Periodic high power beacon broadcasts

摘要

Described herein are systems, methods and computer program products for controlling operation of wireless beacons, such as Bluetooth Low Energy beacons. Multiple beacons may be controlled centrally or may work together in a cooperative fashion such that signals can be exchanged between or repeated by beacons in order to allow for signals received at one beacon to reach another beacon without requiring further central interaction. Power settings of beacons may be altered to change power consumption or to change a detectable range of the beacons.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:
starting, by a wireless beacon, an advertisement timer; transmitting advertisement packets, wherein advertisement packets include an advertisement transmission power that is sufficient for the advertisement packets to be detected by wireless devices located inside a target area, and wherein the advertisement transmission power of the advertisement packets is insufficient for the advertisement packets to be detected by wireless devices located outside the target area; starting an announcement timer when the advertisement timer elapses; and transmitting announcement packets until the announcement timer elapses, wherein announcement packets include a transmission power that is greater than the advertisement transmission power, wherein the transmission power of the announcement packets is sufficient for the announcement packets to be detected by wireless devices located outside of the target area, and wherein receiving transmitted announcement packets at a wireless device facilitates a status identification corresponding to the wireless beacon.