CA2990782A1 - Wireless beacon relay providing interaction tracking - Google Patents
Wireless beacon relay providing interaction tracking Download PDFInfo
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- CA2990782A1 CA2990782A1 CA2990782A CA2990782A CA2990782A1 CA 2990782 A1 CA2990782 A1 CA 2990782A1 CA 2990782 A CA2990782 A CA 2990782A CA 2990782 A CA2990782 A CA 2990782A CA 2990782 A1 CA2990782 A1 CA 2990782A1
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W84/00—Network topologies
- H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
- H04W84/04—Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
- H04W84/042—Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
- H04W84/047—Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems using dedicated repeater stations
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- 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
- G01S1/00—Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith
- G01S1/02—Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith using radio waves
- G01S1/04—Details
- G01S1/042—Transmitters
- G01S1/0428—Signal details
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- 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
- G01S5/00—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
- G01S5/02—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using radio waves
- G01S5/0284—Relative positioning
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- 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
- G01S11/00—Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation
- G01S11/02—Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation using radio waves
- G01S11/06—Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation using radio waves using intensity measurements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
- G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- G16H40/00—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices
- G16H40/20—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
- H04W48/08—Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery
- H04W48/10—Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery using broadcasted information
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
- H04W48/16—Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W64/00—Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W84/00—Network topologies
- H04W84/18—Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to the field of devices that utilize Radio Frequency (RF) technologies for identifying and locating people, places and things. These devices typically utilize technologies such as Bluetooth wireless technology and IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) wireless LAN. More specifically, this disclosure relates to devices and systems used in establishing location and characterizing interaction between people, places, and things. The disclosure also relates to devices that either utilize these technologies or have devices (tags) mounted or affixed on them. The devices signaling their presence at a location are commonly called "beacons".
The RF technologies identified allow for precise identification as well as determination of relativize location and establishing micro-geographical location in environments and applications where technologies like GPS either cannot operate or cannot provide sufficient resolution. As this disclosure describes, these technologies can also be utilized to determine relationships between individual beacons located in an environment such as a room.
Wireless devices and beacons are now prevalent in the home, factory, hospital, store, and even on the body. With their increased numbers, it becomes difficult to discern interactions between the individual beacons beyond their relative location. Yet this information is vital to assist in process improvements that require the understanding of interactions of people and objects, such as the interaction between patients and caregivers in a hospital setting.
Mobile devices such as smartphones and even the beacons themselves have omni-directional transmit/receive antennas designed to have a circular radiation pattern and so have difficulty providing more than a relative distance. They cannot provide any information on directionality or, for example, which of two equidistant beacon is oriented towards them.
The human body is composed primarily of water and thus interacts strongly with RF radiation, particularly in the 2.4GHz region of the RF spectrum. The system being disclosed utilized this effect along with devices operating in multiple modes to characterize and relay information about the potential interaction between beaconing devices.
The RF technologies identified allow for precise identification as well as determination of relativize location and establishing micro-geographical location in environments and applications where technologies like GPS either cannot operate or cannot provide sufficient resolution. As this disclosure describes, these technologies can also be utilized to determine relationships between individual beacons located in an environment such as a room.
Wireless devices and beacons are now prevalent in the home, factory, hospital, store, and even on the body. With their increased numbers, it becomes difficult to discern interactions between the individual beacons beyond their relative location. Yet this information is vital to assist in process improvements that require the understanding of interactions of people and objects, such as the interaction between patients and caregivers in a hospital setting.
Mobile devices such as smartphones and even the beacons themselves have omni-directional transmit/receive antennas designed to have a circular radiation pattern and so have difficulty providing more than a relative distance. They cannot provide any information on directionality or, for example, which of two equidistant beacon is oriented towards them.
The human body is composed primarily of water and thus interacts strongly with RF radiation, particularly in the 2.4GHz region of the RF spectrum. The system being disclosed utilized this effect along with devices operating in multiple modes to characterize and relay information about the potential interaction between beaconing devices.
