U.S. patent application number 14/803201 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-28 for positioning system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Peter M. Hillier.
Application Number | 20160025837 14/803201 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51228301 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160025837 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hillier; Peter M. |
January 28, 2016 |
Positioning System and Method
Abstract
A method and system for providing location information to a
mobile device includes providing an apparatus with a beacon. The
apparatus stores identification information associated with the
apparatus, and obtains information describing the correspondence
between location information and apparatus identification
information to determine the location of the apparatus from the
stored identification information. The apparatus transmits the
location information to the beacon which transmits the information
to the mobile device. In addition, information defining movement of
a mobile device through a navigation zone includes an array of
beacons that are in communication with each other. The mobile
device is provided at a first location in the navigation zone and
communicates with a first beacon to indicate its proximity to the
first beacon. The device moves through the zone to other locations
and communicates with another beacon in proximity to the second
location to indicate its proximity to the second beacon.
Inventors: |
Hillier; Peter M.; (Ottawa,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION |
Ottawa |
|
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
Ottawa
CA
|
Family ID: |
51228301 |
Appl. No.: |
14/803201 |
Filed: |
July 20, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
342/386 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S 5/0036 20130101;
G01S 5/0054 20130101; G01S 5/0242 20130101; H04W 4/80 20180201;
G01S 1/68 20130101; H04W 4/029 20180201; H04W 4/024 20180201; H04W
4/023 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01S 5/00 20060101
G01S005/00; G01S 5/02 20060101 G01S005/02; G01S 1/02 20060101
G01S001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 22, 2014 |
EP |
14178078.3 |
Claims
1. A method of providing location information to a mobile device,
comprising: providing an apparatus with a beacon, in which the
apparatus stores identification information associated with the
apparatus; the apparatus obtaining information describing the
correspondence between location information and apparatus
identification information to determine the location of the
apparatus from the stored identification information; the apparatus
transmitting the location information to the beacon; and the beacon
transmitting the location information to the mobile device.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the correspondence
between location information and apparatus identification
information is based on a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol,
LDAP.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the correspondence
between location information and apparatus identification
information is stored at the apparatus.
4. A method according to claim 2, in which the location information
provided to the mobile device is converted into a position in a
predetermined mapping zone stored at the mobile device.
5. A method according to claim 3, in which the location information
provided to the mobile device is converted into a position in a
predetermined mapping zone stored at the mobile device.
6. A method of determining information defining movement of a
mobile device through a navigation zone, comprising: providing the
navigation zone with an array of beacons, in which each of the
beacons in the array is in communication with one or more other
beacons in the array; providing a mobile device at a first location
in the navigation zone; the mobile device communicating with a
first beacon in proximity to the first location to indicate its
proximity to the first beacon; the mobile device moving through the
navigation zone to a second location and communicating with a
second beacon in the array in proximity to the second location to
indicate its proximity to the second beacon; the mobile device
providing the second beacon with information defining the direction
of movement of the mobile device between the first and second
locations; and the second beacon communicating with the first
beacon to share the relative positions of the second and first
beacons, based on the direction of movement of the mobile
device.
7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising providing
navigation information to the mobile device between two locations
based on the relative position of beacons respectively located at
each of the two locations.
8. A method according to claim 7, in which providing navigation
information comprises determining an optimal route between the two
locations, in which the optimal route is a pathway which passes the
fewest number of beacons.
9. A method according to claim 6 in which the mobile device
determines information defining the direction of movement of the
mobile device between the first and second locations based on a
sensor in the device, in which the sensor may be a magnetic
compass.
10. A method according to claim 6 in which the mobile device
further communicates to the second beacon information relating to
the signal strength of signals received by the mobile device at the
second location from a plurality of beacons in the array, and the
second beacon uses the received information to define its position
relative to each of the plurality of beacons from which signals are
received by the mobile device.
11. A method according to claim 6 in which the second beacon
provides information to a third beacon defining the location of the
first beacon relative to the second beacon, the third beacon
determining its location relative to the first beacon using the
received information.
12. A system for providing location information to a mobile device,
comprising: an apparatus storing identification information
associated with the apparatus; a beacon provided in proximity to
the apparatus; wherein the apparatus is configured to obtain
information describing a mapping between location information and
apparatus identification information to determine the location of
the apparatus from the stored identification information; the
apparatus is configured to transmit the location information to the
beacon; and the beacon is configured to transmit the location
information to the mobile device.
13. A system according to claim 12 in which the apparatus has a
fixed location and is a computer or a fixed-line telephone.
14. A system according to claim 12 in which the beacon is arranged
to communicate with the mobile device using Bluetooth Low Energy,
BLE.
