SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCATING A PUBLIC FACILITY

• US 20140197924A1
• Filed: 03/09/2013
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Wegelin, Jackson W., Kanfer Rolnick, Marcella
• Granted Patent: US 9,311,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• 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

Abstract

In an exemplary method of locating a public facility, a public facility is provided at a fixed location and includes a facility locating module. A wireless signal is generated from the facility locating module. Software code accessible to the portable electronic device is provided. The software code causes the portable electronic device to detect the wireless signal and to generate a location indicating output from the portable electronic device to identify at least one of a location of the public facility, a distance to the public facility from the portable electronic device, and a direction from the portable electronic device to the public facility.

Claims

1. A method for locating a public facility, comprising:

providing a public facility at a fixed location, the public facility including a facility locating module;

generating a wireless signal from the facility locating module;

providing software code accessible to a portable electronic device, the software code causing the portable electronic device to detect the wireless signal and to process the detected wireless signal to generate a location indicating output that identifies at least one of a location of the public facility, a distance to the public facility from the portable electronic device, and a direction from the portable electronic device to the public facility.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises at least one of a Bluetooth signal, an RFID signal, and a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generation of the location identifying output from the portable electronic device comprises generation of a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the detected signal and generating the output identifying the distance to the public facility from the portable electronic device based on the received signal strength indication.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the output identifying the distance to the public facility from the portable electronic device comprises an audible signal for which at least one of volume, pitch, and frequency varies in proportion to the received signal strength indication.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the output identifying the distance to the public facility from the portable electronic device comprises a visual signal for which at least one of size, intensity, color, and frequency varies in proportion to the received signal strength indication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the public facility comprises one of a hygienic facility, a food/drink accommodation facility, and a safety facility.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the public facility comprises one of a soap dispenser, sanitizer dispenser, restroom, water fountain, coffee maker, vending machine, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, defibrillator, and eyewash station.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal includes information relating to at least one of a location of the public facility, a description of the public facility, and a condition of the public facility.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises at least one of a cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, and a laptop computer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading an application to the portable electronic device, the application being programmed to generate the location identifying output.

11. A method for locating a public facility, comprising:

providing a public facility at a fixed location, the public facility including a facility locating module;

receiving an interrogation signal from a portable electronic device in at least one location identifying module within range of the interrogation signal;

using a location of the at least one location identifying module to estimate the current location of the portable electronic device;

accessing a database identifying a plurality of public facilities and a corresponding location of each of the plurality of public facilities; and

using the estimated current location of the portable electronic device and the accessed database, generating a location identifying output to identify at least one of a location of at least one of the plurality of public facilities, a distance to the at least one of the plurality of public facilities from the portable electronic device, and a direction from the portable electronic device to the at least one of the plurality of public facilities.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the public facility comprises a sanitizer dispenser.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the location identifying module comprises at least one of a wireless local area network (WLAN) hotspot, a Bluetooth device, and a radio frequency transceiver.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the public facility comprises one of a hygienic facility, a food/drink accommodation facility, and a safety facility.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the public facility comprises one of a soap dispenser, restroom, water fountain, coffee maker, vending machine, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, defibrillator, and eyewash station.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the corresponding location of each of the plurality of public facilities identified in the database is determined from a locating signal identifying a current location of the corresponding public facility.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the locating signal identifying the current location of the corresponding public facility is generated by transmitting an interrogation signal from a facility locating module associated with the corresponding public facility to at least one location identifying module within range of the interrogation signal, and receiving a locating signal from the at least one location identifying module, the locating signal corresponding to an estimated location of the corresponding public facility.

18. A system for locating a public facility, comprising:

a facility locating module associated with the public facility and configured to transmit an interrogation signal;

at least one location identifying module configured to transmit a locating signal in response to receiving the interrogation signal, the locating signal corresponding to an estimated location of the public facility; and

an electronic device configured to receive the locating signal from the at least one location identifying module, and to use the locating signal to generate a location identifying output to identify at least one of the estimated location of the public facility, a distance to the estimated location of the public facility from the electronic device, and a direction from the electronic device to the estimated location of the public facility.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the interrogation signal is configured to identify a condition of the public facility.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the facility locating module is configured to prevent transmission of the interrogation signal when the public facility is in an unavailable condition.