Description
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY PROVIDING INTERACTION TRACKING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to the field of devices that utilize Radio Frequency (RF) technologies for identifying and locating people, places and things. These devices typically utilize technologies such as Bluetooth wireless technology and IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) wireless LAN. More specifically, this disclosure relates to devices and systems used in establishing location and characterizing interaction between people, places, and things. The disclosure also relates to devices that either utilize these technologies or have devices (tags) mounted or affixed on them. The devices signaling their presence at a location are commonly called "beacons".
The RF technologies identified allow for precise identification as well as determination of relativize location and establishing micro-geographical location in environments and applications where technologies like GPS either cannot operate or cannot provide sufficient resolution. As this disclosure describes, these technologies can also be utilized to determine relationships between individual beacons located in an environment such as a room.
Wireless devices and beacons are now prevalent in the home, factory, hospital, store, and even on the body. With their increased numbers, it becomes difficult to discern interactions between the individual beacons beyond their relative location. Yet this information is vital to assist in process improvements that require the understanding of interactions of people and objects, such as the interaction between patients and caregivers in a hospital setting.
Mobile devices such as smartphones and even the beacons themselves have omni-directional transmit/receive antennas designed to have a circular radiation pattern and so have difficulty providing more than a relative distance. They cannot provide any information on directionality or, for example, which of two equidistant beacon is oriented towards them.
The human body is composed primarily of water and thus interacts strongly with RF radiation, particularly in the 2.4GHz region of the RF spectrum. The system being disclosed utilized this effect WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨1¨ .. January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
along with devices operating in multiple modes to characterize and relay information about the potential interaction between beaconing devices.
USAGE MODELS
The Wireless Beacon Relay (WBR) system is designed to be adaptable for many situations and applications varying from the home to the hospital, and the unique combination of technology and implementation enable applications and provide for usage in applications today other solutions would be costly or impossible to implement practically.
In one usage model it is used in a hospital treatment area such as a patient room with multiple patient beds that are common in US hospitals. It is beneficial to improve patient care to record and analyze the times and timing of interactions between patients and caregivers, particularly to understand and improve patient care. In this model, the Wireless Beacon Relay is worn on the body (preferably utilizing a lanyard) and Wireless Beacons are deployed on patients, patient beds, and any other system components important to the observers. The Wireless Beacons can additionally contain sensors for movement (accelerometers), and that data can be relayed along with the beacon identification. The Wireless Beacon Relay may additionally be implemented as an electronic badge showing identification, such as the eNoteTM described in US Patent 9,679,310 (ELECTRONIC
DISPLAY WITH COMBINED HUMAN AND MACHINE READABLE ELEMENTS). The devices and system described in this disclosure allow collection of the location and interaction data in real time and records and stores this data for later analysis. This usage model is used throughout this disclosure as an example of the system and its components and usage.
Another usage model is a bus or trucking depot where vehicles are stored while not in use. A
large number of vehicles are stored in an even larger number of parking slots (potentially hundreds).
Finding a particular vehicle for service or deployment can be very difficult, especially since the there are no assigned slots and vehicles are moved and used on a relatively random basis. In this model, the Wireless Beacon Relay is affixed at each stall and Wireless Beacons are deployed on the vehicles as well as any other system components important to the observers. The devices and system WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -2- .. January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3 23 PM
described in this disclosure allow collection of the location and interaction data in real time and records and stores this data for later analysis.
Another usage model is an exhibition of art where Wireless Beacon Relay is body-worn as a badge or on a lanyard and Wireless Beacons are affixed to the exhibition pieces. In this model tracking information can be gathered and particular audio and visual information can be pushed to another device that is carried by the patron, such as an audio player. In this model, the patron would receive information particularly tailored to them based on particular information such as language preference and age. The devices and system described in this disclosure would also allow collection of the location and interaction data in real time and records and stores this data for later analysis.
