A tracking asset is a mobile (typically) tracking device, equipped with radios or modems for various wireless communication technologies, such as GSM (Global System for Mobile communications), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), and satellites. Tracking assets often contain GPS receivers and either built-in or wire-connected sensors. These assets provide the communication link between a mobile asset and the Axeda® Platform. They transmit data to the Platform over GPRS. A wide variety of tracking assets are available, some that can be programmed in Java and others that provide much more limited capability (can send only a few data items, for example).
In the Axeda® Platform, a tracking asset is configured like other assets. It has a model and an individual asset configuration. The model has adjunct metadata linked to it; this metadata is referred to as a profile. The profile represents the type of tracking asset. It also describes, in detail, the characteristics and capabilities of the asset. Details include the manufacturer, model, transport capabilities, sensory data the asset can report, and messaging capabilities.
To communicate with tracking assets, the Platform uses pluggable transport adapters that are installed in the Platform and configured in the profile of the asset. A transport adapter may be specific to wireless channels that the asset supports, such as GSM. An example of a transport on a tracking asset is a wireless radio that communicates over GSM using GPRS.
A tracking asset can have one or more communications components, depending on the complexity of the asset. For each communication component, there is a particular way to identify the asset, such as a SIM ID. When the Platform needs to communicate directly with a tracking asset, the appropriate identification information must be passed to the carrier network in the message. This information is stored in the Platform with the properties of the tracking asset. The transport adapter uses the appropriate property to initiate communications with the tracking asset.