Method and system for tracking and analyzing data obtained using a light based positioning system

• US 8,947,513 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2012
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Byelight Incorporated
• Inventors: Ganick, Aaron, Ryan, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALLEN C
• Application Number:
  US13/446,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20130029682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 348/61, 701/208, 701/201, 705/14, 455/456.1, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/745 Detection of flicker frequency or suppression of flicker wherein the flicker is caused by illumination, e.g. due to fluorescent tube illumination or pulsed LED illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices

Abstract

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for tracking and analyzing information in a location using a light based positioning system. In some embodiments, the method includes determining a position of a device in a location using a light based positioning system, electronically receiving data from the device, and updating a database with said data. In some embodiments, determining the position of the device includes receiving a position determination from the device. In some embodiments, determining the position of the device includes electronically receiving from the device one or more identification codes of one or more light sources that the device has detected using an image sensor on the device and calculating the position of the device using the one or more identification codes.

Claims

1. A method for tracking and analyzing information in a location using a light based positioning system, the method comprising:

determining a position of a mobile device in a location using a light based positioning system, wherein the determining comprises;

acquiring at least one identifier with the mobile device, each said at least one identifier corresponding to a different pattern of distortions within an image acquired by the mobile device, each pattern of distortions being related to a modulation frequency of modulated light emitted by an asynchronous light source;

electronically receiving from the mobile device at least one said identifier, each said identifier being associated with a different asynchronous light source; and

calculating the position of the mobile device using the at least one identifier;

subsequent to determining the position of the mobile device, electronically receiving, at a remote server, data describing the location from the mobile device, wherein the data describing the location is distinct from the position of the mobile device; and

updating a database to store the data describing the location, the data being correlated to the position of the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the position of the mobile device further comprises using a map of the location, wherein the map comprises positions of one or more light sources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data describing the location is collected through a wireless connection to the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data describing the location comprises building changes related to the location, updates, or inaccurate information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location comprises a museum.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data describing the location comprises a classification of an exhibit or an inaccuracy in a display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location comprises a retail location and the mobile device is associated with a customer in the retail location.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data describing the location comprises how the customer moves through the retail location and a duration the customer spends in a particular section of the retail location.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the data describing the location is used to improve retail location layout and display of merchandise.

10. The method of claim 7, comprising providing content to the customer related to the position of the mobile device in the retail location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the content comprises information about a product, a link to a web site related to the product, or a link to a web site to purchase an out of stock item.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the location comprises a warehouse.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising directing a person to a particular item in the warehouse using the light based positioning system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein directing comprises providing visual aids and directions.

15. The method of claim 12, comprising updating an inventory database when an item is added or removed from the warehouse.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device acquires different portions of the image at different times, thereby forming each pattern of distortions on the image.

17. A system for tracking and analyzing information in a light based positioning system, the system comprising:

a receiver for receiving data describing the location from a mobile device, wherein the data describing the location is distinct from a position of the mobile device;

in electronic communication with the receiver, a database for storing the data describing the location received from the mobile device, wherein records of the database store the data describing the location correlated to the position of the mobile device; and

a position determination module for determining the position of the mobile device using a light based positioning system, wherein the position determination module is configured to;

electronically receive from the mobile device at least one identifier, each said at least one identifier being associated with a different asynchronous light source; and

calculate the position of the mobile device using the at least one identifier,

wherein each said at least one identifier corresponds to a different pattern of distortions within an image acquired by the mobile device, each pattern of distortions being related to a modulation frequency of modulated light emitted by an asynchronous light source.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data describing the location comprises building changes related to the location, updates, or inaccurate information.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the location comprises a museum.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the location-based data comprises a classification of an exhibit or an inaccuracy in a display.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the location comprises a retail location and the mobile device is associated with a customer in the retail location.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the data describing the location comprises how the customer moves through the retail location and a duration the customer spends in particular section of the retail location.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the data describing the location is used to improve retail location layout and displays of merchandise.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the location comprises a warehouse.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein each pattern of distortions on the image results from the mobile device acquiring different portions of the image at different times.