Location-based warning notification using wireless devices

• US 9,721,451 B1
• Filed: 12/07/2016
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
• Inventors: Knas, Michal, John, Jiby
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US15/372,027
• Time in Patent Office: 237 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system for generating warning notifications using wireless indoor navigation technology is disclosed. The method comprises determining a location for an individual and a transportation device by receiving device identifiers (e.g., distinctive combination of numbers and/or characters uniquely identifying receiving devices associated with the individual and the transportation device) and location information, received from one or more beacons, from the receiving devices. The method comprises determining a location associated with the individual and the transportation device based on the location information and/or the device identifiers. The method also comprises receiving a destination location and determining an intended path for the transportation device. The method comprises warning the individual upon determining that the location associated with the individual is within a predetermined proximity to the transportation device or its intended path.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a server, a first device identifier and first location information from a first receiving device, the first location information being associated with a first location of the first receiving device received from a plurality of beacons, wherein the first device identifier comprises a distinctive combination of at least one of numbers and characters uniquely identifying the first receiving device;

determining, by the server, a location associated with the first receiving device based at least on one of the first location information and the first device identifier;

receiving, by the server, a destination location from the first receiving device;

determining, by the server, a path associated with the first receiving device, wherein the path corresponds to the location associated with the first receiving device and the destination location;

receiving, by a server, a second device identifier and second location information from a second receiving device, the second location information being associated with a second location of the second receiving device received from a plurality of beacons, wherein the second device identifier comprises a distinctive combination of at least one of numbers and characters uniquely identifying the second receiving device;

determining, by the server, a location associated with the second receiving device based at least on one of the second location information and the second device identifier;

determining, by the server, whether the location associated with the second receiving device is within a predefined zone relative to the location of the first receiving device;

determining, by the server, whether the path associated with the first receiving device is within a predefined zone relative to the location of the second receiving device;

upon the location associated with the second receiving device being within at least one of the predefined zone relative to the location of the first receiving device and the path associated with the first receiving device, generating, by the server, a notification comprising a warning message; and

transmitting, by the server, the notification to the second receiving device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first receiving device is associated with a transportation device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second receiving device is associated with an individual.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises at least one of an auditory notification and a text notification.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is configured to display the location associated with the first receiving device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is transmitted, by the server to both the first and the second receiving devices.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predefined zone is received form the second receiving device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the predefined zone is received form the first receiving device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the path associated with the first receiving device is queried from a database associated with the first receiving device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification further comprises at least one of identification associated with the first receiving device and the path associated with the first receiving device.

11. A computer system comprising:

a first receiving device;

a second receiving device;

a plurality of beacons; and

a server configured to;

receive a first device identifier and first location information from the first receiving device, the first location information being associated with a first location of the first receiving device received from a plurality of beacons, wherein the first device identifier comprises a distinctive combination of at least one of numbers and characters uniquely identifying the first receiving device;

determine a location associated with the first receiving device based at least on one of the first location information and the first device identifier;

receive a destination location from the first receiving device;

determine a path associated with the first receiving device, wherein the path corresponds to the location associated with the first receiving device and the destination location;

receive a second device identifier and second location information from the second receiving device, the second location information being associated with a second location of the second receiving device received from the plurality of beacons, wherein the second device identifier comprises a distinctive combination of at least one of numbers and characters uniquely identifying the second receiving device;

determine a location associated with the second receiving device based at least on one of the second location information and the second device identifier;

determine whether the location associated with the second receiving device is within a predefined zone relative to the location of the first receiving device;

determine whether the path associated with the first receiving device is within a predefined zone relative to the location of the second receiving device;

upon the location associated with the second receiving device being within at least one of the predefined zone relative to the location of the first receiving device and the path associated with the first receiving device, generate a notification comprising a warning message; and

transmit the notification to the second receiving device.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the first receiving device is associated with a transportation device.

13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the second receiving device is associated with an individual.

14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the notification comprises at least one of a auditory notification and a text notification.

15. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the notification is configured to display the location associated with the first receiving device.

16. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the notification is transmitted, by the server to both the first and the second receiving devices.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the predefined zone is received form the second receiving device.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the predefined zone is received form the first receiving device.

19. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the server is further configured to:

query the path associated with the first receiving device from a database associated with the first receiving device.

20. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the notification further comprises at least one of identification associated with the first receiving device and the path associated with the first receiving device.