5G Wi-Fi SoC enables pinpoint indoor location technology

2nd April 2014

Broadcom

Staff Reporter

0 0

Providing sub-meter accuracy on physical locations, Broadcom's 5G WiFi (802.11ac) SoC is being used to deliver pinpoint indoor positioning technology. The BCM43462 SoC, featuring Broadcom's new AccuLocate technology, enables retailers and public venue operators to deliver more personalized experiences to consumers.

Analysts predict the indoor location market to reach $4 billion in 2018 fueled by increasing demand for location-based services in public venues such as shopping malls, department stores, airports and stadiums.By leveraging location-based services, retailers and venue operators can offer discounts, promotions and personalized services to consumers based on exact locations while enterprise network IT staff can use the technology to track and manage assets.

Broadcom's latest 5G WiFi SoC with on-chip AccuLocate technology operates using fine timing measurement (FTM) technology, resulting in highly accurate positioning regardless of environmental factors. Previous versions of indoor positioning relied on received signal strength indicator (RSSI) technology, where signal strength and performance can vary depending on environmental factors such as crowd density or temperature.

"Broadcom's latest 5G WiFi innovation with integrated AccuLocate technology delivers highly accurate sub-meter pinpoint technology that rivals the capabilities of outdoor location based technology," said Ed Redmond, Broadcom Vice President and General Manager, Compute and Connectivity. "In addition to providing a more customized user experience, this technology has the added benefit of allowing venue operators to monetize their investment in existing Wi-Fi infrastructure."

"Location based technology installations will break the 25,000 mark in 2014, while mobile devices capable of supporting indoor location will reach hundreds of millions within two years," said Patrick Connolly, ABI Research senior analyst. "Rising demand for these services by the world's leading venue operators and retailers is generating an immense opportunity for leading component suppliers, such as Broadcom, who are early to market with innovative solutions."

Key Features of the Broadcom BCM43462 SoC

Dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) complete 5G WiFi (11ac) SoC with integrated MAC, PHY and radio
Three-stream spatial multiplexing up to 1.3 Gbps
State-of-the-art security provided by industry standardized system support
Embedded hardware acceleration enables increased system performance
Full IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n legacy compatibility with enhanced performance
Support for FASTPATH® UAP, Broadcom's enterprise class access point software

Broadcom's BCM43462 SoC with integrated AccuLocate technology is now sampling.