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In the past, phones were installed at fixed positions; therefore, the location of each

phone could instantly be identified from the phone number. With the spread of mobile

phones in the 1990s, however, locating the user became difficult, and this lead to GPS

being built into mobile phones. When the GPS built-in mobile phones became popular,

another issue arose. The indoor positioning technology development began in the late

1990s after the recognition of the fact that GPS could not identify indoor locations.

The first technology that emerged was called Assisted GPS. It is a technique to

receive ultra-weak GPS signals that leak indoors by increasing the receiver sensitivity

to the limit. With this, the GPS base stations on the communication network were

used to identify the location of the indoor positions. This technology was developed by

SnapTrack, Inc., a venture company of about 30 people in Silicon Valley in the United

States. When a U.S. company, Qualcomm Inc. bought this company for about 100

billion yen in the early 1990s, it was a topic of conversation. Soon after that, KDDI

introduced this technology for the first time in Japan.

With the modernization of the telecommunication network by carriers, the Internet

communication technology advanced. Typically, the communication technology called

Wi-Fi. has spread all over the world. Since this inexpensive technology can easily

allow a mobile phone to exchange data wirelessly over a computer network, it has

become the world’s most popular infrastructure. It is convenient in hotels or bullet

trains, when you are on the run at work, as well as when you are at home. Incidentally,

in 2012, Wi-Fi was installed in approximately 23 million places in Japan. Currently, this

Internet communication technology is built into new generation smartphones as a

basic function. Almost simultaneously, the positioning technique, which estimates the

distance to the recipient by the intensity level of the radio wave received from the

Wi-Fi base station, was developed as an additional use of Wi-Fi. The greatest

advantage of the Wi-Fi positioning technology is that it has spread globally. The

representative firm on this technology is Skyhook Wireless, a venture company in the

U.S. However, the drawbacks of this system are:

1. Since it estimates a position with the strength of radio waves from the Wi-Fi

station, the exact location cannot be obtained.

2. The position of the Wi-Fi station is not necessarily fixed and its position

coordinates may not be obtained with high accuracy.

3. The spatial environment between the Wii station and the user is not always

constant due to the movements of people and the existence of radio wave

shielding materials, therefore, the accuracy and stability in positioning are

often poor.

２．[Reflection points of Wi-Fi that have become the world’s social infrastructure]

I think that the reflection points of Wi-Fi in the past existed in the installation of the

Wi-Fi. stations. Originally, the Wi-Fi. stations were created for a communication

network purpose. If the communication function was performed properly within the

scope of the rules, having no mutual interference problems, the purpose for installing

Wi-Fi. stations was achieved. For that reason, we did not need to know the exact

locations of the installation of the Wi-Fi. stations. Subsequently, the positioning

technology using the intensity of the radio waves from the Wi-Fi. stations has been

devised as a derivative technology and spread around the world instantaneously. This

new technology spread because it was devised without modifying the features of the

Wi-Fi. station and the hardware, which is also the case for IMES. But now the

positioning system is widely available, the drawback of it (i.e. the accuracy of

positioning is poor and unstable) has been exposed. Right now, this system cannot be

a trump card for the indoor positioning technology due to its poor and unstable

performance. With hindsight, if we knew the exact locations of all of the Wi-Fi.

stations, theoretically, more accurate location information should have been obtained.

３．[The trend of companies in the world that have involvement in the smartphone

business.]

As a trend to recognize the issue of indoor positioning technology, the

smartphone-related companies in the world have started working on this problem. The

world's major carriers, developers, and manufacturers of communication devices and

companies that develop the indoor positioning technology, such as Qualcomm Inc.,

Nokia, Broadcom, Samsung, Vizio, Philips and Huawei, gathered in 2012, and launched

the "In-Location Alliance" as a research and development group of indoor positioning

technology. This gathering proves that, depending on the individual purpose, the

indoor positioning technology widely used in current smartphones does not yet meet

necessary and sufficient conditions. GNSS Technologies Inc. sought entry to this

"In-Location Alliance" in order to identify the direction of the indoor positioning

technology by IMES, for which we obtained a patent internationally, and to identify the

technical trends and needs for indoor positioning technology. Currently, we are the

only company from Japan that has been selected to participate as a member of the

alliance.

４．[IMES: An epoch‐making invention from Japan.]

