On the accuracy of measured proximity of bluetooth-based contact tracing apps

Qingchuan Zhao; Haohuang Wen; Zhiqiang Lin; Dong Xuan; Ness Shroff

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-63086-7_4

On the accuracy of measured proximity of bluetooth-based contact tracing apps

Qingchuan Zhao, Haohuang Wen, Zhiqiang Lin, Dong Xuan, Ness Shroff

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

41 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A large number of Bluetooth-based mobile apps have been developed recently to help tracing close contacts of contagious COVID-19 individuals. These apps make decisions based on whether two users are in close proximity (e.g., within 6 ft) according to the distance measured from the received signal strength (RSSI) of Bluetooth. This paper provides a detailed study of the current practice of RSSI-based distance measurements among contact tracing apps by analyzing various factors that can affect the RSSI value and how each app has responded to them. Our analysis shows that configurations for the signal transmission power (TxPower) and broadcasting intervals that affect RSSI vary significantly across different apps and a large portion of apps do not consider these affecting factors at all, or with quite limited tuning.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Security and Privacy in Communication Networks
Subtitle of host publication	16th EAI International Conference, SecureComm 2020, Proceedings
Editors	Noseong Park, Kun Sun, Sara Foresti
Publisher	Springer, Cham
Pages	49-60
Volume	Part I
ISBN (Electronic)	9783030630867
ISBN (Print)	9783030630850
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63086-7_4
Publication status	Published - 2020
Externally published	Yes
Event	16th EAI International Conference on Security and Privacy in Communication Networks (SecureComm 2020) - Online, Washington, United States Duration: 21 Oct 2020 → 23 Oct 2020 https://securecomm.eai-conferences.org/2020/

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering
Volume	335
ISSN (Print)	1867-8211
ISSN (Electronic)	1867-822X

Conference

Conference	16th EAI International Conference on Security and Privacy in Communication Networks (SecureComm 2020)
Abbreviated title	EAI SecureComm 2020
Place	United States
City	Washington
Period	21/10/20 → 23/10/20
Internet address	https://securecomm.eai-conferences.org/2020/

Research Keywords

BLE
Bluetooth
Contact tracing
COVID-19
Proximity measurement

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10.1007/978-3-030-63086-7_4

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Zhao, Q., Wen, H., Lin, Z., Xuan, D., & Shroff, N. (2020). On the accuracy of measured proximity of bluetooth-based contact tracing apps. In N. Park, K. Sun, & S. Foresti (Eds.), Security and Privacy in Communication Networks: 16th EAI International Conference, SecureComm 2020, Proceedings (Vol. Part I, pp. 49-60). (Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering; Vol. 335). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63086-7_4

Zhao, Qingchuan ; Wen, Haohuang ; Lin, Zhiqiang et al. / On the accuracy of measured proximity of bluetooth-based contact tracing apps. Security and Privacy in Communication Networks: 16th EAI International Conference, SecureComm 2020, Proceedings. editor / Noseong Park ; Kun Sun ; Sara Foresti. Vol. Part I Springer, Cham, 2020. pp. 49-60 (Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering).

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title = "On the accuracy of measured proximity of bluetooth-based contact tracing apps",

abstract = "A large number of Bluetooth-based mobile apps have been developed recently to help tracing close contacts of contagious COVID-19 individuals. These apps make decisions based on whether two users are in close proximity (e.g., within 6 ft) according to the distance measured from the received signal strength (RSSI) of Bluetooth. This paper provides a detailed study of the current practice of RSSI-based distance measurements among contact tracing apps by analyzing various factors that can affect the RSSI value and how each app has responded to them. Our analysis shows that configurations for the signal transmission power (TxPower) and broadcasting intervals that affect RSSI vary significantly across different apps and a large portion of apps do not consider these affecting factors at all, or with quite limited tuning.",

keywords = "BLE, Bluetooth, Contact tracing, COVID-19, Proximity measurement",

author = "Qingchuan Zhao and Haohuang Wen and Zhiqiang Lin and Dong Xuan and Ness Shroff",

year = "2020",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-030-63086-7_4",

