Waypoint-assisted navigation of an enterprise facility

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored therein program code of one or more software programs, wherein the program code when executed by a mobile device causes the mobile device:

• to obtain instructions from a control server, the instructions comprising directions from a current location of the mobile device to a target location in an enterprise facility over a path identified by two or more waypoint devices distributed in the enterprise facility;
• to receive signaling over at least one wireless network from a selected one of the two or more waypoint devices in the path;
• to utilize a radio frequency signal strength of the received signaling to estimate proximity between the mobile device and the selected waypoint device;
• to present an indication of proximity to the first waypoint device via the mobile device, the indication of proximity being based at least in part on the estimated proximity;
• to determine whether the estimated proximity between the mobile device and the selected waypoint device is below a proximity threshold;
• to select another one of the two or more waypoint devices in the path responsive to determining that the estimated proximity is below the proximity threshold;
• and
• to repeat the receiving, utilizing, presenting and determining for the other selected one of the waypoint devices in the path;
• wherein signaling by two or more different ones of the waypoint devices at different locations in the enterprise facility is selectively activated in a sequence, the sequence being based at least in part on the path.

A mobile device comprising:

• a memory;
• a processor coupled to the memory;
• and
• one or more network interfaces;
• wherein the processor implements a proximity application configured:
• to obtain instructions at a mobile device from a control server, the instructions comprising directions from a current location of the mobile device to a target location in an enterprise facility over a path identified by two or more waypoint devices distributed in the enterprise facility;
• to receive signaling over at least one wireless network from a selected one of the two or more waypoint devices in the path;
• to utilize a radio frequency signal strength of the received signaling to estimate proximity between the mobile device and the selected waypoint device;
• to present an indication of proximity to the first waypoint device via the mobile device, the indication of proximity being based at least in part on the estimated proximity;
• to determine whether the estimated proximity between the mobile device and the selected waypoint device is below a proximity threshold;
• to select another one of the two or more waypoint devices in the path responsive to determining that the estimated proximity is below the proximity threshold;
• and
• to repeat the receiving, utilizing, presenting and determining for the other selected one of the waypoint devices in the path;
• wherein signaling by two or more different ones of the waypoint devices at different locations in the enterprise facility is selectively activated in a sequence, the sequence being based at least in part on the path.

A method comprising:

• transmitting instructions over at least one wireless network from a control server to a mobile device, the instructions comprising directions from a current location of the mobile device to a target location in an enterprise facility over a path identified by two or more waypoint devices distributed in the enterprise facility;
• selectively activating signaling by respective ones of the two or more waypoint devices based on estimated location information of the mobile device;
• wherein the signaling by a given one of the two or more waypoint devices permits estimation of proximity between the mobile device and the given waypoint device using a signal strength of the signaling received at the mobile device from the given waypoint device;
• and
• wherein selectively activating signaling by respective ones of the two or more waypoint devices comprises activating signaling by two or more different ones of the waypoint devices at different locations in the enterprise facility in a sequence, the sequence being based at least in part on the path.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored therein program code of one or more software programs, wherein the program code when executed by a control server causes the control server:

• to transmit instructions over at least one wireless network to a mobile device, the instructions comprising directions from a current location of the mobile device to a target location in an enterprise facility over a path identified using two or more waypoint devices distributed in the enterprise facility;
• and
• to selectively activate signaling by respective ones of the two or more waypoint devices based on estimated location information of the mobile device;
• wherein the signaling by respective ones of the two or more waypoint devices permits estimation of proximity between the mobile device and a given one of the two or more waypoint devices using a signal strength of the signaling received at the mobile device from the given waypoint;
• and
• wherein selectively activating signaling by respective ones of the two or more waypoint devices comprises activating signaling by two or more different ones of the waypoint devices at different locations in the enterprise facility in a sequence, the sequence being based at least in part on the path.

A control server comprising:

• a memory;
• a processor coupled to the memory;
• and
• one or more network interfaces;
• the processor implementing a waypoint control module configured:
• to transmit instructions over at least one wireless network to a mobile device, the instructions comprising directions from a current location of the mobile device to a target location in an enterprise facility over a path identified using two or more waypoint devices distributed in the enterprise facility;
• and
• to selectively activate signaling by respective ones of the two or more waypoint devices based on estimated location information of the mobile device;
• wherein the signaling by respective ones of the two or more waypoint devices permits estimation of proximity between the mobile device and a given one of the two or more waypoint devices using a signal strength of the signaling received at the mobile device from the given waypoint;
• and
• wherein selectively activating signaling by respective ones of the two or more waypoint devices comprises activating signaling by two or more different ones of the waypoint devices at different locations in the enterprise facility in a sequence, the sequence being based at least in part on the path.