This application report presents the concept of beacons by using Bluetooth low energy technology. The important parameters when designing beacon solutions are elaborated on a detailed level throughout the document. With the use of the TI Bluetooth low energy-Stack, beacons can be done in a simple and intuitive way.
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A beacon in wireless technology is the concept of broadcasting small pieces of information. The information may be anything, ranging from ambient data (temperature, air pressure, humidity, and so forth) to micro-location data (asset tracking, retail, and so forth) or orientation data (acceleration, rotation, and so forth).
The transmitted data is typically static but can also be dynamic and change over time. With the use of Bluetooth low energy, beacons can be designed to run for years on a single coin cell battery. This application report introduces the concept of beacons and how to get started with implementing a beacon solution. Naming conventions throughout this document can be summarized as Beacons that broadcast information by using advertisements with Bluetooth low energy technology that could be branded as Bluetooth low energy.