Utilization of existing network infrastructure to provide person tracking capabilities
A tracking/locating/paging system utilizes a “pre-established” local area network to determine essentially real-time information regarding one or more client devices within a closed communication environment (“pre-established” also considered as including an ad hoc network connection of devices deployed to serve a common interest). Particularly suited for arrangements such as an amusement park, college campus, shopping mall, etc., the service of the present invention utilizes conventional client devices and includes the ability to transmit an identification signal unique to each device. Various network access points distributed through the closed environment receive these unique identification signals and can therefore pinpoint the location of various client devices in real time. Accordingly, a paging function may be added to further enhance the communication aspects of the tracking and locating features of the present invention.
1. A system for providing real time information regarding the location of specific individuals within a closed local area network communication environment, the closed environment being served by an in-place local area communication network, the system comprising:
a plurality of mobile client communication devices, each mobile client communication device for transmitting a unique identification (“ID”) signal in a periodic manner, at least one mobile client communication device defined as a tracker client device and including the ability to request and receive location information of each remaining client device associated with its defined group of client devices; and
a plurality of network access points, each access point responsive to the unique identification signals transmitted by the plurality of mobile client communication devices for identifying and determining the location of various ones of the plurality of mobile client communication devices.
2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of mobile client communication devices within the closed environment further comprise the ability to transmit and receive paging signals.
3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of mobile client communication devices within the closed environment further comprise the ability to transmit and receive voice/text communications.
4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the in-place local area communication network comprises a wireless network.
5. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein the in-place wireless local area communication network utilizes the 802.11 communication protocol.
6. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein each access point includes a media access controller for determining the identity and location of each mobile client communication device.
7. A method for locating one or more mobile client devices within a closed communication environment service by a local area network, the method comprising the steps of:
a) associating a unique identification signal with each mobile client device within a pre-defined group of client devices;
b) each mobile client device including a transmitter for transmitting its unique identification signal;
c) at least one access point in the closed communication environment receiving transmitted unique identification signals from the pre-defined group of client devices;
d) determining, at the plurality of access points within the closed environment, the physical location of each client device within the pre-defined group based on the received unique identification signals; and
e) upon request from a particular client device, transmitting the location information of the remaining devices within the pre-defined group to the requesting client device.
8. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein in performing step c), each module client device periodically transmits its unique identification signal.
9. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein in performing step c), each mobile client device transmits its unique identification signal at least once a minute.
10. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein in performing step c), each module client transmits its unique identification signal upon request from at least one access point.
11. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein the method is employed in a closed communication environment utilizing the 802.11 wireless communication standard.
12. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein the method further comprises the step of:
f) transmitting a paging signal from a selected client device to the remaining devices within the pre-defined group.
13. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein the in-place local area communication network comprises at least two wireless communication standards.