Device, system, and method for determining the status of lanes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A portable electronic device comprising:
- a camera for gathering video images of an area, the area having multiple lanes;
a graphical user interface (GUI) configured as a viewfinder to display the video images of the area in real-time;
a wireless interface for receiving Bluetooth-low-energy (BLE) messages from BLE devices located at each lane; and
a processor, wherein the processor is configured by a software application to (i) process the BLE messages to obtain a lane message for each lane, and (ii) generate an augmented reality view on the GUI, the augmented reality view comprising the lane messages overlaid on the video images of the area.
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Abstract
Customers would like to minimize the time waiting in lines; however, it is often difficult to understand which lane to choose. The present invention embraces a device, system, and method to help customers understand which lanes are open and operating most efficiently. The invention utilizes Bluetooth-low-energy (BLE) transmitters located at each lane to transmit updated information related to (i) the lane'"'"'s status (e.g., open or in-use) and (ii) the lane'"'"'s quality (e.g., throughput efficiency). Portable electronic devices used by customers may receive the BLE signals and understand (e.g., using augmented reality) which lane would be most likely to provide a quick process.
435 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A portable electronic device comprising:
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a camera for gathering video images of an area, the area having multiple lanes; a graphical user interface (GUI) configured as a viewfinder to display the video images of the area in real-time; a wireless interface for receiving Bluetooth-low-energy (BLE) messages from BLE devices located at each lane; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured by a software application to (i) process the BLE messages to obtain a lane message for each lane, and (ii) generate an augmented reality view on the GUI, the augmented reality view comprising the lane messages overlaid on the video images of the area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for broadcasting periodically updated lane messages, the method comprising the steps of:
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recording the activity of a Bluetooth-low-energy (BLE) enabled barcode scanner for a time-period, the BLE enabled barcode scanner located at a lane; updating using the recorded activity a lane status; creating a lane message comprising (i) the lane identifier and (ii) the lane status; broadcasting using the BLE enabled barcode scanner the lane message; starting a new time-period; and repeating the above steps. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a barcode scanning module for scanning barcodes as part of a process; a Bluetooth-low-energy (BLE) module configured to repeatedly broadcast BLE messages to other BLE enabled devices; and a processor communicatively coupled to the barcode scanning module and the BLE module, the processor configured by software to; (i) receive signals from the barcode scanning module and/or activity sensors, (ii) create lane messages using the received signals, and (iii) transmit the lane messages to the BLE module for broadcasting as BLE messages. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification