The Healthcare and Enterprise Wireless Experience : January 2020

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January 2020

January 19, 2020

RTLS or now location tracking for 2020 - Integra Systems, Inc. offerings

Integra Systems, Inc. has been in around the RTLS space since 1999 and we have seen a lot of changes.

For the sake of now 2020, we will drop the nomenclature of RTLS because we consider this legacy. New business models have come onto the scene based upon the advancement in technology offerings. For example BLE with now 5.1 provides location accuracy never before obtained. Now there is also the release of BLE 5.2.

What are the challenges of asset tracking?

• There is no real time way of tracking high value assets during shipment
• How do you know where your actual asset is throughout the supply chain?
• How do you avoid theft?
• Movement cannot be monitored
• Often there is a need for high cost proprietary infrastructure.
• Temperature sensitive assets cannot be monitored.

BLE is now in every smart phone yet alone being incorporated into the leaders of the WLAN enterprise infrastructure thus we have an indoor solution that takes advantage of the technology changes.

As a result of all this is when standards prevail, costs drop, and then wide spread adoption comes.

Now the location tracking space with NB-IoT and LTE-M, location tracking has moved beyond walls of a building that literally can be anywhere on a global basis.

Integra Systems, Inc has the capabilities through our business partners to provide real business value add solutions for asset tracking throughout the enterprise space.

Our partner ecosystem is globally qualified, and has a strong market presence of 1,500,000 IoT kits deployed with over 50,000 unique configurations.

The solution described is a logistics tracking solution that is based upon cellular 4G which also supports BLE and Wi-Fi.

Positioning is provided by using Global Navigation Satellite System with the ability to provide measurement frequency for positioning and sensor data that can be viewed and changed at any point.

This architecture provides the basics of Geo Location, Interval, Temperature Alarm, and Shock detection alarm. This additionally includes a IoT platform for Alarm panel geo fencing, input of additional sensor data, as well as routing and sensor historical data.

All of this can be tied into a cloud solution via a API or web user client, with direct ERP integration.

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January 14, 2020

IOT LTE-M and NB-IoT for application development

LTE-M

LTE-M (or eMTC or CatM1) is designed for low power applications requiring medium throughput. It has a narrower bandwidth of 1.4 MHz compared to 20 MHz for regular LTE, giving longer range, but less throughput. The throughput is 375 kbps downlink and 300 kbps uplink, providing 100 kbps application throughput running IP. It is suitable for TCP/TLS end-to-end secure connections. Mobility is fully supported, using the same cell handover features as in regular LTE. It is currently possible to roam with LTE-M, meaning it is suitable for applications that will roam across multiple regions. The latency is in the millisecond range offering real time communication for time critical applications. LTE-M is perfect for medium throughput applications requiring low power, low latency and/or mobility like asset tracking, wearables, medical, POS and home security applications.

NB-IoT

NB-IoT (also known as Cat-NB1) is a narrowband technology standard that does not use a traditional LTE physical layer, but is designed to operate in or around the LTE bands and co-exist with other LTE devices. It has a bandwidth of 200 kHz, giving it longer range and low throughput compared to LTE-M and LTE. The throughput is 60 kpps downlink and 30 kbps uplink. It is suitable for static, low power applications requiring low throughput. NB-Iot is perfect for static, low throughput applications requiring low power and long range, like smart metering, smart agriculture and smart city applications.

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January 08, 2020

Enterprise Location Knowledge for 2020

Integra Systems, Inc. has been in and around the "Location Knowledge" space since 1999.

New models have now come onto the scene based upon the advancements in technology offerings in the business location tracking area. It is not about the technology in our opinion; but about the economic and process improvements by the use of the technology that can become realized.

For example; BLE with now 5.1 provides location accuracy never before obtained that will allow visibility of the client to change the game. This field location awareness will allow for potential new work flow and business improvements. See now also the release of BLE 5.2.

BLE is now in every smart phone; yet alone being incorporated into the WLAN AP enterprise infrastructure. This is a true convergence of use.

The bottom line is when standards prevail, costs drop, and adoption comes. Wi-Fi, BLE, and now the converged location knowledge space will provide major business value.

Now with NB-IoT and LTE-M, location tracking can also be provided inside and outside the walls of the enterprise taking advantage of 4G moving to 5G. A true location real time tracking ecosystem has now evolved for 2020 and beyond. When you now have the ability to have the data and mine this on real time basis, huge value is experienced to improve the overall business process.

Integra Systems has partnered with a world class proven solutions provider that is a ISO 90001 approved and a FDA audited facility that enables thousands of IOT devices per month via carriers on a global basis.

We can provide the hardware, software solution development, database output, and the deployment of any type of IOT wired or wireless solution on a global basis.