User's Manual

Spot RFLS User's Manual Page 7
11/6/2006
Spot uses a system of Master Radios and Beacons to locate and track the position of Tags.
Tag location and history information is made available to other systems and applications through
the External Location Data Interface (also called API) and also through a browser-based
interface.
The Spot System is made up of the following components.
• Spot Engine:
o An appliance that controls the overall operation of the Spot System and
delivers Tag location information via a web-based interface
o Other application servers can retrieve Tag location information through the
Engine’s External Location Data Interface (API)
CAUTION! Never operate a Master Radio without an antenna or RF load.
• Master Radios:
o Relay information from Beacons and Tags to the Spot Engine
o Are powered via their Ethernet network connections
o Require no direct user operation
• Beacons:
o Communicate with the Tags based on commands from the Master Radios
o Are battery-powered, designed for low current consumption to maximize
battery life
o Require no direct user operation
• Tags:
o Receive transmissions from Beacons
o Transmit Beacon reports to Master Radios that Spot uses to compute
location
o Are optimized for low power consumption to maximize battery life. Power
consumption can be optimized for tracking mobile or fixed assets.