Resource allocation according to geolocation of mobile communication units

• US 10,849,089 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2017
• Issued: 11/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FineTrak, LLC (Dennis J. Dupray)
• Original Assignee: FineTrak, LLC (Dennis J. Dupray)
• Inventors: Dupray, Dennis J., Goldberg, Sheldon F., LeBlanc, Frederick W., Karr, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Mahendra R
• Application Number:
  US15/396,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20170150474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561, 455450, 342457
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/026 of associated receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/028 Simulation means, e.g. of beacon signals therefor for teaching or training purposes G09B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/045 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/006 for emergency situations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/06 Emergency
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0054 of actual mobile position, i.e. position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0244 Accuracy or reliability of position solution or of measurements contributing thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0257 Hybrid positioning by coordinating position lines of different shape G01S5/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/06 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• 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 system and method for using wireless location of mobile communication units for identifying and allocating resources for access by users of such mobile communication units via bringing the user and such a resource together. Such a user may be routed to such a resource even though the resource cannot be reserved for user access. A resource allocation priority between users mitigates a user not being able to access the user'"'"'s allocated resource, e.g., due to another user accessing the resource. The resources can be, e.g., a parking space, public transportation (e.g., bus, train, taxi), seating at an open admission event, accessing a theme park ride, and the like. By wirelessly locating the user'"'"'s mobile communication unit, the user may be navigated to such a user allocated resource.

Claims

1. A method for providing for each mobile unit (M) of more than one of a plurality of wireless mobile units, corresponding one or more notifications for a condition related to a user of the mobile unit M utilizing one of a plurality of resources, wherein there is a network having a plurality of geographically spaced apart stationary network access units for receiving wireless signals from the mobile unit M, comprising performing, for each mobile unit M of the mobile units, the following steps by computational equipment:

(a) receiving input from a user for a service, the service for providing the corresponding one or more notifications to the mobile unit M;

wherein the input results in the user receiving, at the mobile unit M, a wireless transmission of the notifications for the condition, wherein one or more notification criteria are available for determining the notifications for the condition;

(b) receiving geolocation data for the mobile unit M, the geolocation data indicative of a location, L, for the mobile unit M,

wherein the geolocation data is obtained using location indicative data having measurements of wireless signals, S, communicated wirelessly to or from the mobile unit M, at least some of the wireless signals S (i) being transmitted to the mobile unit M, or (ii) being received by one or more of the access units from the mobile unit M;

(c) evaluating the notification criteria, using the geolocation data, for determining whether one of the resources, R, is (i) available for utilization by the user, and (ii) in a proximity of the mobile unit M effective for the user to travel to the resource R, wherein the evaluating is dependent upon a priority for the user to utilize one of the resources;

(d) when the notification criteria evaluates to a first result, notifying the user by a wireless network transmission of at least one of the notifications, the at least one notification including information for identifying, on the mobile unit M, the resource, R, wherein the information is obtained using the geolocation data;

(e) determining a further result indicative of the resource R being unavailable before the user utilizes the resource R; and

(f) performing (b), (c), and (d) again for identifying another of the resources for the user to utilize when the further result is determined, wherein the priority for the user increases with an additional one or more performances of (e).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more additional notifications corresponding to one or more additional conditions related to events or circumstances for the mobile unit M or a user thereof is provided, each of the additional conditions including one of:

a user emergency or distress call or a vehicle sensor input signal to the mobile unit M;

wherein each of the additional notifications has a corresponding notification condition for evaluation for determining whether an occurrence of the corresponding additional condition has occurred, wherein a location estimate of the mobile unit M is provided to an authorized entity when the evaluation results in at least one result.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of notifying includes providing routing or direction information to the mobile unit M for navigating the user to the resource R.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the geolocation data and the information is dependent upon one of triangulation, a trilateration and a multilateration wireless location determining process that uses the measurements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein for at least one mobile unit (M1) of the plurality of mobile units, further including:

obtaining a second status information for the mobile unit M1, wherein the second status information includes second geolocation data indicative of a location, L1, for the mobile unit M1, wherein the second geolocation data is obtained from second location indicative measurements of a plurality of second wireless signals communicated to or from the mobile unit M1, each of the second wireless signals (i) being transmitted to the mobile unit M1, or (ii) being received from the mobile unit M1;

evaluating second one or more notification criteria using the second status information for the mobile unit M1 for determining an availability of one or more of the plurality of resources which a user of the mobile unit M1 desires to utilize, and

transmitting to the mobile unit M1 a corresponding notification related to the availability of one of the one or more resources, R_M1 according to a result from the evaluating of the second notification criteria.