In another usage model, the Wireless Beacon Relay is affixed to an animal collar and can be used to track herd feeding behavior and preferences in animals such as cattle.
The devices and systems described enable many other usage models in addition to those described above. Additional models include factory studies to improve efficiency, material handling for shipping/receiving operations, retail shopping pattern data collection and analysis to maximize sales volumes, and secure computer access.
GENERAL ELEMENTS
The system utilizes four main components:
= RF Wireless Beacons = RF Scanning Sensors = RF Wireless Beacon Relay = Embedded or Cloud Computing Wireless Beacon (WB) A WB is a device that transmits or broadcasts information on a regular basis.
These devices do not require any time of connection. For Bluetooth low energy wireless technology (BLE), this is implemented according to the Bluetooth Specifications including and subsequent to Bluetooth 4Ø
These devices utilize standard advertising protocols based on the Generic Access Profile (GAP) that allow data to be advertised by specific and interoperable means such that they are independent from WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨3¨ January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
particular hardware or operating system implementations. BLE beacons can be very small and, depending on the periodicity of advertisement transmission (interval), can last for several years on a single small (e.g. CR2032) battery.
Examples of commercial beacons are available from companies such as Minew (www.minewtech.com), Estimote (www.estimote.com), and Gimbal (www.gimbal.com).
Additionally, beacons may be combined or integrated into higher function devices.
Beacons are preferably implemented using a single System On a Chip (SOC), an antenna (PCB or discrete component), and very few additional components. Examples of the BLE SOC
components include Nordic Semiconductor nRF52810 (haps ://www.nordie semi . com/eng/Products/nRF52810) and Dialog Semiconductor (https ://www.dialog-semiconductor.com/products/connectivity/bluetooth-low-energy/smartbond-da14580).
An example implementation of a WB is shown below. Note that this is one embodiment and it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other elements and architectures may be used to implement this invention.
Optional components ant nna , Figure 1: Wireless Beacon preferred implementation Note that a WB may also perform the operation of a WBR described below by alternating scanning and advertising operations on a periodic basis.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -4- January 3,2011 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
Scanning Sensor (SS) A SS is a wireless receiver that scans the RF spectrum utilizing a particular technology or set of technologies to gather information from devices that are transmitting and/or advertising. A SS can either be a stand-alone device or integrated into a higher-level device such as a Wireless Access Point that incorporates additional features and may support other wireless protocols such as IEEE
802.11b/g/n/a/ac (Wireless LAN or WiFi).
For BLE technology a simple scanner can be implemented by almost any SOC
connected to appropriate serial, WLAN or LAN technology to connect and transmit the collected information to a local computational and display resource, and/or to the cloud for remote viewing and analysis.
Examples of scanner implementations include reelceivers from reelyActive (https ://shop.reelyactive.comicollections/infrastructure/products/ra-r436) and Wireless Sensor products from HP/Aruba (http://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/ds/DS
AS100Sensor.pdf) as well as routers such as the products from Cassia Networks (https://www.cassianetworks.com/products/) and combination access points that include 802.11 WiFi as well as Bluetooth such as those from Extreme Networks (https ://www.extremenetworks.com/product/wing-ap-7502/).
Note that this is one embodiment and it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other elements and architectures may be used to implement this invention.
Wireless Beacon Relay (WBR) The WBR device is unique, and the key component of this disclosure. The WBR
implements two functions: scanning and advertising. It implements both functions in a virtually simultaneous operation. The WBR device is typically implemented using SOC technology similar to that utilized for the WB, but it requires additional resources and functionality that often necessitate the use of more capable devices. For example, while the WB may be easily implemented using a low-end SOC
such as the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52810, the WBR would be preferably implemented utilizing the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52832 or nRF52840 which provide additional memory, compute WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨5¨ January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
power, and additional hardware resources. Additionally, a larger battery such as a CR2450 may be utilized to provide for the additional needs (higher resource utilization) and longer battery lifetime.