15. A system for determining information defining movement of a
mobile device through a navigation zone, comprising a plurality of
beacons distributed over a navigation zone, in which each of the
plurality of beacons is in communication with one or more other
beacons of the plurality of beacons; wherein a first beacon in
proximity to a first location is arranged to receive information
from a mobile device confirming it is in proximity to the first
beacon; a second beacon in proximity to a second location is
arranged to receive information from a mobile device confirming it
is in proximity to the second first beacon; the second beacon is
further configured to receive information defining the direction of
movement of the mobile device between the first and second
locations; and the second beacon is arranged to communicate with
the first beacon to share the relative positions of the second and
first beacons, based on the received information relating to the
movement of the mobile device.
16. A system according to claim 15 further comprising a plurality
of systems of claim 12, in which each of the plurality of beacons
is provided in proximity to a respective apparatus in a respective
one of the systems according to claim 12 and is arranged to
transmit location information to the mobile device.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for
providing location information, and particularly, but not
exclusively, to a system and method for providing location
information and information defining movement of a mobile device
through an indoor environment.
[0002] A navigation system requires three elements to operate. The
first is a system for determining coordinates, (e.g. x=45.34,
y=-75.90 in an x-y plane). The second is a means to resolve those
coordinates into terms a human understands (e.g. 350 Legget Drive,
Ottawa, Ontario). The third is the ability to understand the paths
between two points (source and destination) so that directions can
be derived.
[0003] The Global Positioning System (GPS) is perhaps the best
understood and utilized navigation system today. Unfortunately GPS
signals do not penetrate inside buildings, leaving indoor
navigation devoid of a single standard solution. Although a variety
of methods have been attempted to address indoor navigation, they
all experience the same fundamental problems.
[0004] A first problem is that of trying to determine the location.
The most popular method is trilateration, which is the process of
determining the absolute or relative location of points by
measuring distances and using the geometry of circles, spheres, or
triangles. Rather the measuring distance using traditional means,
the strength of a wireless signal can be used to infer distance.
Since a mobile device leverages wireless technology, this is the
most widely used technique which is used.
[0005] A second problem is that of labelling the location with a
name which requires human intervention. Typically, a variety of
strategies are employed to try to overlay physical Cartesian
co-ordinates onto wireless networks, which in turn are overlaid
onto maps. This takes considerable effort from a hardware and
software perspective, and is often too expensive for average
deployments. Even when indoor maps are available, these do not
always align with the coordinate system. Typical problems are that
RF signal strengths do not directly map (for example, in a linear
manner) to building measurements, and the signal strengths can be
impacted by walls, furniture, or even people.
[0006] A third problem is that of determining the pathways between
two points. Typical solutions rely on an "administrator" creating
pre-recorded paths through an area populated with sensors. The
administrator carries a device which measures direction, speed and
so forth. If a person is in proximity to the start of a
pre-recorded path, the system can provide guidance to a specified
destination.
[0007] An alternative model is to use wireless signal strengths to
try to estimate a users' position. This requires that the system be
"trained" by an administrator, who walks throughout the building
taking "fingerprints", which are a snapshot of signal levels at
various points of interest, and manually labels the points of
interest accordingly (e.g. "Lunchroom"). An individual's location
is determined by comparing their signal strengths to the list of
fingerprint reference points. Unfortunately this requires at least
three signals at different angles of flight to determine an
approximate position in a three dimensional plane (e.g. multi level
building), with Wi-Fi signals typically being used for
trilateration. A key technical problem with these solutions is that
signal propagation is significantly impacted by walls and even
people. So as changes to the environments are made, or more or less
people are in a given space, erroneous readings occur.
Additionally, knowing one's position does not help guide someone to
another location.
[0008] There is therefore a high degree of human involvement
required to install and maintain an indoor navigation system. The
hardware providing the signals needs to be installed, and the
administrator must then map all strengths throughout the building
and label key locations within a database, a term known as "Finger
Printing". The administrator must then define all directions
between the various permutations and combinations of fingerprints.
Once complete, the system can begin operation but ongoing
maintenance and adjustment is required to improve the accuracy of
the system as wireless signals can deviate as the environment
changes (amount of people, etc).
[0009] The present invention is intended to resolve the need for
fingerprinting and manual input of routes between fingerprints.
[0010] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method of providing location information to a mobile
device, comprising providing an apparatus with a beacon, in which
the apparatus stores identification information associated with the
apparatus, the apparatus obtaining information describing the
correspondence between location information and apparatus
identification information to determine the location of the
apparatus from the stored identification information, the apparatus
transmitting the location information to the beacon, and the beacon
transmitting the location information to the mobile device.
