iBeacon

Parameters#

Remarks#

Beacons are IOT objects. We are focusing on those which conform to iBeacon protocol a Apple standard. Each beacon is a one way device which transmits 3 things

1. UUID
2. Major
3. Minor

We can scan iBeacons by setting up our CLLocation manager object to scan for beacons for particular UUID. All beacons with the given UUID will be scanned.

CLLocation manager also gives call on enter and exit of beacon region.

iBeacon Basic Operation

1. Setup monitoring beacons

   func initiateRegion(ref:BeaconHandler){ let uuid: NSUUID = NSUUID(UUIDString: ””) let beacon = CLBeaconRegion(proximityUUID: uuid, identifier: "") locationManager?.requestAlwaysAuthorization() //cllocation manager obj. beacon?.notifyOnEntry = true beacon?.notifyOnExit = true beacon?.notifyEntryStateOnDisplay = true locationManager?.startMonitoringForRegion(beacon!) locationManager?.delegate = self; // Check if beacon monitoring is available for this device if (!CLLocationManager.isMonitoringAvailableForClass(CLBeaconRegion)) { print(“error”) } locationManager!.startRangingBeaconsInRegion(self.beacon!) }

2. Location manager enter and exit region

   func locationManager(manager: CLLocationManager, didEnterRegion region: CLRegion) { if(region.isKindOfClass(CLBeaconRegion)) { locationManager!.startRangingBeaconsInRegion(self.beacon!) } }

   func locationManager(manager: CLLocationManager, didExitRegion region: CLRegion) { if(region.isKindOfClass(CLBeaconRegion)) { locationManager!.stopRangingBeaconsInRegion(self.beacon!) } }

3. Location manager range beacon

   func locationManager(manager: CLLocationManager, didRangeBeacons beacons: [CLBeacon], inRegion region: CLBeaconRegion) { print(beacons.first.major) }

Scanning specific Beacons

 beacon = CLBeaconRegion(proximityUUID: <#NSUUID#>, major: <#CLBeaconMajorValue#>, identifier: <#String#>) // listening to all beacons with given UUID and major value
 beacon =    CLBeaconRegion(proximityUUID: <##NSUUID#>, major: <##CLBeaconMajorValue#>, minor: <##CLBeaconMinorValue#>, identifier: <##String#>) // listening to all beacons with given UUID and major and minor value

Ranging iBeacons