Location-based warning notification using wireless devices

• US 9,881,484 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2017
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• 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
• Application Number:
  US15/654,177
• Time in Patent Office: 195 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, from a first receiving device, first location information and a first device identifier, wherein the first receiving device is associated with a transportation device;

determining, by the server, a first location associated with the first receiving device based on the first location information

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

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

receiving, by the server, from a second receiving device, second location information and a second receiving device identifier, wherein the second receiving device is associated with an individual, wherein the first and second location information is transmitted by a plurality of beacons;

determining, by the server, a second location associated with the second receiving device based on the second location information;

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

upon determining that the second location associated with the second receiving device is within a predefined zone relative to the intended path associated with the first receiving device;

generating, by the server, a notification comprising a message to notify the individual that the transportation device is operating in a predefined area relative to location of the individual; and

transmitting, by the server, the notification to at least one of the first and the second receiving devices.

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

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the intended path is where the transportation device associated with the first receiving device operates from current location to the destination location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifiers of the plurality of beacons are associated with locations where the beacons are installed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first receiving device identifier and the second receiving device identifier comprise a distinctive combination of at least one of numbers and characters uniquely identifying the first receiving device and the second receiving device.

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

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined zone is received from the second receiving device.

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

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

10. A computer system comprising:

a first receiving device;

a second receiving device; and

a server configured to;

receive from the first receiving device, first location information and a first device identifier, wherein the first receiving device is associated with a transportation device;

determine a first location associated with the first receiving device based on the first location information;

receive a destination location from the first receiving device;

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

receive, from the second receiving device, second location information and a second receiving device identifier, wherein the second receiving device is associated with an individual, wherein the first and second location information is transmitted by a plurality of beacons;

determine a second location associated with the second receiving device based on the second location information;

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

upon determining that the second location associated with the second receiving device is within a predefined zone relative to the intended path associated with the first receiving device,

generate a notification comprising a message to notify the individual that the transportation device is operating in a predefined area relative to location of the individual; and

transmit, by the server, the notification to at least one of the first and the second receiving devices.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the notification further comprises at least one of identifier associated with the first receiving device and the intended path associated with the first receiving device.

12. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the intended path is where the transportation device associated with the first receiving device operates from current location to the destination location.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein identifiers of the plurality of beacons are associated with locations where the beacons are installed.

14. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the first receiving device identifier and the second receiving device identifier comprise a distinctive combination of at least one of numbers and characters uniquely identifying the first receiving device and the second receiving device.

15. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the intended path associated with the first receiving device is queried from a database associated with the first receiving device.

16. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the predetermined zone is received from the second receiving device.

17. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the notification comprises at least one of an auditory notification and a text notification.

18. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the notification is configured to display the first location associated with the first receiving device.