People counting system for facility-wide reporting

• US 7,134,595 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2004
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Fallin, David B., Tribbey, Scott A., Clark, John Jay, Cossette, Joseph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haupt, Kristy A.
• Application Number:
  US10/828,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20040238628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/384, 340/5.2
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration

Abstract

A people counting system including: a first people counting data collection unit configured to store a first set of people count data; and a second people counting data collection unit configured to store a second set of people count data. The first people counting data collection unit is configured for bi-directional communication with the second people counting data collection unit to facilitate access of people count data from either collection unit. A method monitoring a count of people traversing at least first and second passageways is also provided.

Claims

1. A method monitoring a count of people traversing at least first and second passageways, said method comprising:

providing a first people counting data collection unit configured to store a first set of people count data representative of people traversing said first passageway;

providing a second people counting data collection unit configured to store a second set of people count data representative of people traversing said second passageway,

establishing bi-directional communication between said first people counting data collection unit and said second people counting data collection unit, whereby said first set of people count data is accessible by said second people count data collection unit and said second set of people count data is accessible by said first people count data collection unit; and

analyzing said second set of people count data and said first set of people count data using one of said first people counting data collection unit and said second people counting data collection unit.

2. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising advertising presence of said first people counting data collection unit to said second people counting data collection unit.

3. The method of claim 2, said method further comprising advertising presence of said second people counting data collection unit to said first people counting data collection unit.

4. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising periodically advertising presence of said first people counting data collection unit to said second people counting data collection unit.

5. A machine readable medium whose contents cause a first people counting data collection unit to perform a method of communicating with at least a second people counting data collection unit, said method comprising:

advertising a presence of said first people counting data collection unit to at least said second people counting data collection unit;

receiving a second set of people count data from said second people counting data collection unit; and

analyzing said second set of people count data and a first set of people count data from said first people counting data collection unit.

6. The machine readable medium of claim 5, wherein said advertising is performed periodically.

7. The machine readable medium of claim 5, wherein said method further comprises:

providing an output signal in response to said analyzing step.

8. The machine readable medium of claim 7, wherein said method further comprises:

displaying said second set of people count data and said first set of people count data.

9. A people counting data collection unit comprising a processor, a display screen displaying people counting data and a machine readable medium having contents that cause said people counting data collection unit to perform a method of communicating with at least a second people counting data collection unit, said method comprising:

advertising a presence of said first people counting data collection unit to at least said second people counting data collection unit;

receiving a second set of people count data from said second people counting data collection unit; and

analyzing said second set of people count data and a first set of people count data from said first people counting data collection unit.

10. A people counting data collection unit comprising a processor and a machine readable medium having contents that cause said people counting data collection unit to perform a method of communicating with at least a second people counting data collection unit, said method comprising:

advertising a presence of said first people counting data collection unit to at least said second people counting data collection unit;

receiving a second set of people count data from said second people counting data collection unit; and

analyzing said second set of people count data and a first set of people count data from said first people counting data collection unit.

11. The people counting data collection unit of claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

providing an output signal in response to said analyzing step.

12. The people counting data collection unit of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

displaying said second set of people count data and said first set of people count data on a display screen.