apple ibeacon technology overview by blue sense networks
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Apple iBeacon Technology Overview
Apple iBeaconAny BLE enabled device can act as an iBeaconiBeacon is a custom advertising packet for BLE devices that exposes several numbers: UUID, Major and MinorPassive technology no connection neededNatively supported in iOS 7
Apple WWDC - June 2013
iBeacon Advertisement Packet Structure
iBeacon Preamble02 # Number of bytes that follow in first AD structure01 # Flags AD type06 # Flags value1A # Number of bytes that follow in second (and last) AD structureFF # Manufacturer specific data AD type4C 00 # Company identifier code (0x004C == Apple)02 # Byte 0 of iBeacon advertisement indicator15 # Byte 1 of iBeacon advertisement indicator
Distance EstimationEstimation based on RSSITxPower field is used to judge distanceVery unreliableDistance estimates change when conditions change (ambient temperature, number of people etc.)Beacon calibration on location is imperative
Additional Requirements100ms advertisement rateCalibration must be performed on installationDevices should not be connectableiBeacon is an Apple trademark - self certification available through the MFi programme
iOS SupportiBeacon is supported natively in iOS 7+ as part of CoreLocationiOS devices can both detect iBeacons and act as iBeaconsApps can subscribe to receive background notificationsApps receive notifications even if they are closed and completely shut downiBeacon notifications persist even after device restart
Android SupportNo official Android supportVery few BLE enabled devices out thereNo peripheral profile in Android - device cant act as iBeaconProblems with BLE stack implementation - very unstable, sometimes WiFi and BLE are in conflict3rd party libraries used to get similar functionality as in iOS - Radius Networks open source library available on GitHub
Windows Support
BlueBar BeaconFully CE, FCC, IC, Japan and South Korea certified
iOS and Android (4.3+) compatible
Fully configurable - all iBeacon parameters, signal strength and advertisement frequency
Runs on a single CR2450 battery up to 2 years of service
Available now on our website we ship worldwide
Configuration Utility App+BlueBar SDKAllows over the air configuration of BlueBar beacons
Available in the AppStore for iOS and on Google Play for Android
Open-source on GitHub to allow custom branding and integration into existing solutions
ProximitySense.comBeacon management and deployment control
Proximity Campaign management
Analytics
Currently in Private Beta for select customers
KontextEvents discovery
People and Conversations nearby, powered by iBeacons
Offers and promotions nearby
Launched at RE.WORK Berlin in June
Available on GetKontext.com for iOS and Android
Demo AppSource code available for both iOS and Android ongithub.com/BlueSenseNetworks
Full stack iBeacon Solutions Provider
BlueSenseNetworks.com@BlueSenseNet@VladPetroff