[0011] The correspondence between location information and
apparatus identification information may be based on a Lightweight
Directory Access Protocol, LDAP.
[0012] The correspondence between location information and
apparatus identification information may be stored at the
apparatus.
[0013] The location information provided to the mobile device is
converted into a position in a predetermined mapping zone may be
stored at the mobile device.
[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of determining information defining movement
of a mobile device through a navigation zone, comprising providing
the navigation zone with an array of beacons, in which each of the
beacons in the array is in communication with one or more other
beacons in the array, providing a mobile device at a first location
in the navigation zone, the mobile device communicating with a
first beacon in proximity to the first location to indicate its
proximity to the first beacon, the mobile device moving through the
navigation zone to a second location and communicating with a
second beacon in the array in proximity to the second location to
indicate its proximity to the second beacon, the mobile device
providing the second beacon with information defining the direction
of movement of the mobile device between the first and second
locations, and the second beacon communicating with the first
beacon to share the relative positions of the second and first
beacons, based on the direction of movement of the mobile
device.
[0015] The method may further comprise providing navigation
information to the mobile device between two locations based on the
relative position of beacons respectively located at each of the
two locations.
[0016] Providing navigation information may comprise determining an
optimal route between the two locations, in which the optimal route
is a pathway which passes the fewest number of beacons.
[0017] The mobile device may determine information defining the
direction of movement of the mobile device between the first and
second locations based on a sensor in the device, in which the
sensor may be a magnetic compass.
[0018] The mobile device may further communicate to the second
beacon information relating to the signal strength of signals
received by the mobile device at the second location from a
plurality of beacons in the array, and the second beacon may use
the received information to define its position relative to each of
the plurality of beacons from which signals are received by the
mobile device.
[0019] The second beacon may provide information to a third beacon
defining the location of the first beacon relative to the second
beacon, the third beacon determining its location relative to the
first beacon using the received information.
[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a system for providing location information to a mobile
device, comprising an apparatus storing identification information
associated with the apparatus, a beacon provided in proximity to
the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to obtain
information describing a mapping between location information and
apparatus identification information to determine the location of
the apparatus from the stored identification information, the
apparatus is configured to transmit the location information to the
beacon, and the beacon is configured to transmit the location
information to the mobile device.
[0021] The apparatus may have a fixed location and be a computer or
a fixed-line telephone.
[0022] The beacon may be arranged to communicate with the mobile
device using Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE.
[0023] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a system for determining information defining movement
of a mobile device through a navigation zone, comprising a
plurality of beacons distributed over a navigation zone, in which
each of the plurality of beacons is in communication with one or
more other beacons of the plurality of beacons, wherein a first
beacon in proximity to a first location is arranged to receive
information from a mobile device confirming it is in proximity to
the first beacon, a second beacon in proximity to a second location
is arranged to receive information from a mobile device confirming
it is in proximity to the second first beacon, the second beacon is
further configured to receive information defining the direction of
movement of the mobile device between the first and second
locations; and the second beacon is arranged to communicate with
the first beacon to share the relative positions of the second and
first beacons, based on the received information relating to the
movement of the mobile device.
[0024] Each beacon array may be connected to a fixed device, or may
be a standalone beacon, or the array may comprise a combination of
both types of beacon.
[0025] Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus
to create an adaptive zero touch (in the sense that no manual input
is required by a user) location based navigation system. When the
hardware is deployed the system will monitor mobile devices to
discover, analyze, adjust, and report traffic patterns for user
navigation purposes indoors where GPS navigation features do not
work. The system can leverage installed desk phones to determine
the points of interest within the location, and then offer turn by
turn directions to users that are unfamiliar with the environment
such that they can find people, places, or things.
[0026] By combining hardware into a fixed device such as a desk
phone, and leveraging existing protocols such as LDAP, which is
used to identify and assign a name and number to the desk phone,
fingerprinting can be eliminated and a list of known locations (or
points of interest) can be created. All rooms within a location
such as an office or hotel that contain a phone will automatically
be named (e.g. lobby, front desk, Peter Hillier (office)). The
ability to leverage LDAP and existing hardware (e.g. phone systems)
to label a building is thus an advantageous aspect of the present
invention.
[0027] Having established location information, a wired phone
network configured with beacons as described above, or
alternatively an independent sensor grid, can then begin learning
the various pathways that exist within the building, without the
use of a map. The algorithm that handles the route and
direction-learning (pathways) uses a mobile device's magnetic
compass and wireless signals to pass information to the location
grid as people move about the building. The paths that people take
are "discovered" and then converted to directions which can then be
fed to users who are uncertain of the directions to take to get
from point A to point B. This information is distributed across the
grid so the entire system learns all points of travel.
