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