Method and system for monitoring location based service emitter instructure

• US 20060087474A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Do, Phuc K., Pierce, Justin M., Maximilien, Eugene M., Kirk, Charles R., Shryock, Richard S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,283,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/386
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/024 of beacon transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7034 Mounting or deployment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7038 Signal details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2201/01 adapted for specific applications or environments
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring location based service emitter infrastructure. Beacon data is stored, the beacon data transmitted by beacons in an area and detected by a client device that is moved along a path at the location. The beacon data along the path of the client device is analyzed to determine whether any of the detected beacons have failed.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the infrastructure of a location based service, the method comprising:

storing beacon data transmitted by a plurality of beacons in an area and detected by a client device that is moved along a path in the area; and

analyzing the beacon data along the path of the client device to determine whether any of the detected beacons have failed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the beacon data is detected by the client device and provided to a server to be stored.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the beacon data is provided from the client device to the server using wireless signals.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the beacon data is transmitted by the beacons using infrared signals, and wherein the client device includes an infrared detector that receives the infrared signals.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein analyzing the beacon data includes comparing the detected beacon data on the path of the client device to a predefined normal set of beacon data for that path.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of client devices detect the beacon data from the beacons, each client device moving along a path in the area, and wherein analyzing the beacon data includes analyzing beacon data detected from the plurality of client devices.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein analyzing the beacon data includes comparing the detected beacon data from a path of a client device to data detected from the same path at a different time by the same client device or a different client device.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein analyzing the beacon data includes determining whether any beacons may be failing intermittently, and whether any beacons have failed permanently.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein analyzing the beacon data is performed periodically, after a predetermined time period, when beacon data has been stored over the predetermined time period from the plurality of client devices.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the beacon data includes a unique identification of the beacon transmitting the data.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the failure of a beacon includes batteries providing insufficient power to the beacon.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the area is a retail store, and wherein the client device is coupled to a shopping cart moved with a customer in the retail store.

13. A system for monitoring the infrastructure of a location based service, the system comprising:

at least one client device that is moveable along at least one path in an area and which can detect beacon data transmitted from each of a plurality of beacons provided in the area; and

a server that receives the beacon data from the at least one client device, the server including a storage device that stores the beacon data, wherein the server analyzes the beacon data along the path of the client device to determine whether any of the detected beacons have failed.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the beacons use infrared signals to transmit the beacon data, and wherein the at least one client device includes an infrared detector that receives the infrared signals.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the client device includes a wireless transmitter and the server includes a wireless receiver, such that the client device can send the beacon data to the server using wireless signals.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein analyzing the beacon data includes comparing the detected beacon data on the path of the client device to a normal set of beacon data for that path.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one client device is a plurality of client devices, and wherein the plurality of client devices detect the beacon data from the beacons, each client device moving along at least one path in the area, and wherein the server analyzes the beacon data detected from the plurality of client devices.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein analyzing the beacon data includes comparing the detected beacon data from a path of a client device to data detected from the same path at a different time by the same client device or a different client device.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the server analyzes the beacon data periodically, after a predetermined time period, when beacon data has been stored over the predetermined time period from the plurality of client devices.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein the beacon data includes a unique identification of the beacon transmitting the data.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein the area is a retail store, and wherein the client device is coupled to a shopping cart moved with a customer in the retail store.

22. A computer readable medium including program instructions to be implemented by a computer, the program instructions for monitoring the infrastructure of a location based service, the program instructions implementing steps comprising:

storing beacon data transmitted by a plurality of beacons in an area and detected by a client device that is moved along a path in the area; and

analyzing the beacon data along the path of the client device to determine whether any of the detected beacons have failed.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein the beacon data was detected by the client device and provided to a server to be stored.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23 wherein the beacon data is provided from the client device to the server using wireless signals.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein the beacon data is transmitted by the beacons using infrared signals, and wherein the client device includes an infrared detector that receives the infrared signals.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein analyzing the beacon data includes comparing the detected beacon data on the path of the client device to a normal set of beacon data for that path.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein a plurality of client devices detect the beacon data from the beacons, each client device moving along a path in the area, and wherein analyzing the beacon data includes analyzing beacon data detected from the plurality of client devices.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27 wherein analyzing the beacon data includes comparing the detected beacon data from a path of a client device to data detected from the same path at a different time by the same client device or a different client device.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 27 wherein analyzing the beacon data includes determining whether any beacons may be failing intermittently, and whether any beacons have failed permanently.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 27 wherein analyzing the beacon data is performed periodically, after a predetermined time period, when beacon data has been stored over the predetermined time period from the plurality of client devices.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein the area is a retail store, and wherein the client device is coupled to a shopping cart moved with a customer in the retail store.