Location Tracker and Recorder

About Location Tracker and Recorder Android App

Introduction: As its name implies, this app is for keeping a track of android devices. An android device can be used to trace the location of another android device and plot it on a map.A minimum of two devices are required here, one that Controls and the other that Reports. A Controller asks for information and a Reporter sends info about its location. The same app works on both the devices and hence each reporter can be a controller and vice-versa. Applicable over four levels of data communication, this app can be used wherever mobile SMS service is available. The maps are stored on the device and the latitude and longitude of the device are used to plot its location on the map.

Structure of the app:
Main menu:
Mode: Here you select the mode in which you intend to use the app. The three possible options here: SMS, Encrypt SMS and Ack. SMS mode sends and receives location data through mobile service provider; Encrypt SMS sends this information through AES encrypted SMSs; Ack acknowledges incoming location updates. Encrypt SMS is the best option when the transfer of location info can become a security threat to either the Controller or Reporter.
Loc Provider: Here you can select the service you intend to use for providing the location info: GPS, Network, BTS and Cell.
Thereafter appears the Location Data that has been Sent or Received.
Sent Location Data is the location info of your device that a Controller has received, where your device is the Reporter and Received Location Data is the location info of the device that your device has pulled as a Controller, from another Reporter.
Location Service: This button can hold two values: Stopped or Running. When the Location Service is Stopped, info cannot be pulled by any Controller. When the Location Service is Running, auto sending of location data is enabled. For this, your device prompts you to enable your Location Services and GPS.
Send Location Now: This allows you to send your immediate location to some device that you have assigned as the Controller.

Phone Book: The phone book tab lists the numbers and names of people who you can send SMS to and from whom you can receive the SMSs. You can add phone numbers from your mobile’s phone book by browsing and checking the names you want to add. The permission to receive and send SMSs can be checked and unchecked as and when you want. Those who are allowed to receive SMSs can take the info from your device whenever they want to.
Next is colour coding. Each device that you want to Control is assigned a different colour. A dot of this colour depicts the device on the map. The movement of the device can be tracked by reading the corresponding dots plotted on the map.
Password is used for encryption of the SMSs and each person can be assigned a different password. AES encryption is used here, the strength of which depends on how difficult your password is.
The last option is to delete the entry from the phone book.
Location Data Sent: The logs of the location data sent by your device is maintained in this tab. The details include the time at which the location is sent to the Controller, who is recognized by the tabs Name and Number. The Source of sending the location would mean the service you used, GSM, Data etc.
The details of the location data are given as Latitude and Longitude. This is the most vital info sent as this helps the Controller plot your location on a map and understand your whereabouts.
The Operator, Network, CID, LAC and Address are alao mentioned.
Note here that the first parameter is ID. This is the log number of data sent. This log number is coloured green or red as per the status of the data sent. If the data has not been received by the Controller, the colour will be red. When the location data has been received by the Controller, the colour will turn green.