# US 10,482,726 B2 · Methods, systems, and apparatus for bi-directional communication with wearable location devices

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- Number: US 10,482,726 B2
- Document ID: US10482726B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/810,643
- Filed: 2017-11-13
- Published: 2019-05-16
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-13
- Assignees: Zebra Technologies Corporation
- Applicants: Zebra Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Robert A. Grom
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482726B2

## CPC

- G08B 5/38: using flashing light
- A41D 1/002: {adapted to accommodate electronic equipment (patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085)}
- A42B 3/0433: {Detecting, signalling or lighting devices}
- A42B 3/30: Mounting radio sets or communication systems
- A63B 43/004: {electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration}
- A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user}
- G08B 5/36: using visible light sources
- H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds}
- A41D 27/085: {Luminous ornaments}
- A63B 2220/40: Acceleration
- A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
- A63B 2230/04: heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
- A63B 2230/30: blood pressure (A63B2230/04 takes precedence)
- A63B 2230/40: respiratory characteristics
- A63B 2230/50: temperature
- A63B 2230/65: skin conductivity
- G08B 6/00: Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00)
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

An example disclosed method of displaying an image at a venue includes receiving blink data from tags, each of the tags carried by a wearable location device associated with a monitored individual; determining tag location data based on the blink data, the tag location data indicative of locations of the monitored individuals; detecting an occurrence of an event associated with an image; in response to the occurrence of the event: assigning a plurality of the tags a particular color based on the tag location data, the plurality of the tags corresponding to a plurality of the wearable location devices; generating an instruction configured to cause the plurality of the wearable location devices to emit light of the particular color; and transmitting the instruction to the plurality of the plurality of the tags to cause the plurality of the wearable location devices to display the image.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of displaying an image at a venue, the method comprising:
receiving blink data from tags, each of the tags carried by a wearable location device associated with a monitored individual;
determining tag location data based on the blink data, the tag location data indicative of locations of the monitored individuals;
detecting an occurrence of an event associated with an image;
in response to the occurrence of the event:
assigning a plurality of the tags a particular color based on the tag location data, the plurality of the tags corresponding to a plurality of the wearable location devices;
generating a first instruction configured to cause the plurality of the wearable location devices to emit light of the particular color; and
transmitting the first instruction to the plurality of the tags to cause the plurality of the wearable location devices to collectively display the image;
comparing the image to the location data for the plurality of the tags;
identifying a gap in the image; and
in response to identifying the gap:
identifying a subset of the tags proximate to the gap, the subset of the tags corresponding to a subset of the wearable location devices; and
transmitting a second instruction to the subset of the tags to cause the subset of the wearable location devices to mitigate the gap in the image by emitting light.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first instruction to the plurality of the tags comprises:
identifying a transceiver that transmits to a region including the plurality of the tags; and
sending the first instruction to the identified transceiver.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a region of the venue over which the image is to be displayed, and wherein assigning the plurality of the tags the particular color comprises identifying the plurality of the tags as located within the region of the venue.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein for each tag within the plurality of the tags, assigning the tag the particular color comprises:
identifying an overlaid color in the image at a location of the tag; and
assigning the tag the overlaid color.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising
assigning the subset of the tags a transition color between the particular color and a second color overlaid at a location of the gap.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving subsequent blink data from a first tag of the plurality of the tags;
determining subsequent location data for the first tag;
determining that the subsequent location for the first tag is overlaid with a different color than the location for the first tag; and
transmitting a third instruction to the first tag, wherein the third instruction is configured to cause the corresponding one of the wearable location devices to emit light of the color overlaid at the subsequent location.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
identifying a second tag located proximate the location of the first tag; and
transmitting a fourth instruction to the second tag, wherein the fourth instruction is configured to cause the wearable location device corresponding to the second tag to emit light of a transition color.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the image includes a plurality of images that form an animation, and generating the first instruction to cause the plurality of the wearable location devices to emit light comprises generating the first instruction such that the first instruction includes a temporal component to cause the plurality of the wearable location devices to emit light of different colors over a duration of the animation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a third instruction to cause a particular wearable location device to vibrate.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting that blink data received from a first tag includes a request for assistance.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises:
receiving second blink data from tags associated with participants;
determining participant tag location data based on the second blink data; and
detecting that the tag location data indicates that a first participant has crossed a threshold.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting a timing associated with a performance at the venue.

