Apparatus and methods for enabling location-based services within a premises

• US 10,715,961 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2019
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stern, Peter, Cholas, Chris, Stafford, Roger Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): Shen, Qun
• Application Number:
  US16/397,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20190268715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• 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 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for enabling location identification and related services in a premises. In one embodiment, location identification services are provided via a gateway device using data extracted from a wireless signal. The data is used to estimate a location of a device (based on comparison to previously gathered and/or reference data). In another embodiment, infrared (IR) or other short range wireless signals are broadcast from the client devices to a set-top-box (STB), and the STB or gateway correlates the signals to a location within the premises. A profiling process is used to establish specific locations within a premises, and associate location-specific services therewith. The location-based services include for example (i) loading particular applications and/or content when the user enters a particular location, (ii) providing information and/or advertisement opportunities when the user is near a particular public or business location, and (iii) content delivery optimization among multiple user devices.

Claims

1. A computerized method of operating a first computerized apparatus for determining data indicative of a location of a computerized mobile user device, the first computerized apparatus comprising a data storage apparatus having one or more device positioning models stored thereon, the first computerized apparatus configured for data communication with at least a first antenna apparatus within a first area, the first antenna apparatus configured to enable data communication with the computerized mobile user device and at least one other computerized device within the first area, the computerized method comprising:

receiving, via the first antenna apparatus, first signals from the at least one other computerized device, the first signals relating to at least one first device-specific characteristic;

utilizing the one or more device positioning models to determine a first location of the at least one other computerized device, the first location being within the first area;

storing data indicative of the first location associated with an identifier of the at least one other computerized device;

receiving, via the first antenna apparatus, second signals from the computerized mobile user device, the second signals indicative of data relating to at least one second device-specific characteristic;

utilizing (i) at least the data relating to the at least one second device-specific characteristic and (ii) the one or more device positioning models, to generate data indicative of the computerized mobile user device being one of located at or moving toward a second location, the second location being within the first area; and

based at least in part on the data indicative of the computerized mobile user device being one of located at or moving toward the second location;

(i) accessing data correlating the data indicative of the second location with data associated with a first user context, the data associated with the first user context comprising one or more location-based data commands which are each issuable from the first computerized apparatus, via the first antenna apparatus, to the at least one other computerized device within the first area based at least in part on position determination of the computerized mobile user device; and

(ii) causing transmission of a first of the one or more location-based data commands to the at least one other computerized device at the first location.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein:

the first antenna apparatus comprises a plurality of antenna elements disposed within an array; and

the causing of the transmission of the first of the one or more location-based data commands to the at least one other computerized device at the first location comprises utilizing beamforming to steer and transmit a first transmission signal from the plurality of antenna elements to the at least one other computerized device at the first location, the first transmission signal comprising the first of the one or more location-based data commands.

3. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the first of the one or more location-based commands comprises a first location-based power management command configured to cause a first prescribed change in at least one of an operating parameter or an operating state of the at least one other computerized device;

and

the computerized method further comprises causing, via the transmission, the at least one other computerized device to switch from a first electrical power consumption state to a second electrical power consumption state, operation in the first electrical power consumption state consuming less electrical power than operation in the second electrical power consumption state.

4. The computerized method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining movement of the computerized mobile user device from the second location toward or to a third location, the third location being outside of the first area;

based at least in part on the determining the movement, causing transmission of a second of the one or more location-based data commands, the second of the one or more location-based commands comprising a second location-based power management command configured to cause a second prescribed change in the at least one of the operating parameter or the operating state of the at least one other computerized device; and

causing, via the transmission of the second location-based command, the at least one other computerized device to switch from the second electrical power consumption state to the first electrical power consumption state.

5. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein:

the first of the one or more location-based commands comprises a location-based digital content display command configured to cause display of first digital content related to the first user context at a display device of the at least one other computerized device; and

the computerized method further comprises causing, via the transmission of the first location-based command, the at least one other computerized device to display the first digital content at the display device.

6. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising determining movement of the computerized mobile user device from the second location toward or to a third location, the third location being outside of the first area.

7. The computerized method of claim 6, wherein:

the first computerized apparatus is in further data communication with a second antenna apparatus disposed within a second area, the second area being at least partially non-overlapping with the first area; and

the determining of the movement of the computerized mobile user device moving from the second location toward or to the third location comprises;

(i) receiving, at the second antenna apparatus, third signals from the computerized mobile user device, the third signals comprising data relating to at least one third device- specific characteristic; and

(ii) utilizing the data relating to the at least one third device-specific characteristic and at least one of the one or more device positioning models, to determine movement of the computerized mobile user device toward or to the third location, the third location within the second area.

8. The computerized method of claim 6, wherein the determining of the movement of the computerized mobile user device from the second location toward or to the third location comprises:

receiving, at the first antenna apparatus, third signals from the computerized mobile user device, the third signals comprising data relating to at least one third device-specific characteristic; and

utilizing the data relating to the at least one third device-specific characteristic and at least one of the one or more device positioning models, to determine movement of the computerized mobile user device toward or to the third location.

9. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein:

the data indicative of the computerized mobile user device being one of located at or moving toward the second location comprises data indicative of the computerized mobile user device moving toward the second location; and

the one or more device positioning models are configured to utilize one or more predicted patterns of movement, the one or more predicted patterns of movement based at least on historical movement data of one or more of the computerized mobile user device or one or more other computerized mobile user devices.

10. The computerized method of claim 9, wherein the causing of the transmission of the first of the one or more location-based data commands to the at least one other computerized device at the first location comprises causing transmission prior to the computerized mobile device being located at the second location.

11. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the at least one second device-specific characteristic comprises a pattern of frequency signal strength as a function of time.

12. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the first antenna apparatus comprises a plurality of antenna elements disposed in an array, and the computerized method further comprises generating the one or more device positioning models, the generating comprising:

collecting, via the first antenna apparatus, training data from one or more of (i) the computerized mobile user device, and (ii) one or more other computerized mobile user devices within the first area, the training data relating to a plurality of device-specific characteristics; and

utilizing at least the training data;

(i) mapping the first area; and

(ii) performing a beamforming analysis using at least signals obtained via the plurality of antenna elements to identify one or more directions for mobile device signal reception.

13. The computerized method of claim 12, wherein the receiving, via the first antenna apparatus, the second signals from the computerized mobile user device comprises utilizing beamforming via at least the plurality of antenna elements to steer the array toward one or more predicted locations of the computerized mobile user device based at least on the beamforming analysis.

14. Computerized apparatus configured for determination of a location of a computerized mobile user device, the computerized apparatus configured for data communication with one or more multi-element antenna arrays, the one or more multi-element antenna arrays configured to enable data communication with the computerized mobile user device and one or more other computerized devices, the computerized apparatus comprising:

data interface apparatus, the data interface apparatus configured for data communication with the one or more multi-element antenna arrays;

digital processor apparatus in data communication with the data interface apparatus;

data storage apparatus in data communication with the digital processor apparatus, the data storage apparatus having at least one computer program stored thereon, the at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, cause the computerized apparatus to;

generate one or more device positioning models, the generation of the one or more device positioning models comprising;

collection, via a first of the one or more multi-element antenna arrays, of training data, the training data generated at least in part by the computerized mobile user device when within a first area, the training data indicative of a plurality of device-specific characteristics; and

utilization of at least the training data to (i) perform at least one

beamforming analysis, and (ii) map the first area;

based at least in part on the at least one beamforming analysis, steer the first multi-element antenna array toward one or more predicted computerized mobile user device locations within the first area;

receive, via the first multi-element antenna array, one or more first signals generated by the computerized mobile user device and indicative of data relating to at least one first device-specific characteristic;

utilize at least the data relating to the at least one first device-specific characteristic and the one or more device positioning models to determine that the computerized mobile user device is one of at or moving toward a first location, the first location being within the first area;

based at least in part on the determination of the computerized mobile user device being one of at or moving toward the first location, determine a first user context, the first user context comprising one or more location-based data commands which are each issuable from the computerized apparatus to at least a first of the one or more other computerized devices based on the computerized mobile user device being at or moving toward the first location, the first of the one or more other computerized devices being within the first area; and

cause steerage and transmission of second signals from the first of the one or more multi-element antenna arrays to the first of the one or more other computerized devices, the second signals comprising at least a first one of the one or more location- based data commands.

15. The computerized apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, cause the computerized apparatus to:

receive, via the first of the one or more multi-element antenna arrays, third signals from the first one of the one or more other computerized devices, the third signals relating to at least one second device-specific characteristic;

utilize the one or more device positioning models to determine a second location of the first of the one or more other computerized devices, the second location disposed within the first area; and

store data indicative of the first location associated with an identifier of the first of the one or more other computerized devices.

16. Computer readable apparatus comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory medium comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus:

generate one or more device positioning models, the generation of the one or more device positioning models comprising;

collection of training data, the training data at least in part received from a computerized mobile user device when within a first area and via a multi-element antenna array, the training data indicative of at least one device-specific characteristic associated with the mobile computerized user device; and

utilization of at least the training data to (i) perform at least one

beamforming analysis, and (ii) map the first area;

based at least in part on the at least one beamforming analysis, cause steerage of the multi-element antenna array toward one or more predicted locations of the computerized mobile user device within the first area;

obtain data relating to first signals generated by the computerized mobile user device during operation, the first signals received via the multi-element antenna array and comprising data relating to the at least one device-specific characteristic;

utilize at least the data relating to the at least one first device-specific characteristic and the one or more device positioning models to determine that the computerized mobile user device is at or moving toward a first location, the first location being within the first area;

based at least in part on the determination of the computerized mobile user device being at or moving toward the first location, identify a first user context, the first user context comprising one or more location-based data commands which are each issuable from the computerized mobile user device to at least one other computerized device based on the at least one other computerized device being within the first area; and

cause transmission of second signals from the multi-element antenna array to the at least one other computerized device, the second signals steered spatially toward the at least one other computerized device and comprising at least a first one of the one or more location-based data commands.

17. The computer readable apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed on the processing apparatus:

perform a first location tracking operation to determine that one or more then-current device-specific characteristics correspond to the at least one first device-specific characteristic; and

based at least in part on the determination that the one or more then-current device- specific characteristics correspond to the at least one first device-specific characteristic, determine that a current location of the computerized mobile user device corresponds to the first location.

18. The computer readable apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed on the processing apparatus;

determine an inactive status of the computerized mobile user device at the first position; and

the transmission of the first one of the one or more location-based data commands comprises issue of a data command configured to cause the at least one other computerized device to switch from a first state having a first level of power consumption, to a second state having a second level of power consumption, operation in the first state comprising consumption of more electrical power than operation in the second state.

19. The computer readable apparatus of claim 16, wherein the identification of the first user context comprises (i) identification of a then-current time, and (ii) determination that the then-current time is within a designated down-time period.

20. The computer readable apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed on the processing apparatus:

store data representative of a profile, said profile (i) comprising one or more antenna signatures associated with the computerized mobile user device, (ii) configured to associate the at least one device-specific characteristic to the first location.