Note that a WBR may also perform the operation of a WB by alternating scanning and advertising operations on a periodic basis.
Additionally, a WBR may be implemented in addition to other as part o f a more capable device. One such example is the eNoteTM described in US Patent 9,679,310 (ELECTRONIC
DISPLAY WITH COMBINED HUMAN AND MACHINE READABLE ELEMENTS).
An example WBR is shown below. Note that it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other elements and architectures may be used to implement this invention.
Optional components antrna Figure 2: Wireless Beacon Relay preferred implementation Embedded or Cloud Computing The data collected from the WBR is collected, displayed, and stored utilizing processing and storage attached to the SS either wired or wirelessly. This component can be implemented using cloud computing resource such as those supplied by Amazon Web Services (https://aws.amazon.com) or Microsoft Azure (https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/).
This functionality may also be supplied utilizing a general computing platform such as a Raspberry Pi (https://www.raspberrypi.org) or a Tessel 2 (https://tessel.io).
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨6¨ January 3, 201g AM PNIt 1 211'M
Note that it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other elements and architectures may be used to implement this invention.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨7¨ .. January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3'23 PM
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY NOVEL FEATURES
= Novel use of dual mode (advertiser/scanner) to relay beacon information:
o allows for low cost and large number of devices to be discovered o allows for low cost interaction and relationship tracking and historical collection of this data o real-time and retrospective data analysis of tracking and relationship = Utilization of antenna effects from body and RF obstructions to provide directional and positional information = Low duty cycle (not always on) relay allows power efficiency necessary for battery-powered operation WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -8- January 3, 2018 AM/PM( A23 PM
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
The components described above are used to create the Wireless Beacon Relay Interaction Tracking system shown and described below.
Scanning Sensor 11.4.61Ø1.4%.
Local computer = .*
Or cloud computing 41110**
........ .. WEIR
W83 ... = .
fr.= WB 1 Figure 3: Wireless Beacon Relay system implementation WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING.doc ¨9¨ January 32018 AM/PMt 3'23 PM
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An overall architecture for the preferred embodiment is presented above. In the preferred operation, the WBR scans for WB devices in its proximity. The scans performed by the WBR are directional due to the nature of the interaction of the human body with the RE
antenna and receives signals emitted by the WB devices. The WBR internal software stores these readings and sorts them into a list ordered by the strength of the received signal from each beacon (the Received Signal Strength Indication or RSSI). The WBR then sends out an advertising signal that includes information for several of the beacons with the highest RSSI. That information includes unique identification information, signal strength, and optional sensor data. This process is repeated on a periodic basis. That periodic basis may be adjustable, depending on the implementation.
The WBR advertising information is received by the SS devices and that data is provided to the computing elements for presentation and storage.
At a high level, the invention operates as described below:
= 1. The WBR 'scans' the RE spectrum using a defined spectral band and protocol for devices conforming to that protocol (WB's).
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to the field of devices that utilize Radio Frequency (RF) technologies for identifying and locating people, places and things. These devices typically utilize technologies such as Bluetooth wireless technology and IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) wireless LAN. More specifically, this disclosure relates to devices and systems used in establishing location and characterizing interaction between people, places, and things. The disclosure also relates to devices that either utilize these technologies or have devices (tags) mounted or affixed on them. The devices signaling their presence at a location are commonly called "beacons".
The RF technologies identified allow for precise identification as well as determination of relativize location and establishing micro-geographical location in environments and applications where technologies like GPS either cannot operate or cannot provide sufficient resolution. As this disclosure describes, these technologies can also be utilized to determine relationships between individual beacons located in an environment such as a room.
Wireless devices and beacons are now prevalent in the home, factory, hospital, store, and even on the body. With their increased numbers, it becomes difficult to discern interactions between the individual beacons beyond their relative location. Yet this information is vital to assist in process improvements that require the understanding of interactions of people and objects, such as the interaction between patients and caregivers in a hospital setting.