In the course of the world’s indoor positioning technology development, an epoch‐

making technology named IMES was invented around 2006. (Japanese official name

for IMES is Indoor MEssaging System. It is also called Indoor Measuring System in

the United States and Europe.) IMES is one of the few Japanese inventions in the field

of positioning technology that allows us to overcome the disadvantages of assisted

GPS and Wi-Fi. positioning all at once. In addition to the activities with JAXA, SPAC

and the IMES consortium in Japan, we have engaged in our own activities to promote

IMES overseas. As a result, we feel that the research to utilize IMES has become

more active. At this stage, we are not able to disclose specific organization and

company names, though, we have been surprised by truly unique ideas that have been

considered to utilize IMES, compared to the commonly conceived ideas in GNSS

Technologies Inc. or in Japan. Judging from these circumstances, the fields where

IMES can be used are still underdeveloped, therefore, there is a potential that

innovative sectors and services can be created around the world by utilizing IMES. For

that reason, by foreseeing the next 10 years or so, we believe that it is important to

develop new industries ahead of the rest of the world.

５．[Unparalleled superiority of IMES]

The characteristic of IMES is that it is an innovative technology that satisfies the

conditions for being built into smartphones, resolving the drawbacks which exist in

pseudolites, the assisted GPS and the Wi-Fi. positioning systems.

1. Since three-dimensional position data can be obtained from an indoor transmitter

at one place, it allows extremely free development indoors. This is different from

pseudolites, which require transmitters at four places.

2. Position coordinate data are directly obtained from the IMES transmitter. This

means that the IMES built-in smartphones do not need to perform the position

calculation, resulting in extremely low power consumption.

3. There is almost no increase in cost because a receiver can be changed to

seamlessly perform both indoor and outdoor positioning by just adding extra

programs without changing the design of the commonly used GPS receiver.

4. IMES allows us to locate a position accurately because it sends "floor data" of

buildings or underground shopping malls along with the "position data", no matter

how large buildings are or how deep the underground shopping areas are.

5. By controlling the radio field strength of each IMES transmitter every 1dBm, the

precision control ranging from ten meters or a little more to one meter is generally

possible.

6. If you receive IMES radio waves, it is guaranteed that you will be in that position

within a few meters, and instability or degradation of the positioning accuracy does

not occur as may happen with Assisted GPS and Wi-Fi. .

7. Precise three-dimensional indoor navigation is possible with IMES.

8. Since it can operate without time synchronization with an outdoor GPS satellite, or

between the IMES transmitters, technically, it is easy to install.

We conducted experiments measuring distances between a patient and a bed when

the patient got out of bed, and it was possible to determine the position of the patient

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７．[IMES: Officially employed by Japan's positioning satellite system "MICHIBIKI"]

Japan's first positioning satellite named "MICHIBIKI" (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System)

was launched three years ago, and along with the United States, Russia, the EU and

China, Japan joined the ranks of the countries that possess positioning satellite

systems. (Note: The generic term for these satellites is Global Navigation Satellite

System - GNSS.) Among these satellite positioning systems, the unique features of

the IMES indoor positioning technology have attracted special attention. IMES is a

highly compatible technology that can be integrated with not only Japan's

"MICHIBIKI", but also all of the world's satellite positioning systems in exactly the

same manner. Incidentally, there are no regulations in the world for the indoor satellite

positioning systems except Japan. I would say this is because no one in the rest of the

world thought that they could devise something like IMES. Only Japan's Quasi-Zenith

satellite positioning system incorporated the IMES indoor positioning system to

reinforce its indoor positioning function. Thus, the IMES system is Japan's unique

invention. As a result of the discussion between the Japanese government and the

GPS agencies of the U.S. government, the IMES system was employed as a

specification of "MICHIBIKI", which is interoperable with GPS. The U.S. officially

assigned 10 PRN codes to IMES for transmitting satellite signals on the ground. This

means that IMES is officially recognized throughout the world as part of the GPS

system specifications. In other words, the unique approach of IMES is officially

recognized as a valuable technology throughout the world.

[The PRN codes on the ground that have been assigned to IMES]

http://www.losangeles.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070530-036.pdf

８．[IMES: The world's social infrastructure]

If IMES spreads throughout the world with smartphones like the Wi-Fi.

communication network has, anyone will be able to freely use the seamless indoor and

outdoor positioning environment anywhere, anytime. There is no doubt that this

function will make a great contribution to the systems in the world that require a

positioning function, and to the development of the related industries. That is to say

that in the living environment where people are active and goods move around, we will

be able to obtain real time information such as "when, where, and who" seamlessly, no

matter whether you are inside or outside of a building. When the three elements of the

mobile communication devices represented by smartphones, the communications

technology through the Internet, and the seamless satellite positioning technology are

integrated at a global scale, the resulting important functions, which are the base of

industrial revolutions for the present age, can be provided to the world. In the

countries around the world including Japan, business has changed from using simple

labour to machine manufacturing. I think future business should focus on "Intelligent

Business" by integrating all of the above three elements and using them with

smartphones. The environment that combines "position and communication" on a

global scale is becoming a reality. The creation of this environment has been our aim

since the founding of GNSS Technologies Inc. . In this sense, IMES should be installed

worldwide observing certain rules and should become a commonly used major global

infrastructure which continuously produces more convenience with other related

industries.

