Electronic location identification and tracking system with beacon clustering
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. 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 wireless beacons disposed at different areas within a geographical location, each of the plurality of wireless beacons transmitting a wireless signal for receipt by the App when the portable electronic device is within range of the wireless signal,
wherein each signal transmitted by each wireless beacon contains a unique identifier identifying the wireless beacon who transmitted the signal,
wherein the App includes instructions to allow the App to electronically determine whether each beacon signal received is from a beacon whose unique identifier is previously programmed into the App;
wherein the App includes instructions so that for each known beacon signal received by the App the App electronically queries a database to electronically receive location properties for each known beacon,
wherein the location properties include information on the identity of beacons grouped as a particular cluster of beacons for a particular area within the location; and
wherein the App includes instructions to allow the App to electronically determining a current area of presence for the individual at the location based on determining which cluster of beacons out of a plurality of cluster of beacons for the location has a highest average signal strength.
2. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 1 wherein the unique identifier for each beacon in a particular beacon cluster includes a universally unique identifier (“UUID”), a major value identifier and a minor value identifier, wherein the unique identifier for each beacon is stored in the database.
3. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 2 wherein the unique minor value identifier distinguishes one beacon in the particular beacon cluster from the remaining beacons in the particular beacon cluster.
4. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 1 wherein the App includes instructions such that when a signal is received from each beacon associated with a particular cluster of beacons the App (a) determines or obtains a signal strength for each beacon signal received, (b) electronically determines an average signal strength from all of the signal strengths received, and (c) electronically compares the average signal strength to a preconfigured minimum signal strength value for the particular area or particular cluster of beacons.
5. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 4 wherein the App includes instructions such that if the determined average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the App considers the individual present at the particular area within the location associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
6. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 5 wherein the App includes instructions to require the average signal strength to be above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a preconfigured period of time before considering the individual present at the particular area within the location associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
7. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 1 wherein the App includes instructions to allow the App to electronically determine if a signal was received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
8. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 7 wherein if a signal was not received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons the App includes instructions to either (i) use a static value for the missing beacon(s) when calculating an average signal strength for the beacon signals of the beacons associated with the particular cluster of beacons, or (ii) calculate the average signal strength from the beacon signals received from the beacons associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
9. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing a determined location for the user in the database.
10. 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
a plurality of wireless beacons disposed at different areas within a geographical location, each of the plurality of wireless beacons transmitting a wireless signal for receipt by the App when the portable electronic device is within range of the wireless signal, wherein each signal transmitted by each wireless beacon contains a unique identifier identifying the wireless beacon who transmitted the signal,
an identification and location tracking system in wireless communication with the portable electronic device that the App is running on;
an identification and location tracking database in electronic communication with the identification and location tracking system, the identification and locating tracking system programmed to electronically determine whether each beacon signal received by the App is from a beacon whose unique identifier is previously stored in the identification and location tracking database;
wherein for each known beacon signal received by the App the identification and location tracking system is programmed to electronically query the database to receive location properties for each known beacon, wherein the location properties include information on the identity of beacons grouped as a particular cluster of beacons for a particular area within the location; and
wherein the identification and location tracking system is programmed to electronically determine a current area of presence for the individual at the location based on determining which cluster of beacons out of a plurality of cluster of beacons for the location has a highest average signal strength.
11. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 10 wherein the unique identifier for each beacon in a particular beacon cluster includes a universally unique identifier (“UUID”), a major value identifier and a minor value identifier, wherein the unique identifier for each beacon is stored in the database.
12. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 11 wherein the unique minor value identifier distinguishes one beacon in the particular beacon cluster from the remaining beacons in the particular beacon cluster.
13. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 10 wherein when a signal is received from each beacon associated with a particular cluster of beacons the identification and location tracking system is programmed to (a) determine or obtain a signal strength for each beacon signal received, (b) electronically determine an average signal strength from all of the signal strengths received, and (c) electronically compare the average signal strength to a preconfigured minimum signal strength value for the particular area or particular cluster of beacons.
14. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 13 wherein if the determined average signal strength is above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value the identification and location tracking system is programmed to consider the individual present at the particular area within the location associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
15. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 14 wherein the identification and location tracking system is programmed to require the average signal strength to be above the preconfigured minimum signal strength value for a preconfigured period of time before considering the individual present at the particular area within the location associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
16. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 10 wherein the identification and location tracking system is programmed to electronically determine if a signal was received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
17. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 16 wherein if a signal was not received from each beacon associated with the particular cluster of beacons the identification and location tracking system is programmed to either (i) use a static value for the missing beacon(s) when calculating an average signal strength for the beacon signals of the beacons associated with the particular cluster of beacons, or (ii) calculate the average signal strength from the beacon signals received from the beacons associated with the particular cluster of beacons.
18. The electronic system for determining a presence of a person of claim 10 further comprising the step of storing a determined location for the user in the identification and location tracking database.