Mobile devices such as smartphones and even the beacons themselves have omni-directional transmit/receive antennas designed to have a circular radiation pattern and so have difficulty providing more than a relative distance. They cannot provide any information on directionality or, for example, which of two equidistant beacon is oriented towards them.
The human body is composed primarily of water and thus interacts strongly with RF radiation, particularly in the 2.4GHz region of the RF spectrum. The system being disclosed utilized this effect WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨1¨ .. January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
along with devices operating in multiple modes to characterize and relay information about the potential interaction between beaconing devices.
USAGE MODELS
The Wireless Beacon Relay (WBR) system is designed to be adaptable for many situations and applications varying from the home to the hospital, and the unique combination of technology and implementation enable applications and provide for usage in applications today other solutions would be costly or impossible to implement practically.
In one usage model it is used in a hospital treatment area such as a patient room with multiple patient beds that are common in US hospitals. It is beneficial to improve patient care to record and analyze the times and timing of interactions between patients and caregivers, particularly to understand and improve patient care. In this model, the Wireless Beacon Relay is worn on the body (preferably utilizing a lanyard) and Wireless Beacons are deployed on patients, patient beds, and any other system components important to the observers. The Wireless Beacons can additionally contain sensors for movement (accelerometers), and that data can be relayed along with the beacon identification. The Wireless Beacon Relay may additionally be implemented as an electronic badge showing identification, such as the eNoteTM described in US Patent 9,679,310 (ELECTRONIC
DISPLAY WITH COMBINED HUMAN AND MACHINE READABLE ELEMENTS). The devices and system described in this disclosure allow collection of the location and interaction data in real time and records and stores this data for later analysis. This usage model is used throughout this disclosure as an example of the system and its components and usage.
Another usage model is a bus or trucking depot where vehicles are stored while not in use. A
large number of vehicles are stored in an even larger number of parking slots (potentially hundreds).
Finding a particular vehicle for service or deployment can be very difficult, especially since the there are no assigned slots and vehicles are moved and used on a relatively random basis. In this model, the Wireless Beacon Relay is affixed at each stall and Wireless Beacons are deployed on the vehicles as well as any other system components important to the observers. The devices and system WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -2- .. January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3 23 PM
described in this disclosure allow collection of the location and interaction data in real time and records and stores this data for later analysis.
Another usage model is an exhibition of art where Wireless Beacon Relay is body-worn as a badge or on a lanyard and Wireless Beacons are affixed to the exhibition pieces. In this model tracking information can be gathered and particular audio and visual information can be pushed to another device that is carried by the patron, such as an audio player. In this model, the patron would receive information particularly tailored to them based on particular information such as language preference and age. The devices and system described in this disclosure would also allow collection of the location and interaction data in real time and records and stores this data for later analysis.
In another usage model, the Wireless Beacon Relay is affixed to an animal collar and can be used to track herd feeding behavior and preferences in animals such as cattle.
The devices and systems described enable many other usage models in addition to those described above. Additional models include factory studies to improve efficiency, material handling for shipping/receiving operations, retail shopping pattern data collection and analysis to maximize sales volumes, and secure computer access.
GENERAL ELEMENTS
The system utilizes four main components:
= RF Wireless Beacons = RF Scanning Sensors = RF Wireless Beacon Relay = Embedded or Cloud Computing Wireless Beacon (WB) A WB is a device that transmits or broadcasts information on a regular basis.
These devices do not require any time of connection. For Bluetooth low energy wireless technology (BLE), this is implemented according to the Bluetooth Specifications including and subsequent to Bluetooth 4Ø
These devices utilize standard advertising protocols based on the Generic Access Profile (GAP) that allow data to be advertised by specific and interoperable means such that they are independent from WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨3¨ January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
particular hardware or operating system implementations. BLE beacons can be very small and, depending on the periodicity of advertisement transmission (interval), can last for several years on a single small (e.g. CR2032) battery.
Examples of commercial beacons are available from companies such as Minew (www.minewtech.com), Estimote (www.estimote.com), and Gimbal (www.gimbal.com).
