# US 2021/0243557 A1 · A navigation device and a navigation communication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0243557 A1 - Document ID: US20210243557A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/049,548 - Filed: 2019-04-23 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-23 - Assignees: Dublin City University - Applicants: Dublin City University - Inventors: Conor Brennan; Derek Molloy; Martin Trainor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243557A1 ## CPC - H04W 4/024: Guidance services - G01S 1/7034: {Mounting or deployment thereof} - G01S 1/751: {Mounting or deployment thereof} - G01S 5/02213: {Receivers arranged in a network for determining the position of a transmitter} - G08B 5/36: using visible light sources - G08B 6/00: Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems - G08B 7/066: {guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip} - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract The invention provides a navigation device comprising a docking portion configured to securely adhere to a surface and a unit having at least one of a visual, an audio or tactile indicator. The present invention provides a device which the user attaches to a wall or door or ground surface entered on the way into a building. A number of fixed devices then assist the user to retrace their route out of the building. In addition, the device can be configured to transmit essential information to a user located outside the building. The devices can also be configured to form a novel navigation communication system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A navigation device comprising a docking portion configured to securely attach to a surface or securing means and a cooperating unit having at least one of a visual, an audio and/or tactile indicator, wherein the unit comprises a wireless communication module in a sealed arrangement and the module is configured to receive and identify a signal emitted in the vicinity of the device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The navigation device of claim 1 wherein the docking portion comprises an adhesive on one side for securely adhering to the surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) The navigation device of claims 1 and 2 wherein the docking portion comprises a removable cover to protect the adhesive when not in use. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2, 3) The navigation device as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the adhesive surface comprises one or more ribbed sections. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2, 3, 4) The navigation device as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the adhesive comprises a gel. ### Claim 6 The navigation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the emitted signal is from a sensor or passive device assigned to a user. ### Claim 7 The navigation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sealed unit is configured to identify a location of the user with respect to the location of the navigation device. ### Claim 8 The navigation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the docking portion comprises a handle adapted to facilitate positioning of the device during deployment. ### Claim 9 The navigation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cooperating unit comprises an actuator button to initiate operation of the navigation device. ### Claim 10 The navigation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the visual indicator comprises a light source shaped as an appropriate indicator to point in a direction of safety. ### Claim 11 The navigation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the docking portion and the unit are configured to mechanically cooperate with each other in different orientations. ### Claim 12 The navigation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the docking portion and the unit are integrally formed. ### Claim 13 The navigation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the docking portion comprises at least three notches, each notch dimensioned to is receive a finger of a user to enable the unit to be secured to the device. ### Claim 14 The navigation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the unit comprises an environmental sensor module configured to monitor one or more environmental conditions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The navigation device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the environmental conditions are transmitted to a central controller. ### Claim 16 The navigation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the unit is configured with a speaker adapted to output an audio warning or a beacon signal. ### Claim 17 The navigation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the unit is configured with a light source adapted to operate in the infrared spectrum. ### Claim 18 A navigation system comprising a plurality of navigation devices as claimed in any of the preceding claims and a central controller adapted to configure the plurality of units in sequence to generate a path to aid a user or crew member exit a structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The navigation system as claimed in claim 18 comprising a mesh network of units wherein each unit is configured with a low-power low data rate radio such that each unit communicates with the central controller by a series of hops along a plurality of units back to the central controller. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The navigation system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the mesh network comprises an OpenThread protocol such that when one unit fails the OpenThread protocol automatically reconfigures the plurality of units to maintain the mesh network back to the central controller. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18, 19, 20, 21) The navigation system as claimed in any of claims 18 to 21 configured to execute one or more algorithms to provide enhanced proximity sensing and tracking of a crew member based on one or more wireless signals. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The navigation system as claimed in any of claim 21 wherein at least one unit is configured with a proximity sensing means such that when a crew member is proximate to the unit a signal is sent from the unit to the central controller. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21, 22) The navigation system as claimed in any of claim 21 or 22 wherein the range of the proximity sensing can be calibrated from the central controller or the unit. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23) The navigation system as claimed in any of claims 18 to 23 configured to execute one or more algorithms to provide a search mode wherein if a crew member requests a rescue a proximity sensing threshold for each unit is lowered the central controller. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The navigation system of claim 24 wherein if a unit is within radio contact with the crew member that requested the search mode the unit will report to the central controller that the crew member is in close proximity. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25) The navigation system as claimed in any of claims 18 to 25 wherein the central controller is adapted to monitor and record the radio signal strength from the crew members relative to the units making a path into the building and mapping a pattern based on the received radio signals. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The navigation system as claimed in claim 26 wherein the central controller is configured to monitor the units as each crew member exits the building and map a particular pattern of recorded signals the central controller is configured to execute a predictive algorithm to generate an informed estimate as to whether the crew members are on the correct path by correlating with the mapped pattern generated when the crew member entered the building.