Beacon signals: what, why, how, and where?

Beacons are primarily radio, ultrasonic, optical, laser or other types of signals that indicate the proximity or location of a device or its readiness to perform a task. Beacon signals also carry several critical, constantly changing parameters, such as power-supply information, relative address, location, timestamp, signal strength, available bandwidth resources, temperature and pressure. Although transparent to the user community, beacon signals have made wireless systems more intelligent and human-like. They are an integral part of numerous scientific and commercial applications, ranging from mobile networks to search-and-rescue operations and location-tracking systems. Beacon signals help synchronize, coordinate and manage electronic resources using miniscule bandwidth. Researchers continue to improve their functionality by increasing signal coverage while optimizing energy consumption. Beacon signals´ imperceptibility and usefulness in minimizing communication delays and interference are spurring exploratory efforts in many domains, ranging from the home to outer space