Eddystone, NFC, QR; 3in1 Smartposter with Cloud Content and Analytics; [English Subtitled]

1. Eddystone is the android version of ibeacon (sort-of), this is truly cross-platform and broadcasting a string character e.g. “www.hk-rfid.com”, instead of meaningless ID as in ibeacons.
2. WE DON’T TAKE SIDE IN TECHNOLOGY; tomorrow there will have another new broadcasting method. No matter NFC, QRcode, or kind-of-ibeacons, only thing we are sure is that they are not going to be the ONLY one single method.
3. That’s why marketing promotion banners or posters have to equip with multiple methods, co-existing to let different mobile users to read content.
4. Hence, it gives birth a Cloud platform to hold all content. As shown in video, change content in ONE method, all others follow. 

Top Application: Advertising, Marketing

Product shown in video:

• 3in1 Tag:  Garrison HKRAR-BT02
• Tag on the right: Smartplate Card,  also see Smartplate Cuccu
• CMS Cloud: Smartplate (free for half year, bundle with Smartplate Card and Cuccu)

 For more information: sales@hk-rfid.com

Garrison BT02 Beacon Tag supports Eddystone URL

How to push a simple URL to smartphones? That is a billion dollar question.

QRcode still remains popular even though it requires rarely-installed scan-apps. Many users might not realize that many install messaging apps like LINE or WECHAT can scan QR code too. But until the day all camera apps have scanner feature built-in, it won't take off as the most popular method.

Android Smartphone has the next-best method called NFC, which is useful to pick up URL without any APP; that leaves the lonely and helpless iPhone users.

It is a well-known fact that all street promoters who are delivering FREE ice-cream in return for loading a URL or pressing LIKE a Facebook page or installing an APP, hates iPhone very very much. It is extremely hard to push a message on iphone even with iBeacon technologies, APP-support is a luxury for a short marketing campaign. The most common method is manual key-in search words in itune store.

Now street marketing got a new better method for iphone users; by using Eddystone URL and commonly installed app "Chrome".

At the moment, Chrome is the only browser that supports Eddystone URL beacons. BUT, it won't be long for other OS or App or Browser in the same ecological system doing the same. Why not? they got to have something for their endless update, right?

For iphone users who believe they approached a Eddystone beacons broadcasting URL, and for the promoters who are broadcasting a URL, this is what will happen;

A demo for a iphone to get a URL, by just check on Notification, in Chrome section.



The beacon in the screen: HKRAT-BT02

The Setup procedure is simple:  link.

[Tech blog] A weekend mini-project, EM02 reader links up wearables and controller

Just a simple DIY quick project, showing how to make a home automation or access control, the EM02 reads any bluetooth low power gadgets such as Mi-wristand, or Jawbone or Fitbit, or similar.

The SD-card image can be provided upon request, it provides a website for simple configuration, save the low power gadgets's ID timestamp, in SD card, and control the relay. 

What would be the software looks like? to-be-continued in next blog, stay tune.

Bill of material:

Raspberry Pi 2nd-gen, Real time clock, Piface controller 4-relay 4 I/O, 8G Sandisk card with SDK program	1 set
Any mobilephone adapter/charger, 5V min. 2A	1pc
USB power for Pi	1pc
USB to Serial Port	1pc
USB to DC2.1 jack	1pc
Empress EM02-SP reader (serial port)	1pc
Sport wearable gadgets, or 2.4G low power transponders, Mi-wristband, Hussar NT02 transponder, jawbone UP24, Fitbit Flex, etc.	-

- where to purchase the Raspberry Pi: link
- where to purchase the Piface relay board: link

Preview on new features for EM02 latest firmware, BTLE added.

Apart from Empress series transponder such as Hussar/Garrison/Tempcorder series, now Empress EM02 readers can also gather the beacon signal from BTLE devices, especially useful for scanning IDs from wearables such as Fitbit, Jawbone, etc.

Empress EM02 is a FCC CE certified reader, has long been used as data gatherer for telemetry business applications together with Empress series transponders. With the latest upgrade, by simply switching setting by software command, it can read bluetooth device's ID, meaning the reader can now work alone in many other business applications. This reader can be used as gateway for Bluetooth smart devices (BT4.0 or above), which is popular in smartwatch, wearable, health activity recorder, mobile phone apps, etc.

