Network Navigation: Theory and Interpretation

Real-time and reliable location information of mobile nodes is a key enabler for many emerging wireless network applications. Such information can be obtained via network navigation, a new paradigm in which nodes exploit both spatial and temporal cooperation to infer their positions. In this paper, we establish a theoretical foundation for network navigation and determine the fundamental limits of navigation accuracy using equivalent Fisher information analysis. We then introduce the notion of carry-over information and provide a geometrical interpretation for the evolution of navigation information. Our framework unifies the navigation information obtained from spatial and temporal cooperation, leading to a deep understanding of information evolution and cooperation benefits in navigation networks.