Computer Location Tracking at LAN

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   Hey Guys :)We are setting up a live computer event (50+ computers in the same room playing video games) and wanted to implement a RFID-based solution to help secure the event and have a little fun at the same time.

We would ideally like to "lock" (or hide) RFID chips on each computer and setup alerts if any of the machines wander off too far. 

We would also like to give each visitor a RFID chip to carry around so that people who are watching the event over the web can see an interactive map of who is where :)

I am a relatively noob when it comes to most of this stuff. I have looked into OpenBeacon but it looks like it would require a lot more skills than I have.

Are there any viable commercial solutions that come close to what I am looking to do here?

Thanks in advance :)

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Nubcakes Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 February 2012 Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nubcakes Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Computer Location Tracking at LAN Posted: 11 February 2012 at 2:45pm
	Hey Guys :) We are setting up a live computer event (50+ computers in the same room playing video games) and wanted to implement a RFID-based solution to help secure the event and have a little fun at the same time. We would ideally like to "lock" (or hide) RFID chips on each computer and setup alerts if any of the machines wander off too far. We would also like to give each visitor a RFID chip to carry around so that people who are watching the event over the web can see an interactive map of who is where :) I am a relatively noob when it comes to most of this stuff. I have looked into OpenBeacon but it looks like it would require a lot more skills than I have. Are there any viable commercial solutions that come close to what I am looking to do here? Thanks in advance :)

amal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 22 November 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2062	Post Options Post Reply Quote amal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 February 2012 at 3:01pm
	Hey there, sounds like a great party you're planning. Unfortunately the news is full of BS and RFID != Tracking. What you are describing is possible, but with great effort and/or expense. You have two choices of tech; ACTIVE RFID Active RFID means each tag is simply a battery powered transmitter or transceiver in some cases. They function more like very small radios, transmitting their ID and sometimes listening for information from the "reader". You would need a number of base stations around the event that could receive these tag IDs and calculate approximate RSSI (signal strength), then feed all that data into a central system for processing. Examples of how to do this kind of data processing is not exactly readily available (I've looked), and the hardware can be expensive. I have located two types of hobby-class active RF hardware that you might be able to use in such a project for relatively cheaper than buying a commercial system; http://blog.amal.net/?p=247 and http://blog.amal.net/?p=1096 PASSIVE RFID Your other option is to go with passive RFID, likely using the UHF family of technologies. Passive RFID is trickier for this kind of application than active, but has the potential of being easier to setup and less expensive. Basically, you would buy one or two commercial UHF readers, each with 4 antenna ports. Then you deploy panel antennas in the various areas you want to keep track of tags in, then watch for tags to enter and leave the area by watching the data stream. For example, you cover the PC area and read tags on all PCs. As soon as a tag from a PC goes silent, it can be assumed that the PC has left the area. Likewise, you can scan different areas for people's badge tags. If "George" goes upstairs to watch from the balcony, then you can mark George's current location as "Balcony". See? Hope that helps a bit. Edited by amal - 11 February 2012 at 3:02pm
	Amal ;) www.amal.net