System and method for performing object association at a tradeshow using a location tracking system

• US 20020165731A1
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Radianse Incorporated (Airpointe Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sentinel Wireless, LLC
• Inventors: Dempsey, Michael K.
• Application Number:
  US10/095,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20020165731A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/10 Elderly or infirm
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0081 Transmission between base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02521 using a radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02522 The radio-map containing measured values of non-radio values
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides a method of recording and using object associations determined by a location system at a tradeshow. Object locations are determined based on signals generated from object identifiers attached to the tradeshow attendees and forwarded to an electronic device interfaced with a network. The origin of the signal is calculated by a location determining module based on a number of factors such as the known position of the receivers receiving the signal, the historical recorded position of the attendee, the characteristics of the receivers receiving the signal (i.e. the range), the strength of the received signal, the type of signal, and whether or not the signal was repeated. Once the location of the attendee has been determined, the location determining module consults a database to determine associations between the located attendee and other persons, objects, exhibits or specified locations based on proximity to the located attendee. Once an association is determined, it is stored and the duration of the association is subsequently recorded. The data from the identified associations may then be leveraged in a number of ways as input data for a variety of applications, such as software which generates sales leads and targeted advertising to tradeshow attendees based on their current location.

Claims

1. A location system including a network with at least one network connected element and electronic device interfaced thereto, said network connected element including at least one signaling component capable of transmitting signals, and at least one receiving component capable of receiving signals, comprising:

a plurality of object identifiers, each said object identifier being a device attached to a person, each said object identifier having at least one signaling component, said signaling component generating a signal with a unique identifier, said signal received by said network connected element and incorporated into a second signal transmitted from said network connected element to said electronic device;

a database holding object associations interfaced with said network, each of said object associations being the interaction of a person to which said object identifier is attached with at least one of a person, object, advertising exhibit, and location, said interaction occurring when said person is within a defined distance at least one of a person, advertising exhibit, and location;

a location determining module interfaced with said network, said location determining module using said unique identifier and programmatically calculating the location of said object identifier and the person which the object identifier is attached using said unique identifier, said calculated location being used to determine an association between said person and at least one of a person, advertising exhibit, and location, the determined association being stored in said database.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said object identifier includes a receiving component, said receiving component receiving signals transmitted from said network connected element.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising further:

a fixed location identifier not interfaced with said network and located at said advertising exhibit, said fixed location identifier including at least one receiving component receiving transmissions from said object identifier, said receiving component having a different receiving range than the receiving component for said network connected element, and at least one signaling component transmitting a signal to said network connected element, said network connected element incorporating the signal from the fixed location identifier into a signal sent to said electronic device, said location determining module using the receiving range of the receiving component of said fixed location identifier, the receiving range of the receiving component of said network connected element, and the known location of said fixed location identifier in the calculation of said object identifier location.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the duration of said determined association is stored in said database.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein separate occurrences of said determined associations are stored in said database.

6. The system of claim 5, comprising further:

an application interfaced with said network, said application programmatically using said determined associations to generate sales leads based on the average time said persons spend interacting with said advertising exhibit.

7. The system of claim 5, comprising further:

an application interfaced with said network, said application programmatically using said determined associations to generate sales leads based on multiple visits of said persons to said advertising exhibit.

8. The system of claim 5, comprising further:

an application interfaced with said network, said application programmatically using said determined associations to cumulatively total the number and duration of associations between a plurality of located persons and one of another person, object, advertising exhibit and location.

9. The system of claim 5, comprising further:

an application interfaced with said network, said application programmatically notifying a previously designated person upon the determination of a specified association.

10. The system of claim 5, comprising further:

an application interfaced with said network, said application programmatically using said determined associations to verify attendance of at least one person at an educational course offering.

11. The system of claim 5, comprising further:

an application interfaced with said network, said application programmatically using said determined associations to cumulatively compare current associations with recorded historical associations from previous events.

12. The system of claim 5, comprising further:

an application interfaced with said network, said application programmatically using said determined associations to dynamically alter the sales terms of an item, said altered terms displayed to said located person.

13. The system of claim 5 wherein said object identifier is embedded in a name badge of a person.

14. The system of claim 5, comprising further:

an application interfaced with said network, said application programmatically using said determined associations to enter said located person in a contest.

15. The system of claim 5, comprising further:

an application interfaced with said network, said application programmatically using said determined associations to transmit information to a located person in response to a request based on their current location.

