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Integrated RuBee Asset Visibility Networks.


Visible designs and sells IEEE 1902.1, RuBee Tags, RuBee Routers, Dot-Tag Servers (Middleware Visibility Engine) and industry specific web enabled applications (20/20 Visibility Applications). Visible designs RuBee Chips and has several single chip solutions (iDot, xDot, and sDot), RuBee modems that can be used to create full Systems On a Chip (SOC) tags using the Seiko Epson MCU product line.

RuBee Chips are extraordinarily low power in standby mode (nano amps) and minimal power when receiving or sending data (micro amps) and use a simple, very small cost competitive layout with only 952 thousand transistors.



RuBee Tag Basics and Form Factors

Visible designs and produces all RuBee based integrated circuits internally. We have a standard RuBee modem chip that works with the Epson/Seiko MCU product lines and a custom State Machine/Amp chip for sensor waveform processing. We have an optional chip for high security applications requiring authentication that includes a full microprocessor with a CPU. Most RuBee tags, especially tags that use sensors or have advanced storage requirements, use this modem MCU combination. These RuBee tags are tiny data servers that manage local information intelligently with sophisticated firmware. Each tag has an IP address, as well as subnet addresses, MAC address and 256 bytes of static memory. RuBee Tags can be about the size of a postage stamp, but also come in much larger form factors for rugged applications. The RuBee tag seen on left has a range of about 8 feet, and a battery life of 5 years, it is waterproof and sealed.

These tags are designed for asset visibility applications and maybe attached to almost anything that moves. Larger tags provide longer range. Tags may have sensors for temperature, motion, light humidity, and other analytes. Tags may also have optional buttons, LEDs and small LCD displays.
2T wallet RuBee ID tag is shown on left above. These credit card size tags may be placed in a wallet or pocket, and can be read in a room or in a work area. Gray tag is standard asset tag that can be placed on laptops, cellphones or other assets. Tags have been fabricated for keys. The tag seen on upper right is the printed circuit board used in weapons. It does not show the battery or antenna, but does illustrate base size of a RuBee tag printed circuit board. RuBee tags with battery and small antenna can be fabricated so about the size of a dime, and 1.5mm thick. Unlike other wireless technologies, RuBee is not blocked by people, animals or water and antennas are volumetric. You do not have to take tag out of your wallet, or be able to see it, and no new process is require. Tags have many security options, ability to authenticate a base station, and 512 Bytes of static RAM. Eavesdropping is near impossible of a RuBee wireless signal.
Visible designs and sells specialized RuBee tags that work on or inside steel containers. These tags are ruggedized, waterproof, and have special antennas that enhance range when placed on steel (see Whitepaper)
Visible provides a variety of livestock tags to the both State governments and the US government for managing herds of Cervids. These tags provide real-time physical inventory of a herd as well as quantitative behavioral data, how often the animals eat, drink with dates times and duration (see Whitepaper)


RuBee Tags are Tiny Packet Based Servers, with a Controller and Memory



Most RuBee tags, have a four bit controller, with 512 Bytes of static memory, and fixed function instruction set. RuBee tags have a 32 bit programable "IP" address, the primary communication address, a 32 bit Subnet address, used to identify asset classes (weapons, laptops, people etc.) and a 32 bit permanent ID MAC address. Most tags have other memory areas pre-allocated for optional sensors, LED flash rates, battery status, debug functions. date and time registers, and other housekeeping registers. The remaining 412 Bytes of memory is reserved for user registers. That may include date of manufacture, serial numbers, owner etc. Use of that memory is flexible and controlled by the 20/20 Application.

Visible also has several reduced function RuBee chips (xDot) that limited memory, with 16 x 32 bit read write registers. xDot's are used where sensors are not required and data storage is minimal.


RuBee Tags can have Sensors with Advanced Signal Processing
RuBee tags can be equipped with a variety of sensors. Other sensor tags and systems use a power hungry microprocessor, with an A/D converter and memory to hold data and waveforms. We have developed a novel, very low power, state machine, with adjustable gain sensor amplifier that makes , always on, real-time, low power data acquisition possible. The shot counter, and diagnostic performance indicators use this custom chip and NIST traceable accelerometer (see Whitepaper). We have similar systems for temperature, pressure and humidity. The graph on left is output of shot counting sensor. The graph on the right is temperature data collected from RuBee tags on implantable devices during two hurricanes (Katrina, and Wilma). Power was lost in the hospital and the tags proved the temperature did rise, but not enough to damage the implantable devices (see Whitepaper).




RuBee Routers, Middleware and Network Applications
 The Sidewinder is a RuBee router that manages a local RuBee network of tags. Each Sidewinder has four multiplexed antenna ports that may be loops or ferrite rods. Sidewinders have 32 Mbytes of static memory, 32 Mbytes Flash memory, a Linux operating systems that may be programmed in C, or Java. Each Sidewinder is also equipped with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) manager. A Sidewinder plugs into any network via conventional RJ45 CAT5e cable, obtains a local IP address via DCHP, and connects to a Dot-Tag server (see below) via the VPN. The Sidewinder manages the local RuBee network, as well as maintaining status of each tag or asset in a database in the Dot-Tag server over the VPN. Most RuBee Appliances (e.g. Smart Weapons Racks, Muster Stations) use a Sidewinder for local control of the RuBee network.
100's to 1,000's of RuBee tags maybe placed within a RuBee network. Each local network is managed by a Sidewinder, the RuBee network router. The Sidewinders have a a full Linux operating system installed with VPN connections to a local or remote Dot-Tag visibility engine. Applications may be quickly created using Dot-Tag and viewed over the Web or locally. Dot-Tag is the Visibility Engine and also manages DOD 5015.2 and 21CFR Part11 audit logs automatically, and may be programmed to create Sarbanes-Oxley audit logs. The Dot-Tag server can also host 20/20 Visibility Applications.