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KDDI and Ruckus detail Japanese Wi-Fi offload plans. Japanese number two operator KDDI is set to build what was described as “the world’s first and largest ‘instant-on’ Wi-Fi access and mobile data offload service.” The company is working with vendor Ruckus Wireless to build the network, which will enable it to shift traffic from its mobile infrastructure while providing seamless, high-speed data services to customers in the country. Read Article.

Taco Bell to provide free Wi-Fi and in-store entertainment. Taco Bell will be outfitting all its US restaurants with free Wi-Fi and TV screens that will air music, lifestyle, entertainment and sports content in a bid to improve customers' in-store Read Article

New Wi-Fi enhancements could double electronic battery life. A Duke University researcher has developed a more efficient way for Wi-Fi access points to manage data which could potentially double your gadget's battery life. Read Article

Ruckus Wireless Announces Winners of "Back to School Wi-Fi Makeover Contest" Ruckus Wireless announced today the three winners of its "Back to School Wi-Fi Makeover Contest," which included two school districts and one private girls' school, whose submissions demonstrated a real hunger for better wireless networking capabilities to support a richer teaching and learning experience. Read Article

Tuesday
Jul052011

Ruckus Wireless RTLS Part 1

Once you have a full coverage Wi-Fi system in place it's extremely interesting what you can do with it besides simple network access.  Your Wi-Fi system can carry your phone calls, surveillance camera feeds, access control data and also act as the transport infrastructure for a Real Time Locating System (RTLS) which is the topic of this Sabertech Tech Bite.

An RTLS system allows you to track in real time, the actual location of any object in your facility.  Ruckus Wireless has partnered with AeroScout to provide a powerful, enterprise class RTLS solution.  AeroScout provides the RTLS system and Ruckus has modified their access points to work with the AeroScout RTLS system. We've installed the AeroScout RTLS system in hospitals, factories and even at a large amusement park to track security personnel.  We are very pleased with the Ruckus / Aeroscout RTLS solution as it allowed us to exceed our customers expectations.

How it works, or the view from 10,000 feet:

The key component f the system are the AeroScout battery powered active RFID tags. These come in a variety of sizes and configurations which we'll discuss in future articles. These tags are the "Front End" of the system and the "Back End" is a server running the AeroScout MobileView application.  The tags periodically transmit a "Beacon Signal" to any access point within range.  Tags do not form associations with AP's, the Ruckus Wireless APs are designed to recognize an AeroScout beacon and append a signal strength field to the beacon frame and forward it on to the AeroScout MobileView server.  The server receives the same tag from 2 additional Access Points and using the received signal strength readings as well as a differential of time arriving algorithm, is able to determine the location of the asset and display it on a map.

Hospitals use the Ruckus / AeroScout RTLS system to track assets such as medicine carts, IV infusion pumps, portable X-Ray machines and even personnel wearing a small tag on a lanyard.  The RTLS system can be used anywhere you can mount an AP so the only limitation when it comes to an RTLS solution is your imagination.

There is much more to the Ruckus / AeroScout RTLS system but this is just the introduction, we will go into more detail in future articles.

AuthorSabertech Wireless

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