MULTI-BEACON MEETING ATTENDEE PROXIMITY TRACKING

• US 20150111552A1
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaye, Michael, Thorington, Brent
• Granted Patent: US 9,787,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/416
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/41 using speaker recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. conference server dials participants
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5072 Multiple active speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5081 Inform conference party of participants, e.g. of change of participants
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/569 using the instant speaker's algorithm speech detection per se G10L25/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• 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

Methods and apparatus for accurately determining whether a mobile electronic device associated with a user is at a meeting location comprise: initiating a scan for a first beacon signal emanating from a first beacon located at the meeting location; detecting the first beacon signal; confirming that the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of the first beacon based on the first beacon signal; and responsive to confirming that the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of the first beacon activating a trigger system enabling further resolution of the proximity of the mobile electronic device to the meeting location, wherein the trigger system is located at an entry to the meeting location, and activating a confirmation system to confirm that the mobile electronic device is at the meeting location.

Claims

1. A method for accurately determining whether a mobile electronic device is at a predetermined destination, the method comprising:

scanning for a first beacon signal emanating from a first beacon located at the destination;

detecting the first beacon signal;

confirming proximity to the first beacon based on the first beacon signal;

responsive to confirming proximity to the first beacon, scanning for a second trigger beacon signal emanating from a second trigger beacon located proximal to the destination;

confirming proximity to the second beacon based on the second beacon signal;

responsive to confirming proximity to the second beacon, scanning for a third confirmation beacon signal emanating from a third beacon located at the destination;

confirming proximity to the third beacon based on the third beacon signal;

responsive to confirming proximity to the third beacon, generating a message announcing that the mobile electronic device is at the destination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the destination comprises a meeting location for a teleconference meeting;

the mobile electronic device is associated with a meeting attendee; and

generating the message comprises generating a message announcing that the attendee is in the teleconference meeting.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the meeting location comprises a room where the teleconference meeting is to be conducted;

the first beacon is located inside the room;

the second trigger beacon is located at an entrance to the room; and

the third beacon is located inside the room.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein confirming proximity to the first beacon comprises:

comparing the first beacon signal with a threshold condition, wherein responsive to the threshold condition is met, the proximity to the first beacon is confirmed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein scanning for the second trigger beacon signal comprises:

increasing a scan rate of the scanning for a specified period of time;

responsive to not confirming the proximity to the second beacon within the specified period of time, reducing the scan rate; and

responsive to confirming the proximity to the second beacon within the specified period of time, initiating the scanning for the third confirmation beacon signal.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein confirming proximity to the third confirmation beacon comprises:

comparing the third confirmation beacon signal with a third threshold condition, wherein responsive to the third threshold condition being met, the proximity to the third confirmation beacon is confirmed; and

transmitting the generated message to a meeting coordinator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

comparing the first beacon signal with the first threshold condition comprises measuring a signal strength for the first beacon signal, wherein the first threshold condition comprises a first relative signal strength indicator (RSSI) value, and wherein the first threshold condition is met when the signal strength for the first beacon signal exceeds the first RSSI value; and

comparing the third confirmation beacon signal with the third threshold condition comprises measuring a signal strength for the third confirmation beacon signal, wherein the third threshold condition comprises a third RSSI value, and wherein the third threshold condition is met when the signal strength for the third confirmation beacon signal exceeds the third RSSI value.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the third beacon is the same as the first beacon and wherein the first RSSI value is less than the third RSSI value.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first beacon signal comprises a Bluetooth signal and wherein the third beacon comprises one of an optical signal or a sound signal.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the first beacon signal comprises a Bluetooth signal and wherein the transmitted message is configured as one of a wireless message or a cellular telephone message.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the transmitted message is transmitted to a meeting coordinator system and can be used to track meeting participation status for meeting participants.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating the scan for the first beacon signal is in response to a prompt by a calendar event identifying that a teleconference meeting is to occur at the predetermined destination.

13. A method for accurately determining whether a mobile electronic device associated with a user is at a meeting location, the method comprising:

initiating a scan for a first beacon signal emanating from a first beacon located at the meeting location;

detecting the first beacon signal;

confirming that the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of the first beacon based on the first beacon signal; and

responsive to confirming that the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of the first beacon

activating a trigger system enabling further resolution of the proximity of the mobile electronic device to the meeting location, wherein the trigger system is located at an entry to the meeting location, and

activating a confirmation system to confirm that the mobile electronic device is at the meeting location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein activating the trigger system comprises:

activating an entry access system located at an entry to the meeting location.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the entry access system comprises an RFID entry access system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the confirmation system comprises a second confirmation beacon located within the meeting location and which emanates a second confirmation beacon signal; and

activating the confirmation system comprises

scanning for the second confirmation beacon signal,

detecting the second confirmation beacon signal, and

confirming proximity to the second confirmation beacon based on the second confirmation beacon signal; and

wherein the method further comprises

generating a message announcing that the mobile electronic device is at the meeting location, and

transmitting the message to a meeting coordination system capable of tracking the participation status of the user.

17. A mobile electronic device configured to determine whether the device is at a teleconference meeting location, the predetermined mobile electronic device comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter;

a memory for storing data;

a processor for executing computer readable instructions, the processor comprising

a gross proximity module that enables,

identification of a meeting time and the teleconference meeting location;

identification of a first beacon located at the teleconference meeting location, wherein the first beacon is configured to transmit a first beacon signal;

the receipt of an alert at a time prior to the meeting time;

responsive to the alert, initiating a scan for the first beacon signal;

confirmation that the mobile electronic device is at a first proximity to the teleconference meeting location;

an intermediate proximity module that enables,

activating a trigger system affirming that the mobile electronic device is at a second proximity to the teleconference meeting location wherein the second proximity is closer to the teleconference meeting location than the first proximity;

a confirmation proximity module that enables,

upon affirmation by the trigger system that the mobile electronic device is at the second proximity to the meeting location, scanning for a third confirmation beacon signal emanating from a third beacon located at the destination;

confirmation that the mobile electronic device is at the meeting location; and

a meeting participation status module that enables,

upon confirming that the mobile electronic device is at the meeting location, generating a message announcing that the mobile electronic device is at the meeting location, and

transmitting the message announcing that the mobile electronic device is at the meeting location to a meeting coordinator that updates meeting participation for the meeting.

18. The mobile electronic device of claim 17, wherein:

the meeting location comprises an entry access system that enables the detecting of the mobile electronic device at an entrance to the meeting location; and

the intermediate proximity module further enables activating the entry access system.

19. The mobile electronic device of claim 18, wherein:

the entry access system comprises an RFID entry access system.

20. The mobile electronic device of claim 17, wherein:

a second trigger beacon is located proximal to the meeting location; and

the intermediate proximity module further enables

scanning for a second trigger beacon signal emanating from the second trigger beacon, and

confirming the second proximity to the second beacon responsive to a signal strength for the second trigger beacon signal exceeding a relative signal strength indicator (RSSI) value.