Method and system for providing area specific messaging

• US 8,369,866 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WirelessWERX IP LLC (Pueblo Nuevo LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wirelesswerx International, Inc.
• Inventors: Ashley, James Jr., Mooney, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez, Angelica
• Application Number:
  US12/044,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20080220720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.1, 455/41.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/457, 455/404.2, 340/572.1, 340/426.19, 340/539.13, 340/539.32, 340/825.49, 340/10.1, 340/10.51, 340/10.31, 379/207.12
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings

Abstract

A system and method for precisely locating a mobile device at a precise geographical distance and messaging to communication devices carried by persons in specific areas is disclosed. The method utilizes at least two elements, a mobile device and at least one location tag. When activated, the mobile device will interact with all of the location tags in range and determine the location tag most practically near. The mobile device will then download detailed local information from the location tag most practically near. The messaging system may be used to selectively send messages to communication devices known to be within range of location transmitters or tags in a predetermined area.

Claims

1. A method for a base station to determine the proximate location of a mobile device in a defined environment, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of location tags set up in fixed stationary positions to define the defined environment, each location tag having a radio module and a microprocessor, the microprocessor storing detailed location information, and being a programmable transceiver;

providing a base station outside of the defined environment for receiving from and sending messages to the plurality of location tags;

receiving a query from a mobile device in use to each location tag in range, the mobile device being for receiving and transmitting signals;

sending selection parameters from the multiple location tags to the mobile device;

the base station selecting a location tag most practically near to the mobile device from the plurality of location tags based on the selection parameters;

downloading, in response to a message from the base station, the detailed location information from the location tag most practically near to the mobile device, and thereby the base station detects through the fixed location tags the most practically near proximate location of the location tag relative to the mobile device, and the location of the mobile device; and

selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises;

determining floor identifiers in the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining a floor identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

selecting the plurality of location tags having the floor identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

wherein each individual floor of an installation has a floor identifier; and

wherein if more than two floor identifiers are represented by the highest number of location tags, then any location tags located on the uppermost or lowermost floor of the installation are excluded.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near comprises first determining from the plurality of location tags the number of location tags in range of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein if only a single location tag is in range, the single location tag is selected as the location tag most practically near.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a location tag having a force use flag is automatically the location tag most practically near to the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

determining installation identifiers in the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining a installation identifier represented by the highest number of location tags; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the installation identifier represented by the highest number of location tags.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising if more than two floor identifiers remain represented by the highest number of location tags then repeating excluding any remaining uppermost and lowermost floor location tags.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

connecting the mobile device to each location tag through a serial port profile connection;

determining received signal strength from the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining the highest received signal strength value; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the highest received signal strength.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

determining maximum power setting in the plurality of location tags having the highest received signal strength;

determining the lowest maximum power setting; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the lowest maximum power setting.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises arbitrarily selecting one location tag.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

determining maximum power setting in the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining the lowest maximum power setting; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the lowest maximum power setting.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises arbitrarily selecting one location tag.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near is accomplished when the plurality of location tags is narrowed to a single location tag based on the selection parameters.

13. The method according to claim 1 further comprising storing mobile device identification information for any mobile device selecting the location tag most practically near the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the base station is not one of the location tags nor a mobile device.

15. A method for a base station to determine the proximate location of a mobile device in a defined environment, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of location tags set up in fixed stationary positions to define the environment, each location tag having a radio module and a microprocessor, the microprocessor storing detailed location information, and being a programmable transceiver;

providing a base station for receiving from and sending messages to the plurality of location tags;

receiving a query from a mobile device in use to each location tag in range, the mobile device being for receiving and transmitting signals;

sending selection parameters from the multiple location tags to the mobile device;

the base station selecting a location tag most practically near to the mobile device from the plurality of location tags based on the selection parameters;

downloading the detailed location information from the location tag most practically near to the mobile device, and thereby detecting through the fixed location tags the most practically near proximate location of the location tag relative to the mobile device, and the location of the mobile device; and

selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises;

determining floor identifiers in the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining a floor identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

selecting the plurality of location tags having the floor identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

wherein each individual floor of an installation has a floor identifier; and

wherein if more than two floor identifiers are represented by the highest number of location tags, then any location tags located on the uppermost or lowermost floor of the installation are excluded.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the base station is not one of the location tags nor a mobile device.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

determining installation identifiers in the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining a installation identifier represented by the highest number of location tags; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the installation identifier represented by the highest number of location tags.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising if more than two floor identifiers remain represented by the highest number of location tags then repeating excluding any remaining uppermost and lowermost floor location tags.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

connecting the mobile device to each location tag through a serial port profile connection;

determining received signal strength from the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining the highest received signal strength value; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the highest received signal strength.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

determining maximum power setting in the plurality of location tags having the highest received signal strength;

determining the lowest maximum power setting; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the lowest maximum power setting.