[0028] How the information is collected, interpreted, and
distributed will be described in more detail below with reference
to embodiments of the present invention, which will be presented by
way of example only, with reference to the following Figures, in
which:
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a system used in determining location
information according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a system used in presenting location
information to a user of a mobile device, according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a navigation zone equipped with a beacon array
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 4 shows an example of an enumerated beacon array used
in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3;
[0033] FIG. 5 shows a nearest-neighbour table constructed for a
portion of the enumerated beacon array of FIG. 4; and
[0034] FIG. 6 shows an example of pathways throughout the
navigation zone represented in FIG. 4.
[0035] Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments
illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe
the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of
the scope of the invention is thereby intended. In the descriptions
that follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and
drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The figures are not
necessarily drawn to scale and certain aspects are shown in
exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and
conciseness.
[0036] As used herein, the term "substantially" refers to the
complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action,
characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For
example, an object that is "substantially" enclosed would mean that
the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely
enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute
completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context.
However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so
as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total
completion were obtained. The use of "substantially" is equally
applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the
complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic,
property, state, structure, item, or result.
[0037] As used herein, the term "mobile device" refers to a device
capable of wireless digital communication such as a smart phone, a
tablet computing device, a laptop computer, a multimedia device or
other type of device that provides text or voice communication.
[0038] The terms "location" and "position" are used synonymously
throughout the specification so as to define where the mobile
device is in a particular environment. The location or position may
be defined as absolute co-ordinates, or with respect to
pre-configured information such as points of interest on a map.
[0039] The following description is generally divided into two
sections. The first section relates to a method and system for
determining the location of a mobile device. The second section
relates to method and system for determining information
characterising the motion of the mobile device between two
locations, and to providing navigational information to guide a
user of the mobile device between two locations. The method and
system for determining information characterising the motion of the
mobile device may make use of the method and system for determining
the location of the mobile device according to embodiments of the
present invention. Both techniques share common advantages in terms
of the avoidance of manual fingerprinting, as described above.
Determining Locations
[0040] FIG. 1 illustrates a system diagram comprising the
components required to determine the location of a mobile device
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system
comprises a mobile device 10, a fixed device 11, and a location
beacon 12. The system is particularly advantageous over
conventional positioning systems when arranged in an indoor
environment, but the system is also operational in outdoor or
partially indoor environments.
[0041] The fixed device 11 is typically a component of office
equipment, such as a fixed-line desk phone or a PC. The location
beacon 12 is integrated with, or in proximity to, the fixed device
11, such that the location of the location beacon 12 substantially
corresponds to the location of the fixed device 11.
[0042] The location beacon 12 comprises a radio that emits and
detects signals 13 based on the Bluetooth.RTM. Low Energy (BLE)
protocol. The mobile device 10 supports BLE and is thus able to
communicate with the location beacon 12. A BLE location beacon is
particularly advantageous as it typically has low cost, small size,
is robust and efficient, and has low power requirements, meaning
that it can be either battery-powered, or can derive power from the
fixed device with which it is associated, using, for example, a
Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. It is thus a particularly
suitable protocol for discrete low-data transfers as used in
provision of location information. Another benefit lies in the
ability of BLE devices to transmit and receive signals using a
single radio antenna through appropriate switching of their
advertising mode, in contrast to Wi-Fi-based radio systems which
must periodically switch between server and client modes in a data
exchange.
[0043] The location beacon 12 is "named" according to the fixed
device 11 with which it is associated. The location beam 12 derives
its name by communication with the fixed device 11, which is in
turn named using a protocol such as Lightweight Discovery Access
Protocol (LDAP). As an example, a desk phone typically knows its
extension number through configuration of the phone itself, or
through derivation of information via the phone network. Using
LDAP, the desk phone can learn the name of a user associated with
that extension number. Consequently, the desk phone can deduce that
it is in an office belonging to the user associated with the
extension number, and this serves as location information. The
location information is transmitted to the location beacon 12 which
can in turn provide it to the mobile device 10 using BLE
communication.
[0044] In a similar way, a network of existing desk phones within a
building can be used to compile a list of locations, so that the
user of a mobile device 10 can determine its location in the
building based on its nearest desk phone, configured with a
respective location beacon 12. It will thus be appreciated that
location information can be provided throughout the building
without, or with a substantially reduced need for an administrator
to perform a finger printing process.