BT4.0 or BTLE USB dongles are common and they can do the same, they are best for small scale development and demo test. However, this EM02 reader provides more options in project implementation, in terms of choice of extendable antenna and network connectivity.

This EM02 is also perfect for projects which requires reading proprietary devices and BTLE devices at the same time (DUAL mode), for example, reading meter readings (proprietary) and staff ID (BTLE) at the same time. See the video for live explanation.

For sales issue, please contact sales@hk-rfid.com
For support issue, please contact support@hk-rfid.com
For products, please check our website www.hk-rfid.com

Preview the iBeacon in Industrial-grade Waterproof Enclosure and 2x Battery Life

This post provides a product preview on RR02 (tentative code, means Rugged Recorder), the iBeacon in Industrial-grade Waterproof Enclosure and parallelling-double CR123A Batteries, 3000mAH in total.

 

Features:

1. Nordic semiconductor 256k IC, nRF51822 BT4.0, bluetooth low energy BLE, iBeacon Firmware
2. IP68 waterproof enclosure
3. Replaceable CR123A x 2pcs, 3000mAH in total
4. AES security coprocessor
5. Stable performance and maintenance-free
6. Detect ON/OFF on 1 input
7. Optional Power input 12-28V 
8. +4 dB RF power, reading range up to 200m

Theoretically, how long can 2 CR123A cells last?

	Beacon Interval
	0.1s	0.2s	0.5s	1s	1.5s	2s	2.5s
Days	499.0	993.6	2452.2	4801.6	7054.5	9216.9	11294.0
Months	16.6	33.1	81.7	160.0	235.2	307.2	376.5
Years	1.4	2.8	6.8	13.3	19.6	25.6	31.4

(Bolded figures do not include the effect that may result from battery aging and leakage current)

Let us know more about your thoughts on extra features. Contact us by email : info@hk-rfid.com

Raspberry Pi will change the game in RFID industry [Insight]

Anyone has spent some time on googling "RFID" will soon realise comprehending RFID-product should earn you a doctorate degree. The toughest part is the "RF" in this 4-character word, it involves the selection of right RF reader and tag, system design and installation, not to mention the expensive middle-ware software and application software part. These factors lead to long sales and project cycle, eventually unsuccessful user experience.

HK-RFID has over 10 years of RFID design and deployment experience and we believe Raspberry Pi might be the game changing solution, bringing extra value in the whole RFID value-chain. 

Raspberry Pi is a low-cost mini-computer, with a proper program installed, it will be capable to handle basic RFID reader setting, data processing and provide data output. The user-skills required should be as simple as typical household WiFi router setting. 

We are developing a web-interface on Raspberry Pi (Project code: IMPRESS), so user-friendly that user doesn't require any programming skill or RFID knowledge. One single set of Raspberry Pi and RFID reader would be enough to cope with instant DEMO request, and small-scale business applications such as Attendance, Inventory Listing, Media trigger, etc. All it takes is just mapping IDs to what your names and actions, with a few clicks on a web-interface. 

Automatic data delivery to server by Raspberry Pi, in a customised format, would make system integration so easy that the programmer no need to study the long API document or call any library. They just need to set the network setting and all data will be auto-update into database. 

HK-RFID is capable of integrating Raspberry Pi into any of its RFID reader in their product series, as one single product. However, doing so may add up extra-cost to the product and bringing less value because users have fewer upgrade options. 

Raspberry Pi, as a part of RFID system, will accelerate the wide-use of RFID, including the evolving Bluetooth low energy (or BLE, BT4.0, ibeacon) and near-field-communication (NFC) technologies . The same platform can apply to any BLE dongle to perform more network or database related function. 

We welcome any comment and partnership, or proposal of co-development. Please provide your comment by send to our email: info@hk-rfid.com

Apps-in-a-Box : Raspberry Pi x RFID [Beta] [Lab]

We are so excited to introduce you all an innovative approach to use RFID reader products, by connecting Raspberry Pi to RFID readers. We are developing a tentative project named: IMPRESS platform, which is a web-service on Raspberry Pi, talking with Empress RFID readers, and others.

