PRESENCE MONITORING

• US 20170171717A1
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Published: 06/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyline Property Media Limited
• Original Assignee: Skyline Property Media Limited
• Inventors: SHULMAN, NICOLAS
• Granted Patent: US 10,015,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings

Abstract

A system for presence monitoring and in particular for presence monitoring in multiple presence buildings, so that emergency services can get an accurate presence list in the case of an emergency. A mobile device belonging to a user outputs a location notification to a location module when it crosses a geofence defining the boundaries of a facility. The location module monitors the location of one or more mobile devices belonging to users and outputs an indication whenever a location notification is received. A register module then operates in response to the location module to generate an up to date presence list for the facility based on the identity of monitored devices within the geofence. An interface outputs the presence list on demand and can transmit the presence list to one or more external devices or locations in response to an evacuation alarm.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring presence within a facility, the system comprising:

a location module operable to monitor the location of one or more specified mobile devices and to output an indication whenever any of the monitored devices crosses a geofence defining the facility; and

a register module operable in response to the location module to generate an up to date presence list for the facility based on the identity of monitored devices within the geofence; and

an interface operable to output said presence list on demand and which can transmit the presence list to one or more external devices or locations in response to an evacuation alarm.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the location module is operable to receive location notifications from individual mobile devices operable to determine location using a location unit incorporated in the mobile device.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the location module is connected to one or more transceiver devices, the transceiver devices operable to output a location indication when connected to a specified mobile device.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the location module is operable to additionally track unknown devices that are detected within the facility and hence infer the presence of one or more additional persons in the facility.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the location module receives location notifications via a communication module.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the register module is operable to look up the identity of specified mobile devices in a database providing an indication of the identity of one or more persons associated with said mobile device.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the database is updated with details of mobile devices and/or associated persons via the interface.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the register module outputs the presence list to a building control module, which compares the presence list to imported data from existing building management or information systems and generates a report on this comparison.

9. A system as claimed by claim 8 wherein the report is output on demand by the interface module.

10. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the report contains information on potential cost or energy savings.

11. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the building control module provides automated control of one or more building management or information systems in response to the presence list.

12. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein a building management or information system is any one or a combination of:

a heating system;

a lighting system;

a water system;

an air conditioning system;

a lift system;

or a CCTV system.

13. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interface outputs the presence list to a local terminal within the facility.

14. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interface is operable to transmit or publish the presence list to one or more other devices or locations.

15. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a safe evacuation zone for the facility is defined by a geofence.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the location module is operable to receive notifications when devices cross the evacuation zone geofence and to compare the facility presence list at the time of the alarm with the evacuation zone presence list.

17. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the facility is any one of:

a building (or set of buildings) of multiple presence;

an apartment block;

a hotel or hostel;

an office or factory;

a mixed workspace and leisure space such as a catering environment, retail environment, museum, gallery or entertainment environment;

or a means of transport such as a bus, coach, train, airplane or ship.

18. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mobile devices are smartphones or tablet computers associated with regular occupants or visitors to the facility.

19. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system further comprises an authentication module operable to authenticate devices determined to be within the facility to access one or more additional devices or services.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein particular locks and/or alarms activated or deactivated in response to the authentication module.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the locks and/or alarms enable access to specified areas or locations within the facility for authenticated users.

22. A system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the locks/alarms comprise a communication unit operable to communicate with the authentication module;

a controller unit operable in response to the communication unit to control the activation/deactivation of the lock or alarm.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the lock or alarm additionally comprises a key input means operable to receive a key for activation/deactivation of the lock or alarm, the key input means being connected to the controller unit.

24. A mobile device adapted to provide location notifications to an presence monitoring system according to the present invention, said device comprising a location unit operable to monitor the device location with respect to the geofence and output an indication thereof and a communication unit operable to transmit location notifications to an external location module when the mobile device crosses a geofence defining the facility.

25. A mobile device as claimed in claim 24 wherein the mobile device is a smartphone or tablet computer associated with regular occupants or visitors to the facility.

26. A mobile device as claimed in claim 24 wherein the location unit is adapted to transmit location notifications to the location module by a downloadable application.

27. A method of monitoring the presence of a facility comprising the steps of:

associating specified mobile devices with potential occupants of the facility;

determining whether said specified mobile devices are located within a geofence defining said facility and generating an up to date presence list for the facility based on the identity of monitored devices within the geofence.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27 including the step of outputting the presence list for review by a building manager, receptionist, concierge or the like.

29. A method as claimed in claim 27 including transmitting or publishing the presence list to one or more devices or remote locations for review by outside agencies.

30. A method as claimed in claim 27 including defining a safe evacuation zone for the facility by a geofence, receiving notifications when devices cross the evacuation zone geofence;

comparing the facility presence list at the time of an evacuation alarm with the evacuation zone presence list to generate an up to date list of potentially missing occupants.

31. A method as claimed claim 27 wherein the facility is any one of:

a building (or set of buildings) of multiple presence;

an apartment block;

a hotel or hostel;

an office or factory;

a mixed workspace and leisure space such as a catering environment, retail environment, museum, gallery or entertainment environment;

or a means of transport such as a bus, coach, train, airplane or ship.

32. A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the mobile device is a smartphone associated with regular occupants or visitors to the facility.

33. A method of enabling activation or deactivation of a lock or alarm, the method comprising the steps of:

associating specified mobile devices with potential users of a facility;

determining whether said specified mobile devices are located within a geofence defining said facility; and

communicating an activation/deactivation signal to said lock or alarm.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the step of determining whether said specified mobile devices are located within a geofence defining said facility is carried out by a system and the authentication signal is communicated by the authentication module.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34 wherein the lock or alarm requires a key for activation or deactivation in addition to or in place of the communication with the activation module.

36. A lock or alarm suitable for use in the method of claim 33, the lock or alarm comprising:

a communication unit for communicating with an external authentication module; and

a controller unit operable in response to the authentication module to activate or deactivate the lock or alarm.

37. A lock or alarm as claimed in claim 36 wherein the lock additionally comprises a key input means operable to receive a key for activation/deactivation of the lock or alarm, the key input means being connected to the controller unit.

38. A lock or alarm as claimed in claim 37 wherein the key comprises:

a code; and

the code is received via the communication means or is input via a user interface provided as the key input means.

39. A lock or alarm as claimed in claim 37 wherein the key comprises a physical device and the key input means comprises a corresponding mechanism or key reader.

40. A storage unit whereby access to the storage unit is controlled by a lock or alarm according to claim 36.