I want to determine the exact coordinates of the user with the help of the base stations of the provider, that is, at the 2G or 3G level.

At the moment I only have the latitude and longitude of each Base Station on the map. If you find a user, I can only say that this user is served only at a specific base station and that's it.

I want to create a web project such as Online monitoring of a specific user on a Google Map, i.e. where it is going and where it is.

Has anyone encountered this issue? And what is better to use to create this web project.

    2 answers 2

    If we recall the basics of radio communications, then having full access to base stations, this is theoretically possible.

    Each station, before connecting a client, determines the signal level from the client. Cellular communication in theory should be designed so that the user, or rather his mobile device, "see" at the same time several stations. To determine the position you need at least three stations. Next, we triangulate the position of the user by the signal level. This is how A-GPS works.

    BUT:

    1. Accuracy will be disgusting, I myself watched as my navigator showed that I was 2-3 km away from my real situation, since I knew the terrain even without a navigator.

    2. Improving accuracy does not work, because GSM uses a gigahertz frequency range that only works in the line of sight between the receiver and transmitter, which means that any iron-concrete or metal structure or a powerful source of electromagnetic field like power lines will introduce significant distortions in the power readings user signal.

    3. I need full access to the software stuffing of base stations, without which I cannot get signal levels. Such an access should be available only to telecom operators.

    • So on the phone, too, you can probably determine the signal strength from a particular station? - OlegUP
    • @OlegUP In theory, yes, the 2nd point still mercilessly spoils everything, and if there is no Internet, as the author asks, how can the information be conveyed to the service? - rdorn 7:08 pm
    • I have full access from telecom operators, using Huawei technology. But above, as you indicated by the method of triangulation. But I also read somewhere that GPS technology works this way, but I don’t know if it is possible to implement at the 2G or 3G level, and in general, does any cellular provider have it implemented or not? - Muhammad Yakubov
    • @MuhammadYakubov unfortunately, my knowledge of this issue is limited only by theory ... but it looks like it is somehow implemented, only specials have access to this system. services because she, in theory, allows you to monitor the user without his knowledge. - rdorn
    • If there are GPS coordinates of each base station yet, then you can train the user to use quite detailed google maps, each signal barrier can have differences in interference ratio depending on its properties, of course I can write nonsense, just sharing an idea for development. That is, to collect information about interference in the station's reach zone, and in some way to compare with its signal strength, and the power of other stations and their interference zones, you can also rely on the method you have, and then knowing the approximate position - more optimally calculate interference - OlegUP

    If there is an access to the data on which base stations the phone “sees” and the response time from them, then the task is trivial, if there is no such information, then there is no way without GPS.

    • the phone doesn’t see anything, it sends a request, such as Broadcast UTP to everyone who “sees”, and then the station system itself “leads” it from the station to the station, betraying it as the signal decreases on one and increases on the other. - rdorn pm