16. The system of claim 5, comprising further:

an application interfaced with said network, said application programmatically using said determined associations to generate a marketing message to one of said persons upon said located person associating with at least one of a pre-determined person, pre-determined advertising exhibit, and pre-determined location.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said marketing message is an interactive message allowing a response from said located person.

18. The system of claim 1, comprising further;

a display showing the locations of at least one of a located person, object, exhibit and location.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said display is located in at least one of a kiosk and a handheld device.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said located person alters the signal of said object identifier and the location of said located person is omitted from said display.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said object identifier includes a receiving component and said location determining module is located on said object identifier.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said object identifier includes a receiving component and is interfaced with said network.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said association is with a salesperson.

25. The method of claim 24, comprising the further steps of:

programmatically generating sales leads based on determined associations between a located person and said salesperson.

26. The method of claim 24, comprising the further steps of:

analyzing programmatically the compliance with training procedures of said salesperson.

27. The method of claim 23, comprising the further steps of:

storing pre-defined associations involving a specified person in a location accessible over the network;

matching a determined association involving a specified person with one of said pre-defined associations; and

generating an event based on said matching of associations.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said event is a warning message sent to said salesperson that a business competitor is attending a sales exhibit.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said event is the recording of the time of a business competitor associating with a sales exhibit.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein said event is an audible alarm at a designated location.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein the signal generated by said object identifier is at least one of an ultrasound (US), signal an infrared (IR) signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein the signal generated by said object identifier is at least two of an ultrasound (US), signal an infrared (IR) signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal.

33. The method of claim 23, comprising the steps of:

transmitting an IR signal from said object identifier;

transmitting an RF signal from said object identifier;

periodically alternating the transmitting of said IR signal and said RF signal;

calculating the location of the object to which said object identifier is attached based upon the received signal characteristics of said IR signal and said RF signal.

34. The method of claim 23 wherein said network is a wireless network.

35. The method of claim 23 wherein said network is the Internet.

36. The method of claim 23 comprising the further steps of:

providing a fixed location identifier not interfaced with said network, said fixed location identifier including at least one receiving component, said receiving component having a different receiving range than the receiver for said network connected element, and at least one signaling component;

receiving said signal from said object identifier with said fixed location identifier;

transmitting an additional signal from said fixed location identifier to said network connected element, said additional signal incorporating said signal from said object identifier; and

calculating programmatically the location of said object identifier and the corresponding object which it is attached using the receiving range of the receiver of said fixed location identifier and the receiving range of the receiver of said network connected element in the calculation.

37. The method of claim 23, wherein said object identifier includes at least one receiving component, comprising the further step of:

configuring the generation of signals sent by said object identifier by sending instructions from said electronic device to said object identifier over said network.

39. The medium of claim 38 wherein said method comprises the further steps of:

storing pre-defined associations involving a specified person in a location accessible over the network;

matching a determined association involving a specified person with one of said pre-defined associations; and

generating an event based on said matching of associations.

23. In a location system, said location system including a network with an electronic device and a network connected element interfaced thereto, said network connected element including at least one signaling component capable of transmitting signals, and at least one receiving component capable of receiving signals, a method, comprising the steps of:

providing an object identifier attached to a person, said object identifier being a device having at least one transceiver, said transceiver generating a signal with a unique identifier, said signal received by said network connected element;

transmitting a second signal from said network connected element to said electronic device, said second signal incorporating said signal from said object identifier;

calculating programmatically the location of said object identifier and said person to which it is attached using said unique identifier and the location of said network connected element; and

recording associations in a database interfaced with said network, said associations being the interaction of said person with at least one of another person, object, exhibit and a location, said interaction occurring when the calculated location of said person is within a defined distance of at least one of another person, object, exhibit and a location

38. In a location system, said location system including a network with an electronic device and a network connected element interfaced thereto, said network connected element including at least one signaling component capable of transmitting signals, and at least one receiving component capable of receiving signals, a medium holding computer-executable steps for a method, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an object identifier attached to a person, said object identifier being a device having at least one transceiver, said transceiver generating a signal with a unique identifier, said signal received by said network connected element;

transmitting a second signal from said network connected element to said electronic device, said second signal incorporating said signal from said object identifier;

calculating programmatically the location of said object identifier and said person to which it is attached using said unique identifier and the location of said network connected element; and

recording associations in a database interfaced with said network, said associations being the interaction of said person with at least one of another person, object, exhibit and a location, said interaction occurring when the calculated location of said person is within a defined distance of at least one of another person, object, exhibit and a location.