# US 10,441,495 B2 · Guiding people using acoustic signals > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,495 B2 - Document ID: US10441495B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/768,249 - Filed: 2016-10-10 - Published: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-16 - Assignees: Inventio AG - Applicants: Inventio AG - Inventors: Florian Troesch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441495B2 ## CPC - A61H 3/061: {with electronic detecting or guiding means} - G01C 21/206: {specially adapted for indoor navigation} - G01C 21/3629: {Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech (text to speech systems per se G10L13/00)} - G01C 21/3652: {Guidance using non-audiovisual output, e.g. tactile, haptic or electric stimuli} - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - G09B 21/003: {using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays} - G09B 21/006: {using audible presentation of the information} - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - A61H 2003/063: {with tactile perception} - A61H 2201/50: Control means thereof - A61H 2201/5012: using the internet - A61H 2201/5048: Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled - A61H 2201/5064: Position sensors - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract In order to guide a person along a path, audible acoustic signals are used, which are generated by signal generators arranged in an area. The person can orient themselves in the area using these acoustic signals. As the person moves along the path towards a destination, the signal generator arranged next in line on the path generates an acoustic signal, in which direction the person can then move. A signal generator generates an acoustic signal of this type, when it receives a control command from a mobile device carried with the person or from a control device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for guiding a person in an area, in which a plurality of signal generators are arranged at specified locations, the method comprising: determining a current position of a mobile device in the area, wherein the current position is determined as a result of the mobile device communicating with a first signal generator or a control device; identifying a next signal generator which will be reached by the mobile device starting from the current position; sending a control command to the identified next signal generator, wherein the control command causes the identified next signal generator to generate a signal perceptible by the person; and wherein the mobile device communicating with the first signal generator includes a transmission to the first signal generator by the mobile device of a mobile device identification, wherein the first signal generator then communicates with a control device which determines a location of the mobile device to be associated with a location of the first signal generator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first signal generator communicating with the control device includes a transmission to the control device by the mobile device of its location as determined by the mobile device using a Global Positioning System (GPS) or Indoor Positioning System (IPS) system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, in which the identification of the next signal generator is performed by the mobile device and the sending of the control command to the identified next signal generator is executed by the mobile device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, in which the identification of the next signal generator is performed by the control device, and the sending of the control command to the identified next signal generator is executed by the control device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: based on the current position, generating at least one destination suggestion, wherein the at least one destination suggestion is reachable from the current position via a path; transmitting the at least one destination suggestion to the mobile device and receiving a selection of a particular destination from the mobile device; based on the particular destination selection, identifying a signal generator, which is arranged at the destination; and sending the control command to the signal generator arranged at the destination in order to generate the perceptible signal, using the signal generator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, in which the signal generators and the mobile device are equipped with and communicate using Bluetooth technology. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, in which the generated signal is an acoustic signal. ### Claim 8 A system for guiding a person in an area, comprising: a mobile device; a plurality of signal generators, which are arranged at fixed locations in the area, and a processor having a software program for guidance, which is executable in the processor, wherein in operation the processor: determines a current position of the mobile device in the area, wherein the current position is determined when the mobile device communicates with a first signal generator; identifies a next signal generator; which will be reached by the mobile device starting from the current position; sends a control command to the identified next signal generator, wherein the control command causes the identified next signal generator to generate a signal which is perceptible by the person; and wherein the mobile device communicating with the first signal generator includes a transmission to the first signal generator by the mobile device of a mobile device identification, wherein the first signal generator then communicates with a control device which determines a location of the mobile device to be associated with a location of the first signal generator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, in which the processor is arranged in the mobile device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, in which the processor is arranged in a control device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, in which the signal generators are equipped with Bluetooth technology. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein each signal generator has an assigned network address, and a control device determines an identity of a particular signal generator based on the signal generator's network address. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the mobile device communicating with the first signal generator includes a transmission to a control device by the mobile device of its location as determined by the mobile device using a Global Positioning System (GPS) or Indoor Positioning System (IPS) system. ### Claim 14 A system for guiding a person in an area, comprising: a mobile device; a plurality of signal generators, which are arranged at fixed locations in the area, and a processor having a software program for guidance, which is executable in the processor, wherein in operation the processor: determines a current position of the mobile device in the area, wherein the current position is determined when the mobile device communicates with a first signal generator; identifies a next signal generator which will be reached by the mobile device starting from the current position; sends a control command to the identified next signal generator, wherein the control command causes the identified next signal generator to generate a signal which is perceptible by the person; and wherein the mobile device communicating with the first signal generator includes a transmission by the first signal generator of its identification to the mobile device, wherein the mobile device utilizes the first signal generator identification to determine a location of the first signal generator from a pre-stored list of locations and determines a location of the mobile device as being associated with the location of the first signal generator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, in which the processor is arranged in the mobile device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, in which the processor is arranged in a control device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, in which the signal generators are equipped with Bluetooth technology. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein each signal generator has an assigned network address, and a control device determines an identity of a particular signal generator based on the signal generator's network address. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein the mobile device communicating with the first signal generator includes a transmission to a control device by the mobile device of its location as determined by the mobile device using a Global Positioning System (GPS) or Indoor Positioning System (IPS) system. ### Claim 20 A method for guiding a person in an area, in which a plurality of signal generators are arranged at specified locations, the method comprising: determining a current position of a mobile device in the area, wherein the current position is determined as a result of the mobile device communicating with a first signal generator or a control device; identifying a next signal generator which will be reached by the mobile device starting from the current position; sending a control command to the identified next signal generator, wherein the control command causes the identified next signal generator to generate a signal perceptible by the person; and wherein the mobile device communicating with the first signal generator includes a transmission by the first signal generator of its identification to the mobile device, wherein the mobile device utilizes the first signal generator identification to determine a location of the first signal generator from a pre-stored list of locations and determine a location of the mobile device as being associated with the location of the first signal generator. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the first signal generator communicating with the control device includes a transmission to the control device by the mobile device of its location as determined by the mobile device using a Global Positioning System (GPS) or Indoor Positioning System (IPS) system. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, in which the identification of the next signal generator is performed by the mobile device and the sending of the control command to the identified next signal generator is executed by the mobile device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, in which the identification of the next signal generator is performed by the control device, and the sending of the control command to the identified next signal generator is executed by the control device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, further comprising: based on the current position, generating at least one destination suggestion, wherein the at least one destination suggestion is reachable from the current position via a path; transmitting the at least one destination suggestion to the mobile device and receiving a selection of a particular destination from the mobile device; based on the particular destination selection, identifying a signal generator, which is arranged at the destination; and sending the control command to the signal generator arranged at the destination in order to generate the perceptible signal, using the signal generator. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, in which the signal generators and the mobile device are equipped with and communicate using Bluetooth technology. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, in which the generated signal is an acoustic signal.