Additionally, beacons may be combined or integrated into higher function devices.
Beacons are preferably implemented using a single System On a Chip (SOC), an antenna (PCB or discrete component), and very few additional components. Examples of the BLE SOC
components include Nordic Semiconductor nRF52810 (haps ://www.nordie semi . com/eng/Products/nRF52810) and Dialog Semiconductor (https ://www.dialog-semiconductor.com/products/connectivity/bluetooth-low-energy/smartbond-da14580).
An example implementation of a WB is shown below. Note that this is one embodiment and it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other elements and architectures may be used to implement this invention.
Optional components ant nna , Figure 1: Wireless Beacon preferred implementation Note that a WB may also perform the operation of a WBR described below by alternating scanning and advertising operations on a periodic basis.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -4- January 3,2011 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
Scanning Sensor (SS) A SS is a wireless receiver that scans the RF spectrum utilizing a particular technology or set of technologies to gather information from devices that are transmitting and/or advertising. A SS can either be a stand-alone device or integrated into a higher-level device such as a Wireless Access Point that incorporates additional features and may support other wireless protocols such as IEEE
802.11b/g/n/a/ac (Wireless LAN or WiFi).
For BLE technology a simple scanner can be implemented by almost any SOC
connected to appropriate serial, WLAN or LAN technology to connect and transmit the collected information to a local computational and display resource, and/or to the cloud for remote viewing and analysis.
Examples of scanner implementations include reelceivers from reelyActive (https ://shop.reelyactive.comicollections/infrastructure/products/ra-r436) and Wireless Sensor products from HP/Aruba (http://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/ds/DS
AS100Sensor.pdf) as well as routers such as the products from Cassia Networks (https://www.cassianetworks.com/products/) and combination access points that include 802.11 WiFi as well as Bluetooth such as those from Extreme Networks (https ://www.extremenetworks.com/product/wing-ap-7502/).
Note that this is one embodiment and it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other elements and architectures may be used to implement this invention.
Wireless Beacon Relay (WBR) The WBR device is unique, and the key component of this disclosure. The WBR
implements two functions: scanning and advertising. It implements both functions in a virtually simultaneous operation. The WBR device is typically implemented using SOC technology similar to that utilized for the WB, but it requires additional resources and functionality that often necessitate the use of more capable devices. For example, while the WB may be easily implemented using a low-end SOC
such as the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52810, the WBR would be preferably implemented utilizing the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52832 or nRF52840 which provide additional memory, compute WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨5¨ January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
power, and additional hardware resources. Additionally, a larger battery such as a CR2450 may be utilized to provide for the additional needs (higher resource utilization) and longer battery lifetime.
Note that a WBR may also perform the operation of a WB by alternating scanning and advertising operations on a periodic basis.
Additionally, a WBR may be implemented in addition to other as part o f a more capable device. One such example is the eNoteTM described in US Patent 9,679,310 (ELECTRONIC
DISPLAY WITH COMBINED HUMAN AND MACHINE READABLE ELEMENTS).
An example WBR is shown below. Note that it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other elements and architectures may be used to implement this invention.
Optional components antrna Figure 2: Wireless Beacon Relay preferred implementation Embedded or Cloud Computing The data collected from the WBR is collected, displayed, and stored utilizing processing and storage attached to the SS either wired or wirelessly. This component can be implemented using cloud computing resource such as those supplied by Amazon Web Services (https://aws.amazon.com) or Microsoft Azure (https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/).
This functionality may also be supplied utilizing a general computing platform such as a Raspberry Pi (https://www.raspberrypi.org) or a Tessel 2 (https://tessel.io).
