React Technologies: Docs - WiFi Based Active RFID Solutions

React Technologies Ltd Newsletter - September 2007

Aruba Networks and AeroScout:
Providing Real Time Location Services (RTLS)

The tracking of expensive assets and managing of resources is a critical requirement in many environments. In hospitals, expensive life saving equipment often cannot be found in order to meet patient needs, and equipment is poorly utilized, resulting in costly rental and over-purchasing. In the distribution chain, work flow tracking can help realize savings from inventory optimization.

Aruba Networks has partnered with AeroScout, a leading developer of Wi-Fi-based Active RFID solutions, to address the demand for advanced location capability. With an integrated system from Aruba Networks and a Real-Time Location Solution from AeroScout, an organization can securely run existing mobile applications and add location-based applications all with the same network. Having the same network serve mobile data, voice and location services is far more efficient than independent dedicated systems.

Aruba & AeroScout Joint Solution

Aruba’s integrated location capability is ideal for locating interferers, rogue devices, and specific client devices. AeroScout enhances this capability by enabling the real time tracking of thousands of tagged devices, clients with integrated Wi-Fi (e.g. laptops, VoWLAN handsets), and even people (e.g. at-risk patients in hospital). AeroScout supplies Wi-Fi-based asset tags, Exciter devices for “choke point” detection, a location engines, and an application integration platform.

AeroScout tags have excellent battery life (up to 4+ years), a small form factor, and are made for mounting to assets or wearing by people as a badge clip or wristband. In addition to a standard Wi-Fi interface, they can also be triggered at low frequency by the AeroScout Exciter to send an immediate alert, their precise location, or a customized message.

The tags also include several advanced features, such as motion detection, call-button functionality, temperature detection, and tamper-proofing. The unique interface between AeroScout tags and Aruba infrastructure helps reduce network impact and conserve tag battery life by allowing

communication without requiring that the tags complete an 802.11 association to the AP. In addition, the AeroScout T2 tags support a serial interface which can be used for the transmission of telemetry readings supplied by the asset (e.g. operational status, pressure, fuel level.)

Real Time Location Services (RTLS)

Using AeroScout Exciters with Aruba for Greater Accuracy

AeroScout Engine
The AeroScout Engine makes use of signal strength measurements (RSSI) taken by the Aruba APs, which serve location sensor and network access roles simultaneously, to determine location. This infrastructure based approach to location, in contrast to competing solutions that rely on measurements taken by the tag, enables the tracking of standard Wi-Fi clients without any SW or HW modification. Greater location accuracy can be obtained by installing AeroScout Exciters in areas of interest (e.g. exit doors, specific rooms) to trigger the tag to transmit its precise location to the AeroScout Engine.

AeroScout MobileView
AeroScout MobileView is a Web-based enterprise software platform for asset visibility. MobileView receives location data from the AeroScout Engine and other sources, and turns raw asset location information into real business solutions. The application includes user-friendly online asset location searches (current and historical), sophisticated mapping, 11 types of rules-based alerting and multiple reporting functions. MobileView also offers a standards-based API to integrate valuable location data with existing or new 3rd party applications.

Secure, Centrally Managed Mobility
The Aruba architecture is designed to easily scale to accommodate large networks and offer centralized management and control. This benefit of scalability and central control is extended to real-time tracking applications when paired with the AeroScout architecture. The Aruba Mobile Edge Architecture fully integrates with AeroScout’s Wi-Fi-based Active RFID system to enable real-time tracking of asset tags on the same wireless LAN infrastructure, and integration with AeroScout’s Engine and MobileView application management platform, turning accurate and real-time location of assets into business value.

AeroScout Engine

AeroScout MobileView

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