate, M_Carrying in the case of easy routes and L_Carrying in the case of complicated routes have been better. Consequently, this paper presents the differences in the designs of pedestrian navigation systems depending on whether carriable navigation information is absent or present.

This paper evaluates the bluetooth low energy (BLE) positioning systems using the sparse-training data through the comparison experiments. The sparse-training data is extracted from the database including enough data for realizing the highly accurate and precise positioning. First, we define the sparse-training data, i.e., the data collection time and the number of smartphones, directions, beacons, and reference points, on BLE positioning systems. Next, the positioning performance evaluation experiments are conducted in two indoor environments, that is, an indoor corridor as a one-dimensionally spread environment and a hall as a twodimensionally spread environment. The algorithms for comparison are the conventional fingerprint algorithm and the hybrid algorithm (the authors already proposed, and combined the proximity algorithm and the fingerprint algorithm). Based on the results, we confirm that the hybrid algorithm performs well in many cases even when using sparse-training data. Consequently, the robustness of the hybrid algorithm, that the authors already proposed for the sparse-training data, is shown.

This paper describes designing a new pedestrian navigation system using a comprehensive framework called the pedestrian navigation concept reference model (PNCRM). We implement this system as a publicly-available smartphone application and evaluate its positioning performance near Omiya station's western entrance. We also evaluate users' subjective impressions of the system using a questionnaire. In both cases, promising results are obtained, showing that the PNCRM can be used as a tool for designing pedestrian navigation systems, allowing such systems to be created systematically.

We propose an optical fiber connection navigation system that uses visible light communication for an integrated distribution module in a central office. The system realizes an accurate database, requires less skilled work to operate and eliminates human error. This system can achieve a working time reduction of up to 88.0% compared with the conventional work without human error for the connection/removal of optical fiber cords, and is economical as regards installation and operation.

In this paper, we clarify the importance of performance evaluation using a plurality of smartphones in a positioning system based on radio waves. Specifically, in a positioning system using bluetooth low energy, the positioning performance of two types of positioning algorithms is performed using a plurality of smartphones. As a result, we confirmed that the fingerprint algorithm does not always provide sufficient positioning performance. It depends on the model of the smartphone used. On the other hand, the hybrid algorithm that the authors have already proposed is robust in the difference of the received signal characteristics of the smartphone. Consequently, we spotlighted that the use of multiple devices is essential for providing high-quality location-based services in real environments in the performance evaluation of radio wave-based positioning systems using smartphones.

This paper proposes a route calculation method for a bicycle navigation system that complies with traffic regulations. The extension of the node map and three kinds of route calculation methods are constructed and evaluated on the basis of travel times and system acceptability survey results. Our findings reveal the effectiveness of the proposed route calculation method and the acceptability of the bicycle navigation system that included the method.

This paper presents two new types of markers of M-CubITS (M-sequence Multimodal Markers for ITS; M-Cubed for ITS) that is a ground-based positioning system, in order to advance the WYSIWYAS (What You See Is What You Are Suggested) navigation environments providing intuitive guidance. One of the new markers uses warning blocks of textured paving blocks that are often at important points as for pedestrian navigation, for example, the top and bottom of stairs, branch points, and so on. The other uses interlocking blocks that are often at wide spaces, e.g., pavements of plazas, parks, sidewalks and so on. Furthermore, we construct the integrated pedestrian navigation system equipped with the automatic marker-type identification function of the three types of markers (the warning blocks, the interlocking blocks, and the conventional marker using guidance blocks of textured paving blocks) in order to enhance the spatial availability of the whole M-CubITS and the navigation system. Consequently, we show the possibility to advance the WYSIWYAS navigation environments through the performance evaluation and the operation confirmation of the integrated system.

We describe the design and simulation of a suitable branching ratio for an optical coupler for a cable re-routing operation support system with no service interruption, and report our experimental results. We also show the risk analysis, and report that the branching ratio was 0.47 where the probability was 99.7% that the maximum acceptable cable loss of a detour line was more than that of the current line.

This paper indicates a design methodology of Wi-Fi round-trip time (RTT) ranging for lateration through the performance evaluation experiments. The Wi-Fi RTT-based lateration needs to operate plural access points (APs) at the same time. However, the relationship between the number of APs in operation and ranging performance has not been clarified in the conventional researches. Then, we evaluate the ranging performance of Wi-Fi RTT for lateration focusing on the number of APs and channel-usage conditions. As the results, we confirm that the ranging result acquisition rates decreases caused by increasing the number of APs simultaneously operated and/or increasing the channel-usage rates. In addition, based on positioning performance comparison between the Wi-Fi RTT-based lateration and the Wi-Fi fingerprint method, we clarify the points of notice that positioning by Wi-Fi RTT-based lateration differs from the conventional radio-intensity-based positioning. Consequently, we show a design methodology of Wi-Fi RTT ranging for lateration as the following three points: the important indicators for evaluation, the severeness of the channel selection, and the number of APs for using. The design methodology will help to realize the high-quality location-based services.