Electronic identification, location tracking, communication and notification system

• US 10,296,945 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Collateral Opportunities Of Nevada, LLC
• Original Assignee: Collateral Opportunities, LLC
• Inventors: Kusens, Bruce Howard, Kusens, Michael, Miller, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Georgalas, Anne M
• Application Number:
  US14/866,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20160098676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

A system and method for identifying a customer'"'"'s location within a facility or place of business, such as, but not limited to a casino. The system and method provides notification company representatives upon arrival of the customer at the given location. Additionally, the method and system allows for navigational services to be provided to customers, and real-time location determination, location tracking and confirmation to customers of location and rewards program status. The disclosed method and system can work through a system of wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons communicating with the customer'"'"'s smartphone, computer system, or other electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic system for determining or tracking a current location for an individual within a geographical area based on a location of a beacon who transmits a greatest signal strength transmitted out of a plurality of beacons disposed throughout the geographical area and notifying a person associated with a facility located at the geographical area of the individual'"'"'s presence and current location within the geographical area, said system comprising:

an identification and location tracking computer specifically programmed to monitor, track and determine a current location of an individual within a geographical area and to send notifications identifying a determined current location for the individual;

an identification and location tracking electronic database containing permissions information for the individual, the electronic database in electronic communication with the identification and location tracking computer;

a plurality of beacons disposed throughout the geographical area and in electronic communication with the identification and location tracking computer, each specific beacon of the plurality of beacons automatically and continuously broadcasting a signal containing unique identification information for the specific beacon;

a portable electronic device specifically programmed with a software application for permitting electronic wireless communication between the portable electronic device and the plurality of beacons, the portable electronic device carried by or on a person of the individual when the individual travels or is present within the geographical area, the software application running on the portable electronic device while the individual travels or is present within the geographical area, while running the software application receives signals broadcasted from the plurality of beacons; and

a facility electronic device specifically programmed with a software application for permitting electronic communication between the facility electronic device and the identification and location tracking computer;

wherein when the individual is in a communication range of one or more beacons from the plurality of beacons, said portable electronic device receives the unique identification signal broadcasted by the one or more beacons and said portable electronic device transmits electronic data to the identification and location tracking computer to allow the identification and location tracking computer to determine the current location of the individual within the geographical area;

wherein the electronic data includes information concerning a signal strength for each unique identification signal received by the portable electronic device from a beacon of the one or more beacons and a duration identifying how long the signal strength exceeded a preconfigured signal strength threshold for each of the unique identification signals which is processed by the identification and location tracking computer against preconfigured thresholds and preconfigured time durations stored in the tracking electronic database, wherein a preconfigured time duration is a preset minimum time period that a strength of a received beacon signal must remain above a minimum signal strength threshold in order to be considered by the identification and location tracking computer when making a location determination;

wherein each beacon of the one or more beacons is assigned a specific signal strength threshold and a specific duration threshold where the specific duration threshold is a preset minimum time period that a strength of a received signal from a beacon must remain above the specific signal strength threshold for the beacon in order to be considered by the identification and location tracking computer when making a location determination;

wherein from the received signals the identification and location tracking computer is programmed to include only signals whose signal strengths exceed the signal strength thresholds for the specific duration threshold assigned to the beacon transmitting the signal (collectively “

Criteria”

) and to exclude any other beacon signals received by the portable electronic device not meeting this Criteria in the location determination;

wherein the identification and location tracking computer is programmed to automatically determine the current location of the individual to be at or near a preconfigured location of a beacon transmitting the greatest signal strength from the signals included by the identification and location tracking computer in the location determination;

wherein the identification and location tracking computer is programmed to automatically send notifications to the facility electronic device of determined current or previous locations for the individual within the geographical area.

2. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein electronic information representing the current location of the individual is stored within the tracking electronic database by the tracking computer.

3. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein each beacon of the plurality of beacons is a wireless radio, sound or light-based beacon.

4. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein the tracking computer is programmed to send an electronic notification to a designated person based on the permissions information for the individual stored in the identification and location tracking electronic database when the tracking computer determines that the individual is present within the geographical area based on the electronic data received from the plurality of beacons.

5. The electronic system of claim 4 wherein the tracking computer is programmed to update the tracking electronic database with information concerning the current location of the individual within the geographical area.

6. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein while the individual is within the geographical area the portable electronic device maintains electronic communication with at least one of the plurality of beacons at all times.

7. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein the tracking computer is programmed to continuously or periodically update the identification and location tracking electronic database with current location information for the individual within the geographical area.

8. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the geographical area is a facility or place of business.

9. An electronic method for determining when an individual is present within a geographical area and notifying a person associated with a facility located at the geographical area of the individual'"'"'s presence and current location within the geographical area, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) continuously transmitting unique identification signals by a plurality of beacons located in a geographical area;

(b) automatically receiving a plurality of signals automatically broadcasted by at least some of the plurality of beacons by a portable electronic device with each signal having a unique identification signal identifying a specific one of the plurality of beacons;

the portable electronic device specifically programmed with a software application for permitting electronic wireless communication between the portable electronic device and the plurality of beacons, wherein the portable electronic device belongs to an individual who carries the portable electronic device or has the portable electronic device on his or her person while the individual is located in the geographical area;

(c) electronically determining a signal strength for each of the received unique identification signals and a duration for how long each unique identification signal was received by the portable electronic device;

(d) wirelessly transmitting electronic data from the portable electronic device to a tracking computer, wherein the electronic data includes information concerning each signal strength of the unique identification signals received by the portable electronic device and a duration that each of the unique identification signals were received by the portable electronic device;

(e) electronically determining by the tracking computer a greatest signal strength received by the portable electronic device from all signals received by the portable electronic device that exceed a preconfigured signal strength threshold for a preconfigured signal duration threshold;

wherein a preconfigured signal duration threshold is a preset minimum time period that a strength of a received beacon signal must remain above a minimum signal strength threshold in order to be considered by the tracking computer when making a location determination;

(f) of the received signals exceeding the preconfigured signal strength threshold for the preconfigured signal duration threshold, selecting the signal having a greatest signal strength received by the portable electronic device by the tracking computer;

(g) determining a current location of the individual within the geographical area by the tracking computer based on the location of the specific beacon who transmitted the signal having the greatest signal strength; and

(h) electronically notifying one or more facility electronic devices of the determined current location and presence of the individual within the geographical area by the tracking computer system.