Radio waves assigned to the satellite positioning systems in the world, typically GPS,

are now literally a worldwide social infrastructure. Apart from the individual purpose of

principal maintenance, the systems which are planned to be built in China, the EU, and

India will be commonly available free of charge worldwide. Because IMES uses some of

those radio waves, it is essential to create rules and an environment so that IMES can

be used freely and universally.

９．[The importance of IMES installation, its management and maintenance, and

acquisition of its technical aspects]

As I have already commented, if IMES spreads globally, and if its maintenance is done

under unified rules, significant benefits will be brought to the world. It will literally be a

world infrastructure that originates from Japan. For that matter, it is necessary to

establish installation standards and methods for IMES transmitters, and management

and maintenance for the PRN codes. On top of that, there is a need to show the world

the "recommended management standard" that eliminates the Japanese

self-righteousness and respects the flexible vitality of the private sector. Currently,

JAXA and the IMES consortium are in charge of drafting the management standards.

The operators that use the IMES technology for their services should follow the

installation and maintenance management that complies with the recommended rules,

and this needs to be presented to the world as the Japanese management system.

However, in reality, there are many difficult problems to solve before making the

Japanese IMES handling standards into global standards. Because of the

extraterritorial rights that exist between countries, we could recommend our handling

standards, but we have no authority to enforce them on other countries that have

different political systems. Even if we could, it is extremely unlikely to succeed unless

some arrangements could be made between the countries. Furthermore, it is virtually

impossible for the private sector to influence political power for the creation of new

business. As a way to solve this problem, our strategy would be to integrate the

management and maintenance procedures into the terms and conditions of IMES by

making a contract subject to patent right consent. GNSS Technologies Inc. aimed in

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１１．[Requirements for operators who perform installation, management, and

maintenance of IMES]

The operators who perform the installation work of IMES transmitters should research

and develop the handling and measurement methods about the extremely weak signal

of -130dBm, which can easily disappear in the natural environment. GPS signals are

super weak radio waves, which an instrument such as a typical spectrum analyser will

not be able to detect. The operators must understand properly how to handle and

adjust radio waves that they normally do not deal with. On top of that, they must

obtain the skills which allow them to perform the task accurately and precisely by

mastering how to determine the presence of interference between IMES and the

interference avoidance techniques. They must also develop technological tools to

carry out the tasks. Furthermore, the operators must develop a "position

coordinates" surveying method and its management system. It is desirable to make

the installation, management and maintenance standards international. When the

internationally accepted standards are completed, then they will literally become the

universal social infrastructure of indoor positioning.

The operators need knowledge of how to handle the PRN codes and their nature. The

quantities of PRN codes, which are assigned to IMES to avoid interference, are limited.

The operators must avoid interference by arranging the assigned codes theoretically.

Installing in a disorderly manner by ignoring the management and maintenance after

installation, leads to a lack of uniformity, and it will not help IMES to become a reliable

social infrastructure. Firm installation rules, and the methods and regulations that are

readily accepted throughout the world must be established. Selling IMES transmitters

irresponsibly and disorderly also leads to the destruction of the social infrastructure.

Fundamentally, we believe that the unity on the whole must be ensured by a contract

between parties with reliable status who hold technology and management systems.

With these ideas, we are committed to promoting the IMES system.

１２．[IMES is the world's only GPS signal transmitter]

As I mentioned earlier, it is very cheap and quick to add the IMES function to the GPS

system on smartphones. However, you cannot find a transmitter that transmits a GPS

signal anywhere in the world. Until now, when we talk about GPS, it has meant the

GPS receivers that receive radio waves from the GPS satellites. Famous GPS

manufacturers around the world, such as JAVAD, Novatel Wireless, u-blox Holding AG,

Septentrio, Qualcomm Inc., Broadcom Corporation, and CSR, including Trimble

Navigation Ltd. in the United States, where I used to work, are all developers and

manufacturers of receivers. For about 20 years since the mid-1980s when GPS was

introduced in Japan, neither company nor country had an idea to utilize the system

that sends signals equivalent to GPS satellite signals for business. Although a product

called pseudolites existed in some areas, there was no company in the world that

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spread rapidly.

