This bachelor's thesis describes and analyzes wireless networks in shopping centers, including the implementation of location services. First, the basics of a wireless network and its positioning in modern shopping centers are described. Next, the wireless network architecture, including different access points and antennas, is presented.
Since many different client types can be found in shopping centers, different security mechanisms with the corresponding authentication mechanisms are explained. The site survey process, which is an important part of proper access-point positioning, is also analyzed.
The focus is, as mentioned, wireless location services used in shopping centers and their contribution in improvement of business strategies. And what does WiFi have to do with business strategies? If the end user (visitor) has WiFi enabled on his mobile device (it does not need to be connected), specific appliances enable us to perform location and presence analytics, providing different statistics, behavioral patterns, etc.
The approaches of two leading vendors, Cisco and Aruba, are introduced and compared. A case study was made using Cisco’s technology, where the location accuracy was researched based on the number and density of the APs.
At the end, the goal was to identify the most appropriate solution, which is applicable to a specific environment, e.g. shopping centers.
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