System and method for automatically generating and updating real time navigation waypoint

• US 8,896,485 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gamba Group Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Gamba Group Ltd
• Inventors: Mendelson, Ehud
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US11/472,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,078 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.06, 342/357.13, 342/452, 342463-465, 342/357.21, 342/357.71, 342/357.25, 342/457, 701211-213, 701/467, 701/468, 701/410, 701/412, 340/988, 340/995.1, 455/456.6, 455/457
• US Class Current: 342/463
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/02 Indoor
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/20 Destination assistance within a business structure or complex
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings

Abstract

Method and system to guide people around urban environments indoor and outdoor, provide real time accurate update of way points information to the user navigation system and or to his cellular phone via FM-RDS according to the user location, The information will display on the existing cellular phone or Bluetooth device and interface to existing GPS navigation system.

Claims

1. A method of navigation for use in indoor and outdoor on a display device, the display device being selected from a group of display devices comprising a mobile phone, a hand held navigation system, a vehicle navigation system and a Bluetooth enabled device, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a beacon signal directly from at least one proximity installed RF beacon in the local area, wherein said beacon signal is at least one of a Wi-Fi signal and a Bluetooth signal;

utilizing the received signal to determine a location of the display device;

determining waypoints that are located in a proximity of the display device;

transmitting waypoint content information associated with the proximate waypoints to the display device, wherein the content information includes at least one of a merchant location, a type of merchant, merchant business hours, a coupon, a deal, and an advertisement;

generating automatic navigating between waypoints according to a user location; and

displaying location information in a floating circular omni directional overlay navigation map on the display device.

2. The method of navigation according to claim 1, wherein said RF beacons are installed at a known location, wherein said known location is associated with a waypoint.

3. The method of navigation according to claim 1 wherein said RF beacons are one of a Bluetooth device or a Wi-Fi device.

4. The method of navigation according to claim 1, further comprising a step of displaying said information over one of a facility map, area map, GPS mapping or floor plan on the user mobile phone device or the display device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information is associated with local waypoints in a current indoor or outdoor area to assist GPS or Cellular location identification, providing pinpoint accuracy of the way point.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of determining a current position of a user employing at least one of triangulation based calculations and proximity based calculations utilizing known positions of said wireless RF Wi-Fi or Bluetooth beacons installed at known positions in the facility area or building designated as Infrastructure for indoor local business services (LBS) and indoor navigation.

7. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises allowing displaying content information or advertising of waypoint, wherein said content information includes at least one of:

associated hours of operation, deals, coupons, and local advertisements.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of providing said display device with application software enabling a display at least one of area maps and facility floor plans.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of:

utilizing at least one of a group of floor layer identifying processes to identify a floor location of said display device, wherein said group of floor layer identifying processes includes;

utilizing unique RF beacon identifiers, wherein each unique RF beacon identifier is associated with a location of each RF beacon of said plurality of beacons to determine a precise floor location;

utilizing a signal strength of said RF beacons to determine said precise location of said display device on a floor;

utilizing triangulation of a plurality of identified RF beacon locations proximate said display device to determine said precise floor location; and

displaying said precise floor location on a floor layer number.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of displaying a current position of said display device upon a map comprising a floor location and a floor layer number of a multi-floor structure.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of providing infrastructure for indoor or outdoor navigation in an area comprising at least one of:

a mall, a store, a department store, a specialty store, a conference, a trade show, an amusement park, a university, a hospital, a school, a municipal building, a museum, a subway, a train station, an airport, a hotel, a resort, a financial institution, a cruise ship, a down town center, a parking facility, and any location where GPS cannot determine an accurate location of said display device.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of the following steps:

determining available parking spaces in a vicinity of said display device and providing navigation to a user by displaying available parking spaces on said display device, wherein each parking space is associated with at least one RF beacon, and

identifying a location of a parked car associated with said display device and providing navigation to return said user to said location of said parked car through a display on said display device.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising steps of:

providing navigation to said display device inside at least one of a store and a department store to at least one of a specific department, an aisle, and a specific product, and

conveying at least one of advertising, a discounted item, and a special promotion to said display device.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of navigating to a location containing one of a sale item and a coupon related item in at least one of a store and a department store.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of providing indoor navigation in the museum, the show, or conference exhibition, directly to the display device, utilizing the RF Wi-Fi or Bluetooth beacons the display device can receive additional information and at least one of audio and video eliminating a need of a rental headset.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of providing pinpoint navigation for real estate property currently listed for at least one of sale, lease, and rent and navigation to a user according to the display device location as an add-on to a GPS navigation, identification of said RF beacon identifier initiates delivery of additional content associated with the real estate directly to the display device.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of providing exhibit and attractions waypoints in an outdoor and indoor environment of facilities located within the amusement park and interactive information from exhibits within said amusement park to the display device, said navigation presents exhibit information in conjunction with waypoint locations on a map of the amusement park, wherein said information includes at least one of a schedule of a show, availability of said show, a classification of said waypoint, wherein said classification includes at least one of a restroom, a food area and a capability of providing an accelerated ride access function thus reducing time waiting in an access line.

18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising steps of providing guidance in an emergency situation including navigation, alarming, and notification to an emergency exit route,

determining and presenting updated navigation information directing a user to safely exit an associated structure, wherein said emergency exit route is determined using an emergency exit floor plan and a location of said display device, wherein said location of said display device is determined and updated utilizing information associated with said RF beacons, wherein at least a portion of said RF beacons are located along said emergency exit route.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of providing said display device with an exact location of said display device when said display device is located in a train, a bus or within a subway station on a route, wherein said exact location of said display device is determined using deployed RF beacons and said exact location of said display device is shown on an associated route map displayed on said display device, wherein said associated route map further presents additional information, wherein said additional information includes at least one of a schedule, a restroom, a food location, and an emergency exit route.

20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising steps of:

generating waypoints of road signs, wherein each road sign is associated with a respective RF beacon and

displaying said road signs on an associated map on the display device providing assistance to a user for secure driving,

wherein the information can interface with a car computer directing said car computer to automatically slow down when enter school zone.

21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of:

installing a series of at least one of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth beacons in at least one of an area and a building in a known location;

providing a triggering mechanism and proximity locating engine as infrastructure for at least one of indoor navigation and local business service (LBS) applications,

designating a way point for each business, wherein each business provides a payment designate for displaying said waypoint information associated with said business, wherein said waypoint pinpoints an exact location and additional information associated with said business on said display device;

initiating at least one of an action and an event upon receipt of an associated RF beacon identifier, wherein said at least one of an action and an event is associated with said waypoint, wherein said waypoint is determined based upon an RF beacon identifier located proximate said display device;

conveying at least one of additional information and advertisements associated with said business to said display device when said RF beacon determines that said display device is at a location proximate said business.

22. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of:

initiating a local business services (LBS) application upon receipt of an associated RF beacon identifier, wherein said local business services (LBS) application presents at least one of a deal, a coupon, and an advertisement associated with said waypoint on said display device, wherein said waypoint is determined based upon an RF beacon identifier located proximate said display device.

23. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of:

initiating a response from an outside information provider, wherein said response is initiated by receipt of a communication from said display device, wherein said communication includes at least one of said display device location, an RF beacon identifier, and a display device identity.

24. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of:

determining a location of one of a train or a bus utilizing a series of RF beacons deployed along a route of said one of said train or bus; and

providing said display device with an exact location of said one of said train or bus along said route, wherein said exact location of said display device is shown on an associated route map displayed on said display device.