Robust Proximity Detection using On-Device Gait Monitoring

Abstract: Proximity detection in indoor environments based on WiFi signals has gained significant attention in recent years. Existing works rely on the dynamic signal reflections and their extracted features are dependent on motion strength. To address this issue, we design a robust WiFi-based proximity detector by considering gait monitoring. Specifically, we propose a gait score that accurately evaluates gait presence by leveraging the speed estimated from the autocorrelation function (ACF) of channel state information (CSI). By combining this gait score with a proximity feature, our approach effectively distinguishes different transition patterns, enabling more reliable proximity detection. In addition, to enhance the stability of the detection process, we employ a state machine and extract temporal information, ensuring continuous proximity detection even during subtle movements. Extensive experiments conducted in different environments demonstrate an overall detection rate of 92.5% and a low false alarm rate of 1.12% with a delay of 0.825s.