10. The electronic method of claim 9 further comprising the step of storing or saving electronic data representing the current location for the individual in a tracking electronic database, the tracking electronic database in communication with the tracking computer system.

11. The electronic method of claim 9 wherein each beacon of said plurality of beacons is a wireless radio, sound or light-based beacon.

12. The electronic method of claim 9 wherein each facility electronic device of the one or more facility electronic devices is associated with a designated person from the facility and step (h) comprising the step of determining which specific facility electronic devices to send notification to by the tracking computer system based on permissions information for the individual stored in a tracking electronic database when the tracking computer determines that the individual is present within the geographical area.

13. The electronic method of claim 12 wherein the electronic notification informs the designated person of a presence of the individual within the geographical area.

14. The electronic method of claim 9 further comprising the step of periodically automatically determining a then current location for the individual within the geographical area and updating a tracking electronic database with any changes in location by the individual within the geographical area.

15. An electronic method for ordering and receiving a product for delivery by an individual located within a geographical area, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a product from a previously set list of products displayed on a screen of an electronic portable device by an individual while the individual is located within a geographical area;

(b) wirelessly forwarding electronic data representing the product selected in step (a) to a tracking computer system; and

(c) determining a current location for the individual within the geographical area, wherein the current location is determined by the following steps;

(c1) continuously transmitting unique identification signals by a plurality of beacons located in the geographical area;

(c2) automatically receiving a plurality of signals automatically broadcasted by at least some of the plurality of beacons by the portable electronic device with each signal having a unique identification signal identifying a specific one of the plurality of beacons;

the portable electronic device specifically programmed with a software application for permitting electronic wireless communication between the portable electronic device and the plurality of beacons, wherein the portable electronic device belongs to the individual who carries the portable electronic device or has the portable electronic device on his or her person while the individual is located in the geographical area;

(c3) electronically determining a signal strength for each of the received unique identification signals and a duration for how long each unique identification signal was received by the portable electronic device;

(c4) wirelessly transmitting electronic data from the portable electronic device to a tracking computer, wherein the electronic data includes information concerning each signal strength of the unique identification signals received by the portable electronic device and a duration that each of the unique identification signals were received by the portable electronic device;

(c5) electronically determining by the tracking computer a greatest signal strength received by the portable electronic device from all signals received by the portable electronic device that exceed a preconfigured signal strength threshold for a preconfigured signal duration threshold;

wherein a preconfigured signal duration threshold is a preset minimum time period that a strength of a received beacon signal must remain above a minimum signal strength threshold in order to be considered by the tracking computer when making a location determination;

(c6) of the received signals exceeding the preconfigured signal strength threshold for the preconfigured signal duration threshold, selecting the signal having a greatest signal strength received by the portable electronic device by the tracking computer;

(c7) determining a current location of the individual within the geographical area by the tracking computer based on the location of the specific beacon who transmitted the signal having the greatest signal strength;

(d) electronically notifying a facility electronic device of the determined current location of the individual within the geographical area by the tracking computer system; and

(e) delivering the product to the individual at the determined current location by a person associated with the facility electronic device.

16. An electronic method for receiving an order for a product and delivering the ordered product to a current location for an individual within a geographical area, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an order for a product by a tracking computer system where the order was originated from an electronic portable device belonging to an individual;

(b) determining a current location for the individual within a geographical area by the following steps;

(b1) continuously transmitting unique identification signals by a plurality of beacons located in the geographical area;

(b2) automatically receiving a plurality of signals automatically broadcasted by at least some of the plurality of beacons by the portable electronic device with each signal having a unique identification signal identifying a specific one of the plurality of beacons;

the portable electronic device specifically programmed with a software application for permitting electronic wireless communication between the portable electronic device and the plurality of beacons, wherein the portable electronic device belongs to the individual who carries the portable electronic device or has the portable electronic device on his or her person while the individual is located in the geographical area;

(b3) electronically determining a signal strength for each of the received unique identification signals and a duration for how long each unique identification signal was received by the portable electronic device;

(b4) wirelessly transmitting electronic data from the portable electronic device to a tracking computer, wherein the electronic data includes information concerning each signal strength of the unique identification signals received by the portable electronic device and a duration that each of the unique identification signals were received by the portable electronic device; and

(b5) electronically determining by the tracking computer a greatest signal strength received by the portable electronic device from all signals received by the portable electronic device that exceed a preconfigured signal strength threshold for a preconfigured signal duration threshold;

wherein a preconfigured signal duration threshold is a preset minimum time period that a strength of a received beacon signal must remain above a minimum signal strength threshold in order to be considered by the tracking computer when making a location determination;

(b6) of the received signals exceeding the preconfigured signal strength threshold for the preconfigured signal duration threshold, selecting the having a the greatest signal strength received by the portable electronic device by the tracking computer;

(b7) determining a current location of the individual within the geographical area by the tracking computer based on the location of the specific beacon who transmitted the signal having the greatest signal strength;

(c) forwarding information representing the current location for the individual to a person responsible for delivering the product to the individual; and

(e) delivering the product to the individual at the determined current location by the person responsible for delivering the product.