Method and system for wayfinding at a venue

• US 8,798,643 B1
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NRT Technology Corp.
• Original Assignee: Joingo, LLC (NRT Technology Corp.)
• Inventors: Boyle, Stephen S., Greer, Russell S., Dao, Thang
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajayi, Joel
• Application Number:
  US14/145,798
• Time in Patent Office: 217 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4563
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/02 Indoor
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for wayfinding at a venue is disclosed herein. The system includes a mobile communication device and a venue. The mobile communication device includes an application for wayfinding at the venue and a plurality of sensors. The mobile communication device is configured to track a path of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location utilizing a plurality of sensors of the mobile communication device.

Claims

1. A method for wayfinding at a venue, the method comprising:

launching a mobile application on a mobile communication device within a venue, the mobile application for wayfinding at the venue;

utilizing a venue network to determine a first fixed geographical location of the mobile communication device at the venue;

tracking a path of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location utilizing a plurality of sensors of the mobile communication device, wherein the plurality of sensors of the mobile communication device comprises an accelerometer, a magnetometer and a gyroscope, wherein the accelerometer is configured to determine a movement of the mobile communication device and an orientation of the movement, wherein the magnetometer is configured to determine a true north heading of the mobile communication device, and wherein the gyroscope is configured to determine an orientation of the mobile communication device; and

utilizing a venue network to determine a second fixed geographical location of the mobile communication device at the venue;

wherein the mobile communication device is configured to calculate an error factor for the tracking the path of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device to the second fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device;

wherein each of a plurality of subsequent approximations of the location of the mobile communication device from the latest fixed geographical location is made using the plurality of sensors, the plurality of possible paths, and the error factor which improves accuracy of approximation over time.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising transmitting venue content to the mobile communication device based on the path of the mobile communication from the first fixed geographical location to the second fixed geographical location.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the venue is a casino resort and the venue content is an offer from a bank of slot machines along the path of the mobile communication device, the venue is a retail shopping mall and the venue content is an offer from a retail store along the path of the mobile communication device, or the venue is a retail mall and the venue content is an electronic gift card for purchases at the retail mall.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein utilizing a venue network to determine a first fixed geographical location comprises utilizing wireless access points within the venue for WiFi triangulation of the first fixed geographical location and utilizing a venue network to determine a second fixed geographical location comprises utilizing wireless access points within the venue for WiFi triangulation of the second fixed geographical location.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising guiding an end-user through the venue from the first fixed geographical location to the second fixed geographical location.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing an accelerometer of the mobile communication device to adjust a location of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location;

requesting a supplemental first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device; and

calculating an error factor for the tracking the path of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device to the supplemental first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device, wherein the error factor is utilized for the tracking the path of the mobile communication device.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

requesting a supplemental first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device within a meter of the first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device; and

calculating an error factor for the tracking the path of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device to the supplemental first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device, wherein the error factor is utilized for the tracking the path of the mobile communication device.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein further comprising transmitting a request from the application to a venue server to transmit a venue content based on based on the path of the mobile communication from the first fixed geographical location to the second fixed geographical location.

9. A system for wayfinding at a venue, the system comprising:

a mobile communication device comprising an application for wayfinding at the venue and a plurality of sensors, wherein the application comprises a map of the venue, wherein the plurality of sensors of the mobile communication device comprises an accelerometer, a magnetometer and a gyroscope, wherein the accelerometer is configured to determine a movement of the mobile communication device and an orientation of the movement, wherein the magnetometer is configured to determine a true north heading of the mobile communication device, and wherein the gyroscope is configured to determine an orientation of the mobile communication device; and

a venue comprising a venue network with a plurality of wireless access points;

wherein the mobile communication device is configured to utilize the venue network to determine a first fixed geographical location of the mobile communication device at the venue;

wherein the mobile communication device is configured to track a path of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location utilizing a plurality of sensors of the mobile communication device;

wherein the application illustrates the path of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location;

wherein the mobile communication device is configured to utilize a venue network to determine a second fixed geographical location of the mobile communication device at the venue;

wherein the mobile communication device is configured to request a supplemental first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device within a meter of the first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device, and the mobile communication device is configured to calculate an error factor for the tracking the path of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device to the supplemental first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device, wherein the error factor is utilized for the tracking the path of the mobile communication device to improve the accuracy of the tracking over time.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the venue network further comprises a venue server comprising a HTTP proxy.

11. The system according to claim 9 further comprising a remote server in communication with the venue network over a communications network.

12. The system according to claim 9 wherein the application is configured to transmit to a venue server to transmit a venue content based on based on the path of the mobile communication from the first fixed geographical location to the second fixed geographical location.

13. The system according to claim 9 wherein the mobile communication device is configured to suspend request transmissions from the mobile communication device while an accelerometer sensor of the mobile communication device indicates a lack of movement.

14. A system for wayfinding at a venue utilizing a mobile communication device, the system comprising:

a mobile communication device comprising an application for wayfinding at the venue, a plurality of sensors and a battery, wherein the application comprises a map of the venue, wherein the plurality of sensors of the mobile communication device comprises an accelerometer, a magnetometer and a gyroscope, wherein the accelerometer is configured to determine a movement of the mobile communication device and an orientation of the movement, wherein the magnetometer is configured to determine a true north heading of the mobile communication device, and wherein the gyroscope is configured to determine an orientation of the mobile communication device; and

a venue comprising a venue network with a plurality of wireless access points;

wherein the mobile communication device is configured to utilize the venue network to determine a first fixed geographical location of the mobile communication device at the venue;

wherein the application illustrates the path of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location;

wherein the mobile communication device is configured to receive an input on the application for a second fixed geographical location within the venue; and

wherein the mobile communication device is configured to guide an end user of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location to the second fixed geographical location in the venue utilizing a plurality of sensors of the mobile communication device;

wherein the mobile communication device is configured to request a supplemental first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device within a meter of the first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device, and the mobile communication device is configured to calculate an error factor for the tracking the path of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device to the supplemental first fixed geographical location for the mobile communication device, wherein the error factor is utilized for the tracking the path of the mobile communication device to improve the accuracy of the tracking over time.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the guidance is a plurality of tactile signals.

16. The system according to claim 14 wherein the mobile communication device is configured to receive a term associated with the second fixed geographical location to activate guidance from the first fixed geographical location to the second fixed geographical location in the venue.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein:

the venue is a retail mall and term is a name of a store;

the venue is a casino resort and the term is a card game;

the venue is a hospital and the term is a medical department;

the venue is an airport and the term is a gate number;

the venue is an amusement park and the term is a ride;

the venue is a convention center and the term is a conference room;

the venue is a hotel and the term is a recreational facility;

the venue is a municipality and the term is a government office; and

the venue is a school and the term is a library.