Monitoring intrusion in an area using WIFI-enabled devices

An apparatus for monitoring an area, the apparatus comprising:

• obtaining means for obtaining signal strength samples by:
• sampling a data signal transmitted from at least one first device and received by at least one second device through at least one wireless link within the area between the at least one first device and the at least one second device, and
• measuring a signal strength of the sampled data signal;
• processing means for processing the signal strength samples by:
• forming consecutive first groups of N consecutive signal strength samples such that two directly consecutive first groups are different by one signal strength sample,
• calculating first standard deviations for each of the consecutive first groups,
• forming consecutive second groups of N consecutive first standard deviations such that two directly consecutive second groups are different by one first standard deviation, and
• calculating second standard deviations for each of the consecutive second groups;
• and
• detecting means for detecting, based on the second standard deviations, if a fluctuation in the data signal received by the second device has occurred that represents an intrusion in the area.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions operable to cause an apparatus to:

• obtain signal strength samples by:
• sampling a data signal transmitted from at least one first device and received by at least one second device through at least one wireless link within the area between the at least one first device and the at least one second device, and
• measuring a signal strength of the sampled data signal;
• process the signal strength samples by:
• forming consecutive first groups of N consecutive signal strength samples such that two directly consecutive first groups are different by one signal strength sample,
• calculating first standard deviations for each of the consecutive first groups, forming consecutive second groups of N consecutive first standard deviations such
• that two directly consecutive second groups are different by one first standard deviation, and
• calculating second standard deviations for each of the consecutive second groups;
• and
• detect, based on the second standard deviations, if a fluctuation in the data signal received by the second device has occurred that represents an intrusion in the area.