Portable wireless devices for use in wireless guest engagement systems

• US 10,157,514 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2017
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carnival Corporation
• Original Assignee: Carnival Corporation
• Inventors: Padgett, John, Jungen, Michael G., Steele, Douglas, Prestenback, Kyle, Criado, Richard J., Ball, Vince, Leonards, Adam, Curtis, Glenn, Vellon, Manny, Mendiuk, Patrick, Lam, Sander
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LAURA N
• Application Number:
  US15/460,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20180137707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00412 the transmitted data signal being encrypted
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0343 to be carried on the body
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/70 specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A guest engagement system and associated methods provide seamless engagement with guests of facilities through the use of wireless sensing technologies. The system makes use of individual guest devices which are carried by guests and used to automatically identify and authenticate the guests throughout the facility. Services can thereby be seamlessly provided to the guests throughout the facility. The services include automatic unlocking of doors, including hotel or state room doors, based on the guests'"'"' immediate proximity to their assigned room'"'"'s door. The services also include automated payment services provided at checkout or vending terminals, and automated log-on to interactive displays and portals, among others, based on secure wireless authentication of the guest devices.

Claims

1. A portable wireless device comprising:

a body having a fully enclosed cavity, the body having all dimensions equal to or smaller than 2.5 inches, and the body having a thickness equal to or smaller than ⅝

inch;

a processor, a memory, a battery, and first and second wireless communication antennas disposed in the cavity,

wherein the first and second wireless communication antennas are respectively configured for Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and near field communication (NFC) communications, the first communication antenna configured for BLE communications has a J-shape that is elevated above a printed circuit board (PCB), the processor disposed in the cavity is configured to engage in bi-directional BLE and NFC communications using the first and second wireless communication antennas disposed in the cavity, and the processor selectively operates according to first and second operating modes having different respective intervals between periodic listen time periods during which the processor periodically listens for communications through the first or second wireless communication antennas.

2. The portable wireless device of claim 1, further comprising:

the printed circuit board (PCB) having the processor and the memory mounted on a main surface thereof,

wherein the battery is disposed on a first side of the PCB in the cavity, and the first wireless communication antenna is disposed on a second side of the PCB opposite to the first side in the cavity.

3. The portable wireless device of claim 2, wherein the first communication antenna is disposed on a same side of the PCB as the processor and the memory.

4. The portable wireless device of claim 2, wherein the second communication antenna is a wound wire coil antenna disposed along a circular periphery of the cavity.

5. The portable wireless device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores an identifier unique to the portable wireless device, and

the processor controls the first wireless communication antenna to emit a periodic beacon signal broadcasting the unique identifier of the portable wireless device using BLE communications.

6. The portable wireless device of claim 5, wherein the processor engages in bi-directional communication using the first wireless communication antenna configured for BLE communications in the first operating mode,

the processor engages in a beacon mode periodically broadcasting the beacon signal using the first wireless communication antenna configured for BLE communications in the second operating mode, and

the processor listens for communications through the first or second wireless communication antennas less frequently when operating in the second operating mode than when operating in the first operating mode.

7. The portable wireless device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to establish secure communication links with remote communication devices using the first wireless communication antenna configured for BLE communications.

8. The portable wireless device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to encrypt communications transmitted to remote communication devices using the first wireless communication antenna configured for BLE communications.

9. The portable wireless device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to encrypt communications using elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) encryption.

10. The portable wireless device of claim 1, wherein the device is operative to communicate via the second wireless communication antenna configured for NFC communications when the battery level is below a minimum threshold needed for operation of the first wireless communication antenna configured for BLE communications.

11. A portable wireless device comprising:

a body having a fully enclosed cavity, the body having all dimensions equal to or smaller than 2.5 inches, and the body having a thickness equal to or smaller than ⅝

inch;

a processor, a memory, a battery, and first and second wireless communication antennas disposed in the cavity,

wherein the first and second wireless communication antennas are respectively configured for Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and near field communication (NFC) communications,

the processor is configured to establish secure communication links with remote communication devices using the first wireless communication antenna configured for BLE communications,

the memory stores both public and private identifiers unique to the portable wireless device,

the processor controls the first wireless communication antenna to emit a periodic beacon signal broadcasting the unique public identifier of the portable wireless device using BLE communications, and

the processor controls the first wireless communication antenna to transmit the private identifier only across secure communication links established with remote communication devices using BLE communications.

12. A portable wireless device comprising:

a body having a peripheral member having front and rear openings respectively covered by front and rear caps, the peripheral member extending around a periphery of an enclosed cavity disposed within a space formed by the front and rear caps and the peripheral member, and

a processor, a memory, a battery, and first and second wireless communication antennas disposed in the cavity, and

a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed in the cavity and having the processor and the memory mounted thereon,

wherein the first and second wireless communication antennas are respectively configured for Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and near field communication (NFC) communications, and

wherein the first communication antenna configured for BLE communications has a J-shape that is elevated above the PCB.

13. The portable wireless device of claim 12, wherein the peripheral member comprises a metallic member having at least one gap extending through the metallic member from the front opening to the rear opening to cause the metallic member to extend around only part of the periphery of the cavity, and a non-conducting material disposed in the at least one gap to jointly extend around the full periphery of the cavity.

14. The portable wireless device of claim 12, wherein the processor and the memory are mounted on a main surface of the PCB, and

the J-shaped first communication antenna has a non-planar profile elevating the antenna to overlay the processor or memory on the main surface of the PCB.

15. The portable wireless device of claim 14, wherein the battery is disposed in the cavity on a side of the PCB opposite to the J-shaped first communication antenna.

16. The portable wireless device of claim 12, wherein the body comprises four magnets disposed along an outer periphery of the body, and

wherein at least two adjacent magnets among the four magnets each have a pole of a same polarity facing the outer periphery of the body.

17. The portable wireless device of claim 12, wherein the memory stores an identifier unique to the portable wireless device, and

the processor controls the first wireless communication antenna to emit a periodic beacon signal broadcasting the unique identifier of the portable wireless device using BLE communications.

18. The portable wireless device of claim 17, wherein the processor selectively operates according to first and second operating modes,

the processor engages in bi-directional communication using the first wireless communication antenna configured for BLE communications in the first operating mode, and

the processor engages in a beacon mode periodically broadcasting the beacon signal using the first wireless communication antenna configured for BLE communications in the second operating mode.

19. The portable wireless device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to establish secure communication links with remote communication devices using the first wireless communication antenna configured for BLE communications.

20. A portable wireless device comprising:

a body having a fully enclosed cavity, and

a printed circuit board (PCB), a processor, a memory, a battery, and first and second wireless communication antennas disposed in the cavity,

wherein the body has a frustum shape, including a front surface that is circular, a rear surface that is circular and has a diameter greater than that of the front surface, and a side surface that extends between the front and rear surfaces and is formed of a metal housing, having at least one gap extending through the metal housing from the front surface to the rear surface, and a non-conducting material disposed in the at least one gap of the metal housing,

wherein the front and rear surfaces have diameters of 0.75 to 2.5 inches, the body has a thickness of ⅛

to ⅝

inch, and an angle between the front surface and the side surface of the frustum-shaped body is in a range of 86 to 88 degrees,

wherein the first and second wireless communication antennas are respectively configured for Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and near field communication (NFC) communications and the processor disposed in the cavity is configured to engage in bi-directional BLE and NFC communications using the first and second wireless communication antennas disposed in the cavity and

the first communication antenna configured for BLE communications has a J-shape that is elevated above a surface of the PCB on which the processor and memory are mounted.