Judging Dynamic Co-Existence with Smartphone Magnetometer Traces

Abstract

Smartphone magnetometer traces can be used to check if the owners moved in proximity. Using time-lagged cross-correlation of the traces, a fine-resolution judgement can be made within a few meters in any formation. The technique works indoors and outdoors, with no communication infrastructure, with less power and higher resolution than GPS, and with less privacy violation than beaconing. Research and practice on human interactions, such as epidemiology and sociology that need fine contact tracing between complete strangers, can harness the technique.