TRACKING PASSENGERS ON CRUISE SHIPS

• US 20110109434A1
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anuvu IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Maritime Telecommunications Network, Inc. (Scisco Parent, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hadsall, Richard Alan SR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,514,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2009/0017 characterised by making use of satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2009/131 specially adapted for being attachable to a single arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 26/007 Wireless interrogation

Abstract

Systems and procedures for tracking the locations of passengers on a vessel are provided. Example systems may include a portable tag configured to be assigned to a passenger, the tag encoded with a tag identifier; a plurality of tag readers configured to be positioned at predetermined locations on a vessel, each tag reader configured to read the tag identifier of the tag when the tag reader receives a signal from the tag; a tracking component configured to communicate with the tag readers, the tracking component configured to receive, from a detecting tag reader, an indication that the signal has been received from the tag, the tracking component configured to determine a detected location of the tag based at least in part on the predetermined location of the detecting tag reader; and a notification component configured to send towards a user device, a notification including the detected location.

Claims

1. A system for tracking the locations of passengers on a vessel, comprising:

a portable tag configured to be assigned to a passenger, the tag encoded with a tag identifier;

a plurality of tag readers configured to be positioned at predetermined locations on a vessel, each tag reader configured to read the tag identifier of the tag when the tag reader receives a signal from the tag;

a tracking component configured to communicate with the tag readers, the tracking component configured to receive, from a detecting tag reader, an indication that the signal has been received from the tag, the tracking component configured to determine a detected location of the tag based at least in part on the predetermined location of the detecting tag reader; and

a notification component configured to send towards a user device, a notification including the detected location.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the tracking component is further configured to determine the detected location based the detecting tag reader'"'"'s power.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the tracking component is further configured to determine the detected location based on a detected signal strength.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein:

the tracking component is further configured to determine the detected location based on a physical property of the vessel in an area near the detecting tag reader.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification identifies one of a room and a location on a deck.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device is a wireless device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the notification is a text message.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein:

the user device is configured to display the detected location on a map of the vessel.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user kiosk configured to communicate with the tracking system, the user kiosk configured to display the detected location, responsive to a user request.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the kiosk is further configured to display a map of the vessel; and

the kiosk is further configured to display the detected location on the map.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication includes one of a time, a direction, a signal strength, and rate of change.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a tag reader in the plurality of tag readers is configured with a first and second operating mode;

the first operating mode is used when the vessel is at least a predetermined distance from land; and

the second operating mode is used when the vessel is less than the predetermined distance from land.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the tag reader is configured to operate at a first power level in the first operating mode and the tag reader is configured to operate at a second power level in the second operating mode.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag includes one of a wrist band, a watch, a room key, a beach tag, a smart card, and a wallet card.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag is an RFID tag.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the tag is configured to operate on a plurality of frequencies;

a first tag reader in the plurality of tag readers is configured to operate on a first frequency; and

a second tag reader in the plurality of tag readers is configured to operate on a second frequency.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the tag is configured to operate on a plurality of frequencies;

a first tag reader in the plurality of tag readers is configured to operate on a first frequency;

a second tag reader in the plurality of tag readers is configured to operate on a second frequency; and

a third tag reader in the plurality of tag readers is configured to operate on a third frequency.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a customizable display located on the vessel configured to display a customized message based on the detected location.

19. A method for tracking the locations of passengers on a vessel, comprising:

assigning a portable tag to a passenger, the tag encoded with a tag identifier;

positioning a plurality of tag readers at predetermined locations on a vessel, each tag reader configured to read the tag identifier of the tag when the tag reader receives a signal from the tag;

detecting the tag with a first tag reader in the plurality of tag readers;

identifying a detected location of the tag, responsive to detecting the tag with the first tag reader; and

reporting the detected location of the tag to a user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

reporting the detected location further comprises sending a text message towards one of a mobile telephone, a Personal Communication Device, and a computer.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

charging a per message fee to a user.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a notification rule;

wherein reporting the detected location of the tag is performed according to the notification rule.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a group definition including a plurality of users; and

reporting the detected location of the tag to each user in the plurality of users.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein a second tag reader in the plurality of tag readers is configured with a first and second operating mode, the method further comprising:

enabling the first operating mode when the vessel is at least a predetermined distance from land; and

enabling the second operating mode when the vessel is less than the predetermined distance from land.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the first operating mode is automatically enabled responsive to receiving a first Global Positioning System signal; and

the second operating mode is automatically enabled responsive to receiving a second Global Positioning System signal.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

allocating vessel staff based on the detected location.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

displaying a customized message based on the detected location.