OpenBlue Location Manager uses sensors to track occupants and assets, while power monitors measure the utilization of equipment. Different Location Manager packages focus on different utilization and efficiency goals. OpenBlue Location Manager is an entirely cloud-based solution and does not have an on-premises option.
Geofences define the boundaries of areas of interest throughout the building. Transceivers monitor the presence of badge sensors within the geofences. In Social Distancing and Contact Tracing configurations, Location Manager uses location tracking to monitor social distancing practices. People wear badge sensors while in the building that provide data to Location Manager on their proximity to other badges. Use this data to implement stronger social distancing protocols and practices, and to identify spaces or users that cause breaches. In Intelligent Labs configurations, Location Manager uses similar location tracking to give insight into building and asset efficiency, space and workflow, collaborative spaces, and collaboration events. Intelligent Labs configurations also uses power monitors and asset trackers to monitor asset use and movement.
OpenBlue Location Manager
Access OpenBlue Location Manager reports and charts through a secure web browser connection. We recommend using Google Chrome™.
Transceivers
Plug transceivers directly into electrical outlets on walls and desks, or mount them on ceilings and walls. Transceivers communicate through Wi-Fi to the OpenBlue Location Manager solution deployed in Azure. All data transmits from end devices vertically to the Location Manager cloud platform: there are no internal networks and there is no intercommunication between transceivers.
Badges
There are two types of badge. Regular badge sensors broadcast messages through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), that are received by transceivers and used to identify the location of the badge. Proximity badges, in addition to broadcasting messages to transceivers, also monitor for messages broadcast by other badges, in order to identify nearby badges.
Asset tracking and equipment utilization
Asset tags enable the tracking of items of interest throughout the building. Tracked items can be anything of interest, from lab equipment, to laptops, to remote controls.
The system supports two types of equipment utilization measurement: power monitoring and access monitoring. Power monitoring uses the equipment's current draw to determine when the equipment is in use. Equipment door monitors determine how frequently doors on items such as incubators, fridges, freezers are opened. Since power monitors cannot be used to determine when equipment like freezers are in use, as the power is always on, examining how frequently the doors are opened is the best method for measuring their use.
