SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PERSONALIZED NAVIGATION INSIDE A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE

• US 20180164103A1
• Filed: 12/12/2017
• Published: 06/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Position Imaging, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Position Imaging, Inc.
• Inventors: Hill, Edward L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,634,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0295 Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings

Abstract

Systems and methods for navigating a person through a business enterprise identify the person based on information carried by radio-frequency (RF) signals received from an RF-transmitting device carried by the person, capture images of the identified person, determine from the captured images a current location of the person within the business enterprise, and optically track the current location of the person as the person moves within the business enterprise.

Claims

1. A system for tracking movement of a person through a business enterprise, the system comprising:

at least one radio-frequency (RF) receiver disposed near an entrance to the business enterprise, receiving RF signals from an RF-transmitting device carried by the person;

a controller in communication with the at least one RF-frequency receiver to receive therefrom information carried by the RF signals, the controller being configured to identify the person based on the information carried by the RF signals and to determine an initial location of the person based on a location of the RF receiver that receives the RF signals; and

at least one optical device configured to capture images of the person identified by the controller and to send the captured images to the controller, the controller determining from the captured images a current location of the person and using the determined current location to track a relative position of the person within the enterprise as the person moves through the business enterprise.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an RF transmitter in communication with the controller to receive therefrom the determined current location, the RF transmitter being configured to transmit the determined current location of the person within the business enterprise to the RF-transmitting device carried by the person.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the information carried by the RF signals includes a shopping list, and the controller identifies where items on the shopping list are in the business enterprise.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller produces a route through the business enterprise based on the items on the shopping list, and sends the route to the RF-transmitting device.

5. A method for tracking and directing a person through a business enterprise, the method comprising:

receiving radio-frequency (RF) signals received from an RF-transmitting device carried by the person;

identifying the person based on information in the RF signals;

capturing images of the identified person;

determining from the captured images a current location of the person within the business enterprise; and

optically tracking the current location of the person within the business enterprise as the person moves.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting radio signals carrying the current location to the RF-transmitting device carried by the person.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein information carried by the RF signals includes a shopping list;

and further comprising determining locations of items on the shopping list within the business enterprise.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining a route through the business enterprise based on the items on the shopping list; and

transmitting the route to the RF-transmitting device for display on a screen of the RF-transmitting device.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein optically tracking the current location of the person includes comparing the captured images to determine movement of the person between successive ones of the captures images.

10. A navigation and tracking system for installation at a business enterprise, the system comprising:

a radio-frequency (RF) node having an RF receiver antenna and configured to receive first RF signals from a mobile device, the RF node being disposed proximate an entrance to the business enterprise;

a plurality of video cameras disposed within the business enterprise and configured to collect images; and

a controller coupled to the RF node and to the plurality of video cameras, the controller being configured to receive the first RF signals from the RF node, to determine an identity of a person associated with the mobile device based on information carried in the first RF signals, to receive and analyze the images from the plurality of video cameras, to detect a human in at least one of the images, and to match the human with the person associated with the mobile device.

11. The navigation and tracking system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to track the person through the business enterprise based on detecting the person in the images received from at least some of the plurality of video cameras over time.

12. The navigation and tracking system of claim 10, further comprising a database coupled to the controller.

13. The navigation and tracking system of claim 10, where in the controller is further configured to merge the images received from at least some of the plurality of video cameras into a map of the business enterprise.

14. The navigation and tracking system of claim 13, wherein the information carried in the first RF signals includes a shopping list identifying a plurality of items of interest.

15. The navigation and tracking system of claim 10 wherein the RF node is further configured to send second RF signals to the wireless device, the second RF signals containing information specifying locations of the items of interest within the business enterprise.