Communication system and method

• US 9,820,107 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2016
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: High, Donald R., McHale, Brian Gerard, Atchley, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US15/211,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20170019770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561, 455457, 455412, 455403, 4554141, 705 715, 348159
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• 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 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

A communication system comprises a mobile reporting device and a server. The mobile reporting device comprises a signal receiver configured to receive data usable to determine the location of the reporting device; a communication module configured to transmit data to and receive data from a server, the data including location data from the location determiner; a display including a user interface. The server comprises a database with a location module configured to store a default room location for a plurality of personnel; a server communication module configured to transmit data to and receive data from the reporting device; an information module configured to provide information on the personnel; a controller configured to determine, based on the location data, which personnel default locations are within a predetermined distance of the reporting device, to control the server communication module to transmit to the reporting device information from the information module regarding the personnel associated with the default locations within the predetermined distance for display on the user interface.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a mobile reporting device and a server;

the mobile reporting device comprising;

a signal receiver configured to receive data usable to determine the location of the reporting device;

a communication module configured to transmit data to and receive data from a server, the data including location data from the location determiner; and

a display including a user interface;

the server comprising;

a database with a location module configured to store a default room location for a plurality of personnel;

a server communication module configured to transmit data to and receive data from the reporting device;

an information module configured to provide information on the personnel, wherein the information includes comparative information regarding a change of the information over a period of time; and

a controller configured to determine, based on the location data, which personnel default locations are within a predetermined distance of the reporting device, to control the server communication module to transmit to the reporting device information from the information module regarding the personnel associated with the default locations within the predetermined distance for display on the user interface, wherein the server is configured to store mapping information including a 2D or 3D map indicating or rendering where the located person is located relative to the current location of the reporting device.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the information is selected from one or more of:

how to say name of personnel in written form and/or as an audio message;

image of personnel;

personal interests of personnel;

assignments of personnel;

personnel performance statistics;

area performance statistics relevant to personnel;

achievements of personnel; and

goals of personnel.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is selected from one of 10 meters, 5 meters, or 3 meters.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the server includes a map module configured to store the mapping information of a locality including a rendering of the current location, and wherein the server is configured to provide as the information-a map indicating where the located person is located relative to the current location of the reporting device.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the mobile reporting device is a lap top computer, a PDA, a tablet, a mobile phone, a smart watch, or smart glasses.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the mobile reporting device is configured to display an image of any personnel within the predetermined distance and whereby an individual image can be selected by a user to view the information associated with the specified person.

7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the location signal receiver comprises a sensor configured to receive a light signal and to process the light signal to determine a modulation of the light signal and to transmit to the server light signal modulation data.

8. The communication system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of modulated light emitters, wherein each emitter has a different modulation from the others and the server database is configured whereby the location of the reporting device is determined from the modulated light signals.

9. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes the option for the reporting device not to receive certain data types as selected by a user.

10. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the comparative information shows the change of the information over the period of time, where relevant.

12. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is adjusted dynamically over time according to the distance to the nearest communication device, or to maintain the number of communication devices below a predetermined threshold.

11. A communication system comprising:

a mobile reporting device, a mobile communication device and a server;

the mobile reporting device comprising;

a first location signal receiver configured to receive data usable to determine the location of the reporting device;

a first communication module configured to transmit data to and receive data from a server, the data including location data from the first location signal receiver;

a display including a user interface;

the mobile communication device comprising;

a second location signal receiver configured to receive data usable to determine the location of the mobile communication device;

a second communication module configured to transmit and receive data to the server, the data including location data from the second location signal receiver;

the server comprising;

a server communication module configured to transmit data to and receive data from the reporting device;

an information module configured to provide information on the personnel, wherein the information includes comparative information regarding a change of the information over a period of time;

a controller configured to determine, based on the location data, which mobile communication device locations are within a predetermined distance of the reporting device, to control the server communication module to transmit to the reporting device information from the information module regarding the personnel associated with the reporting devices within the predetermined distance, wherein the server is configured to store mapping information including a 2D or 3D map indicating or rendering where the located person is located relative to the current location of the reporting device.

13. The communication system according to claim 11, wherein the information is selected from one or more of:

how to say name of personnel in written form and/or as an audio message;

image of personnel;

personal interests of personnel;

assignments of personnel;

personnel performance statistics;

area performance statistics relevant to personnel;

achievements of personnel; and

goals of personnel.

14. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the server includes a map module configured to store the mapping information of a locality including a rendering of the current location, and wherein the server is configured to provide as the information-a map indicating where the located person is located relative to the current location of the reporting device.

15. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the mobile reporting device is a lap top computer, a PDA, a tablet, a mobile phone, a smart watch, or smart glasses.

16. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the mobile reporting device is configured to display an image of any personnel within the predetermined distance and whereby an individual image can be selected by a user to view the information associated with the specified person.

17. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the location signal receiver comprises a sensor configured to receive a light signal and to process the light signal to determine a modulation of the light signal and to transmit to the server light signal modulation data.

18. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the comparative information shows the change of the information over the period of time, where relevant.

19. A communication method for use with a communication system comprising:

a mobile reporting device and a server;

the method comprising;

the mobile reporting device receiving data usable to determine the location of the reporting device;

transmitting to and receiving data from a server, the data including location data from the location signal receiver;

storing in the server a default room location for a plurality of personnel;

transmitting data to and receiving data from the reporting device;

the server including an information module configured to provide information on the personnel, wherein the information includes comparative information regarding a change of the information over a period of time; and

determining, based on the location data, which personnel default locations are within a predetermined distance of the reporting device, to control the server to transmit to the reporting device information from the information module regarding the personnel associated with the default locations within the predetermined distance for display on the user interface, wherein the server is configured to store mapping information including a 2D or 3D map indicating or rendering where the located person is located relative to the current location of the reporting device.

20. A communication method for use with a communication system comprising:

a first mobile reporting device, a second mobile communication device and a server;

the method comprising the steps of;

the first mobile reporting device receiving data usable to determine the location of the first reporting device;

transmitting to and receiving data from a server, the data including location data from the first mobile reporting device;

determining the location of the first mobile communication device;

the second mobile reporting device receiving data usable to determine the location of the second reporting device;

transmitting to and receiving data from the server, the data including location data from the second reporting device;

providing information on the personnel, wherein the information includes comparative information regarding a change of the information over a period of time; and

determining by a controller configured to, based on the location data, which mobile communication device locations are within a predetermined distance of the reporting device, to control the server to transmit to the reporting device information from the information module regarding the personnel associated with the reporting devices within the predetermined distance, wherein the server is configured to store mapping information including a 2D or 3D map indicating or rendering where the located person is located relative to the current location of the reporting device.