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US 10,433,237 B1Granted
Methods and systems for beacon-based management of shared resources
AssigneeMassachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
InventorsMichal Knas, Jiby John
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present disclosure can be used to monitor, access, and utilize resources available at workspaces effectively using location-aware devices. Methods and systems disclosed herein integrate location signals received from beacons and other indoor positioning systems for better management of shared resources, such as conference rooms, audiovisual equipment, and other equipment, and address dynamic changes to the availability or non-availability of these resources based on data from location-aware devices and beacons.
Claims20
A server-implemented method comprising:
- periodically determining, by a server, an availability status associated with each of a plurality of resources in response to receiving location signals from at least one beacon located within each of the plurality of resources, whereby when the server does not receive any location signals associated with a resource, the server determines that resource to be available;
- receiving, by the server, from a location-aware device operated by a user, a request to identify availability status of at least one resource of the plurality of resources, wherein the request comprises a device identifier associated with the location-aware device and at least one location signal detected by the location-aware device from the at least one beacon of the at least one resource;
- determining, by the server, a current location of the location-aware device based on the device identifier;
- determining, by the server, a location of the at least one resource based on a signal strength and a composition comprising a unique identifier of the at least one location signal emitted from the at least one beacon of the at least one resource;
- querying, by the server, the database to determine the availability status of the at least one resource corresponding to the current location associated with the location-aware device based on information associated with the at least one location signal;
- displaying, by the server, the availability status of the at least one resource, and a map showing a route between the current location of the location-aware device and the location of the at least one resource responsive to the request on the location-aware device;
- monitoring, by the server, a presence of the user in the at least one resource based on processing of signals transmitted from the location-aware device of the user;
- and
- when the server determines that the location-aware device has moved out of the at least one resource, transmitting, by the server, instructions to an electrical control system to turn off equipment in the at least one resource.
6 more elements
A computer system comprising:
- a plurality of beacons where each beacon emits location information;
- a location-aware device operated by a user;
- a server communicatively coupled to the plurality of beacons and the location-aware device, wherein the server is programmed to execute instructions to:
- periodically determine an availability status associated with each of a plurality of resources in response to receiving one or more location signals from at least one beacon located within each of the plurality of resources, whereby when the server does not receive any location signals associated with a resource, the server determines that resource to be available;
- receive from the location-aware device, a request to identify availability status of at least one resource of the plurality of resources, wherein the request comprises a device identifier associated with the location-aware device and at least one location signal detected by the location-aware device from the at least one beacon of the at least one resource;
- determine a current location of the location-aware device based on the device identifier;
- determine a location of the at least one resource based on a signal strength and a composition comprising a unique identifier of the at least one location signal emitted from the at least one beacon of the at least one resource;
- query the database to determine the availability status of the at least one resource corresponding to the current location associated with the location-aware device based on information associated with the at least one location signal;
- display the availability status of the at least one resource, and a map showing a route between the current location of the location-aware device and the location of the at least one resource responsive to the request on the location-aware device;
- monitor a presence of the user in the at least one resource based on processing of signals transmitted from the location-aware device of the user;
- and
- when the server determines that the location-aware device has moved out of the at least one resource, transmit instructions to an electrical control system to turn off equipment in the at least one resource.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.