Customizing your internal navigation system with Aruba tools
Until recently, organizing indoor navigation was an almost impossible task. Indeed, in buildings, the GPS signal can only be caught by the window, and even then in a very weak form. Aruba, part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, has developed Aruba Mobile Engagement, which includes several tools to address this and a number of other related issues.
This solution allows you to organize easy access to a wireless network, send out personalized push messages and implement navigation services in rooms (a more detailed description of the system can be found here) Aruba Beacons technology with easy-to-deploy Bluetooth beacons is used for this. And with the Aruba Meridian tool, you can simply and quickly create an application for your organization or event in which this navigation will be displayed.
The MUK group of companies used this technology at the last MUK Expo 2016 exhibition, which took place at the end of September. Participants and guests of the event could download an application with a hall map, company stands, navigation, timetables and other useful information to their smartphone.
The interface of the Meridian system is simple and straightforward; it will not be difficult to understand it. This application does not require installation and is available ready-made in the HPE Aruba cloud at http://meridianapps.com(active license required). One of its main advantages is that to create applications you do not need to attract third-party developers and spend additional funds and resources. And the applications themselves are simple and straightforward.
The idea of the Meridian editor is to create the appearance of an application for a mobile device. The whole result of your work can be immediately seen on the right side of the editor screen. Pages, menus and buttons are configured literally "in two clicks" and understanding the design procedure is not difficult and takes only 15 minutes.
Since there is usually no GPS signal indoors, special Bluetooth beacons take on the role of GPS satellites. They are available in two forms: in the form of a device with a battery (life time of about 3 years) and in the form of a USB device. Also, these beacons are built into modern Wi-Fi access points Aruba.
The first type is more convenient - such beacons can be placed almost anywhere on the walls and ceilings, without rushing into the eyes.
To configure the beacons you will need:
- Aruba Beacons beacons themselves (all configuration steps will be demonstrated for battery powered beacons);
- Apple mobile device with support for BLE (Bluetooth low energy) and the ability. Internet connection via Wi-Fi or 3G / 4G (iPhone 4s, iPod Touch 5, iPad 3 and higher);
- Aruba Beacons application for iOS 7 or higher (Android devices are not yet supported);
- Meridian account with a loaded location map for push notifications.
Here is the map we downloaded for the MUK Expo 2016 application.
Lighthouses can be configured for two purposes - to provide indoor navigation (Location beacon) and to send push notifications when visitors approach (Proximity beacon). In the latter case, the beacon is configured in two stages: first, it is configured through the Aruba Beacons application, and then through the Aruba Meridian editor.
When setting up beacons, you will come across the following concepts:
UUID : a string used to identify an organization.
Major / minor: A combination that can be used to uniquely identify a particular beacon. These values are also used to zone the beacons. For example, the beacons on the ground floor can have a value of 1000, the second - 2000, and the third - 3000. Accordingly, the first beacon on the first floor will have a value of 1000/1, and the third on the second - 2000/3, etc...
Configurable levels transmit powers for proximity beacons:
For location beacons, setting transmit power levels is not available.
First you need to install the Aruba Beacons application on your iPhone, iPad or iPod. You can find it in the AppStore using the relevant keywords or go directly to the link to the company's website http://meridianapps.com and download from there. Then you need to go into the application and enter the account information.
After you log in and are inside, you need to make sure that the locations of the Meridian are displayed in the application. To do this, in the lower right corner, click on the Accounts button and see if the locations from the Meridian are displayed in the program. Then you need to choose the one on which you are going to place the beacons (or they are already placed)
Now you need to configure the beacons themselves in the application. To do this, bring the iPhone or iPad close to the installed beacon and click on the Beacons button in the lower left corner of the screen. The application will display two lists - new and customized beacons (if any already exist). For each, its MAC address and signal strength will be shown. The one to which the device is brought is easy to calculate by the highest signal level. Select the desired lighthouse by clicking on it in the list. The download of information to the device will begin, and then a message that the beacon has not been fully configured. Next, you need to enter some values manually, for this, click "Yes" in the message that appears.
Choose the type of lighthouse Location or Proximity. For the first set the values Major / Minor. You can also find out the battery level and reset the settings. The signal strength for this type of beacons cannot be established. After clicking the Save button, the beacon will reboot and will be displayed in the application in the list of configured ones.
For proximity beacons, the setup procedure is almost identical. An exception is the ability to set the signal strength.
