Tracertrak | What are all broadcasts check-ins?

Activity based check-ins which provide flexibility and early warning alarms for potential issues

All Broadcast Check-ins

Best used by groups who want a very early warning system that someone may require help OR do not want to rely on someone having to manually press a button to confirm they are OK.

All Broadcast check-ins are an extension of Flexible Check-ins. They allow a person to opt in and opt out of being monitored by Tracertrak to meet their specific safety needs, but do not rely on the person manually checking in to confirm they are OK. Instead, all broadcasts received from the device are recognised as a check-in. A missed check-in will only register in the complete absence of any broadcasts being received from the device.

Because check-ins are registered with all broadcasts, it is practical to align the check-in interval with the tracking frequency of the device to be used. This allows a person to send an OK message to begin being monitored, continue to send OK messages within the specified check-in interval to confirm they are still OK and then send a CUSTOM message to opt out when they no longer need to be monitored.

If the person fails to check-in within the check-in interval while being monitored, a missed check-in will be registered and a missed check-in alarm triggered if the number of allowed missed check-ins has been exceeded.

An OK message received after the check-in interval has expired will register as a check-in, reset the number of missed check-ins to zero and reset the check-in interval.

An OK message received before the check-in interval has expired will register as a check-in, reset the number of missed check-ins to zero and reset the check-in interval.

Configuration

All Broadcast check-ins are configured by selecting the Flexible Check-in check-in type and selecting the "All Broadcasts" option within the flexible check-in configuration.

Like flexible check-ins, the All Broadcast check-in consists of pre-defined opt-in and opt-out methods (typically the OK and CUSTOM messages) and a configurable check-in interval.

Because check-ins are registered when any broadcast is received, it is suitable to align the check-in interval with the expected tracking interval of the device/s that will use this schedule. It is recommended that the check-in interval be set to at least twice the tracking interval of the device. This ensures there is sufficient buffer to account for a single missed track point due to network delays and environmental interference. Failing to provide sufficient buffer is likely to result in excessive missed check-ins occurring that are interpreted as false alarms.

For a flexible check-in with a 25 minute check-in interval that is commenced at 6:43am on Monday, the next check-in is expected on or before 7:08am, Monday. If a check-in is not received by 7:08am, Monday, Tracertrak will register a missed check-in at 7:09am, Monday. If a broadcast is received at 6:50am, Monday, the number of missed check-ins will be reset to zero and the check-in interval will be reset to 25 minutes, setting the next expected check-in to occur on or before 7:15am, Monday.

Once a missed check-in occurs, a missed check-in will be recorded every 25 minutes (or what ever the check-in interval period is) that passes until a broadcast is received of the person opts-out of being monitored. When the person opts-out of being monitored, the number of missed check-ins will be reset to zero and the missed check-in alarm will be deactivated.

Pros

• Suitable to be configured with much smaller check-in intervals, resulting in missed check-in alarms being raised much sooner in the event of an issue
• Provides a convenient way to detect that a vehicle that is expected to be in motion has unexpectedly stopped
• Does not require the person to physically press a button to register a check-in
• Adapts to the operations of the person, allowing the person to opt-in and opt-out of being monitored
• Once configured, does not require any further management for things such as public holidays or adhoc operations
• Provides a sense of which people are actively being monitored and which are not

Cons

• Generally requires a device to be in motion to trigger a broadcast which is interpreted by Tracertrak as a check-in
• Assumes that if someone is in motion, they are OK
• Not available on App devices

For a more detailed overview of All Broadcast check-ins and a comparison against the other types of check-ins, please see this Check-in Comparison.