IoT network is “Another network” that manages communication between devices. They require different performance from the one for human being, such as a huge number of connected devices (e.g. 100,000 devices), high frequency (e.g. 10 times per second), and low capacity, and naturally the technologies used and the direction of technological innovation are different.
We have achieved the world’s first practical application of this with the “EXBeacon Platform” using our proprietary technology WHERE mesh, and it has already been years since then.
IoT infrastructure is a tool that realizes the “digital twin” of all building facilities. Its range of applications is endless, including offices, factories, logistics warehouses, construction sites and tunnels, hospitals, airports and ports.
It is already being adopted as IoT infrastructure in the latest large-scale architectural facilities, along with local 5G, and it is expected to become an essential infrastructure for all building facilities in the future.
①: User carries BLE tag or smartphone
Location information is collected by target user’s carrying a “BLE tag” or “smartphone”.
②: Beacon device is installed in the office
・Beacon device (EXBeacon) is installed in the office
・Location information is visualized according to the number of EXBeacon.
・The positioning accuracy varies depending on the number of EXBeacons installed
・One unit per room such as a conference room. The standard pattern is to install one unit per table with 4 to 8 people in a free address system.
③: Collected data is aggregated in the cloud
・Collected location information and sensor information are sent from the GW (EXGateway) to the cloud. You can choose from three communication methods: wired LAN, WiFi, and LTE.
・In the case of smartphone positioning, location information is sent directly from the smartphone to the cloud.
④: The service can be used from a PC or smartphone app
Location information and analysis data aggregated in the cloud can be viewed at any time from a PC, smartphone app, Teams, etc.
Indoor positioning method
There are two main ways to install the EXB indoors: ceiling installation and tabletop installation.
① The ceiling installation method assumes a grid-like installation with intervals of about 5m, allowing for approximate positioning with a granularity of about 5 to 10m, and is less affected by rearrangements of the room.
② The tabletop installation method can improve positioning accuracy compared to ceiling installation, but the number of units tends to increase, and design changes are required when rearranging fixtures.
Boundary determination method
Boundary determination can be performed by combining two EXBs.
Sensor information collection function
The EXBeacon platform freely connects to various sensors in buildings and facilities to collect environmental information such as temperature, humidity, air pressure, motion, light, sound, earth, and gas. By combining multiple target sensors, it functions as a unique “meta-sensor” for the facility. Although it is not suitable for large-volume data transfer, it is ideal for “IoT sensing” that reliably collects small-volume, unevenly distributed sensor data.
Remote monitoring and remote control function
The EXBeacon platform remotely monitors the status (battery level, radio wave status, etc.) of the gateways and EXBeacons that make up the network, as well as the beacon tags used for positioning and various connected sensor terminals. It also uses the “downstream” of the network to remotely control machines and switches.
Third party network integration model
NTT Communications Corporation
The EXBeacon Platform can be provided through NTT Communications’ “Flexible InterConnect”. With a secure closed network connection, you can introduce a cloud environment service with high reliability, availability, and scalability, and you can also connect to your ERP system, production management system, etc.
Notes
- You can use the EXBeacon Platform by purchasing a connection for AWS on the Flexible InterConnect platform.
- For information on connections for AWS/Azure/GCP, please refer here.
- The EXBeacon Platform is not included in the FIC contract.
- The connection configuration described in the configuration examples is just an example, and the actual configuration when using it will be discussed and decided individually.
- For details on the EXBeacon Platform service, please refer here.
SORACOM, Inc.
When setting up the EXBeacon platform, SORACOM Air is adopted as the internet line to increase installation flexibility, and various platform services provided by SORACOM, such as SORACOM Funnel and SORACOM Gate, is utelized to connect the gateway to the cloud.
WHERE, Inc. is an SPS certified partner of SORACOM.
Realizing digital twins to promote DX
It is said that the execution of “digital transformation (DX)” is the key for companies to survive. And as a means to achieve this, “digital twins” that reproduce events in the real world (physical system) such as factories and products exactly as they are in cyberspace (cyber system) in real time are considered important. To do this, it is necessary to digitize the actual situation in the real world to collect it in detail, but at present, the information collection is limited, and it cannot be said that digital twins have been realized.
The EXBeacon platform is a full-fledged tool that realizes “digital twins”. In the target real space, a wide variety of information is simultaneously collected and visualized, including the location information of moving objects such as people and things, status information of moving objects, information on indoor spaces, and status information of machines, to realize digital twins.
Not only that, the EXBeacon platform processes the collected information and becomes an infrastructure that provides new office services such as seat management, conference room management, and entrance/exit management in the case of an office.
Furthermore, by processing the vast amount of collected information in a wide variety of ways using more advanced analysis methods, it is also possible to provide more advanced management information.
As a tool for executing DX, the EXBeacon platform has the following functions. It not only collects real-world information, but also links that information with the powerful computing power of cyberspace to provide insight, so it can also be called a “cyber-physical system (CPS).”
- ting real-world information: Constantly collects information about the target facility (location, status, environment, etc.)
- Building a digital twin:Visualize collected information and build a cyber facility
- Providing on-site support services:Process collected information and provide on-site support services
- Providing management information:Analyze collected information and provide insight information that contributes to management
