APPLYING MESH NETWORK TO STADIUM SERVICES

• US 20160021510A1
• Filed: 07/16/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Milne, James R., Carlsson, Gregory Peter, Zustak, Frederick J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,900,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Mesh node modules are associated with stadium seats and companion nodes such as fan CE devices can dynamically form a mesh network which uploads information of the nodes to a network. Sporting information may be downloaded to a fan'"'"'s CE device or services provided to the fan while in a seat based on information sent through the node modules in the stadium.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

arena seats;

mesh network modules engaged with respective seats;

each network module including at least one processor and configured for accessing a computer readable storage medium to execute instructions thereon to configure the processor to;

establish communication with at least one fan consumer electronics (CE) device; and

send to the CE device a message indicating a location of the respective seat.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

establish wireless communication with at least one adjacent network module to establish a mesh network therewith.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

obtain an identification from the CE device; and

based on the identification, send a message to the CE device including data indicating whether the CE device is associated with a correct seat.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

access a data store of arena amenities near the respective seat; and

send to the CE device information on the arena amenities near the respective seat.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

receive an order from the CE device;

relay the order through a stadium mesh network to an order fulfilment processor; and

send a message to the CE device that the order has been sent.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

send to the CE device a prompt to dock the CE device in a receptacle associated with the respective seat.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

send to the CE device a prompt to connect and/or to remain connected to an arena mesh network.

8. Consumer electronics (CE) device, comprising:

at least one display;

at least one wireless transceiver;

at least one computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by a processor; and

at least one processor configured for accessing the computer readable storage medium to execute the instructions to configure the processor to;

present on the display a user interface (UI) indicating a location of the CE device, and a location of an arena seat associated with a user of the CE device.

9. The CE device of claim 8, wherein the UI includes map graphically showing the locations.

10. The CE device of claim 9, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

present on the display a message indicating whether a user of the CE device is in a correct seat.

11. The CE device of claim 9, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

present on the display a prompt for a user to engage the CE device with a dock associated with the respective seat.

12. The CE device of claim 9, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

present on the display a prompt to obtain information related to a live event in an arena in which the arena seat is located.

13. The CE device of claim 9, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

present on the display a prompt to connect to a video feed of an event in an arena in which the arena seat is located.

14. Mesh network, comprising:

plural computerized node modules associated with respective arena seats and dynamically forming a mesh network which uploads information related to respective CE devices communicating with the node modules to a receiving network for downloading of information pertaining to amenities and an event in an arena in which the seats are located, the information being downloaded to at least one of the respective CE devices.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein each network module includes at least one processor and is configured for accessing a computer readable storage medium to execute instructions thereon to configure the processor to:

establish communication with at least one fan CE device; and

send to the CE device a message indicating a location of the respective seat associated with the node module.

16. The network of claim 15, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

establish wireless communication with at least one adjacent network module to establish a mesh network therewith.

17. The network of claim 15, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

obtain an identification from the CE device; and

based on the identification, send a message to the CE device including data indicating whether the CE device is associated with a correct seat.

18. The network of claim 15, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

access a data store of arena amenities near the respective seat; and

send to the CE device information on the arena amenities near the respective seat.

19. The network of claim 15, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

receive an order from the CE device;

relay the order through a stadium mesh network to an order fulfilment processor; and

send a message to the CE device that the order has been sent.

20. The network of claim 15, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

send to the CE device a prompt to connect and/or to remain connected to an arena mesh network.