[0045] The location information is provided using an elegant
solution because all that is added to the existing office hardware
is the location beacon 12, which in turn is configured effectively
because it can leverage location information associated with the
office hardware which has already been configured. As described
above, in an embodiment, the configuration of the location
information may be achieved using LDAP, but other systems are
possible such as the maintenance of a server or database storing a
mapping between information known to the fixed device, such as its
extension number, and user information. This mapping may take the
form of a telephone directory, for example. In an alternative
embodiment, in which the fixed device is a Personal Computer (PC),
the PC may be associated with a number of different means of
identification, such as a Media Access Control (MAC) address
assigned to the network controller of the PC, or an internet
protocol (IP) address dynamically assigned using the Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol (DCHP). In this example, the mapping between
users or physical locations and the IP address may be maintained at
a DCHP server, which the fixed device can access in order to
determine its location.
[0046] It will be appreciated that the system set out above is
applicable to both location information provided for a single
office floor, or to multiple floors in a three-dimensional building
layout. It will also be appreciated that the system could be
distributed over a number of buildings, or a site or university
campus containing a combination of indoor and outdoor zones. In
such locations, the system could be combined with GPS systems for
outdoor navigation in the event that a beacon signal cannot be
received.
[0047] The description of the system above assumes that a signal
from a beacon signal is always available for receipt by the mobile
device 10. It is possible, however, that in some configurations,
there may be a "blackspot" which is not covered by a location
beacon, or a beacon may malfunction due to battery failure, or an
associated failure with its respective fixed device. In such
circumstances, the mobile device to may provide an error warning to
a user via an interface hosted by an application running on the
mobile device to, which alerts the user to the fact that location
information may be limited or inaccurate, so that the user can
modify the system accordingly for future navigation.
[0048] Having received location information from the location
beacon, a mobile device 20 interprets the received location
information using a mapping application 22 running on the mobile
device 20. The mapping application 22 is typically configured to
enable communication with the BLE communications modules 23 of the
mobile device 20 via the central processing unit 21 of the mobile
device, so as to control transmission and receipt of data, and to
enable presentation of the data via display 24.
[0049] The arrangement of a mobile device 20 according to an
embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2, with
components of the mobile device 20 contained within the dotted
line. The mapping application 22 hosted on the mobile device 20
contains graphical components required for the generation of a map
image, and the mobile device 20 is also arranged to communicate
with components hosted remotely, such as on a cloud system, the
internet, or a local server 26 associated with an office building
as shown in FIG. 2, which maintains the correspondence between
points of interest with which a location beacon 25 may be
associated, and physical locations or user names. Location beacon
25 operates in the same way as location beacon 12 described in
connection with FIG. 1.
[0050] The mapping application 22 receives the information relating
to the correspondence or mapping between points of interest and
physical locations and generates, and this information may be
stored locally in a memory (not shown). The mapping application 22
generates an appropriate graphical layout which enables the user of
the mobile device 20 to visualise locations. The layout may show
aspects of a building, such as walls, doors, or may be a simpler
logical layout showing a grid representing the entire office zone.
In order to facilitate the operation of the mapping application 22,
certain graphical elements may be pre-stored at the mobile device
20 in a memory (not shown), since a building's physical layout is
unlikely to change significantly over time.
[0051] It is, of course, possible that the distribution of workers
throughout a building layout may change over time, and this
information will require dynamic updating. For example, the
correspondence information held at the mobile device may state that
office number 2-B-36 is that of Mr. Peter Hillier on floor 2, wing
B, pod 36 of an office layout, but due to a change in
circumstances, Peter Hillier has recently moved to office 4-A-15.
The telephone directory of the office may have been updated
accordingly, so that Peter has the same extension number in his new
office, even though he may be making use of a different fixed desk
phone. Accordingly, a new location beacon associated with the desk
phone in office 4-A-15 is able to identify itself as in Peter's
office, but the map stored at the mobile device assumes that
Peter's office is 2-B-36. Accordingly, the mapping application is
arranged to interface with components such as the directory module
26 so that location received from a location beacon 25 can be
represented properly on a map displayed to the user.
[0052] In the embodiments described above, it has been assumed that
the fixed device 11 has a location which does not change (or that
changes infrequently per the example of moving offices above). It
will be appreciated, however, that the fixed device 11 may instead
be mobile. As used in this context, the term "mobile" is intended
to apply to both a device which is continually moving, or a device
which periodically moves between different fixed locations. This
configuration is suitable where a user of a first mobile device is
attempting to determine a location relative to the user of a second
mobile device, in the event that the user of a second mobile device
is away from their usual fixed location, either being temporarily
at a new location, or walking around an office, for example. The
"mobile" configuration embodiment is also suitable where a shared
resource, such as a projector unit or speaker phone, is moved
between conference rooms in an office building when needed, and the
resource does not have a "default" location in the sense of the
fixed device previously described.
