System and method for guiding an individual in a predetermined zone

• US 20060212214A1
• Filed: 02/15/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Villain, Eric, Xuan, Fabrice Tran, Prola, Alain
• Application Number:
  US11/355,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20060212214A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard

Abstract

This system for guiding a person to a destination situated in a predetermined area comprises a fixed guidance station (10) comprising:

• • means (12) for reading a code associated with a destination;
  • wireless communication means (14) having a standby mode and a low electrical power consumption mode for:
    • sending a request including said code associated with a destination and said indication of the position of said fixed station to a route determination device (20); and receiving a response including that route; and means for conveying said route to the person.

Claims

1. A fixed station (10) for guiding a person in a predetermined area, the station comprising a memory for storing an indication of the position of said fixed station (10), and:

means (12) for reading a code associated with a destination (Dest) to which a person situated in the vicinity of said station wishes to go;

wireless communication means (14) for;

sending a request including said code associated with a destination (Dest) and said indication (ID10, Pos10) of the position of said fixed station to a route determination device (20); and

receiving a response including a route between said station (10) and the destination associated with said code (Dest); and

means (16) for delivering said route to the person.

2. A fixed station (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said wireless communication means (14) have a standby mode and a low electrical power consumption operational mode.

3. A fixed station (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said reading means (12) comprise an RFID module adapted to communicate with an electronic tag (5) for storing said code associated with a destination (Dest).

4. A device for determining a route (20) for a person in a predetermined area, the device comprising:

means (26) for determining a route between two positions (Pos10, Dest) in said predetermined area; and

wireless communication means (14) adapted;

to receive a request including a code associated with a destination (Dest) and a stored position indication (ID10, Pos10) sent by a fixed guidance station (10) according to claim 1;

and

to send said fixed station (10) a response including a route between said station (10) and the destination associated with said code (Dest).

5. A route determination device (20) according to claim 4, characterized in that said wireless communication means (14) are low electrical power consumption means.

6. A route determination device (20) according to claim 4, characterized in that it includes means (50) for formatting said response as a function of the capacities of said delivering means (16) and/or said person.

7. A determination device according to claim 4, characterized in that it includes:

a mediation module (30) incorporating said communication means (14); and

a central system (40) incorporating said determination means (26), the central system (40) and the mediation module (30) being connected to each other via a local area network (35), said optional formatting means (50) being adapted in particular to be incorporated into the mediation module (30) or into the central system (40).

8. A system for guiding a person in a predetermined area, characterized in that it comprises:

a fixed guidance station according to claim 1;

and

a route determination device comprising;

means (26) for determining a route between two positions (Pos10, Dest) in said predetermined area; and

wireless communication means (14) adapted;

to receive a request including a code associated with a destination (Dest) and a stored position indication (ID10, Pos10) sent by said fixed guidance station (10); and

to send said fixed station (10) a response including a route between said station (10) and the destination associated with said code (Dest).

9. A guidance system according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a relay (70) comprising low electrical power consumption wireless communication means (14), said relay(s) being adapted to send said request and said response step by step between said guidance station (10) and the route determination device (20).

10. A guidance system according to claim 8, characterized in that said relay(s) (70) constitute a daisychain network (15′

).

11. A guidance system according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one relay said guidance station.

12. A method of guiding a person in a predetermined area, the method comprising:

a step (E10) of a guidance station (10) according to claim 1 reading a code associated with a destination (Dest) to which said person wishes to go;

a step (E20) of said guidance station (10) sending a request including said code associated with a destination (Dest) and a position indication (Pos10, ID10) stored by said station (10) to a route determination device (20);

a step (E30) of said determination device (20) determining a route between said position (Pos10) and the destination associated with said code (Dest);

a step (E40) of said determination device (20) sending to said station (10) a response including said route; and

a step (E50) of delivering the route to the person wherein said route determination device comprises;

means (26) for determining a route between two positions (Pos10, Dest) in said predetermined area; and

wireless communication means (14) adapted;

to receive a request including a code associated with a destination (Dest) and a stored position indication (ID10, Pos10) sent by said fixed guidance station (10); and

to send said fixed station (10) a response including a route between said station (10) and the destination associated with said code (Dest).

13. A computer program on an information medium, said program being adapted to be executed in a fixed guidance station (10) according to claim 1 and comprising instructions adapted to execute the following steps:

reading (E10) a code associated with a destination (Dest);

sending (E20) a route determination device (20) a request including said code associated with a destination (Dest) and a position indication (ID10, Pos10) stored by said station (10);

receiving from said determination device (20) a response including a route between said station (10) and the destination associated with said code (Dest); and

delivering (E50) the route to the person.

14. An information medium readable by a fixed guidance station (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains instructions of a computer program adapted to execute the following steps:

reading (E10) a code associated with a destination (Dest);

sending (E20) a route determination device (20) a request including said code associated with a destination (Dest) and a position indication (ID10, Pos10) stored by said station (10);

receiving from said determination device (20) a response including a route between said station (10) and the destination associated with said code (Dest); and

delivering (E50) the route to the person.