Devices and accessories for use in wireless guest engagement systems

• US 10,304,271 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2017
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carnival Corporation
• Original Assignee: Carnival Corporation
• Inventors: Padgett, John, Jungen, Michael G., Steele, Douglas, Prestenback, Kyle, Criado, Richard J., Ball, Vince, Leonards, Adam, Curtis, Glenn, Vellon, Manny, Mendiuk, Patrick, Lam, Sander
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Trinh V
• Application Number:
  US15/460,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20180137706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00412 the transmitted data signal being encrypted
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0343 to be carried on the body
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/70 specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A guest engagement system and associated methods provide seamless engagement with guests of facilities through the use of wireless sensing technologies. The system makes use of individual guest devices which are carried by guests and used to automatically identify and authenticate the guests throughout the facility. Services can thereby be seamlessly provided to the guests throughout the facility. The services include automatic unlocking of doors, including hotel or state room doors, based on the guests'"'"' immediate proximity to their assigned room'"'"'s door. The services also include automated payment services provided at checkout or vending terminals, and automated log-on to interactive displays and portals, among others, based on secure wireless authentication of the guest devices.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a wireless device having a device body with a tapered shape including a front surface, a rear surface having a same shape as the front surface and a greater dimension than the front surface, and a cavity in which a processor and at least one wireless communication antenna are disposed; and

an accessory configured to be worn on a user body, the accessory having an accessory body having opposing outer and inner surfaces configured to respectively face away from and face toward the user body when the accessory is worn on the user body,

wherein the accessory body has a tapered cavity extending between the inner and outer surfaces and configured to releasably receive the wireless device, and the tapered cavity includes a front opening, in the outer surface of the accessory body, having a smaller dimension than a rear opening, in the inner surface of the accessory body, and the front opening having the same shape as and a smaller dimension than the front and rear surfaces of the device body to prevent the wireless device from passing through the front opening.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the device body has a frustum shape, the front surface is circular, the rear surface is circular and has a diameter greater than that of the front surface, and

the cavity of the accessory body has a frustum shape.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cavity can receive the wireless device only in an orientation in which the front surface of the wireless device faces away from the user body when the accessory is worn.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the rear opening of the tapered cavity has a dimension greater than the front and rear surfaces of the device body such that the tapered cavity of the accessory body can only receive the wireless device through the inner surface configured to face toward the user body when the accessory is worn on the user body.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein an angle between the front surface and a side surface of the tapered shaped device body is substantially equal to an angle between the outer surface of the accessory body and a side surface of the tapered cavity in the accessory body.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the angle between the front surface and the side surface of the tapered shaped device body is in the range of 86 to 88 degrees, and

the angle between the outer surface of the accessory body and the side surface of the tapered cavity is in the range of 86 to 88 degrees.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless device comprises at least two magnets embedded within the device body and disposed adjacent to an outer periphery of the device body,

the accessory comprises at least two magnets embedded within the accessory body and disposed adjacent to a periphery of the cavity, and

the magnets of the wireless device and of the accessory are disposed or oriented so as to maintain the wireless device in a particular rotational orientation relative to the accessory when the wireless device is disposed in the cavity of the accessory.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the wireless device comprises four magnets and the accessory comprises four magnets,

at least two adjacent magnets among the four magnets of the wireless device each have a pole of a same polarity facing the outer periphery of the device body, and

at least two adjacent magnets among the four magnets of the accessory each have a pole of a same polarity facing the periphery of the cavity.

9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the device body comprises an open metallic ring along an outer periphery of the device body, and the open metallic ring includes at least one gap along the outer periphery of the device body,

the accessory body comprises an open metallic ring along a periphery of the cavity, and the open metallic ring includes at least one gap along the periphery of the cavity, and

the magnets of the wireless device and of the accessory are disposed or oriented so as to maintain the at least one gap in the open metallic ring of the device body adjacent to the at least one gap in the open metallic ring of the cavity when the wireless device is disposed in the cavity of the accessory.

10. A wireless device comprising:

a body having a tapered shape including a front surface, a rear surface having a same shape as the front surface and a dimension greater than the front surface, and a peripheral side surface connecting the front and rear surfaces; and

four magnets embedded within the body and disposed on the peripheral side surface along an outer periphery of the body,

wherein the body includes a cavity in which a processor and at least one wireless communication antenna are disposed, and

wherein at least two adjacent magnets among the four magnets disposed on the peripheral side surface of the body each have a pole of a same polarity facing the outer periphery of the body.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the body has a frustum shape, the front surface is circular, the rear surface is circular and has a diameter greater than that of the front surface.

12. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the body comprises an open metallic ring along an outer periphery of the body, and the open metallic ring includes at least one gap along the outer periphery of the body.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein a non-conducting material is disposed in the at least one gap in the open metallic ring.

14. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein an angle between the front surface and a side surface of the tapered shape body is in the range of 86 to 88 degrees.

15. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the front and rear surfaces of the tapered shape body have maximum dimensions of no more than 2.5 inches and the tapered shape body has a thickness of no more than ⅝

inch.

16. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the body further includes in the cavity at least two wireless communication antennas each configured for communication using a different communication standard.

17. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the body includes in the cavity a first wireless communication antenna configured for Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communications and a second wireless communication antenna configured for near field communication (NFC) communications.

18. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein the first wireless communication antenna has a J-shape.