Following the release of GAP Guardian v3.8.0, this document has been superceded by the v3.8 User Guide.

GAP Guardian v3.7 - User Guide

Introduction

This article explains how to use the GAP Guardian app for iOS and Android.

Contents

Installation

You can install GAP Guardian from the Apple or Android app stores using the links below:

Get it on Google Play

To run the app on iOS, your device needs to be running a minimum of iOS v12.0.0.

To run the app on Android, your device needs to be running a minimum of Android v5.

Getting Started

When you start the app for the first time on iOS, you may be prompted to allow the app access to your location. Tap "Allow While Using App". Later you may be prompted to permit the app to use your location when it runs in the background. If this happens, tap "Always Allow". You may also be prompted to allow the app to send you notifications. Tap "Allow".

Location Services prompt

Enter your user name in the "Username" text box then tap "Next". When prompted for a password, enter it and tap "Password" text box and tap "Login". If you only have one device assigned to you on the Portal, your credentials will be validated, and the Dashboard will load. If you have more than one device assigned to you, you will be asked to select which device you are using. Finally, you may be prompted to accept your service provider's terms and conditions before proceeding to the Dashboard.

Activation screen showing more than one device

How to change the display language

To change the display language, tap the "Settings" button then "App Language". Select a language from the list then tap the "Back" button in the banner.

The Dashboard screen shows all the app functions available to you.

Dashboard screen

Note: some functions may not be available to you as a result of configuration undertaken by your administrator.

SOS

SOS mode raises an emergency alert on the Portal. It is used to indicate that you are in danger and require assistance.

How to activate SOS mode

To activate SOS mode, press and hold the "SOS" button until the animation around the edge of the icon completes a full circle. When complete, a red banner will display, and the "SOS" button will pulsate. An SOS message will be sent at regular intervals to the Portal.

SOS button animation SOS mode activated

How to configure the SOS message interval

To configure the SOS message interval, tap the "Settings" button then tap "SOS" and then "SOS Message Frequency". Select your chosen interval from the list.

How to trigger a phone call when SOS mode is started

To trigger a phone call when SOS mode is started, tap the "Settings" button then "SOS". Flick the "Call ... " option to "on". The number called will be defined by your administrator. Please see the Administration Guide for more information.

SOS settings

How to enable haptic feedback (vibration) when an SOS is acknowledged

To enable haptic feedback (vibration) when an SOS mode is acknowledged, tap the "Settings" button then "SOS". Flick the "Vibrate" option to "on".

Note: on iOS, the "Vibrate on Ring" setting (tap Settings then Sounds) should also be enabled.

How to cancel SOS mode

To cancel SOS mode, tap the "SOS" button and tap "Yes" at the warning prompt.

Cancel SOS prompt

Monitor Me

Monitor Me is a customisable, user-initiated monitoring mode which allows you to decide what aspects of monitoring you would like to activate when Monitor Me is switched on. These include:

How to configure Monitor Me

To configure your Monitor Me settings, tap the "Settings" button then "Monitor Me". You can configure the following values:

Note: you cannot change these values whilst Monitor Me is running.

Monitor Me settings

How to start Monitor Me

To start Monitor Me, tap the "Monitor Me" button. The edge of the button will rotate whilst Monitor Me is activating, after which point the button will pulsate to indicate it is active. The banner will also temporarily display a notification to that effect.

The "Check In" button will change to show a countdown timer, indicating when you are next required to check in. If you do not check in when required, a banner will be shown reminding you to check in.

Monitor Me button animation Monitor Me annotation Monitor Me started

How to check in

To check in, tap the "Check In" button. The edge of the button will rotate whilst the check in is performed. The banner will also temporarily display a notification to that effect.

If you don't have data connectivity, you may be prompted to attempt a check-in via an SMS message.

If your app is configured to request an annotation when performing a check-in, you will be prompted to enter some text before completing the check-in. When complete, tap the "Check In" button. You need not enter any text if you do not want to. You can turn check-in annotations on or off via the "Settings" screen.

Check-In required banner

How to stop Monitor Me

To stop Monitor Me, tap the "Monitor Me" button and then tap "Yes" at the warning prompt. The edge of the button will rotate whilst Monitor Me is stopping, after which point the button stop pulsating. The banner will also temporarily display a notification to that effect.

Stop Monitor Me prompt Monitor Me stopped banner

Check-In Schedules

In addition to Monitor Me, your administrator can create Check-In Schedules, requiring you to check in at predefined intervals or certain times of the day. These are assigned remotely to your device via the Portal by your administrator.

How to enable a Check-In Schedule

To enable your assigned Check-In Schedule, tap "Settings" then "Check-In Schedule" and then flick the "Enable Check-In Schedule" option to "on". The details of your assigned schedule will be displayed.

If there is no Check-In Schedule assigned to your device, an error message will be displayed.

If Monitor Me is active, your next check-in will be calculated based on the chosen Monitor Me interval and your assigned Check-In Schedule.

