[ { "title":"Meraki", "url":"/meraki/" }, { "title":"Explore", "url":"/meraki/explore/" }, { "title":"Real Time Location Services for Asset Tracking" } ] Code Exchange https://developer.cisco.com/codeexchange/platforms/meraki _blank

Real Time Location Services for Asset Tracking

Cisco Meraki access points integrate with Real-Time Location Services (RTLS) software from Ekahau and Stanley Healthcare (previously known as AeroScout). These RTLS vendors offer the ability to track clients or Active RFID tags with great accuracy in real-time, graphical formats.  Cisco Meraki APs support Ekahau and Stanley / AeroScout tags in both unassociated “blink mode” and associated “connected mode”. Blink mode has various benefits like generally increased battery life of the WiFi tags.

The placement of the access points around the perimeter of a space is critical to provide accurate positioning. A minimum of 4 APs is necessary to provide positioning within a rectangular perimeter. The ideal location for accurate positioning is the corners of a room and evenly distributed in a grid inside the perimeter. Adding additional access points can increase the accuracy, and the smaller distance between access points the higher the accuracy you can expect – within the perimeter of APs.

Airista Flow / Ekahau RTLS

Meraki integrates with Airista’s Real-Time Location Services (RTLS) solution, which offers the ability to track clients or tags with great accuracy in real-time, graphical formats. For detailed documentation on Airista’s products please visit the Airista website.

How to integrate with Airista / Ekahau

Associating mode:

In associating mode, the tags will associate with the Meraki AP and independently communicate with theAirista positioning engine. No special configuration of the Meraki AP is required.

 

Blink mode:

In  “blink” mode, the tags will not formally associate with the AP, but will instead broadcast information which is collected by the AP and then sent by the AP to the Airista / Ekahau server.

To configure a given Dashboard wireless network to work with tags in Airista / Ekahau blink mode:

  1. Select the wireless network from within Dashboard
  2. Go to Network-wide > General
  3. Change “Ekahau location services” to “Enabled: forward Ekahau blink packets”.
  4. Enter the IP and port of your Ekahau positioning engine.
  5. Select “Save Changes”.

The Meraki APs on the selected wireless network will now pass information from Ekahau blink tags back to your Ekahau server.

Stanley / AeroScout RTLS

Stanley Black & Decker acquired AeroScout and rebranded their products to Stanley Healthcare. AeroScout branded products are still available for purchase through Cisco. Meraki integrates with both Stanley and AeroScout branded RTLS solutions. For detailed documentation on Stanley’s products please visit the Stanley Healthcare website.

How to integrate with Stanley / AeroScout

Associating mode:

In associating mode, the tags will associate with the Meraki AP and independently communicate with the Stanley positioning engine. No special configuration of the Meraki AP is required.

 

Blink mode:

In “blink” mode, the tags will not formally associate with the AP, but will instead broadcast information which is collected by the AP and then sent by the AP to the Stanley server.  To configure a given Dashboard wireless network to work with tags in Stanley blink mode:

  1. Select the wireless network from within Dashboard
  2. Go to Configure->Network-wide Settings
  3. Change “AeroScout location services” to “Enabled: forward AeroScout blink packets” .
  4. Enter the IP and port of your Stanley / AeroScout positioning engine.
  5. Select “Save Changes”.

The Meraki APs on the selected wireless network will now pass information from Stanley blink tags back to your positioning engine.

Airista Flow Inc. is an industry leader in RTLS solutions. Airista’s customers, including several Fortune 500 companies worldwide, are realizing the benefits of WiFi based location servicesand innovative WiFi planning and optimization tools. Airista’s solutions are being used in more than 300 hospitals around the world, as well as by manufacturing, retail and industrial companies, government agencies and the military.Airista partners include wireless software developers, leading system integrators and international OEM partners, who develop and market wireless enterprise applications.

Learn More

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Stanley Healthcare is a market leader in asset tracking solutions. Customers improve operational efficiency using Stanley products that leverage standard Wi-Fi networks to track and manage the location, condition and status of mobile assets and people. Stanley Healthcare’s global customer base consists of leading hospital, manufacturing and logistics organizations, including many of the Fortune 500. The company invented the first Wi-Fi-based Active RFID tag, and today is widely recognized as leading the market in number of deployments and tags shipped. Stanley Healthcare has offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and Latin America.

For more visit the Stanley website.