After the beacons are configured, we proceed to place them on the map. To do this, go to the Maps tab by clicking on the appropriate button in the bottom panel. There you should click on the menu of floors to select a location. In the menu that appears, select the floor or area where you want to place the beacons.
Then again press the Maps button on the main panel, and in the upper right corner “+” to select the beacon. A list of nearby beacons will appear in a pop-up list. You can identify the desired one by the value of Major / Minor or the MAC address.
In order to place the beacon on the map, you need to hold it with your finger and when the list disappears let go in the right place. Naturally, before this action, it is desirable that the selected beacon is physically present in the selected location on the map.
After setting up the beacons, you can begin to enrich our map with various objects. The object can be anything you want, what you decide to indicate on the map. This can be a store, a buffet, a socket for charging the phone, etc. An object can be designated as a point or as a polygon outlining an area on the map. To do this, log in to the Aruba Meridian web editor and go to the Maps - Placemarks section.
After setting up objects on the map, we proceed to the creation of notifications. To do this, in the Aruba Meridian web editor , go to the Campaigns section, select the desired location and click the Add button in the upper right corner of the screen.
Next, select the desired lighthouse on the map. In the right pane on the Action menu, select Send device a message, and in the field below enter a message that will be sent to visitors' devices. After the procedure is done for all beacons, click Activate Campaign and Save.
The Aruba Beacons application has the means to check the signal level of beacons and the correctness of sending and receiving push notifications as part of campaigns. This allows you to test the entire system before starting and identify errors before visitors encounter them.
To start the tool, hold the Map button on the bottom panel with two fingers. A pop-up menu with the Show Beacons Signal button will appear on the screen. The smaller the circle around the lighthouse, the better the devices can “hear” it.
You can check the notification in the appropriate section of the application. Its button is indicated by a flag. It is intended solely for testing and fixing problems. Use the Meridian Editor to edit and customize notifications.
To test the correctness of sending push notifications, you need to approach the beacons with the device. If the Proximity beacon is indicated by blue color and a tick in the middle, then your device does not fall into its coverage area. When you come closer, the color of the mark should change to green, and the check mark should turn to the signal transmission icon. This means that the device fell into the coverage area of the beacon.
Setting up an internal navigation and notification system using the Aruba Meridian solution is not at all difficult. It is suitable for small rooms with several rooms, as well as for huge halls and high-rise buildings. But the main thing is that for any type of premises the principle of deployment and configuration remains equally simple and understandable.
This solution allows you to organize easy access to a wireless network, send out personalized push messages and implement navigation services in rooms (a more detailed description of the system can be found here) Aruba Beacons technology with easy-to-deploy Bluetooth beacons is used for this. And with the Aruba Meridian tool, you can simply and quickly create an application for your organization or event in which this navigation will be displayed.
The MUK group of companies used this technology at the last MUK Expo 2016 exhibition, which took place at the end of September. Participants and guests of the event could download an application with a hall map, company stands, navigation, timetables and other useful information to their smartphone.
The interface of the Meridian system is simple and straightforward; it will not be difficult to understand it. This application does not require installation and is available ready-made in the HPE Aruba cloud at http://meridianapps.com(active license required). One of its main advantages is that to create applications you do not need to attract third-party developers and spend additional funds and resources. And the applications themselves are simple and straightforward.
The idea of the Meridian editor is to create the appearance of an application for a mobile device. The whole result of your work can be immediately seen on the right side of the editor screen. Pages, menus and buttons are configured literally "in two clicks" and understanding the design procedure is not difficult and takes only 15 minutes.
Work with beacons
Since there is usually no GPS signal indoors, special Bluetooth beacons take on the role of GPS satellites. They are available in two forms: in the form of a device with a battery (life time of about 3 years) and in the form of a USB device. Also, these beacons are built into modern Wi-Fi access points Aruba.
The first type is more convenient - such beacons can be placed almost anywhere on the walls and ceilings, without rushing into the eyes.
To configure the beacons you will need:
- Aruba Beacons beacons themselves (all configuration steps will be demonstrated for battery powered beacons);
- Apple mobile device with support for BLE (Bluetooth low energy) and the ability. Internet connection via Wi-Fi or 3G / 4G (iPhone 4s, iPod Touch 5, iPad 3 and higher);
- Aruba Beacons application for iOS 7 or higher (Android devices are not yet supported);
- Meridian account with a loaded location map for push notifications.
Here is the map we downloaded for the MUK Expo 2016 application.
Lighthouses can be configured for two purposes - to provide indoor navigation (Location beacon) and to send push notifications when visitors approach (Proximity beacon). In the latter case, the beacon is configured in two stages: first, it is configured through the Aruba Beacons application, and then through the Aruba Meridian editor.
