Navigation system and method

• US 8,792,911 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2009
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Atleos Corp.
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Sanches, Ricardo F., Macmillan, Peter, Flett, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US12/493,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20100331014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-457, 701/433, 701/532, 340/12.25, 340/988
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation

Abstract

A navigation system and method which provides direction to visitors in buildings or groups of buildings. The system includes a check-in computer for recording identification information and destination information of a person upon entry into a building, for interrogating a wireless communicator associated with the person to obtain a wireless identifier, and for storing the identification information, the destination information, and the wireless identifier in a record. The system further includes a plurality of navigation stations for receiving the wireless identifier along a route of the person, for determining directions to a next navigation station along the route based upon the destination information in the record, and for providing the directions to the person.

Claims

1. A navigation method comprising:

associating a wireless identifier of a wireless communicator with a person upon entry into a complex including a building or group of buildings, the person having a destination somewhere in the complex, including creating a record associated with the person at a host computer by a check-in computer at a start point of the complex, the record containing a destination of the person and the wireless identifier carried by the person;

storing identification information for the person in the record by the check-in computer;

assigning a differentiator to the person by the check-in computer;

receiving the wireless identifier by a first navigation station located on a route of the person, the route starting at the start point;

determining directions to a second navigation station located on the route by the first navigation station, including using the wireless identifier to identify the record at the host computer, to obtain the destination from the record, and to determine the directions from the first navigation station to the second navigation station based upon the destination; and

providing the directions to the person by the first navigation station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communicator comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising dispensing the radio frequency identification tag to the person by the check-in computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communicator comprises a cellular telephone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step comprises providing the differentiator with the directions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the differentiator comprises a unique color.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing authorizations to proceed into restricted areas in the record by the check-in computer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step comprises providing aural directions to the person.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step comprises providing graphic directions to the person.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step comprises providing a combination of aural and graphic directions to the person.

11. A navigation method comprising:

recording identification information and destination information of a person upon entry into a building by a check-in computer at an entry point in the building, the person having a destination somewhere in the building;

assigning a differentiator to the person by the check-in computer;

dispensing a wireless communicator having a wireless identifier to the person by the check-in computer;

interrogating the wireless communicator to obtain the wireless identifier by the check-in computer;

creating a record associated with the person at a host computer by the check-in computer, the record containing the identification information, the destination information, and the wireless identifier carried by the person;

receiving the wireless identifier by a first navigation station located on a route of the person, the route starting at the check-in computer;

determining directions to a second navigation station located on the route, including using the wireless identifier to identify the record at the host computer, to obtain the destination information from the record, and to determine the directions from the first navigation station to the second navigation station based upon the destination information in the record by the first navigation station; and

displaying the directions to the person by the first navigation station.

12. A navigation system comprising:

a check-in computer at an entry point in a building for recording identification information and destination information of a person upon entry into the building, the person having a destination somewhere in the building, for interrogating a wireless communicator associated with the person to obtain a wireless identifier, for assigning a differentiator to the person by the check-in computer, and for creating a record associated with the person at a host computer, the record containing the identification information, the destination information, and the wireless identifier carried by the person; and

a navigation station located on a route of the person for receiving the wireless identifier, the route starting at the check-in computer, for determining directions to a next navigation station located on the route based upon the destination information in the record, and for providing the directions to the person;

wherein the navigation station uses the wireless identifier to identify the record at the host computer, to obtain the destination information from the record, and to determine the directions from the first navigation station to the second navigation station.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the check-in computer comprises a kiosk.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the navigation station comprises a kiosk.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless communicator comprises a cellular telephone.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless communicator comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the navigation station comprises a display for displaying the directions.