Abstract: A beacon communication system for improving the ability to trigger beacon receiver devices is disclosed. The beacon communication system (100; 100?; 100?) comprises a short-range wireless beacon transmitter device (110; A1; BTD) and a short-range wireless beacon receiver device (120; P1; MD1). The short-range wireless beacon transmitter device (110; A1; BTD) is configured to repeatedly transmit a short-range wireless beacon advertisement signal (112; BA) on a first beacon broadcast channel (114), the first beacon broadcast channel being defined by a predefined unique identity (PUID) included in the short-range wireless beacon advertisement signal, the predefined unique identity remaining fixed between subsequent transmissions of the short-range wireless beacon advertisement signal (112; BA).

Abstract: A method for improving the ability to detect passive beacon receiver devices is disclosed. According to the method, a beacon communication system which comprises one or more short-range wireless beacon transmitter devices, at least one of which is configured to repeatedly transmit a short-range wireless beacon advertisement signal on a first beacon broadcast channel, is operated by causing a device among the short-range wireless beacon transmitter devices to temporarily transmit a short-range wireless beacon refresh signal on a second beacon broadcast channel. The beacon refresh signal is adapted to cause one or more short-range wireless beacon receiver devices being in a passive mode to enter into a short-range wireless beacon scanning mode.

Abstract: Asset authentication in a dynamic, proximity-based network of communication devices, each having a first interface for establishing the dynamic, proximity-based network by short-range wireless beacon broadcast messaging, and a second interface for communicating with a server by broadband communication. A first communication device sends (210) via the first interface an authentication request to a second communication device having an associated asset. The second device receives (220) the authentication request via the first interface and in response communicates (230) with the server via the second interface to generate a digital signature by encrypting data which includes the asset with a private key for the second device. The second device sends (240) a signing completed report message about the generation of the digital signature to the first device via the first interface.