Methods and systems for beacon-based management of shared resources

• US 9,877,266 B1
• Filed: 12/07/2016
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2015
• 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): Phuong, Dai A
• Application Number:
  US15/372,118
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 4554042, 455410-4142, 455418-420, 4554561-4563, 4554566-458
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/04 using association of physical positions and logical data in a dedicated environment, e.g. buildings or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/244 using a network of reference devices, e.g. beaconing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure can be used to monitor, access, and utilize resources available at workspaces effectively using location-aware devices. Methods and systems disclosed herein integrate location signals received from beacons and other indoor positioning systems for better management of shared resources, such as conference rooms, audiovisual equipment, and other equipment, and address dynamic changes to the availability or non-availability of these resources based on data from location-aware devices and beacons.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a server computing device comprising a processor, from a location-aware device a request to identify availability status of a plurality of resources;

receiving, by the server computing device, a device identifier and location data associated to a first set of resources of the plurality of resources from the location-aware device, wherein the location-aware device determines the location data of the first set of resources based on detection of location signals transmitted from a beacon located in each of the first set of resources, and wherein the location-aware device is within a location signal range of each of the first set of resources;

determining, by the server computing device, the current location associated with the location-aware device based at least on one of the location data of the first set of resources and the device identifier;

querying, by the server computing device, a database to identify the availability status of the first set of resources of the plurality of resources responsive to the request and corresponding to the current location associated with the location-aware device, wherein the database is configured to store one or more records of the plurality of resources and one or more records of a plurality of location-aware devices;

periodically determining, by the server computing device, availability status of remaining set of resources of the plurality of resources, wherein the location-aware device is not within a location signal range of each of the remaining set of resources to detect location signals transmitted from a beacon located in each of the remaining set of resources;

generating, by the server computing device, a notification configured to display the availability status of the first set of resources corresponding to the current location associated with the location-aware device and the availability status of the remaining set of resources of the plurality of resources responsive to the request; and

transmitting, by the server computing device, the notification to the location-aware device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resources comprises a plurality of conference rooms.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of resources further comprises a conflict schedule associated with the conference room.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the request to identify one or more of a plurality of resources comprises a request to identify a current availability status of one of the plurality of conference rooms.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the request to identify one or more of a plurality of resources comprises a request to identify a future availability status of one of the plurality of conference rooms.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of resources further comprises audiovisual equipment associated with the conference room.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of resources further comprises a maximum occupancy associated with the conference room.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each beacon is associated to a resource of the plurality of resources comprising an individual conference room.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is further configured to display a map associated with the plurality of resources responsive to the request.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is further configured to display a route towards the plurality of resources responsive to the request.

11. A computer system comprising:

a server computing device comprising a processor configured to;

receive from a location-aware device a request to identify availability status of a plurality of resources;

receive a device identifier and location data associated to a first set of resources of the plurality of resources from the location-aware device, wherein the location-aware device determines the location data of the first set of resources based on detection of location signals transmitted from a beacon located in each of the first set of resources, and wherein the location-aware device is within a location signal range of each of the first set of resources;

determine the current location associated with the location-aware device based at least on one of the location data of the first set of resources and the device identifier;

query a database to identify the availability status of the first set of resources of the plurality of resources responsive to the request and corresponding to the current location associated with the location-aware device, wherein the database is configured to store one or more records of the plurality of resources and one or more records of a plurality of location-aware devices;

periodically determine availability status of remaining set of resources of the plurality of resources, wherein the location-aware device is not within a location signal range of each of the remaining set of resources to detect location signals transmitted from a beacon located in each of the remaining set of resources;

generate a notification configured to display the availability status of the first set of resources corresponding to the current location associated with the location-aware device and the availability status of the remaining set of resources of the plurality of resources responsive to the request; and

transmit the notification to the location-aware device.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of resources comprises a plurality of conference rooms.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of resources further comprises a conflict schedule associated with the conference room.

14. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the request to identify one or more of a plurality of resources comprises a request to identify a current availability status of one of the plurality of conference rooms.

15. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the request to identify one or more of a plurality of resources comprises a request to identify a future availability status of one of the plurality of conference rooms.

16. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of resources further comprises audiovisual equipment associated with the conference room.

17. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of resources further comprises a maximum occupancy associated with the conference room.

18. The computer system of claim 11, wherein each beacon is associated to a resource of the plurality of resources comprising an individual conference room.

19. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the notification is further configured to display a map associated with the plurality of resources responsive to the request.

20. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the notification is further configured to display a route towards the plurality of resources responsive to the request.