In this article you'll find out about Tended device memory and how to ensure geofences (safe zones) and sites are created within device limits, so that they do not exceed device memory capacity.
Please note: currently Tended devices have limited memory and therefore will not be able to download site information that exceeds 21 kilobytes.
About device memory
What is device memory and why is it important?
The Tended device has limited memory. This memory is used to store geofence data for all active sites in your project. When the memory capacity is exceeded, new sites cannot be started, and some functionality may be restricted.
What impacts device memory?
Very large geofences with a large number of nodes (white dots along the safe zone boundary)
Small but complex geofences with many nodes
Starting multiple sites at once could potentially exceed the device’s capacity
How can I resolve this issue?
Simplify geofences: Reduce the complexity of your geofences by simplifying their boundaries. Find out how to use the line simplification tool to do this in our planning tools article
Stop other sites: If memory is exceeded, consider stopping one or more active sites that are no longer needed
Monitor usage: Keep an eye on the device memory usage bar - found within the start/stop sites window - to avoid exceeding capacity
Device behaviour: if the device has run out of memory
Three long consecutive beeps will sound every 10 seconds, and the battery LED (far left) and connectivity LED (far right) will flash, leading to a red flashing battery LED.
How to monitor safe zone size during the planning stage
Why is safe zone size important?
When planning your site, it’s important to keep the device’s memory capacity in mind. Safe zones with complicated geofences or too many nodes may exceed the device’s storage, preventing successful operation.
When you're creating safe zones in the Dashboard, you'll be warned when the safe zone is too large for device memory.
Moderately high warning
Too high warning
Device memory exceeded over multiple sites
💡 Tended tips
Simplify your safe zones: Avoid drawing overly complex shapes or adding unnecessary nodes. You can adjust and edit your geofence at any time.
Create multiple sites: If you need to design a large or complex safe zone, consider splitting it into multiple smaller sites. This allows you to start and stop sections of your project independently as needed instead of attempting to send one large and complex safe zone to your device(s).
Device storage warnings during project review
If one or more of your sites will exceed device memory capacity, you will receive a warning about this during project review.
Please note: You are still able to approve projects that contain sites that exceed device memory limits, as it is possible that not all sites will be active at the same time. However it is best practice to review each site before approval, as safe zone simplification could remove this risk entirely.
How to monitor device memory usage from within the Dashboard
When devices are being deployed and sites are getting started, you need to keep an eye on the amount of memory the devices are using to operate so this does not exceed the limit.
From within your project, click on the "Start/stop sites" button at the top of the screen
This will bring up a usage visual
Hover over the site you want to start, and the usage bar will show you how much device memory the site will use
Once your live sites reach device memory capacity, you'll be notified and you'll be unable to start the next site that would exceed that capacity. See below 👇
Any questions or issues?
We're here to help! Simply pop us an email at support@tended.co.uk, WhatsApp us on +44 (0) 7713682625 or chat with us via the help button at the corner of this page or within the Dashboard 😊