METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING AND ANALYZING DATA OBTAINED USING A LIGHT BASED POSITIONING SYSTEM

• US 20130029682A1
• Filed: 04/13/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bytelight, Inc. (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: GANICK, Aaron, RYAN, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,947,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/745 Detection of flicker frequency or suppression of flicker wherein the flicker is caused by illumination, e.g. due to fluorescent tube illumination or pulsed LED illumination
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices

Abstract

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for tracking and analyzing information in a location using a light based positioning system. In some embodiments, the method includes determining a position of a device in a location using a light based positioning system, electronically receiving data from the device, and updating a database with said data. In some embodiments, determining the position of the device includes receiving a position determination from the device. In some embodiments, determining the position of the device includes electronically receiving from the device one or more identification codes of one or more light sources that the device has detected using an image sensor on the device and calculating the position of the device using the one or more identification codes.

Claims

1. A method for tracking and analyzing information in a location using a light based positioning system, the method comprising:

determining a position of a mobile device in a location using a light based positioning system, wherein the determining comprises;

electronically receiving from the mobile device an identifier of an asynchronous light source; and

calculating the position of the mobile device using the identifier;

electronically receiving location-based data from the mobile device; and

updating a database with the location-based data corresponding to the position of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the position of the mobile device further comprises using a map of the location, wherein the map comprises positions of one or more light sources.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-based data is collected through a wireless connection to the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-based data comprises building changes related to the location, updates, or inaccurate information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location comprises a museum.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the location-based data comprises a location of an exhibit, a classification of an exhibit, or an inaccuracy in a display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the location comprises a retail location and the mobile device is associated with a customer in the retail location.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the location-based data comprises how the customer moves through the retail location and a duration the customer spends in a particular section of the retail location.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the location-based data is used to improve retail location layout and display of merchandise.

12. The method of claim 9, comprising providing content to the customer related to the position of the mobile device in the retail location.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the content comprises information about a product, a link to a website related to the product, or a link to a website to purchase an out of stock item.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the location comprises a warehouse.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising directing a person to a particular item in the warehouse using the light based positioning system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein directing comprises providing visual aids and directions.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising updating an inventory database when an item is added or removed from the warehouse.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

18. A system for tracking and analyzing information in a light based positioning system, the system comprising:

a receiver for receiving location-based data from a mobile device;

a database for storing location-based data received from the mobile device, wherein the location-based data corresponds to the position of the mobile device; and

a position determination module for determining the position of the mobile device using a light based positioning system, wherein determining the position of the mobile device comprises;

electronically receiving from the mobile device an identifier of an asynchronous light source; and

calculating the position of the mobile device using the identifier.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the location-based data comprises building changes related to the location, updates, or inaccurate information.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the location comprises a museum.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the location-based data comprises a location of an exhibit, a classification of an exhibit, or an inaccuracy in a display.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the location comprises a retail location and the mobile device is associated with a customer in the retail location.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the location-based data comprises how the customer moves through the retail location and a duration the customer spends in particular section of the retail location.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the location-based data is used to improve retail location layout and displays of merchandise.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the location comprises a warehouse.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)