[0053] In this embodiment, the second mobile device takes the place
of an integrated combination of the fixed device and the location
beacon. The second mobile device may define its own location with
respect to a further location beacon in the manner described above,
so that the first mobile device may determine an absolute location
based on the absolute location of the second mobile device, and its
location relative to that of the second mobile device. A projector
unit could be "tagged" with a BLE sticker, for example, and its
location determined on the basis of its proximity to a beacon.
[0054] Alternatively, only a relative position between the first
and second mobile devices is required, so that the user of the
first mobile device can determine a direction to the second mobile
device. In this embodiment, the second mobile device could
continually broadcast its position as it moves through a particular
zone, together with mobile subscriber information associated with
the second mobile device (such as user name, mobile phone number),
so that the first mobile device can determine its position
accordingly.
[0055] In either of these two embodiments, once a series of fixed
endpoints are known it becomes possible to track users. For
example, if Peter is in Jonathan's office, Peter's mobile phone
will report its location information as "Jonathan's Office". So
people who want to find Peter can do so, even if Peter is not at
his desk, by navigating to the closest fixed location that Peter's
mobile device is reporting. Peter's device thus reports the closest
beacon as a means of identifying itself in proximity to a known
location.
[0056] In a further embodiment, location beacons may be associated
with both fixed and mobile devices, referred to hereinafter as an
"apparatus", which represents a combination of the embodiments
described previously, enabling a combination of location
information taking advantage of existing hardware, and location
information taking advantage of the previously-established location
of another mobile device. Whether or not the apparatus is fixed or
mobile, the advantage of not requiring an administrator to perform
manual fingerprinting is provided.
Determining Directions
[0057] Embodiments of the present invention are also capable of
identifying pathways through a navigation zone in order to provide
navigational guidance to a user. Such pathways are initially
identified through a "learning" process, as described below in more
detail. In general terms, embodiments of the invention may make use
of a location beacon 12 of the type used in the system of FIG. 1,
such as a location beacon 12 adjacent to a desk phone 11, or a
standalone beacon which is not associated with any hardware. Such a
standalone beacon may be connected to a power socket, for example,
or may simply be positioned on a wall while operating on battery
power. In the following embodiments, the terms "beacon" or "sensor"
are used interchangeably as a generalisation of these two types of
configuration.
[0058] Pathways are defined as routes which a user of a mobile
device may take to move between two locations or "nodes" in an area
which will be referred to hereinafter as a "navigation zone". It
will also be appreciated that the navigation zone may be a
three-dimensional volume. Multiple pathways may exist for a
particular pair of locations, and embodiments of the present
invention are able to identify an optimal pathway for a user to
take.
[0059] According to embodiments of the present invention, the
navigation zone is provided with a plurality of spatially
distributed beacons. The beacons may be positioned as a regular
array, but may also represent an irregular array, corresponding to
the locations of points of interest in the navigation zone, such as
offices 31, elevators 32, and staircases 33 in a building.
[0060] An example is shown in the simplified office layout shown in
FIG. 3. Each of the beacons 30-a, 30-b, 30-c, 30-d, 30-e, 30-f,
30-g, 30-h, 30-i, 30-j, 30-k, 30-l, 30-m, 30-n, 30-o, 30-p, 30-q in
the beacon array can communicate with one or more other beacons in
the array. Consequently, there are one or more communication paths
between any given pair of beacons in the array. When initially
setting up the beacon array, it is first established that a first
30-a and second 30-b beacon can communicate with each other before
a third beacon 30-c is added to the array in communication with the
first 30-a and/or second 30-b beacon. Establishment of a connection
between the first and second beacons 30-a, 30-b may be based on the
completion of a handshaking protocol, or exchange of messages, as
confirmed to a user via a signal detection LED on each of the first
and second beacons 30-a, 30-b. If no connection has been
established, one of the first or second beacons 30-a, 30-b must be
moved so that it is within range. Normal operation of each the
beacons 30-a, 30-b can also be confirmed using a separate "power
on" or status LED.
[0061] Having completed the array of beacons 30 in this manner, the
system is ready to begin learning, so that the navigation zone as a
whole can be mapped. In operation, each of the beacons 30 in the
array periodically, or continually, transmits information
identifying itself. The identification may be the result of an
enumeration process in which each beacon in the array is assigned a
number based on a particular scheme, such as physical position, or
connection order. An example of an enumerated beacon array is shown
in FIG. 4, showing beacons 40 labelled alphabetically from A to
U.
