Electronic access control and location tracking system
A system and method 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. A method for determining a presence of a user at a particular area within a location, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) electronically receiving one or more signals containing identification information from at least one wireless beacon associated with a particular area within a location by a user's portable electronic device running an electronic location identification and tracking system application (“App”);
(b) electronically querying a database to electronically receive location properties for each beacon of the at least one wireless beacon, wherein the location properties include information on the number and identity of beacons grouped as a particular cluster of beacons for a particular area within the location; and
(c) electronically determining by the App if a signal was received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
2. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 1 wherein if a signal was received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons, further comprising the steps of: (d) electronically receiving a signal strength for each beacon signal received; (e) electronically determining an average signal strength from all of the signal strengths received in step (d); and (f) electronically comparing the average signal strength to a preconfigured minimum signal strength value for the particular area or particular cluster of beacons.
3. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 2 wherein if the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the user is considered present at the particular area within the location associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
4. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 2 wherein where the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value further comprising the step of electronically determining if the average signal strength remains above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a preconfigured period of time.
5. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 1 wherein if a signal was not received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons in step (c) further comprising the step of either (i) using a static value for any missing beacon when calculating an average signal strength for the beacon signals of the beacons associated with the particular cluster of beacons, or (ii) calculating the average signal strength from the beacon signals received from the beacons associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
6. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 3 further comprising the step of storing a determined location for the user in an electronic database.
7. A method for determining a presence of a user at a particular area within a location, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) electronically receiving one or more signals containing identification information from at least one wireless beacon associated with a particular area within a location by a user's portable electronic device running an electronic location identification and tracking system application (“App”);
(b) electronically querying a database to electronically receive location properties for each beacon of the at least one wireless beacon, wherein the location properties include information on the number and identity of beacons grouped as a particular cluster of beacons for a particular area within the location; and
(c) electronically determining if the user was or is at the particular area within the location by the App or an electronic location identification and tracking system based on the one or more signals received in step (a).
8. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 7 wherein if a signal was received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons then step (c) comprises the steps of: (i) electronically receiving a signal strength for each beacon signal received; (ii) electronically determining an average signal strength from all of the signal strengths received; and (iii) electronically comparing the average signal strength to a preconfigured minimum signal strength value for the particular area or particular cluster of beacons.
9. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 8 wherein if the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the user is considered present at the particular area within the location associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
10. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 8 wherein where the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value further comprising the step of electronically determining if the average signal strength remains above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a preconfigured period of time.
11. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 7 wherein if a signal was not received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons then step (c) comprises the step of either (i) using a static value for any missing beacon when calculating an average signal strength for the beacon signals of the beacons associated with the particular cluster of beacons, or (ii) calculating the average signal strength from the beacon signals received from the beacons associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
12. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 11 wherein if the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the user is considered present at the particular area within the location associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
13. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 11 wherein where the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value further comprising the step of electronically determining if the average signal strength remains above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a preconfigured period of time.
14. A method for determining a presence of a user at a particular area within a location, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) electronically receiving one or more signals from a plurality of beacons associated with a location by a user's portable electronic device running an electronic location identification and tracking system application (“App”);
(b) electronically querying a database to electronically receive location properties for each beacon of the plurality of beacons, wherein the location properties include information on which beacons of the plurality of beacons are grouped together as a particular cluster of beacons for a particular area within the location; and
(c) electronically determining which particular area within the location that the user was or is currently at by the App or an electronic location identification and tracking system based on the one or more signals received in step (a).
15. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 14 wherein if a signal was received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons then step (c) comprises the steps of: (i) electronically receiving a signal strength for each beacon signal received; (ii) electronically determining an average signal strength from all of the signal strengths received; and (iii) electronically comparing the average signal strength to a preconfigured minimum signal strength value for the particular area or particular cluster of beacons.
16. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 15 wherein if the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the user is considered present at the particular area within the location associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
17. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 15 wherein where the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value further comprising the step of electronically determining if the average signal strength remains above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a preconfigured period of time.
18. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 14 wherein if a signal was not received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons then step (c) comprises the step of either (i) using a static value for any missing beacon when calculating an average signal strength for the beacon signals of the beacons associated with the particular cluster of beacons, or (ii) calculating the average signal strength from the beacon signals received from the beacons associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
19. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 18 wherein if the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the user is considered present at the particular area within the location associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
20. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 18 wherein where the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value further comprising the step of electronically determining if the average signal strength remains above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a preconfigured period of time.
21. A method for determining a presence of a user at a particular area within a location, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) electronically receiving one or more signals from a plurality of beacons associated with a location by a user's portable electronic device running an electronic location identification and tracking system application (“App”), wherein certain beacons of the plurality of beacons are grouped together as a particular cluster of beacons for a particular area within the location; and
(b) electronically determining which particular area within the location that the user was or is currently at by the App or an electronic location identification and tracking system based on the one or more signals received in step (a).
22. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 21 wherein if a signal was received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons then step (b) comprises the steps of: (i) electronically receiving a signal strength for each beacon signal received; (ii) electronically determining an average signal strength from all of the signal strengths received; and (iii) electronically comparing the average signal strength to a preconfigured minimum signal strength value for the particular area or particular cluster of beacons.
23. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 22 wherein if the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the user is considered present at the particular area within the location associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
24. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 22 wherein where the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value further comprising the step of electronically determining if the average signal strength remains above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a preconfigured period of time.
25. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 21 wherein if a signal was not received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons then step (b) comprises the step of either (i) using a static value for any missing beacon when calculating an average signal strength for the beacon signals of the beacons associated with the particular cluster of beacons, or (ii) calculating the average signal strength from the beacon signals received from the beacons associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
26. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 25 wherein if the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the user is considered present at the particular area within the location associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
27. The method for determining a presence of a user of claim 25 wherein where the average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value further comprising the step of electronically determining if the average signal strength remains above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a preconfigured period of time.