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editor = "Noseong Park and Kun Sun and Sara Foresti",

booktitle = "Security and Privacy in Communication Networks",

note = "16th EAI International Conference on Security and Privacy in Communication Networks (SecureComm 2020), EAI SecureComm 2020 ; Conference date: 21-10-2020 Through 23-10-2020",

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Zhao, Q, Wen, H, Lin, Z, Xuan, D & Shroff, N 2020, On the accuracy of measured proximity of bluetooth-based contact tracing apps. in N Park, K Sun & S Foresti (eds), Security and Privacy in Communication Networks: 16th EAI International Conference, SecureComm 2020, Proceedings. vol. Part I, Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, vol. 335, Springer, Cham, pp. 49-60, 16th EAI International Conference on Security and Privacy in Communication Networks (SecureComm 2020), Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 21/10/20. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63086-7_4

On the accuracy of measured proximity of bluetooth-based contact tracing apps. / Zhao, Qingchuan; Wen, Haohuang; Lin, Zhiqiang et al.
Security and Privacy in Communication Networks: 16th EAI International Conference, SecureComm 2020, Proceedings. ed. / Noseong Park; Kun Sun; Sara Foresti. Vol. Part I Springer, Cham, 2020. p. 49-60 (Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering; Vol. 335).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - On the accuracy of measured proximity of bluetooth-based contact tracing apps

AU - Zhao, Qingchuan

AU - Wen, Haohuang

AU - Lin, Zhiqiang

AU - Xuan, Dong

AU - Shroff, Ness

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - A large number of Bluetooth-based mobile apps have been developed recently to help tracing close contacts of contagious COVID-19 individuals. These apps make decisions based on whether two users are in close proximity (e.g., within 6 ft) according to the distance measured from the received signal strength (RSSI) of Bluetooth. This paper provides a detailed study of the current practice of RSSI-based distance measurements among contact tracing apps by analyzing various factors that can affect the RSSI value and how each app has responded to them. Our analysis shows that configurations for the signal transmission power (TxPower) and broadcasting intervals that affect RSSI vary significantly across different apps and a large portion of apps do not consider these affecting factors at all, or with quite limited tuning.

AB - A large number of Bluetooth-based mobile apps have been developed recently to help tracing close contacts of contagious COVID-19 individuals. These apps make decisions based on whether two users are in close proximity (e.g., within 6 ft) according to the distance measured from the received signal strength (RSSI) of Bluetooth. This paper provides a detailed study of the current practice of RSSI-based distance measurements among contact tracing apps by analyzing various factors that can affect the RSSI value and how each app has responded to them. Our analysis shows that configurations for the signal transmission power (TxPower) and broadcasting intervals that affect RSSI vary significantly across different apps and a large portion of apps do not consider these affecting factors at all, or with quite limited tuning.

KW - BLE

KW - Bluetooth

KW - Contact tracing

KW - COVID-19

KW - Proximity measurement

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U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-63086-7_4

DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-63086-7_4

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

SN - 9783030630850

VL - Part I

T3 - Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering

SP - 49

EP - 60

BT - Security and Privacy in Communication Networks

A2 - Park, Noseong

A2 - Sun, Kun

A2 - Foresti, Sara

PB - Springer, Cham

T2 - 16th EAI International Conference on Security and Privacy in Communication Networks (SecureComm 2020)

Y2 - 21 October 2020 through 23 October 2020

ER -

Zhao Q, Wen H, Lin Z, Xuan D, Shroff N. On the accuracy of measured proximity of bluetooth-based contact tracing apps. In Park N, Sun K, Foresti S, editors, Security and Privacy in Communication Networks: 16th EAI International Conference, SecureComm 2020, Proceedings. Vol. Part I. Springer, Cham. 2020. p. 49-60. (Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering). Epub 2020 Dec 12. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-63086-7_4

On the accuracy of measured proximity of bluetooth-based contact tracing apps

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Research Keywords

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