[0062] Each beacon 40 in FIG. 4 is shown with a circular
transmission zone 41 surrounding it, shaded in grey, which
indicates the area within which a signal could be expected to be
detected by a mobile device. Each of the beacons 40 is shown as
having the same sized transmission zone 41, representing equal
signal strength in all directions, and equal signal strength for
each of the beacons, but it will be appreciated that beacons 40 may
have different signal strengths depending on the specific physical
design parameters of the beacon, or depending on its location. A
fire escape, for example, may be regarded as a high priority point
of interest in a building, such that it is associated with a beacon
having a higher signal range, or frequency of reporting, than other
beacons in the building. Although circular transmission zones are
shown, it will be appreciated that the transmission zones are
three-dimensional (e.g. spherical) in nature.
[0063] FIG. 4 also illustrates a number of overlapping zones 42 in
which signals can be received from multiple beacons. This reflects
the requirement that each beacon in the navigation zone is able to
"see" (i.e. communicate with) one other beacon, to enable
propagation of information as described below.
[0064] As a mobile device moves through the beacon array, it uses
an application that reports the direction of movement of the mobile
device. The direction of movement may be identified using hardware
such as a magnetic compass, or directional accelerometer. The
mobile device also reports those signals that it can receive from
beacons 40 in the array. The reporting is carried out each time a
beacon 40 is detected by the mobile device, and the reporting takes
the form of a message communicated to the beacons 40 using the BLE
protocol, either as a single instance, or as a repeated
communication.
[0065] In addition to communications and processing circuitry, each
beacon 40 contains memory for storing data. The memory is for
storing the identification assigned to the beacon during the
enumeration process. In addition, the memory stores the information
received from the mobile device so that each beacon 40 can share
the data with neighbouring beacons, such that all beacons 40 in the
navigation zone build up an identical table of information
indicating the nearest neighbour to a particular beacon, and the
relative direction to that beacon.
[0066] An example of such as a table 50 is shown in FIG. 5, which
is generated as a mobile device moves along a particular pathway 51
through the navigation zone, also shown in FIG. 5. From this table
50, it can be determined that beacon A has beacon B as a neighbour
to the East. Beacon B has beacons A (West), C (East) and H (South)
as neighbours. Beacon C has beacons B, G and H as neighbours, and
so on. Motion information from the mobile device leads to the
establishment that a pathway running East/West reaches beacons A,
B, C and H. A pathway running North/South reaches beacons C, H, G,
M, N, Q and P. In this example, only the discrete
compass-directions are shown in Table 5, although it will be
appreciated that since typical mobile devices are capable of
determining bearings to three significant figures or greater, more
detailed information will be stored by each beacon in some
embodiments.
[0067] From the table 50 in FIG. 5, it can be further calculated
that if beacon A is detected by the mobile device, and the device
wishes to travel to beacon O, a course can be created which takes
the East/West pathway from beacon A to C, the North/South pathway
from beacon C to P, and the East/West pathway from P to O. The
entire navigation zone can be similarly mapped, and a series of
pathways constructed.
[0068] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the pathways 60 through the
beacon array of FIG. 4, based on the information for the entire
beacon array, having the structure of that contained in the table
of FIG. 5.
[0069] In FIG. 6, three North/South pathways 61, 62, 63 and three
East/West pathways 64, 65, 66 are shown. Although in general, each
beacon is shown as close to a particular pathway, it is not
necessary that this is the case. As an example, beacon N is shown
as more distant from a pathway than any of the other beacons, but
the pathways surrounding it may pass through the transmission zone
associated with that beacon, so that the pathway is valid in the
sense of a logical connection representing the use of beacon N in
defining transit between beacons M and Q, for example. The
variation in the position of a beacon relative to a pathway is also
reflective of the fact that in physical terms, it may not be
possible to plot a straight line through an office between beacons
H and Q, due to the shape of a corridor for example, and so to
interpret the pathways as logical instructions, based on the table
of FIG. 5, enables the user to effectively translate the pathways
into physical pathways when walking through the office in
accordance with logical guidance information as described
below.
[0070] The pathways of FIG. 6 illustrate that there are a number of
different pathways between the same pair of beacons. As an example,
to travel from beacon A to beacon G, paths 64, 62 and 65 could be
taken, but instead, paths 64, 63 and 65 could be taken. The beacon
array of the present invention is able to determine an optimal
route between two beacons which is that which crosses the fewest
beacons. In cases where two routes cross the same number of
beacons, either two routes can be identified as alternatives, or
signal strengths can be analyzed for greater accuracy where there
are a many pathways, for example through cubicles in an office. The
strengths of signals received at a mobile device are measured to
provide an indication of proximity to a beacon. Consequently, while
it might be established that it is possible for the mobile device
to travel between two locations by crossing through the
transmission zones of particular intermediate beacons, it might
also be established that some of those beacons are positioned
further away than others. As such, the optimal route between two
locations may be determined more accurately by taking into account
how close to a particular beacon the mobile device needs to be to
successfully transition from the transmission zone of that beacon
to another beacon.