Check-In Schedule settings Check-In scheduled enabled

How to disable a Check-In Schedule

To disable your assigned Check-In Schedule, tap "Settings" then "Check-In Schedule" and then flick the "Enable Check-In Schedule" option to "off".

How to change your notification sound

iOS users can change their notification sound by tapping "Settings" then "Notification Sounds". Android users should use the functionality built into the Android operating system (where supported).

Tracking

When tracking mode is active, your location information will be sent to the Portal on a set interval or when you move more than approx. 200M.

How to start tracking

To start tracking, tap the "Tracking" button. When tracking mode is enabled, the "Tracking" button on the Dashboard will pulsate.

Start tracking

How to configure tracking based on a particular interval

To configure tracking based on a particular interval, tap "Settings" then "Tracking". Set the "Location Change Mode" toggle to off then tap the "Position Report Frequency" option and select your chosen frequency.

In this mode, you can also configure whether position reports should only be sent when you have moved more than a set distance using the "Movemeent Buffer" option.

Tracking settings Tracking settings

How to configure tracking based on significant movement

To configure the tracking based on a significant movement (approx. 200M), tap "Settings" then "Tracking". Set the "Location Change Mode" toggle to on.

In this mode, you can also configure the maximum frequency position reports will be sent using the "Minimum Report Interval" option.

Tracking settings

How to stop tracking

To deactivate tracking, tap the "Tracking" button and then tap "Yes" at the warning prompt.

Stop tracking prompt

Messages

The Messages screen allows you to converse via text messages with a Portal operator.

When you receive a message, a notification will be displayed and a red badge indicating the number of unread messages will be shown on the Dashboard screen and on your device's app launcher screen (on supported Apple, Samsung and Sony devices only).

How to send a message to a new recipient

To send a message to a recipient with whom you've not conversed previously, tap "Messages" then the "+" button at the top-left hand side of the screen. Select a recipient from the "Choose Recipient" screen. Enter your message in the text box at the bottom of the screen and tap Send.

How to reply to a message

To reply to a message, tap "Messages" then the name of the sender. Enter your message in the text box at the bottom of the screen and tap Send.

Maps

The Maps screen allows you to view your current location, recent track. nearby devices, geofences, travel alerts and points of interest on a map.

Map screen

How to view items on the map

To view items on the map, tap the "Maps" screen then tap the "hamburger" icon at the top right-hand side of the screen. Toggle items on or off using the sliders.

Map options screen

How to interact with other users

Tap the "Maps" screen then tap the "hamburger" icon at the top right-hand side of the screen. Toggle the "Show nearby devices" on using the slider. You can optionally set the distance within which you can view nearby devices via the "Only show devices nearer than" click-through menu. If you would like to see the emergency state for devices shown on the map, toggle the "Show emergency state" option to on.

Devices will be shown on the map using the same icons as the GAP Portal. Tap on a pushpin for more information. You can call, e-mail or message the user via the relevant buttons on the right-hand side of the pop-up menu.

Map screen showing nearby device

How to change the map type

To change the map type, tap the "hamburger" icon at the top right-hand side of the screen. Tap the "Map Type" option and select either "Street", "Satellite" or "Hybrid" as required.

Map types screen

Devices

The Devices screen allows you to pair a Bluetooth LE button called a V.BTTN, enabling you to trigger SOS alerts or check in without having to unlock the phone and use the app. You can pair one or more such buttons.

How to connect the V.BTTN

To connect the V.BTTN, make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your device and then tap Devices. If Bluetooth is not enabled, you will be reminded to enable it. Once enabled, tap the "Add Device" button then tap the "Scan" button. A list of available V.BTTNs will appear below. Tap on the device you wish to connect. The V.BTTN should beep and display a green light; the app will also display that it is connected to the V.BTTN.

Add Device screen Scanning Devices list Device connected

How to trigger a check-in via the V.BTTN

Once connected, you can optionally configure the button to perform a check-in via single, short tap. To do this, swipe the "Check in on short press" option.

To perform a check-in via the V.BTTN, press the button for less than 3 seconds.

How to silence the V.BTTN

To prevent the V.BTTN from flashing or making a noise, swipe the "Disable LED" and "Disable sound" options.

How to detect possible falls via the V.BTTN

Once connected, you can optionally configure the button to detect a sudden fall. To do this, swipe the "Enable Fall Detection" option.

Note: enabling fall detection can significantly impact V.BTTN battery life.

How to trigger an SOS via the V.BTTN

To trigger an SOS via the V.BTTN, press and hold the button for 3 seconds and release. The button will flash red and beep twice. Once the app has received the alert from the button, the V.BTTN will flash alternate red and green.

How to cancel an SOS

To cancel as SOS you triggered via the V.BTTN, you must use the app to cancel the SOS in the normal way. Cancelling an SOS via the V.BTTN is not currently supported.

How to disconnect a V.BTTN

To disconnect the V.BTTN, tap"Devices" and then tap the flashing Bluetooth button. Accept the prompt to disconnect the device. The V.BTTN will beep twice and flash red for a few seconds. To forget the device permanently, tap "Forget". To reconnect, tap "Connect".

