IP Library Granted Patent US 11,290,842
Granted Patent B2
US 11,290,842 · App. 17/054,398 · Granted Mar 29, 2022

Systems and methods for locating devices in venues

Inventor: Thomas E. Wulff (Brookhaven, NY)
Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
H04W4/021G01S5/20G06K9/00771H04W4/33G01S19/03H04N7/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,290,842
App. No.
17/054,398
Granted
Mar 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an embodiment, the present invention is a device locationing system operable to dynamically determine the presence of keep-out zones within a venue, and thereafter adjust positional data obtained through the device based on the presence of the previously detected keep-out zones.

Claims (24)

1. A locationing system for use within a venue, the locationing system comprising:

a plurality of sensors disposed within the venue, each of the plurality of sensors configured to provide a data stream at least partially representative of a movement of at least one object on at least a portion of a floor of the venue;

a server communicatively connected to the plurality of sensors, the server configured to generate a floor map of the venue based at least in part on the data stream from each of the plurality of sensors, the floor map including a plurality of keep-out zones;

a plurality of locationing devices disposed within the venue, each of the locationing devices configured to emit a signal; and

a mobile device communicatively coupled to the server, the mobile device being configured to detect the signal emitted by at least one of the locationing devices, the mobile device being further configured to transmit signal data related to a detection of the signal emitted by at least one of the locationing devices to the server,

wherein the server is further configured to provide positional data of the mobile device based at least in part on the signal data and based at least in part on the floor map.

2. The locationing system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sensors includes a video camera, and wherein the data stream includes a video stream capturing the movement of the at least one object along a respective path.

3. The locationing system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of keep-out zones is based at least in part on areas outside of the at least some of the respective paths.

4. The locationing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one object includes at least one of a person or a cart.

5. The locationing system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to update the floor map based at least in part on the data stream from each of the plurality of sensors.

6. The locationing system of claim 1 , wherein the floor map is at least one of a logical floor map or a graphical floor map.

7. The locationing system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to generate the floor map of the venue based in part on a predefined floorplan.

8. A method of locating a mobile device within a venue, the method comprising:

disposing a plurality of sensors within the venue, each of the plurality of sensors configured to provide a data stream at least partially representative of a movement of at least one object on at least a portion of a floor of the venue;

communicatively connecting a server to the plurality of sensors, the server configured to generate a floor map of the venue based at least in part on the data stream from each of the plurality of sensors, the floor map including a plurality of keep-out zones;

disposing a plurality of locationing devices within the venue, each of the locationing devices configured to emit a signal;

communicatively coupling the mobile device to the server, the mobile device being configured to detect the signal emitted by at least one of the locationing devices, the mobile device being further configured to transmit signal data related to a detection of the signal emitted by at least one of the locationing devices to the server; and

providing, via the server, positional data of the mobile device based at least in part on the signal data and based at least in part on the floor map.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of sensors includes a video camera, and wherein the data stream includes a video stream capturing the movement of the at least one object along a respective path.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of keep-out zones is based at least in part on areas outside of the at least some of the respective paths.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one object includes at least one of a person or a cart.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the server is further configured to update the floor map based at least in part on the data stream from each of the plurality of sensors.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the floor map is at least one of a logical floor map or a graphical floor map.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the server is further configured to generate the floor map of the venue based in part on a predefined floorplan.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2021
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 056471/0906 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2020
From: WULFF, THOMAS E.
To: ZIH CORP.
Reel/Frame 054326/0624 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 10, 2020
From: ZIH CORP.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054326/0796 →