Health and Public Sector Tracking Solutions

Overview

The AssetHound application is designed to work with any auto-id technology. The following sections provide a brief overview to the main ones in common use.

Barcode

Barcodes are the most familiar of the auto-id technologies. They provide a low cost and highly effective way of identifying equipment. Two types of barcodes are available, 1D and 2D. ID barcodes are the most familiar but 2D barcodes are able to carry far more information. Both barcode types are available in a wide range of symbologies.

A wide range of fixed and hand held devices can be used to read barcodes.

RFID

RFID is a broad description that covers a range of technoligies. Essentially RFID is a non-contact technology that uses radio waves to transmit information. RFID tags come in all shapes and sizes and range from the read only security tags familiar to shoppers, through to sophisticated long range read and write tags used in logistics and manufacturing.

WiFi

There are two different forms of WiFi location tracking; mobile asset tracking which relies on a wireless RFID tag being attached to the asset giving the ability for its location movements to be tracked and monitored and fixed equipment tracking which relies on a comprehensive survey of existing static equipment against WiFi signal strength.

To present the greatest benefit, any WiFi Location Tracking System applied should be able to:

• Locate static equipment without WiFi Tags based on previous surveys of location (using signal strength analysis)
• Locate WiFi tags and other mobile WiFi devices (such as PDAs and notebooks) to extend the benefits and use of the system.
• Deliver a positioning accuracy which corresponds to the precise nature of the tracking requirement.
• Clearly identify and profile moving objects to allow for mobile asset location tracking in the future
• Integrate into any other enterprise asset management systems in use

• Utilise existing WiFi infrastructures

GPS

AssetHound's integrated GPS tracking and monitoring functionality allows users to not only view exactly where each high value asset is but an authorised operative can also manage the status of the equipment itself. There are a number of different types of management control over the status of equipment available depending on the type of equipment, including:

• Ignition Status & History
• Fuel Level Indicator & History
• Fault Detection & History
• Geofence Perimeter Breach & History
• Immobiliser Activation and history

With the immobiliser, an operative can actually switch off the equipment remotely if necessary.

Users can view the full GPS historical movements of an item so are able to see whether it is being used on the contract and for the purpose it was provided for.

A Geofence can also be set around a site and an authorised representative alerted via the system, via e-mail or even SMS text message should an item move outside of this fence. An audible alarm can also be sounded at the equipment location.

Once an item moves outside of the Geofence, it’s movements can also be tracked and as mentioned above, the unit can be immobilised remotely.