# US 9,439,045 B2 · Methods, systems, and products for location determination > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,439,045 B2 - Document ID: US9439045B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/526,556 - Filed: 2014-10-29 - Published: 2016-05-05 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-29 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Kirk Kingsmill; Robert Johnston; Jeffery Russell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9439045B2 ## CPC - H04W 4/33: for indoor environments, e.g. buildings - H04M 1/72412: using two-way short-range wireless interfaces - H04M 1/72415: for remote control of appliances - H04M 1/72457: according to geographic location - H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences - H04W 4/30: Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Location may be determined based on electrical outlets in a home or business. One or more of the electrical outlets may wirelessly communicate with a mobile device, thus updating a database with the location of the mobile device. As the mobile device moves within the home or business, a current location of the mobile device may be continually logged by passing one of the electrical outlets. Rules and operations may then be performed, based on the current location. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: receiving, by a processor, outlet messages sent from electrical outlets of an electrical distribution system, each one of the outlet messages comprising a device identifier and an outlet identifier, the device identifier associated with a mobile device communicating with a transceiver in a corresponding one of the electrical outlets, and the outlet identifier uniquely identifying the transceiver in the corresponding one of the electrical outlets; and adding, by the processor, an entry to an electronic database of locations associated with the mobile device, the electronic database of locations having entries that log the outlet identifier as an indoor location associated with the mobile device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising time stamping each one of the outlet messages. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising activating a luminaire associated with the outlet identifier represented by a latest time stamp. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising deactivating the luminaire after an expiration of time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising triangulating the current location associated with the mobile device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising triangulating the indoor location associated with the mobile device based on the outlet messages received from different ones of the electrical outlets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising activating an electronic lock associated with the indoor location of the mobile device. ### Claim 8 A system, comprising: a processor; and a memory storing instructions that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising: receiving an outlet message sent from a transceiver in an electrical outlet in an electrical system, the outlet message comprising a device identifier and an outlet identifier, the device identifier associated with a mobile device communicating with the transceiver in the electrical outlet, and the outlet identifier uniquely identifying the transceiver in the electrical outlet; and storing the outlet identifier in an electronic database of locations associated with the mobile device, the electronic database of locations having entries that log the outlet identifier as an indoor location of the mobile device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise time stamping the outlet message. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise activating a luminaire associated with the outlet identifier. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise deactivating the luminaire after an expiration of a time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise triangulating the indoor location of the mobile device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise triangulating the indoor location of the mobile device based on outlet messages received from different electrical outlets. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise activating an electronic lock associated with the indoor location of the mobile device. ### Claim 15 A memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising: receiving an outlet message sent from a transceiver in an electrical outlet installed in a wall, the electrical outlet connected to conductors of an electrical system, the outlet message comprising a device identifier and an outlet identifier, the device identifier associated with a mobile device communicating with the transceiver in the electrical outlet installed in the wall, and the outlet identifier uniquely identifying the transceiver in the electrical outlet installed in the wall; and storing the outlet identifier in an electronic database of locations associated with the mobile device, the electronic database of locations having entries that log the outlet identifier as an indoor location of the mobile device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise time stamping the outlet message. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise activating a luminaire associated with the indoor location of the mobile device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise deactivating the luminaire after an expiration of a time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise triangulating the indoor location of the mobile device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise activating an electronic lock associated with the indoor location of the mobile device.