21. A method for a base station to determine the proximate location of a mobile device in a defined environment, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of location tags set up in fixed stationary positions to define the environment, each location tag having a radio module and a microprocessor, the microprocessor storing detailed location information, and being a programmable transceiver;

providing a base station for receiving from and sending messages to the plurality of location tags;

receiving a query from a mobile device in use to each location tag in range, the mobile device being for receiving and transmitting signals;

sending selection parameters from the multiple location tags to the mobile device;

the base station selecting a location tag most practically near to the mobile device from the plurality of location tags based on the selection parameters;

downloading the detailed location information from the location tag most practically near to the mobile device, and thereby having the base station detect through the fixed location tags the most practically near proximate location of the location tag relative to the mobile device, and the location of the mobile device; and

selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises;

determining floor identifiers in the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining a floor identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

selecting the plurality of location tags having the floor identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

wherein each individual floor of an installation has a floor identifier; and

wherein if more than two floor identifiers are represented by the highest number of location tags, then any location tags located on the uppermost or lowermost floor of the installation are excluded.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the base station is not one of the location tags nor a mobile device.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

determining installation identifiers in the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining a installation identifier represented by the highest number of location tags; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the installation identifier represented by the highest number of location tags.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising if more than two floor identifiers remain represented by the highest number of location tags then repeating excluding any remaining uppermost and lowermost floor location tags.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

connecting the mobile device to each location tag through a serial port profile connection;

determining received signal strength from the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining the highest received signal strength value; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the highest received signal strength.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

determining maximum power setting in the plurality of location tags having the highest received signal strength;

determining the lowest maximum power setting; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the lowest maximum power setting.

27. A method for determining the proximate location of a mobile device in a defined environment, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of location tags set up in fixed stationary positions to define the environment, each location tag having a radio module and a microprocessor, the microprocessor storing detailed location information, and being a programmable transceiver;

receiving a query from a mobile device in use to each location tag in range, the mobile device being for receiving from and sending messages to the plurality of location tags;

sending selection parameters from the multiple location tags to the mobile device;

the mobile device selecting a location tag most practically near to the mobile device from the plurality of location tags based on the selection parameters;

downloading the detailed location information from the location tag most practically near to the mobile device, and thereby having the mobile device detect the most practically near proximate location of the stationary location tag relative to the mobile device, and thereby the location of the mobile device; and

selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises;

determining floor identifiers in the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining a floor identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

selecting the plurality of location tags having the floor identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

wherein each individual floor of an installation has a floor identifier; and

wherein if more than two floor identifiers are represented by the highest number of location tags, then any location tags located on the uppermost or lowermost floor of the installation are excluded.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the mobile device is not one of the location tags.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

determining installation identifiers in the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining a installation identifier represented by the highest number of location tags; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the installation identifier represented by the highest number of location tags.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising if more than two floor identifiers remain represented by the highest number of location tags then repeating excluding any remaining uppermost and lowermost floor location tags.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

connecting the mobile device to each location tag through a serial port profile connection;

determining received signal strength from the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining the highest received signal strength value; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the highest received signal strength.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises:

determining maximum power setting in the plurality of location tags having the highest received signal strength;

determining the lowest maximum power setting; and

selecting the plurality of location tags having the lowest maximum power setting.

33. A method for determining the proximate location of a mobile device in a defined environment, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of location tags, each location tag having a radio module and a microprocessor, the microprocessor storing detailed location information;

providing a base station for receiving from and sending messages to the plurality of location tags;

receiving a query from a mobile device in use to each location tag in range;

sending selection parameters from the multiple location tags to the mobile device;

the base station selecting a location tag most practically near to the mobile device from the plurality of location tags based on the selection parameters; and

downloading, in response to a message, the detailed location information from the location tag most practically near to the mobile device, detecting the most practically near proximate location of the mobile device;

selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises;

determining floor identifiers in the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining a floor identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

selecting the plurality of location tags having the floor identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

wherein each individual floor of an installation has a floor identifier; and

wherein if more than two floor identifiers are represented by the highest number of location tags, then any location tags located on the uppermost or lowermost floor of the installation are excluded.

34. A method for determining the proximate location of a mobile device in a defined environment, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of location tags, the location tags being set up in fixed stationary positions to define the environment and each location tag having a radio module and a microprocessor, the microprocessor storing detailed location information, and being a programmable transceiver;

providing a base station for receiving from and sending messages to the plurality of location tags;

receiving a query from a mobile device in use to each location tag in range;

sending selection parameters from the multiple location tags to the mobile device range, the mobile device being for receiving and transmitting signals with the location tags;

the base station selecting a location tag most practically near to the mobile device from the plurality of location tags based on the selection parameters;

downloading, in response to a message to the location tag, the detailed location information from the stationary location tag most practically near to the mobile device, and detecting the most practically near proximate location of the mobile device; and

selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises;

determining floor identifiers in the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining a floor identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

selecting the plurality of location tags having the floor identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

wherein each individual floor of an installation has a floor identifier; and

wherein if more than two floor identifiers are represented by the highest number of location tags, then any location tags located on the uppermost or lowermost floor of the installation are excluded.

35. A method for determining the proximate location of a mobile device in a defined environment, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of location tags, the location tags being set up in fixed stationary positions to define the environment and each location tag having a radio module and a microprocessor, the microprocessor storing detailed location information, and being a programmable transceiver;

providing a base station for receiving from and sending messages to the plurality of location tags;

receiving a query from a mobile device in use to each location tag in range;

sending selection parameters from the multiple location tags to the mobile device range, the mobile device being for receiving and transmitting signals with the location tags;

the base station selecting a location tag most practically near to the mobile device from the plurality of location tags based on the selection parameters;

downloading, in response to a message to the location tag, the detailed location information from the stationary location tag most practically near to the mobile device, and detecting the most practically near proximate location of the mobile device; and

selecting the location tag most practically near further comprises;

determining identifiers in the plurality of location tags in range of the mobile device;

determining an identifier represented by the highest number of location tags;

selecting the plurality of location tags having the identifier represented by the highest number of location tags; and

wherein if more than two identifiers are represented by the highest number of location tags, then those location tags located on the installation are excluded.