### Claim 13

An apparatus for displaying an image at a venue, the apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory storing computer readable instructions thereon, that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
receive blink data from tags, each of the tags carried by a wearable location device associated with a monitored individual;
determine tag location data based on the blink data, the tag location data indicative of locations of the monitored individuals;
detect an occurrence of an event associated with an image;
in response to the occurrence of the event:
assign a plurality of the tags a particular color based on the tag location data, the plurality of the tags corresponding to a plurality of the wearable location devices;
generate a first instruction configured to cause the wearable location devices corresponding to the plurality of the tags to emit light of the particular color; and
transmit the first instruction to the plurality of the tags to cause the plurality of the wearable location devices to collectively display the image;
compare the image to the location data for the plurality of the tags;
identify a gap in the image; and
in response to identifying the gap:
identify a subset of the tags proximate to the gap, the subset of the tags corresponding to a subset of the wearable location devices; and
transmit a second instruction to the subset of the tags to cause the subset of the wearable location devices to mitigate the gap in the image by emitting light.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein transmitting the first instruction comprises:
identifying a transceiver configured to transmit to the plurality of the tags; and
sending the first instruction to the identified transceiver.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the stored instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to determine a region of the venue over which the image is to be displayed, wherein assigning the plurality of the tags the particular color comprises identifying the plurality of the tags as located within the region of the venue.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising
assigning the subset of tags a transition color between the particular color overlaid at the location of the plurality of the tags and a second color overlaid at a location of the gap.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the stored instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to:
receive subsequent blink data from a first tag of the plurality of the tags;
determine subsequent location data for the first tag;
determine that the subsequent location for the first tag is overlaid with a different color than the particular color; and
transmit a third instruction to the first tag, wherein the third instruction is configured to cause the wearable location device corresponding to the first tag to emit light of the color overlaid at the subsequent location.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first instruction includes a temporal component to cause the plurality of the wearable location devices to emit light of different colors over a duration of an animation.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the stored instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to generate a third instruction to cause the plurality of wearable location devices to vibrate.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting that blink data received from a first one of the tags includes a request for assistance.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting that the tag location data indicates that a first participant has crossed a threshold location.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting a timing associated with a performance at the venue.

### Claim 23

A tangible machine-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:
receive blink data from tags, each of the tags carried by a wearable location device associated with a monitored individual;
determine tag location data based on the blink data, the tag location data indicative of locations of the monitored individuals;
detect an occurrence of an event associated with an image;
in response to the occurrence of the event:
based on the tag location data, assign a plurality of the tags a particular color, the plurality of the tags corresponding to a plurality of the wearable location devices;
generate a first instruction configured to cause the plurality of the wearable location devices to emit light of the particular color; and
transmit the first instruction to the plurality of the tags to the cause the plurality of the wearable location devices to collectively display the image;
compare the image to the location data for the plurality of the tags;
identify a gap in the image; and
in response to identifying the gap:
identify a subset of the tags proximate to the gap, the subset of the tags corresponding to a subset of the wearable location devices; and
transmit a second instructions to the subset of the tags to cause the subset of the wearable location devices to mitigate the gap in the image by emitting light.

### Claim 24

A method of displaying an image at a venue, the method comprising:
receiving blink data from tags, each of the tags carried by a wearable location device associated with a monitored individual;
determining tag location data based on the blink data, the tag location data indicative of locations of the monitored individuals;
detecting an occurrence of an event associated with an image;
in response to the occurrence of the event:
assigning a plurality of the tags a particular color based on the tag location data, the plurality of the tags corresponding to a plurality of the wearable location devices;
generating an instruction configured to cause the plurality of the wearable location devices to emit light of the particular color; and
transmitting the instruction to the plurality of the plurality of the tags to cause the plurality of the wearable location devices to collectively display the image;
receiving subsequent blink data from a first tag of the plurality of the tags;
determining subsequent location data for the first tag;
determining that the subsequent location for the first tag is overlaid with a different color than the location for the first tag;
transmitting a second instruction to the first tag, wherein the second instruction is configured to cause the corresponding wearable location device to emit light of the color overlaid at the subsequent location;
identifying a second tag located proximate the location of the first tag; and
transmitting a third instruction to the second tag, wherein the instruction is configured to cause the wearable location device corresponding to the second tag to emit light of a transition color.