Geolocationing system and method for use of same
A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, a vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices is provided. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals to a server, which determines estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device.
1. A system for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, the system comprising:
a vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices, each gateway device being positioned within a space in the multi-space environment, each gateway device having a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location;
each gateway device of the vertical and horizontal array including:
a housing,
a wireless transceiver associated with the housing,
a processor located within the housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver,
a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive a beacon signal via the wireless transceiver from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device, the beacon signal including a personal locator device identification,
measure a signal characteristic of the beacon signal,
transmit a gateway signal to a server, the gateway signal including the personal locator device identification, the gateway device identification, and received signal strength measurement; and
the server located in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices, the server including:
a processor, and
a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive a plurality of gateway signals from a plurality of gateway devices of the vertical and horizontal array,
process the plurality of gateway signals,
determine estimated location of the proximate wireless-enabled personal location device, and
activate a microphone and speaker proximate the estimated location.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with a standard selected from the group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, WiFi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth and Bluetooth low energy.
3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gateway device further comprises a plurality of wireless transceivers.
4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gateway device further comprises a set-top box.
5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gateway device further comprises a common space gateway device.
6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gateway device further comprises a gateway service device.
7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device further comprises a single button personal locator device.
8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device further comprises a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.
9. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device further comprises a device selected from the group consisting of smart watches, smart phones, and tablet computers.
10. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the server further comprises a back-office hotel server in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices.
11. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the server further comprises a cloud-based server in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices.
12. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the server further comprises the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
render a map view of the multi-space environment, the map view including a graphical representation of the multi-space environment, and
annotate the graphical representation of the room with location of the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device.
13. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the server further comprises the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
render a map view of the multi-space environment, the map view including a graphical representation of the multi-space environment,
annotate the graphical representation of the multi-space environment with location of the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device, and
annotate the graphical representation of the room with the alert notification.
14. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises alerts-enabled operation mode that causes the server to receive a distress signal from the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device.
15. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the server further comprises processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to activate a plurality of microphones and speakers proximate the estimated location.
16. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the speaker and microphone form a portion of a device selected from the group consisting of proximate wireless-enabled personal locator devices, cellular telephones, mobile telephones, two-way radios, personal digital assistants, digital music players, Global Positioning System units, tablet computers, and smartwatches.
17. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the speaker and microphone form a portion of a device selected from the group consisting of gateway devices, set-top boxes, gateway service devices, and common space gateway devices.
18. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the server further comprises the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
render a map view of the multi-space environment, the map view including a graphical representation of the multi-space environment, and
annotate the graphical representation of the room with location of the speaker and microphone.
19. A system for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, the system comprising:
an array of gateway devices, each gateway device being positioned within a space in the multi-space environment, each gateway device having a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location;
each gateway device of the array including:
a housing,
a wireless transceiver associated with the housing,
a processor located within the housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver,
a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive a beacon signal via the wireless transceiver from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device, the beacon signal including a personal locator device identification,
measure a signal characteristic of the beacon signal,
transmit a gateway signal to a server, the gateway signal including the personal locator device identification, the gateway device identification, and received signal strength measurement; and
the server located in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices, the server including:
a processor, and
a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive a plurality of gateway signals from a plurality of gateway devices of the array,
process the plurality of gateway signals,
determine estimated location of the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device, and
activate a speaker and microphone proximate the estimated location.
20. A system for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, the system comprising:
an array of gateway devices, each gateway device being positioned within a space in the multi-space environment, each gateway device having a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location;
each gateway device of the vertical and horizontal array including:
a housing,
a wireless transceiver associated with the housing,
a processor located within the housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver,
a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive a beacon signal via the wireless transceiver from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device, the beacon signal including a personal locator device identification,
measure a signal characteristic of the beacon signal,
transmit a gateway signal to a server, the gateway signal including the personal locator device identification, the gateway device identification, and received signal strength measurement; and
the server located in communication with the array of gateway devices, the server including:
a processor, and
a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive a plurality of gateway signals from a plurality of gateway devices of the array,
process the plurality of gateway signals,
determine estimated location of the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device,
activate an alert notification,
activate a microphone and speaker proximate the estimated location
render a map view of the multi-space environment, the map view including a graphical representation of the multi-space environment,
annotate the graphical representation of the multi-space environment with location of the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device,
annotate the graphical representation of the multi-space environment with the alert notification, and
annotate the graphical representation of the multi-space environment with the location of the speaker and microphone.