Electronic identification, location tracking, communication and notification system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10147256-B2
Application number	US-201815934965-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2018
Priority date	Aug 15, 2014
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A method and system in a first embodiment that allows authorized individuals access into controlled access locations and the ability to grant temporary and limited access to guests into these locations. The method and system allow for navigational services to be provided to members and guests, and real-time tracking and confirmation to members and administrators that guests have arrived at their destination and did not enter any unauthorized areas. The method preferably can work through a system of wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons communicating with member and guest's electronic devices. Members and administrators can send one or more temporary electronic access keys to a guest's smartphone or other electronic device. Wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons provide an access control and location tracking system with real-time data about the member and guest whereabouts, allowing for the confirmation and tracking. A system and method in a second embodiment for identifying a customer's location within a facility or place of business, such as, but not limited to a casino. The system and method provide notification to company representatives upon arrival of the customer at the given location. Additionally, the method and system allow for navigational services to be provided to customers, and real-time location determination, location tracking and confirmation to customers of location and rewards program status. The disclosed method and system can work through a system of wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons communicating with the customer's smartphone, computer system, or other electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic system for determining or tracking a current location for an individual within a geographical area, said system comprising:
an identification and location tracking computer specifically programmed to monitor, track and determine current locations of an individual within a geographical area;
an identification and location tracking electronic database storing any permissions information for the individual, the electronic database in electronic communication with the tracking computer;
a plurality of beacons located within the geographical area; each of the plurality of beacons representing a specific location within the geographical area, each specific beacon of the plurality of beacons automatically broadcasting a signal containing unique identification information for the specific beacon; and
a portable electronic device specifically programmed with a software application for permitting electronic wireless communication between the portable electronic device and one or more of the plurality of beacons, the portable electronic device carried by or on the person of the individual when the individual travels or is present within the geographical area, the software application running on the portable electronic device while the individual travels or is present within the geographical area, while running the software application receives one or more signals broadcasted from one or more specific beacons of the plurality of beacons if in communication range of the portable electronic device;
wherein when the individual is in a communication range of one or more specific beacons of the plurality of beacons, said portable electronic device receives the unique identification signal broadcasted by each of the one or more specific beacons and said portable electronic device transmits electronic data transmits the electronic data to the tracking computer to allow the tracking computer to determine the current location of the individual within the geographical area.

2. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein electronic information representing the current location of the individual is stored within the tracking electronic database by the tracking computer.

3. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein each beacon of the plurality of beacons is a wireless radio, sound or light-based beacon.

4. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein the tracking computer is programmed to send an electronic notification to a designated person based on permissions information for the individual stored in the tracking electronic database when the tracking computer determines that the individual is present within the geographical area based on the received electronic data.

5. The electronic system of claim 4 wherein the tracking computer is programmed to update the tracking electronic database with information concerning current location of the individual within the geographical area.

6. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of beacons are disposed throughout the geographical area such that the current location of the individual within the geographical area can be determined by a greatest signal strength from all of the signal strengths of signals received by the portable electronic device from one or more beacons of the plurality of beacons.

7. The electronic system of claim 6 wherein only beacon signals having signal strengths exceeding a preconfigured signal strength are included by the tracking computer to determine the signal having the greatest signal strength.

8. The electronic system of claim 7 wherein the beacon signal strength has to exceed the preconfigured signal strength for at least a preconfigured duration of time in order to be included by the tracking computer in determining the signal having the greatest signal strength.

9. The electronic system of claim 6 wherein only electronic data for beacon signals having signal strengths exceeding a preconfigured signal strength are transmitted to the tracking computer for use by the tracking computer to determine the current location of the individual within the geographical area.

10. The electronic system of claim 9 wherein the beacon signal strength has to exceed the preconfigured signal strength for at least a preconfigured duration of time in order for electronic data for the beacon to be transmitted to the tracking computer for use by the tracking computer to determine the current location of the individual within the geographical area.

11. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein once the individual is within the geographical area the portable electronic device maintains electronic communication with at least one of the plurality of beacons at all times.

12. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein the tracking computer is programmed to continuously or periodically update the tracking control electronic database with current location information for the individual within the geographical area.

13. The electronic system of claim 1 , wherein the geographical area is a facility or place of business.

14. The electronic system of claim 13 wherein the facility or place of business is a casino, restaurant or large venue.

15. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device directly transmits the electronic data to the tracking computer.

16. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device indirectly transmits the electronic data to the tracking computer.

17. The electronic system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of beacons in electronic communication with the tracking computer; wherein to indirectly transmit the electronic data to the tracking computer the portable electronic device transmits the electronic data to at least one of the beacons of the plurality of beacons and the at least one beacon transmits the electronic data to the tracking computer.

18. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein the electronic data includes information concerning a signal strength of the unique identification signal received from the specific beacon and a duration of the unique identification signal which is processed by the tracking computer against preconfigured thresholds and if the signal strength and signal duration exceed the preconfigured thresholds the tracking computer deems the individual to be present at or near a preconfigured location of the specific beacon.

19. An electronic method for determining when an individual is present within a geographical area, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) continuously transmitting unique identification signals by a plurality of beacons located in a geographical area;
(b) automatically receiving a unique identification signal automatically broadcasted by a specific one of the plurality of beacons by a portable electronic device specifically programmed with a software application for permitting electronic wireless communication between the portable electronic device and the plurality of beacons, wherein the portable electronic device belongs to an individual who carries the portable electronic device or has the portable electronic device on his or her person while the individual is located in the geographical area;
(c) electronically determining a signal strength for the received unique identification signal and a duration for how long the unique identification signal was received by the portable electronic device;
(d) wirelessly transmitting electronic data from the portable electronic device to a tracking computer, wherein the electronic data includes information concerning

Assignees

• Collateral Opportunities Llc

Inventors

• Kusens Bruce Howard
• Kusens Michael
• Miller Arthur

Classifications

• G07C9/28

  the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence · CPC title

• G07C9/27

  with central registration · CPC title

• H04W4/02

  Services making use of location information · CPC title

• G07C2009/00388

  code verification carried out according to the challenge/response method · CPC title

• G07C2209/63

  Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle · CPC title