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.

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 iterative carrier frequency offset (CFO) compensation for spatially multiplexed Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals using independent component analysis (ICA). We apply spatial division multiple access (SDMA) to BLE system to deal with massive number of connection requests of BLE devices expected in the future. According to specifications, each BLE peripheral device is assumed to have CFO of up to 150 [kHz] due to hardware impairments. ICA can resolve spatially multiplexed signals even if they include independent CFO. After the ICA separation, the proposed scheme compensates for the CFO. However, the length of the BLE packet preamble is not long enough to obtain accurate CFO estimates. In order to accurately conduct the CFO compensation using the equivalent of a long pilot signal, preamble and a part of estimated data in the previous process are utilized. In addition, we reveal the fact that the independent CFO of each peripheral improves the capability of ICA blind separation. The results confirm that the proposed scheme can effectively compensate for CFO in the range of up to 150[kHz], which is defined as the acceptable value in the BLE specification.

This paper proposes a successive interference cancellation (SIC) of independent component analysis (ICA) aided spatial division multiple access (SDMA) for Gaussian filtered frequency shift keying (GFSK) in Bluetooth low energy (BLE) systems. The typical SDMA scheme requires estimations of channel state information (CSI) using orthogonal pilot sequences. However, the orthogonal pilot is not embedded in the BLE packet. This fact motivates us to add ICA detector into BLE systems. In this paper, focusing on the covariance matrix of ICA outputs, SIC can be applied with Cholesky decomposition. Then, in order to address the phase ambiguity problems created by the ICA process, we propose a differential detection scheme based on the MAP algorithm. In practical scenarios, it is subject to carrier frequency offset (CFO) as well as symbol timing offset (STO) induced by the hardware impairments present in the BLE peripherals. The packet error rate (PER) performance is evaluated by computer simulations when BLE peripherals simultaneously communicate in the presence of CFO and STO.

This paper proposes an enhanced BLE scanner with user-level channel awareness and simultaneous channel scanning to increase theoretical scanning capability by up to three times. With better scanning capability, channel analysis quality also has been improved by considering channel-specific signal characteristics, without the need of beacon-side changes.

A fully-integrated system-on-chip (SoC) for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) with 3.2mA RX and 3.5mA TX current consumption is presented. To achieve both low current consumption and high performance, the SoC employs a sliding-IF architecture with high tolerance against out-of-band-blocking signals, a power management unit with improved efficiency, and techniques to reduce current in core circuits. The SoC achieves RX sensitivity of -93dBm and maximum output power of 0dBm. The SoC is in compliance with version 4.2 of the Bluetooth specifications and with the radio regulations of the FCC, ETSI, and ARIB. The SoC achieves the minimum level of current consumption for both RX and TX modes in the published product-level SoCs.