Matching and tracking of individual and mobile device
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsAndrew R. Low, Travis R. Winter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed embodiments provide systems, methods, and computer program products for associating mobile devices with identities of individuals, and tracking such individuals using the location of respective devices. Initially, a user registration process is performed to register an individual for a tracking list. A unique identifier is wirelessly detected from a mobile device in proximity to the individual. The unique identifier is added to the tracking list. The location of the mobile device within the venue is tracked using the unique identifier. When the individual exits the venue, the departure is recorded, and the unique identifier is removed from the tracking list.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method for automatic tracking of a user within a venue, comprising:
- performing, in response to the user entering an entry checkpoint for the venue, a user registration process to register the user for tracking;
- wirelessly detecting a first unique identifier from a first mobile device in proximity to the user;
- wirelessly detecting a second unique identifier from a second mobile device;
- associating the user and the first unique identifier with one another;
- adding the first unique identifier to a tracking list;
- tracking a location of the first mobile device within the venue;
- tracking a location of the second mobile device within the venue;
- computing an association score based on the tracking of the first mobile device and the second mobile device;
- determining a confidence level for a probability that the user is at a particular location based on the association score;
- and
- in response to the user passing through an exit checkpoint for the venue, removing the first unique identifier from the tracking list.
A device comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory coupled to the processor;
- a network interface coupled to the processor;
- wherein the memory contains instructions, which when executed by the processor, perform the steps of:
- performing, in response to the user entering an entry checkpoint for the venue, a user registration process to register the user for tracking;
- wirelessly detecting a first unique identifier from a first mobile device in proximity to the user;
- wirelessly detecting a second unique identifier from a second mobile device;
- associating the user and the first unique identifier with one another;
- adding the first unique identifier to a tracking list;
- tracking a location of the first mobile device within the venue;
- tracking a location of the second mobile device within the venue;
- computing an association score based on the tracking of the first mobile device and the second mobile device;
- determining a confidence level for a probability that the user is at a particular location based on the association score;
- and
- in response to the user passing through an exit checkpoint for the venue, removing the first unique identifier from the tracking list.
A computer program product for an electronic device for automatic tracking of a user within a venue, comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the electronic device to:
- performing, in response to the user entering an entry checkpoint for the venue, a user registration process to register the user for tracking;
- wirelessly detecting a first unique identifier from a first mobile device in proximity to the user;
- wirelessly detecting a second unique identifier from a second mobile device;
- associating the user and the first unique identifier with one another;
- adding the first unique identifier to a tracking list;
- tracking a location of the first mobile device within the venue;
- tracking a location of the second mobile device within the venue;
- computing an association score based on the tracking of the first mobile device and the second mobile device;
- determining a confidence level for a probability that the user is at a particular location based on the association score;
- and
- in response to the user passing through an exit checkpoint for the venue, removing the first unique identifier from the tracking list.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.