１５．[The current situation for private use]

With the start of the function development for the first "MICHIBIKI", a system

development project has started moving forward. This project aims to develop a

system to utilize the seamless indoor/outdoor positioning function by mounting the

IMES signal reception function on GPS/GNSS receivers. In response to this, by the

suggestion from companies like ours, approximately 130, mainly private enterprises

gathered in June 2011 to share ideas, information, and recommendations on IMES, and

established the IMES consortium within Japan Space Forum, where the IMES

consortium office is situated. General examples where the IMES system is utilized are: A shopping guiding system in shopping malls. A search system for missing children in

amusement parks. An information system for underground shopping malls, airports,

railways, tunnels, etc. A system for safety and security in areas such as disaster

prevention. A security system that monitors the incoming and outgoing movements of

people or activities of people in a building. An evacuation guiding system in a fire or

other emergencies, using the indoor surveillance cameras and guiding lights. A

real-time logistics management system that checks the movement of goods inside

and outside a factory.

１６．[Use by the government and local governments]

An application for medical and nursing care has the potential for IMES to become a

service for the entire nation. The systems that are planned to be promoted nationwide

are the following. A system for monitoring and recording the activities of caregivers,

and determining feeds for their services. A system for monitoring the real-time

activities of doctors at universities, university hospitals, and general hospitals across

the country. A management system for emergency situations at hospitals. A system

for monitoring the activities of patients inside and outside hospitals. Management

systems for monitoring patient condition 24 hours a day. As IMES seamlessly tracks

situations inside and outside buildings, this IMES function is going to be employed to

support the construction of comprehensive medical management systems. Hospitals,

universities, and local governments across the country are all committed to building

an efficient, fair, and fast system. Efforts to achieve medical services that can

respond to Japan's aging society are continuously being made. The Community Health

Informatics Research and Development Organization was established in 2010 and

GNSS Technologies Inc. participates in this organization as a director and have been

cooperating with the organization on these plans.

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world, and they have been established and officially registered in dozens of countries,

including Japan, the EU, and the U.S. as well as Asian and African nations. We are

intending to build a collaborative and cooperative relationship with companies and

businesses that work on the construction of a seamless positioning system

environment, or companies and businesses that provide that service.

１８．[A viewpoint on the creation of new business]

The IMES receiver developers can install receivers without incurring too much cost.

However, transmitters are a kind of social infrastructure; therefore, installation is

difficult, unless there are some purposes or benefits for the cost bearers. The same

situation also applies to building owners and the seamless indoor and outdoor

positioning service providers. In all cases, however, once installed, the transmitters

will become commonly and freely available for everyone. Then, the question is who

and for what purposes. Finding a user market will lead to a global business. The IMES

system can be used to make buildings smart or for building security. It can also be

used for advertising at shopping malls, safety and security for underground parking,

applications for communication and positioning inside tunnels, guiding people, goods,

and equipment through the inside and outside of factories, nuclear power plants, etc.,

applications to send shop information to smartphones by integrating with 1seg,

applications for a guiding service system for outside destinations by linking

underground shopping mall maps and smartphones, the 3D, indoor version of common

guiding services, and integration with Indoor Maps, which was developed in Japan and

the U.S. by Google. There are countless possibilities for IMES applications.

The biggest platforms to use the established IMES are mobile communication devices

such as smartphones. There are as many smartphones in the world as there are

people. 6.7 billion people use smartphones worldwide while working and moving. So the

smartphones themselves are the mega market. For a way to provide information at the

time of emergency an agreement was made globally so that, first, all smartphones will

be equipped with GPS. Within 10 years from now, close to 130 satellites dedicated to

the exclusive use for positioning will be launched worldwide. There is no doubt that

the accuracy, reliability, and convenience for the outdoor satellite positioning

technology will dramatically increase compared to now. But it is obvious that the

increased number of satellites will not provide the same reliability to the indoor

positioning technology. As the outdoor positioning functions are enriched more and

more, the necessity for the useful indoor positioning technology increases. For

example, if this point is overcome by IMES, after that, on the stage of the smartphone

fed service market, no matter where you are, all business owners, venture companies,

and individuals around the world can create systems and services that fundamentally

change the world. Or, suddenly one day, someone with the ability and intelligence from

somewhere in the world can do the same thing without belonging to a major

corporation.

The significance of this emergence of the unprecedented huge business platform is

that the world is now capable of creating demands 24 hours a day on the single

worldwide network through real-time communications, with or without movements of

people. From now on, without doubt, many business ideas will be developed around the

world targeting this mega market. From those, the world can expect that there will be

many cases where enormous wealth will be made overnight. Japan has been facing a

fierce competition in terms of manufacturing. I believe that the wise choice for Japan

is to promote industries that focus on this area. Anyone in the world can participate

on this platform. This indicates that everyone is standing on the same starting line.

Therefore, the situation right now is that business ideas that pay more attention to

the world and capture consumers around the world can easily be produced in Japan.

Now is the time; Japan should endeavour with its intelligence to create new

businesses using this enormous platform by targeting the world market.