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Method and apparatus for recording information from a plurality of mobile devices in an area

  • US 9,877,295 B2
  • Filed: 05/20/2013
  • Issued: 01/23/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for recording information from a plurality of mobile devices in an area, the method comprising:

  • listening for data packets from the plurality of mobile devices in a predetermined time period using a wireless device;

    creating a record for containing addresses and signal strength readings associated with the plurality of mobile devices, the addresses and signal strength readings of the mobile devices being retrieved from data packets received by the wireless device when the wireless device is listening;

    determining whether a data packet received by the wireless device during the predetermined time period is from a mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices;

    when the data packet received by the wireless device during the predetermined time period is from the mobile device, determining whether an address associated with the mobile device is recorded in the record;

    updating the record with the address associated with the mobile device and a signal strength reading associated with the mobile device if the address has not been previously recorded in the record during the predetermined time period;

    updating, based on the number of times the record has been updated with a signal strength reading associated with the mobile device during the predetermined time period, the record with a signal strength reading associated with the mobile device the address of the mobile device was previously updated in the record, wherein the predetermined time period comprises;

    a first time period for recording received addresses and signal strength readings associated with one or more of the plurality of mobile devices in the record for tracking footfall of the plurality of mobile devices in the area; and

    a second time period for recording received addresses and signal strength readings associated with one or more of the plurality of mobile devices in a second record created and updated in same manner as the record for estimating location of one or more of the plurality of mobile devices in the area; and

    estimating a location of the mobile device based on the record for tracking footfall of the plurality of mobile devices in the area without initiation by the mobile device and estimating a location of the mobile device based on the second record upon initiation by the mobile device, wherein number of times of recording signal strength readings in the record for tracking footfall of the plurality of mobile devices in the area is lesser than number of times of recording signal strength readings in the second record.

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