Method and system for service verification using WiFi signal strength mapping

• US 10,681,667 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Norton, Alexandra K., Brown, Tyler H., Scanu, Alessandro
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Siming
• Application Number:
  US15/707,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20190090215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/163 Real estate management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/14 checking the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/145 of fire detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• 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 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A service management system facilitates and validates service on building management systems. A service workflow module receives device events from control panels of the building management systems and combines them with local service data from mobile computing devices of technicians performing the service, generating service events. The service workflow module receives ambient radiofrequency (RF) signal data detected from the location of serviced devices. A validation module stores the ambient RF signal data and generates and a device fingerprint based on the ambient RF signal data. After device fingerprints based on the ambient RF signal data have been accumulated, the validation module determines whether current service events and ambient RF signal data are coherent with the device fingerprints and previous ambient RF signal data. The service workflow module also infers the location of the technician based on the ambient RF signal data and sends navigation information to the mobile computing device.

Claims

1. A service management system for facilitating testing of a building management system, comprising:

a service workflow module for receiving device events from the building management system and local service data from mobile computing devices and generating service events;

a mobile computing device interface for receiving ambient radiofrequency signal data from the mobile computing devices; and

a validation module for analyzing the service events from the service workflow module and the ambient radiofrequency signal data to validate service on the building management system, wherein the validation module determines whether ambient radiofrequency signal data detected during the service is coherent with previously detected ambient radiofrequency signal data by comparing source identifiers for radio frequency signals and signal strength of those radio frequency signals.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the validation module stores the ambient radiofrequency signal data from the mobile computing devices.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ambient radiofrequency signal data includes data from detected WiFi signals.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ambient radiofrequency signal data includes data from detected global navigation satellite system signals.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ambient radiofrequency signal data includes data from detected Bluetooth signals.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the workflow module generates inferred locations of the mobile computing devices based on the ambient radiofrequency signal data received from the mobile computing devices.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the workflow module sends alerts to the mobile computing devices based on the inferred locations.

8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the workflow module sends navigation information to the mobile computing devices based on the inferred locations.

9. A method for facilitating testing of a building management system, comprising:

receiving device events from the building management system and local service data from mobile computing devices, and generating service events; and

receiving ambient radiofrequency signal data from the mobile computing devices and analyzing the service events and the ambient radio frequency signal data to validate service on the building management system; and

validating the service on the building management system by determining whether ambient radiofrequency signal data detected during the service is coherent with previously detected ambient radiofrequency signal data by comparing source identifiers for radio frequency signals and signal strength of those radio frequency signals.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising storing the ambient radiofrequency signal data from the mobile computing devices.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the ambient radiofrequency signal data includes data from detected WiFi signals.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the ambient radiofrequency signal data includes data from detected global navigation satellite system signals.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the ambient radiofrequency signal data includes data from detected Bluetooth signals.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising generating inferred locations of the mobile computing devices based on the ambient radiofrequency signal data received from the mobile computing devices.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising sending alerts to the mobile computing devices based on the inferred locations.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising sending navigation information to the mobile computing devices based on the inferred locations.