Electronic location identification and tracking system with beacon clustering
A system for determining the presence of an individual at a particular spot within a location preferably based on the strength of signals received from beacons assigned to the particular spot by a software application (“App”) running on an electronic device of the individual. In one embodiment, certain presence calculations are performed by the App. In another embodiment, the App forwards information regarding the received beacon signals to an electronic identification and location tracking system and the presence calculations are performed by the system.
1. An electronic system for determining a presence of a person at a particular area within a geographical location, comprising:
a location identification and tracking computer system application (“App”) running on a portable electronic device on the person of an individual located within the location; and
a plurality of beacons disposed at different areas within a geographical location, each of the plurality of beacons transmitting a wireless signal for receipt by the App when the portable electronic device is within range of the wireless signal;
wherein the App includes instructions to consider a received beacon signal as a known beacon signal if the beacon that sent the received signal has a unique identifier that was previously programmed into the App;
wherein for each beacon sending a known beacon signal the App includes instructions to determine which location beacon cluster each beacon is assigned to;
wherein the App includes instructions to determine if a preconfigured minimum number of signals from beacons assigned to a location beacon cluster have been received; and
wherein where the preconfigured minimum number of signals have been received the App includes instructions to calculate the average signal strength from the known beacon signals received associated with the location beacon cluster.
2. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 1 wherein the App includes instructions to calculate an average signal strength for each location beacon cluster for the geographical location that the App received at least a minimum number of known beacon signals.
3. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 1 wherein if a signal was not received from the minimum number of beacons associated with a particular location beacon cluster the App includes instructions to (a) use a static value for any missing beacon(s) in the particular location beacon cluster when calculating an average signal strength for the known beacon signals of the beacons associated with the particular location beacon cluster or (b) automatically consider that the person is not present at the particular area within the geographical location assigned to the particular location beacon cluster.
4. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 2 wherein after the average signal strength for each detected location beacon cluster for the geographical location has been determined or calculated the App includes instructions to select or identify the location beacon cluster with a highest computed average signal strength and to determine that the person is located at the particular area with the geographical location associated with the location beacon cluster with the highest computed average strength.
5. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 4 wherein the App includes instructions to electronically compare the average signal strength of the selected or identified location beacon cluster to a preconfigured minimum signal strength value for the particular area within the geographical location or the selected or identified location beacon cluster.
6. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 5 wherein if the average signal strength for the selected or identified location beacon cluster is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the App includes instructions to electronically determine that the person is present at the particular area within the geographical location associated with the selected or identified location beacon cluster.
7. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 5 wherein where the average signal strength for the selected or identified location beacon cluster is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the App includes instructions to electronically determine if the average signal strength remains above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a preconfigured period of time.
8. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 2 further comprising an electronic location identification and tracking system (“System”) in electronic communication with the portable electronic device or plurality of beacons;
wherein the App includes instructions to (a) select a location beacon cluster with the highest computed average signal strength and (b) electronically forward the identifiers and computed average signal strength for the selected location beacon cluster to the System;
wherein the System programmed to determine the current location of the person within geographical area.
9. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 8 wherein the System is programmed to electronically compare the selected beacon cluster identifiers and computer average signal strength to a preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a particular area with the geographical location or particular location beacon cluster.
10. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 8 wherein if the average signal strength for the selected location beacon cluster is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the System is programmed to electronically determine that the person is considered present at a particular area within the geographical location associated with the selected location beacon cluster.
11. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 8 wherein where the average signal strength for the selected location beacon cluster is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the System is programmed to electronically determine if the average signal strength remains above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a preconfigured period of time.
12. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 1 further comprising a database;
wherein for each known beacon signal received by the App the App includes instructions to electronically query the database to receive location properties for each known beacon signal;
wherein the location properties are stored in the database.
13. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 12 wherein the location properties also including information on the identity of beacons grouped as a particular location beacon cluster for a particular area within the geographical location.
14. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 1 wherein the App includes instructions to allow the App to determine which location beacon cluster out of a plurality of location beacon clusters for the geographical location has a highest average signal strength.
15. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 1 wherein the App includes instructions to allow the App to determine a current area of presence for the person at the geographical location based on determining the location beacon cluster having the highest average signal strength.
16. An electronic system for determining a presence of a person at a particular area within a geographical location, comprising:
a location identification and tracking computer system application (“App”) running on a portable electronic device on the person of an individual located within the location; and
a plurality of beacons disposed at different areas within a geographical location, each of the plurality of beacons transmitting a wireless signal for receipt by the App when the portable electronic device is within range of the wireless signal;
wherein the App includes instructions to consider a received beacon signal as a known beacon signal if the beacon that sent the received signal has a unique identifier that was previously programmed into the App;
wherein for each beacon sending a known beacon signal the App includes instructions to determine which location beacon cluster each beacon is assigned to;
wherein the App includes instructions to determine if a preconfigured minimum number of signals from beacons assigned to a location beacon cluster have been received;
wherein where the preconfigured minimum number of signals have been received the App includes instructions to calculate the average signal strength from the known beacon signals received associated with the location beacon cluster;
wherein if a preconfigured minimum number of signals were not received for a particular location beacon cluster the App includes instructions to discard or disregard the particular location beacon cluster from consideration of a particular area determination for the person within the geographical location.
17. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 16 further comprising a database;
wherein for each known beacon received by the App the App includes instructions to electronically query the database to receive location properties for each known beacon signal;
wherein the location properties are stored in the database.
18. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 17 wherein the location properties also including information on the identify of beacons grouped as a particular location beacon cluster for a particular area within the geographical location.
19. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 18 wherein the App includes instructions to select or identify a location beacon cluster with the highest computed average signal strength for a plurality of location beacon clusters.
20. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 19 wherein the App includes instructions to determine a current location for the user within the geographical as a location associated with the particular location beacon cluster having the highest computed average signal strength.
21. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 16 wherein the App includes instructions to electronically compare the average signal strength of the selected or identified location beacon cluster to a preconfigured minimum signal strength value for the particular area within the geographical location or the selected or identified location beacon cluster.
22. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 21 wherein if the average signal strength for the selected or identified location beacon cluster is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the App includes instructions to electronically determine that the person is present at the particular area within the geographical location associated with the selected or identified location beacon cluster.
23. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 16 further comprising:
an electronic location identification and tracking system (“System”) in electronic communication with the portable electronic device or plurality of beacons;
wherein the App includes instructions to (a) select a location beacon cluster with the highest computed average signal strength and (b) electronically forward the identifiers and computed average signal strength for the selected location beacon cluster to the System;
wherein the System programmed to determine the current location of the person within geographical area.
24. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 23 wherein the System is programmed to electronically compare the selected beacon cluster identifiers and computer average signal strength to a preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a particular area with the geographical location or particular location beacon cluster.
25. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 23 wherein if the average signal strength for the selected location beacon cluster is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the System is programmed to electronically determine that the person is considered present at a particular area within the geographical location associated with the selected location beacon cluster.
26. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 23 wherein where the average signal strength for the selected location beacon cluster is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the System is programmed to electronically determine if the average signal strength remains above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a preconfigured period of time.
27. An electronic system for determining a presence of a person at a particular area within a geographical location, comprising:
a location identification and tracking computer system application (“App”) running on a portable electronic device on the person of an individual located within the location; and
a plurality of beacons disposed at different areas within a geographical location, each of the plurality of beacons transmitting a wireless signal for receipt by the App when the portable electronic device is within range of the wireless signal,
wherein for each beacon sending a beacon signal the App includes instructions to determine which location beacon cluster each beacon is assigned to;
wherein the App includes instructions to determine if a preconfigured minimum number of signals from beacons assigned to a location beacon cluster have been received; and
wherein where the preconfigured minimum number of signals have been received the App includes instructions to calculate the average signal strength from the beacon signals received associated with the location beacon cluster.