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 an estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device.
1. A computer-implemented method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, the method comprising:
executing instructions stored in memory by a first processor of a gateway device to:
receive a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device, the beacon signal including a personal locator device identification, and
transmit a gateway signal, the gateway signal including the personal locator device identification and a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location; and
executing instructions stored in memory by a second processor of a remote server to:
receive a plurality of gateway signals from a plurality of gateway devices,
process the plurality of gateway signals, and
determine an estimated location of the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with a standard selected from a group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, WiFi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth, and Bluetooth low energy.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the gateway device further comprises a plurality of wireless transceivers.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the gateway device further comprises a thermostat.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the gateway device further comprises a common space gateway device.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the gateway device further comprises a gateway service device.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device further comprises a single button personal locator device.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device further comprises a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the remote server further comprises a cloud-based server.
10. A computer-implemented method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, the method comprising:
executing instructions stored in memory by a processor of a local server to:
receive a plurality of gateway signals from a plurality of gateway devices,
process the plurality of gateway signals, and
determine an estimated location of a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device; and
wherein the local server is configured to provide a local mode of operation without access to the Internet.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the local server further comprises a back-office hotel server.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the local server further comprises a monitoring station.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the local server assumes responsibility for the remote server upon access to the Internet ending.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising executing instructions stored in memory by the processor of the local server 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 a room with the estimated location of the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising executing instructions stored in memory by the processor of the local server to receive a distress signal from the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device, thereby enabling an alerts-enabled operation mode.
16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
receive a plurality of gateway signals from a plurality of gateway devices,
process the plurality of gateway signals, and
determine an estimated location of a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device;
wherein a beacon signal includes an indication of a physical state of the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to render a map view of a multi-space environment, the map view including a graphical representation of the multi-space environment, and annotate the graphical representation of a room with the estimated location of the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to annotate the graphical representation of the multi-space environment with an alert notification.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to receive a distress signal from the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device, thereby enabling an alerts-enabled operation mode.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device further comprises a device selected from the group consisting of smart watches, smart phones, and tablet computers.