An open Bluetooth Low Energy beacon protocol specification from Google for proximity messaging.
Eddystone is an open protocol specification from Google that defines a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) message format for proximity beacon messages. It enables devices to broadcast structured data frames that can be detected by nearby smartphones, supporting applications like location-based notifications, asset tracking, and contextual interactions. The specification includes multiple frame types, such as UID, URL, TLM, and the secure Eddystone-EID, allowing for flexible and interoperable beacon implementations.
Hardware manufacturers building BLE beacon devices, mobile application developers creating proximity-based experiences, and IoT engineers implementing location-aware systems.
Developers choose Eddystone because it is an open, cross-platform specification that ensures interoperability between beacons and apps, supports secure broadcasting with Eddystone-EID, and is designed for straightforward implementation on a wide range of BLE devices.
Specification for Eddystone, an open beacon format from Google
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Designed to work well with Android and iOS Bluetooth developer APIs, ensuring broad device support as stated in the design goals.
Eddystone-EID provides cryptographically secure broadcasting, allowing only authorized clients to decrypt identifiers, which enhances privacy for access control scenarios.
Supports multiple frame types like UID, URL, TLM, and EID, which can be used individually or combined, enabling diverse applications from asset tracking to URL broadcasting.
Defines a GATT configuration service for interoperability, enabling consistent beacon setup and management across hardware, as detailed in the README.
Announced in 2016, the project shows no recent updates in the README, potentially lacking support for newer BLE features or security vulnerabilities.
Requires low-level BLE programming knowledge; the provided tools and samples are primarily for Android, offering less guidance for iOS or embedded systems.
Eddystone is designed for one-way broadcasting, making it unsuitable for applications that require two-way communication or dynamic, real-time data updates from beacons.