HTTPS/Bluetooth/Proximity

Question

Instead of the ultrasonic token having the proximity app use htttps could we have it use Bluetooth? That way users that are non-employees (can not get on the network) that are part of the meeting can connect the app to the TP endpoint?

Answer 1

Hi Ben,
sound is only used to prove proximity in our solution. All other communication to & from the endpoint is done over the local network (wifi on iPad to network port on endpoint). We continue to listen for sound to prove you're still in the room (and disconnect you if you leave), but we cannot transfer presentation data or other data in the one-directional audio stream (very low bw).
We investigated Bluetooth in the early days of this project.
BT travels way further than ultrasound (which is limited by the walls of the room). This means it does not give a good poitner about real proximity. In early testing with bluetooth (before we got the ultrasound to a working solution), I could pair with meeting rooms on other floors (over/under the room I was in), or even offices far away. It all depends on how the BT signal travels.
Since BT travels far, it won't give you good enough ensurance of being in the same room. That would require us to implement something on the endpoint menu ("allow ... to connect to the system"), and we lose the "instant" feeling and simplicity of the solution.
To your PS: Sharing has been considered and we are discussing possibilities of doing this. Not committed yet, though.
Br
Henrik