Lending out computer hardware provides benefits in productivity, but has always run the risk of material theft. The goal was to create Nooget, a platform independent, software only, indoor laptop security system, where many devices could be tracked from a central location using the 802.11 Wireless Local Area Network standard. It was created in Java, using modules with an object orientated design, and is able to accurately locate a user to within 10 feet.
A link to the report in MS Word can be found here: Nooget MQP (2.05Mb)
A link to the report in PDF format can be found here: Nooget MQP (1.08Mb)
Nooget was tested in three main buildings on the WPI Campus. They are displayed in the graph below. Founders Hall is displayed in green, Gordon Library is displayed in blue, and Fuller Labs is displayed in red.
The premise for Nooget was to build the software on top of the open source software Place Lab. Nooget uses Place Lab to query the hardware for the signal strengths given off by the surrounding access points. The basic structure of Nooget is displayed in the figure below:
Nooget has three main programs to run. They are the CalibrationGUI, the noogetClientSocket, and the noogetServer
programs. First, an administrator takes a calibration using the
CalibrationGUI on a specific laptop. He then distributes the encrypted
XML file created from the calibrations to the laptops he wants to
monitor. Prior to renting out the laptops, the noogetServer is started.
When a person rents out one of the laptops, the laptop automatically
connects to the noogetServer with the noogetClientSocket and the
administrator is able to monitor the location of this laptop to the
closest calibrated point. Ideally, the noogetClientSocket program will
not be displayed in order to prevent a user from tampering with it, and
so there is no screenshot to post.
The full version of the code, designed for the server, can be downloaded here: Nooget Full Version (37.3Mb)
The light version of the code, designed for the client, can be downloaded here: Nooget Light Version (20.5Mb)
NOTE: The code for Nooget is within the Place Lab download listed above to comply with the Open Source License Policy.
Any questions or comments about Nooget can be sent to the Nooget Mailing List or to any member of Nooget individually by clicking on their name at the top of the page.
