Developer Guide

Developer Guide: Understanding the CargoBeacon API Architecture

How It Connects: From Tags to Analytics

The CargoBeacon system is designed to provide comprehensive asset tracking and analytics solutions by seamlessly connecting tags to various backend systems and applications.

System Architecture Overview

Tags and Anchors

• Asset Tags: These include various types of tags such as Wirepas, GPS, Barcode, and RFID. They are attached to assets to track their location and status.
  
• Anchor: Works in conjunction with the tags to provide positioning data.
  • CB Admin: Our administration app for configuring and making changes to CargoBeacon asset tags. Use this app to configure Wirepas tags and anchors over NFC or Bluetooth tags over BLE.
    
• Gateway: Collects data from tags and anchors and sends it to the backend.

Factory Integration

• Protocol Support: The gateway communicates with the backend using various protocols like TCP sockets, WebSocket, Protocol Buffers, and MQTT.

Backend Components

• WNT Backend: Handles the diagnostic messages and network information from Wirepas nodes.
  
• Wirepas positioning Engine: Processes positioning data to determine the location of Wirepas nodes
  
• CB Hub (Ingress): Central point for data collection, processing, and storage. Takes data from all input services and transforms it into CargoBeacon internal format. Allowing swift integration for all types of tags and sensors into a standardized format.
  
• Storage: Saves data for further analysis and reporting i a PostgreSQL database

Omlox: CargoBeacon's system is designed to be highly adaptable, and can be adopted to include support for the Omlox standard when needed, which ensures interoperability and standardization in real-time location systems (RTLS)

5. Communication and Data Flow

• MQTT Interface: Facilitates communication between the Wirepas Mesh network and the backend.
  • Messages Exchanged: Sensor data, RSSI data, diagnostics, node configuration, control commands, and OTAP (Over-the-Air Programming).
    
• WebSocket, MQTT, Rest API: Used for data exchange between the CB Hub and various applications.

Applications

• CB Track: Provides functionalities like asset management, mapping, AI insights, analytics, and more. https://portal.cargobeacon.com
  • Modules: Asset Management, Maps, AI Insights, Analytics, Location, Sensors, Users, Zones, Triggers.
  • CB Track Apps for iOS and Android.
    
• External System integration: We offer integration capabilities directly from the CB Hub to your existing systems. In scenarios where a system is already in place and there is a need to incorporate sensor and location data, our solution allows for direct integration from our backend. This ensures that you can enhance your current setup with real-time tracking and monitoring data without extensive modifications. By leveraging our robust API and data interfaces, you can effectively merge CargoBeacon’s asset tracking capabilities with your existing infrastructure,
  
• Power BI: For advanced analytics and business intelligence. Connect your asset tracking data directly to Power BI, Microsoft's powerful data visualization and business analytics tool. This integration provides a seamless interface, allowing you to analyze and visualize your data

Detailed Workflow

1. Data Collection: Asset tags collect data (e.g., location, movement, temperature) and communicate with anchors.
2. Data Transmission: Gateways aggregate the data from the tags and transmit it to the backend using the supported protocols.
3. Data Processing: The backend components (WNT Backend, Positioning Engine, CB Hub) process the incoming positioning and sensor data, determine the location and sensor data of assets, and store the data.
4. Analytics and Insights: In our web application CB Track analyze the data to provide insights and actionable information, which can be accessed by user clients