Bluetooth beakons: Tracking devices for your pocket

In connection with e-commerce or marketing The term beacon falls more and more. This means usually Small radio transmitter for the keychain or backpackthe signals send out via Bluetooth and are suitable for a wide variety of purposes. For example, with the help of a Bluetooth beakon Determine a position to a few meters Or transfer information directly to your end device. In this article you will learn how a Bluetooth beacon works and What solutions and possible uses there are for the new technology.

1. Definition and functionality: What is a Bluetooth beacon and how does it work?

The English term Beacon (in German «Funkbake» or «Luminated Fire») originally refers to a Fixed or mobile radio for navigation and position determination (e.g. B. in air and seafaring). In the IT environment, small ones are understood, on Bluetooth -based transmitters and recipientscontinuously sent packages in a WLAN or tracking pixels on websites or in messages.

Bluetooth-Beacons Based on the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or Bluetooth Smart Technology (BST) and enable an energy -saving, automated communication Between the beacons (as a transmitter) and the recipients in the form of smartphones, tablets or smart watches.

Good to know: The BLE technology was first presented by Nokia in 2006 and requires significantly less energy than conventional Bluetooth devices to transfer data in a direction (that of the recipient).

In addition, the Beacon sends Signals via Bluetooth at regular intervalsthat caught up by devices nearby and can be used for various purposes (e.g. for position determination). However, the prerequisite for this is that the recipient also supports the technology Or a corresponding app or software is installed on it. The distance between the transmitter and receiver may depending on the manufacturer between ten and thirty meters.

Information states of a Bluetooth beacon

A Beacon sends each three information states:

• Each Bluetooth-Beacon has its own UUID (Universally Unique Identifier)that is needed so that several Send components in a distributed system dedicated information can. The UUID is of letters and numbers and has a size of 16 bytes. The Uuid refers to the Belonging to an upper group (e.g. a building).
• The Major value defined Use cases and the signal region (s). It assigns the beacon to a subgroup (e.g. a floor in a building).
• The Minor value Definitely determines other use cases or subregions. It identifies the Beacon itself (e.g. the room in which it is located).

1.1. Beacons im WLAN

Within a WLAN, a router or access point sends at regular intervals a Beacon in the form of a small data package. This is a kind of status report, with the help of which Network information (e.g. the SSID, the possible transmission rate or type of encryption) transmitted transmitted become.

Tipp: Beacons claim some of the available bandwidth, so you should keep the interval as small as possible in favor of the speed.

In this way, Beacons enable the inquiring clients an uncomplicated connection structure with the access point. In most cases is Only the entry of the WLAN password is required. If the network is already known to the client through a previous connection structure, it automatically logs on.

2. What different Bluetooth beacon solutions are there?

The 2013 introduced Manufacturer -specific protocol Ibeacon from Apple is one of the best known implementations of Bluetooth biacons and is supported by all Apple devices from iOS 7. Ibeacon is based on BLE and usually sends No push messages to the receiving device.

In addition, Ibeacons do not collect and save any data, but only send Information about your own status and identity out of. The modules come to a range of up to 30 meters and will be Among other things, installed in gaming pads and smart watches. Apple has, however, no sole patent rights on the technical features by Ibeacon.

Another Well-known Beacon implementation is Google's Eddystonethat supports both iOS and Android devices. Alternatively, the US company Radius Networks offers one under the name Altbeacon Open standard, the free and without license fees can be implemented.

3. Use case: What are Bluetooth biacons used for?

Ibeacons have been used in the Apple stores for some time and now more and more companies have been used recognized the potential of the new technology. The advantages are obvious: Beacons are cheap to buy, can Uncomplicated and into operation with minimal effort And can determine a position to a few meters.

Some Typical use scenarios for Bluetooth biacons are, for example:

• Attached to expensive or valuable objects serve Ble-Beacons as Theft protection. The Beacon leaves a pre -defined area (geofencing) an alarm is triggered.
• Im retail can be Information, services, offers, applications and features Transfer directly from a local network or the cloud to the customer's end device. With Beacons you also analyze the running paths of the customers and Delicate specifically through the business.
• Goods and objects (e.g. in the Existing management, logistics and warehousing) can be equipped with a beacon and thus their position and properties (e.g. the purchase date or the value) Tracked and displayed via a web interface. In addition, the walking paths of trucks, forklifts and other vehicles can be optimized with the help of beacons.
• Employees or visitors of large building complexes that are equipped with a Beacon (e.g. in the form of maps) can to be localized for evacuation in an emergency.
• For people with disabilities, beacons can be a real relief in everyday life. B. through Image and language instructions in heavily frequented places.
• Doctors, patients and clinic staff Get to your destination faster with the help of beacons. Visitor guidelines or an automatic recording system make patients facilitate hospitalization and mean time saving for employees.

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