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What is BLE?
Bluetooth Low Energy, Explained
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a wireless communication standard introduced as part of Bluetooth 4.0. It was designed specifically for applications that need to send small amounts of data over short distances while consuming very little power.
If you've used a fitness tracker, a wireless thermometer, or a contactless payment terminal, you've already interacted with BLE.
BLE vs. Classic Bluetooth
Classic Bluetooth was designed for continuous, high-bandwidth connections -- streaming audio, transferring files. It works well for those tasks but drains batteries quickly.
BLE takes a different approach. It's optimized for brief, intermittent transmissions -- a sensor reporting a temperature reading every few seconds, or a beacon broadcasting its identity several times per second. This design allows BLE devices to run on small coin-cell batteries for years.
| Classic Bluetooth | BLE | |
|---|---|---|
| Power consumption | Higher | Very low |
| Data throughput | High (audio, files) | Low (small packets) |
| Connection model | Continuous pairing | Broadcast or short bursts |
| Battery life | Hours to days | Months to years |
| Typical use | Headphones, speakers | Sensors, beacons, trackers |
How BLE Works in Indoor Applications
BLE devices called beacons are placed throughout a building. Each beacon periodically broadcasts a small radio signal containing its identifier and, optionally, sensor data like temperature or battery level.
Gateways -- receivers plugged into power and connected to the network -- listen for these broadcasts and forward them to a central server. The server processes the data to determine:
- Location -- By analyzing which gateways hear a beacon and how strong the signal is, the system calculates where the beacon is
- Status -- Button presses, sensor readings, and battery levels are extracted from the broadcast data
- Events -- Changes in state (a button pressed, a temperature threshold crossed) trigger alerts
Why BLE for Indoor Positioning?
GPS signals don't penetrate buildings effectively. Wi-Fi can provide coarse location but lacks precision and requires expensive infrastructure changes. BLE offers a compelling middle ground:
- Accuracy -- Sub-meter positioning with sufficient beacon density
- Cost -- Beacons are inexpensive and gateways are simple to install
- Battery life -- Beacons last up to 5 years on a single battery
- No user pairing -- Beacons broadcast openly; phones and gateways listen passively
- Coexistence -- BLE operates alongside Wi-Fi and other wireless technologies without interference
Signal and Distance
BLE signal strength (measured in RSSI -- Received Signal Strength Indicator) decreases with distance. By measuring the signal from multiple beacons or at multiple gateways, the system uses mathematical models to estimate the position of a device.
More beacons in range means higher accuracy. In a typical deployment:
- 1 beacon in range -- Approximate area (nearest beacon)
- 2 beacons -- Narrowed down to a corridor or section
- 3+ beacons -- Precise position via trilateration
The Bottom Line
BLE is a mature, standardized, energy-efficient technology that is purpose-built for the kinds of indoor applications BleuVista provides. It's the reason we can offer long-lasting, low-maintenance hardware that delivers real-time intelligence inside buildings.
Want to see how we put BLE to work? Read about Our Platform or explore our Solutions.