When setting up beacons, you will come across the following concepts:
UUID : a string used to identify an organization.
Major / minor: A combination that can be used to uniquely identify a particular beacon. These values are also used to zone the beacons. For example, the beacons on the ground floor can have a value of 1000, the second - 2000, and the third - 3000. Accordingly, the first beacon on the first floor will have a value of 1000/1, and the third on the second - 2000/3, etc...
Configurable levels transmit powers for proximity beacons:
For location beacons, setting transmit power levels is not available.
Setup process
First you need to install the Aruba Beacons application on your iPhone, iPad or iPod. You can find it in the AppStore using the relevant keywords or go directly to the link to the company's website http://meridianapps.com and download from there. Then you need to go into the application and enter the account information.
After you log in and are inside, you need to make sure that the locations of the Meridian are displayed in the application. To do this, in the lower right corner, click on the Accounts button and see if the locations from the Meridian are displayed in the program. Then you need to choose the one on which you are going to place the beacons (or they are already placed)
Now you need to configure the beacons themselves in the application. To do this, bring the iPhone or iPad close to the installed beacon and click on the Beacons button in the lower left corner of the screen. The application will display two lists - new and customized beacons (if any already exist). For each, its MAC address and signal strength will be shown. The one to which the device is brought is easy to calculate by the highest signal level. Select the desired lighthouse by clicking on it in the list. The download of information to the device will begin, and then a message that the beacon has not been fully configured. Next, you need to enter some values manually, for this, click "Yes" in the message that appears.
Choose the type of lighthouse Location or Proximity. For the first set the values Major / Minor. You can also find out the battery level and reset the settings. The signal strength for this type of beacons cannot be established. After clicking the Save button, the beacon will reboot and will be displayed in the application in the list of configured ones.
For proximity beacons, the setup procedure is almost identical. An exception is the ability to set the signal strength.
After the beacons are configured, we proceed to place them on the map. To do this, go to the Maps tab by clicking on the appropriate button in the bottom panel. There you should click on the menu of floors to select a location. In the menu that appears, select the floor or area where you want to place the beacons.
Then again press the Maps button on the main panel, and in the upper right corner “+” to select the beacon. A list of nearby beacons will appear in a pop-up list. You can identify the desired one by the value of Major / Minor or the MAC address.
In order to place the beacon on the map, you need to hold it with your finger and when the list disappears let go in the right place. Naturally, before this action, it is desirable that the selected beacon is physically present in the selected location on the map.
Setting objects on the map
After setting up the beacons, you can begin to enrich our map with various objects. The object can be anything you want, what you decide to indicate on the map. This can be a store, a buffet, a socket for charging the phone, etc. An object can be designated as a point or as a polygon outlining an area on the map. To do this, log in to the Aruba Meridian web editor and go to the Maps - Placemarks section.
Create Notifications
After setting up objects on the map, we proceed to the creation of notifications. To do this, in the Aruba Meridian web editor , go to the Campaigns section, select the desired location and click the Add button in the upper right corner of the screen.
Next, select the desired lighthouse on the map. In the right pane on the Action menu, select Send device a message, and in the field below enter a message that will be sent to visitors' devices. After the procedure is done for all beacons, click Activate Campaign and Save.
Testing beacons and notifications
The Aruba Beacons application has the means to check the signal level of beacons and the correctness of sending and receiving push notifications as part of campaigns. This allows you to test the entire system before starting and identify errors before visitors encounter them.
To start the tool, hold the Map button on the bottom panel with two fingers. A pop-up menu with the Show Beacons Signal button will appear on the screen. The smaller the circle around the lighthouse, the better the devices can “hear” it.
You can check the notification in the appropriate section of the application. Its button is indicated by a flag. It is intended solely for testing and fixing problems. Use the Meridian Editor to edit and customize notifications.
To test the correctness of sending push notifications, you need to approach the beacons with the device. If the Proximity beacon is indicated by blue color and a tick in the middle, then your device does not fall into its coverage area. When you come closer, the color of the mark should change to green, and the check mark should turn to the signal transmission icon. This means that the device fell into the coverage area of the beacon.
Total
Setting up an internal navigation and notification system using the Aruba Meridian solution is not at all difficult. It is suitable for small rooms with several rooms, as well as for huge halls and high-rise buildings. But the main thing is that for any type of premises the principle of deployment and configuration remains equally simple and understandable.