This article discusses the technical analysis and application of the dual-system Bluetooth AirTag.
A dual-system Bluetooth AirTag is a Bluetooth tracker that is compatible with both iOS and Android,the two major mobile operating systems.It uses Bluetooth Low Energy(BLE)broadcasting technology to communicate with smartphones,allowing users to track lost items.To achieve this,the dual-system Bluetooth AirTag must support two different protocols—Apple Find My and Google Find My Device,which serve Apple and Android devices,respectively.Below are the working principles and system compatibility requirements of these two protocols.
iOS System—Apple Find My
Apple Find My is a tracking network designed by Apple specifically for iOS devices,helping users locate lost items.To make the Bluetooth AirTag compatible with Apple Find My,the Bluetooth AirTag must include an Apple-authorized chip(such as an MFi-certified chip)or a chip that supports the Apple Find My protocol.These chips communicate with other Apple devices using a special encrypted broadcast packet.The information in the broadcast packet can only be recognized by Apple devices,and the location data is uploaded to iCloud,enabling precise location tracking for users.
Android System—Google Find My Device
Google's Find My Device,on the other hand,uses the Fast Pair/Find My Device protocol to enable tracking.Unlike Apple,Google's system relies on the Android Google Play Services framework(GMS),and the Bluetooth AirTag must also support Fast Pair functionality to pair with Android devices.This process involves the device's broadcast packet format conforming to Google's protocol requirements,allowing the device to be recognized by Android devices and its location data to be uploaded to Google's cloud.
Technical Compatibility and Cross-Platform Usage
The core technology of the dual-system Bluetooth AirTag lies in how it is compatible with the differing standards and protocols of the two platforms.Although both systems use Bluetooth Low Energy technology for communication,the Bluetooth AirTag needs to incorporate multiple technological supports to simultaneously support both Apple Find My and Google Find My Device due to the unique requirements of each system.