The basic idea is running your applications on Raspberry Pi just like any PC, and let it control a or multiple brainless RFID readers. We offer a web-interface just like household WiFi router for reader settings, as well as basic business applications.

If you are not sure what Raspberry Pi is, please visit following reference link; What is Raspberry Pi?

Video is on the way, but first please read the details explained in Q&A manner; 

Q: Why connect Raspberry Pi to RFID readers?

A: By doing so, you can have

• much cheaper "self-maintained mini-computer" (less than USD 40) that talks with your RFID readers, without any skill-set to handle RFID's protocol and calling APIs, etc.
• a website to configure the readers and do a lot more business applications;
• a lot more choices on connectivity, such as, LAN, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, SD-Card, Video ouput HDMI, etc.; instead of ordering expensive RFID reader options. 

Q: What can Raspberry Pi do with the data get from RFID readers?

A: Raspberry Pi can 

1) Auto record and deliver to server, send email 

2) Send email or trigger outputs, alarms or camera, etc

3) Process more logic such as record the first/last seen ID, their time and duration, and missing IDs

4) Mapping meaningless long ID with more meaningful names, such as student names, employee names, etc., may be export a report.

Q: What kind of readers will be support?

A: Our IMPRESS-Preloaded Raspberry Pi will support

1. Empress 2.4GHz Active RFID readers from HK-RFID [primarily]
2. Bluetooth Low Energy (iBeacon) readers
3. NFC readers
4. Other client requested RFID equipment

Q: What kind of applications or services will offer on this IMPRESS web platform?

A: Apart from basic setting of readers, we will offer several most popular RFID applications, depends on the license purchased from users

1. Attendance
2. Prohibited zone (access control)
3. Signage or media-content trigger
4. EAS anti-theft
5. Sensor data
6. Inventory list

Q: How to make it work?

A: You just need to 

1. Purchase the IMPRESS-SDK kit which include a Raspberry Pi and a Empress 2.4GHz Active RFID-kit from HK-RFID, 
2. Enjoy the unboxing, connect up Raspberry Pi with any HDMI display and reader, configure the network settings on a browser
3. Set your business applications and there you go

Q: How many readers each Raspberry Pi can support?

A: ONE

Q: When will it be available?

A: 2014 Fall, please contact us if you want to follow our development progress or Pre-order. We welcome any comment and partnership, or proposal of co-development.

Email:

General Enquiries:         info@hk-rfid.com

Raspberry Pi is a trademark of the Raspberry Pi Foundation

What is Bluetooth 4.0 (BLE)?

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is now one of the latest technologies in micro-positioning and it is implemented in iOS 7 as the iBeacon feature. Here are two short video clips about iBeacon for you to understand how it works in different situations.

iBeacons: What They Are And How They Work

In this video, the speaker of the presentation introduces iBeacon to you and how it is being used in the retail industry now.

iBeacon Technology

Part 1 :

Part 2:

This video is a detailed presentation about the highly accurate micro-positioning technology which is based on BLE. They designed and demonstrated how museums such as Museum Louvre can make use of the BLE for navigation of visitors. With BLE, visitors will be able to load the right piece of information of the museum into their smartphones at the right place and right time. If you want to know how the programming codes works, you can also listen to the explanation of features of the codes by their engineer.

Please click into this link to understand more about the possibilities of BLE and feel free to contact our specialists to let us provide you with a customized BLE solution.

Video Sharing: Bluetooth 4.0 (BLE) Marketing on i-Devices, ibeacon application demo

This was a fascinating video that was taken in Oct. 2012, edited recently and put on youtube. This internal project made use of the state-of-the-art technology at that time (BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY or BLE or BT4.0), and it was well-finished by our talented engineers. We are still waiting for related open protocol and faster-development by Apple to encourage us  to plan something bigger.




"We are very excited about this new technology and we can produce tag and readers right-away. It has a very good synergy effect with Empress 2.4Ghz Active RFID product line. While some companies are able to mimick ibeacon and be so pro-active in the field, we are afraid that Apple's coming announcement may not responding the request of the iBeacon players, at the end became another "passbook"."   - commented by CTO, Kevin Wan.

Well, let's wait and see.