I read a lot about WiFi sensors used to track smartphones in the retail environment. Location triangulation is performed based on the fact that the smartphone has turned on WiFi, whether it is in a connected or unconnected state.
Case 1: WiFi is on but not connected
Why should a smartphone with WiFi enabled transmit packets if the user does not “scan” for nearby Wi-Fi networks?
Case 2: WiFi is on and connected
Why should a smartphone transmit any packets if the user is not browsing the network?
In both of the above cases, there is a high probability that in most cases the Wi-Fi device does not send any packet, which means that none of the WiFi sensors detects it. If so, then the whole idea of triangulating on the basis of a WiFi sensor in retail is coming up with a throw, obviously, with so many companies working on it, I must be mistaken. Answer more than yes or no with regards to which packets are usually sent in both of the above scenarios.
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