Disconnect device prompt Reconnect / Forget device screen Forget device prompt

Travel Advice

You can access comprehensive travel advice via the "Travel Advice" screen. Advice and information includes:

Note: certain elements of the Travel Advice functionality are available for GAP Insights customers only.

How to view advice for a specific country

To view the advice for a specific country, tap the "Travel Advice" button and then tap on the name of the country in question. Each section can be expanded by tapping on it.

Travel Advice country list Travel Advice country list search Travel Advice detail screen Travel Advice external links

Travel Alerts

Note: the Travel Alerts function is available for GAP Insights customers only.

How to view travel alerts

To view travel alerts, tap the "Travel Alerts" button. Tap on an alert to view further details.

Travel Alerts list view Travel Alerts list view search Travel Alerts detail view

How to change which travel alerts are displayed

You can either view all current travel alerts or only travel alerts that have been specifically sent to you (based on settings configured by your administrator).

To change this setting, tap the "Settings" button then tap "Travel Alerts". Flick the "Show only travel alerts that have been sent to me" to "on" or "off" as required.

Itineraries

Note: the Itineraries function is available for GAP Insights customers only.

How to view itineraries

To view itineraries, tap the "Itineraries" button. Tapping on an individual itinerary will open the detailed view.

Itineraries list view Itinerary detail view

Documents

Note: the Documents function is available for GAP Insights customers only.

How to view documents

To view documents, tap the "Documents" button. Tapping on a folder will open that folder. Tapping on a document will open the document (if the file format is supported by your device). To navigate back up the folder structure, tap the back icon on the banner.

Quick Call

The Quick Call function presents you with two buttons to initiate phone calls to numbers configured by your administrator.

How to initiate a call

To initiate a quick call, tap the "Quick Call" button then tap the button representing the number you wish to dial.

Quick Call buttons

Take Photo

The Take Photo function allows you to take a photo and upload it to GAP (where it can be viewed in the device's inbox).

How to take a photo

To take a photo, tap the "Take Photo" button on the Dashboard and then tap the white button at the bottom of the screen. If you are happy with the photo, tap "Use Photo", otherwise, tap "Retake". If you want to enter some accompanying text, do so in the "Notes" box then tap "Upload Photo".

Take Photo screen Take Photo confirmation screen Upload Photo screen

Notes

The Notes function allows you to write a text note and upload it to GAP (where it can be viewed in the device's inbox).

How to make a note

To make a note, tap the "Notes" button. Enter your text in the text box and tap "Upload".

Notes

My Info

The My Info function allows you to update information stored in your user profile.

How to amend your info

To amend your info, tap the "My Info" button. Complete the form as required and tap "Update".

Location Service Settings

You can configure how the app obtains a location from the device's operating system using the Location Service settings screen. On this screen you can configure:

How to configure your location service settings

To configure location service settings, tap "Settings" then tap "Location Service". Tap each option and set the value as required.

Location Service settings

Privacy Settings

You can configure whether your location is provided along with certain message types iva the "Privacy" screen under "Settings".

How to configure your privacy settings

To configure privacy settings, tap "Settings" then tap "Privacy". Toggle each option as required. Note that you cannot prevent your location being sent in SOS messages.

Privacy settings

Analytics Settings

You can opt in to provide usage information to help us improve the app.

How to turn anaytics on or off

To turn app analytics on or off, tap "Settings" then tap "Analytics". Toggle the "Allow analytics" option as required.

Analytics settings

Log

The Log screen contains information on the app's activities, including any warnings and errors.

How to view the log

To view the log, tap "Settings" then tap "Log".

Log screen

How to interrogate the log

You can filter and re-order the log using the "Display Options" icon at the top right-hand corner of the Log screen.

Log screen

How to send the log to the Portal for review

To send a copy of the log to the Portal, tap "Upload".

How to clear the log

To clear the log, tap "Clear".

App Tester

To perform basic testing to verify the functionality of the app, tap Settings then App Tester. To begin a test, tap the Start button.

App Tester screen App Tester results

Beacons

Bluetooth beacons (sometimes known as iBeacons) are used to help obtain more accurate position data when indoors. They emit a Bluetooth LE signal which the device can use to identify where it is when GPS or Wi-Fi based positioning fails.

How to configure beacon behaviours

To turn notifications regarding beacons on or off, tap "Settings" then "iBeacons" then swipe the "Show notification when region changes" option.

To send messages to the GAP Portal when the beacon region changes, tap "Settings" then "iBeacons" then swipe the "Send position report when region changes" option.

If neither of these options are enabled, the position of the nearest beacon may be sent in lieu of your actual position depending on the settings configured under Location Service Settings.

Deactivation

Deactivating the app will delete your settings and return the app to the Login screen. You will need to login again before the app will function.

How to deactivate your app

To deactivate the app, tap "Settings" then tap the "Deactivate" link at the bottom of the screen.