[0071] Routes between beacons can be stored in the memory of each
beacon in the array for later use in provision to a mobile device
requesting navigational guidance. Alternatively, the routes may be
calculated "on-the-fly" when required by a processor in the beacon,
but preferably, the beacon transmits information to the mobile
device representing the content of the table 50 of FIG. 5, and a
navigation application hosted by the mobile device is capable of
analysing the information to determine an optimal pathway. This
arrangement harnesses the greater processing power of a mobile
device in comparison to that of a beacon.
[0072] Directions can be provided to a user of the mobile device
"turn-by-turn", using a the navigation application running on the
mobile device. Each successive direction is triggered by the
detection of a beacon signal by the mobile device. For example, the
application tells the user to proceed West through the navigation
zone from beacon A. When the mobile device detects beacon H, a
right turn is instructed so that the user heads South along the
North/South pathway. When beacon P is detected, the application
alerts the user to take the next left so as to travel East to
beacon O.
[0073] Because the beacons communicate with each other (in addition
to the mobile device), they can share pass data received from the
mobile device throughout the entire beacon array. The navigation
application on the mobile device therefore only needs access to a
single beacon to be able to obtain navigation instructions.
[0074] The embodiments described above make use of an enumeration
scheme to identify each of the beacons in the array. Where the
beacons are connected to fixed devices in the way of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1, the present invention may take advantage of
identification information associated with fixed devices so that
the beacons are identified as corresponding to the users of
offices. Instead of providing navigation information step by step
and relying on detection of particular beacon signals before a next
instruction is provided to the user, an entire set of navigation
instructions can thus be provided to a user in advance, in a form
which can be easily interpreted. For example, the instructions may
be of the form "Head South to Sarah's office, turn right and head
West until you reach Michael's office, and then the elevators will
be to your right". To provide the user with an indication of
progress, portions of the navigation information, such as "now turn
right" can be repeated to the user when certain points of interest
are reached. In addition, the navigation application can be
arranged to interface with, or integrated with, the mapping
application described with reference to FIG. 2, so that the
progress of the user can be confirmed on a map on the user's mobile
device, which is useful in the event the user is unfamiliar with
the identity of the points of interest.
[0075] It will be appreciated that modifications to the embodiments
described above may be made above which fall within the scope of
the invention as defined by the claims, based on interchange of
some or all of the described or illustrated elements. For example,
any low power communication protocol may be used for communication
between the beacons and the mobile device, and the specific use BLE
is not essential. Zigbee.RTM., Zigbee.RTM. RF4CE, ANT.RTM.,
ANT+.RTM., IrDA.RTM., Wi-Fi.RTM. and other wireless signals provide
suitable alternatives. Similarly, alternatives to LDAP for
labelling beacons with location information will be apparent, such
as a reverse phone lookup service (e.g. "reverse 411") which will
take a number and provide a name for that number, or the MAC
address and/or IP address-based embodiment described. Another
alternative would be the manual configuration of the labelling of
devices as par of an "initialisation" process. Similarly, it has
been described above that beacons may each locally store
information identifying nearest neighbours or pathway information.
As an alternative, groups of beacons may share access to a central
memory at which the relevant data is stored in correspondence with
a beacon, where the storage capacity of an individual beacon is
small. Embodiments may be combined in a number of ways as set out
above, for example the combination of the positioning embodiments
with the pathway-learning embodiments, while retaining the benefits
of the invention set out in this disclosure.
[0076] Moreover, where certain elements of the present invention
can be partially or fully implemented using known components, only
those portions of such known components that are necessary for an
understanding of the present invention are described, and detailed
descriptions of other portions of such known components are omitted
so as not to obscure the invention. In the present invention, an
embodiment showing a singular component should not preclude other
embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and
vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Further, the
present invention encompasses present and future known equivalents
to the known components referred to herein by way of
illustration.
[0077] The foregoing description is provided to enable any person
skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments
described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will
be readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, and
generic principles defined herein can be applied to other
embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the
embodiments shown and described herein, but are to be accorded the
full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein
reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean
"one and only one" unless specifically stated, but rather "one or
more." All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of
the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that
are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in
the relevant art are intended to be encompassed by the claims.
* * * * *