6. The method of claim 5, further including transmitting at least one navigation instruction to the mobile unit M1, the navigation instruction for navigating the user of the mobile unit M1 to the one resource R_M1.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one resource R_M1 includes one of a single parking space to be utilized for parking a user vehicle.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the one resource R_M1 includes a gaming station.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more access units includes a wireless signal transceiver.

16. The method of claim 1, further including routing the user to the another resource and changing the routing depending on the user'"'"'s movement.

17. The method of claim 1, further including increasing a frequency for wirelessly locating the mobile unit M as the mobile unit M gets nearer the another resource.

18. The method of claim 1, further including determining a mental or emotional state of the user according to the user'"'"'s movements as determined by wirelessly locating the mobile unit M.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the mental or emotional state includes one of frustration and dissatisfaction.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resources includes one of a parking space, a transportation vehicle, an event providing a presentation for attendees, and a theme park ride.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority is dependent on a duration the user has been requesting access to one of the plurality of resources.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority is dependent on an expected time of travel for the user accessing to one of the plurality of resources.

9. A method, for each mobile unit (M) of more than one of a plurality of wireless mobile units, of providing one or more notifications for a corresponding condition related to a user of the mobile unit M utilizing one of a plurality of resources, wherein there is a network having a plurality of spaced apart stationary network access units, the access units available for receiving wireless signals from the mobile unit M as it moves in an area having wireless coverage provided by the network, comprising performing the following steps by computational equipment:

(a) receiving input from a user for a service, the service for providing the corresponding one or more notifications to the mobile unit M;

wherein the input results in the user receiving at the mobile unit M a wireless transmission of the notifications for the corresponding condition, wherein one or more notification criteria are available for determining the notifications for the corresponding condition;

(b) receiving, from the mobile unit M, a communication via one of the access units of the network, the communication including geolocation data for the mobile unit M, the geolocation data indicative of a location, L, for the mobile unit M, wherein the geolocation data is obtained from location indicative measurements of a plurality of wireless signals communicated to or from the mobile unit M, each of the wireless signals having a different location for being transmitted to or received from the mobile unit M;

(c) evaluating the notification criteria for determining (i) whether one of the resources R, is available for utilization by the user, and (ii) whether the geolocation data identifies that the mobile unit M is in a proximity of the resources effective for the user to travel to the resource R, wherein the evaluating is dependent upon a priority for the user to utilize one of the resources;

wherein when of the notification criteria evaluates to a first result, notifying the user by a wireless network transmission, the transmission including information for identifying, on the mobile unit M, the resource R, wherein the information is obtained using the geolocation data;

(d) determining a further result indicative of the resource R being unavailable before the user of the mobile unit M utilizes the resource R; and

(e) performing (b) and (c) again for identifying another of the resources for the user to utilize when the further result is determined, wherein the priority for the user increases with an additional one or more performances of (d).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein notifying includes notification that the user has a better chance of obtaining desired transportation via the resource R.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the information includes a confidence value, wherein the confidence value provides an indication of the reliability or accuracy of the location L.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the geolocation data and the information is dependent upon one of triangulation, a trilateration and a multilateration wireless location determining process that uses the measurements.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the measurements include one or more of a signal strength, a signal time delay, and a characteristic for identifying signal multipath.

14. The method of claim 9, further including a step of providing the mobile unit M than anothcr cntity with locations of one or more of the plurality resources, wherein the one or more resources are mobile and the locations are dependent upon wireless signals with the one or more resources.

23. The method of claim 9, further including routing the user to the another resource and changing the routing depending on the user'"'"'s movement.

24. The method of claim 9, further including increasing a frequency for wirelessly locating the mobile unit M as the mobile unit M gets nearer the resource R.

25. The method of claim 9, further including determining a mental or emotional state of the user according to the user'"'"'s movements as determined by wirelessly locating the mobile unit M.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the mental or emotional state includes one of frustration and dissatisfaction.

27. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of resources includes one of a parking space, a transportation vehicle, an event providing a presentation for attendees, and a theme park ride.

28. The method of claim 9, wherein the priority is dependent on a duration the user has been requesting access to one of the plurality of resources.

29. The method of claim 9, wherein the priority is dependent on an expected time of travel for the user accessing to one of the plurality of resources.