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨6¨ January 3, 201g AM PNIt 1 211'M
Note that it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other elements and architectures may be used to implement this invention.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨7¨ .. January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3'23 PM
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY NOVEL FEATURES
= Novel use of dual mode (advertiser/scanner) to relay beacon information:
o allows for low cost and large number of devices to be discovered o allows for low cost interaction and relationship tracking and historical collection of this data o real-time and retrospective data analysis of tracking and relationship = Utilization of antenna effects from body and RF obstructions to provide directional and positional information = Low duty cycle (not always on) relay allows power efficiency necessary for battery-powered operation WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -8- January 3, 2018 AM/PM( A23 PM
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
The components described above are used to create the Wireless Beacon Relay Interaction Tracking system shown and described below.
Scanning Sensor 11.4.61Ø1.4%.
Local computer = .*
Or cloud computing 41110**
........ .. WEIR
W83 ... = .
fr.= WB 1 Figure 3: Wireless Beacon Relay system implementation WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING.doc ¨9¨ January 32018 AM/PMt 3'23 PM
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An overall architecture for the preferred embodiment is presented above. In the preferred operation, the WBR scans for WB devices in its proximity. The scans performed by the WBR are directional due to the nature of the interaction of the human body with the RE
antenna and receives signals emitted by the WB devices. The WBR internal software stores these readings and sorts them into a list ordered by the strength of the received signal from each beacon (the Received Signal Strength Indication or RSSI). The WBR then sends out an advertising signal that includes information for several of the beacons with the highest RSSI. That information includes unique identification information, signal strength, and optional sensor data. This process is repeated on a periodic basis. That periodic basis may be adjustable, depending on the implementation.
The WBR advertising information is received by the SS devices and that data is provided to the computing elements for presentation and storage.
At a high level, the invention operates as described below:
= 1. The WBR 'scans' the RE spectrum using a defined spectral band and protocol for devices conforming to that protocol (WB's).
2. Information about the WB devices found are stored in memory by the WBR
software (firmware) along with identifying information and RSSI. The RSSI provides a measure of the relative distance between each WB and WBR.
software (firmware) along with identifying information and RSSI. The RSSI provides a measure of the relative distance between each WB and WBR.
3. The information about the strongest WB's are used to construct a customized advertisement, and that advertisement is then broadcast from the WBR.
4. One or more SS scans and receives the custom WBR advertisement and uses the data it contains to interpret the interactions between the person wearing the WBR
and WB
devices, and to display and archive the information.
and WB
devices, and to display and archive the information.
5. This process repeats. Note that the scanning and advertising operations are performed virtually concurrently in the preferred implementation.
Note that the preferred implementation in this disclosure utilizes Bluetooth low energy (BTLE) technology for wireless RE communications between the WBR and system components. The WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING don ¨10¨ January 3.2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
general system and particular components could be implemented with other RF
technologies such as WiFi, ANT, Thread, ThreadX, Zigbee. Technologies include, but are not limited to, 2.4 GHz devices, 5.8 GHz devices, ad 900 MHz devices in the Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) band, as well as other portions of the radio spectrum. Note that it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other technologies in the RF and visual light spectrum may be used to implement this invention.
(BTLE) technology and its specification and usage embody the capability to transmit data without connecting devices during what is termed 'advertising' and `scanning'.
A BTLE device that is a beacon advertises data that can uniquely identify the beacon within a set of devices. One implementation of this beacon identification is described in the Apple iBeacon standard, and another implementation for beacon advertising data is described in the Eddystone standard (https://developers.google.com/beacons/eddystone). The preferred implementation described in this disclosure utilizes the Eddystone standard, but it could easily be implemented utilizing the iBeacon or other available schema for structuring and advertising identification data.
Another key data element that is transmitted in advertising data per the BTLE
and beacon standards such as iBeacon and Eddystone details the strength of the RF signal normally transmitted by the device performing the advertising operation, the Transmitted Power.
The WBR includes RF electronic circuit components and computing and storage elements that interpret the RF signal into data, and that data into information structured as the beacons found utilizing BTLE or other RF wireless technology and gives the data to the processing elements in the WBR. The RF components also interpret the strength of the signal received, the Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and that data can be combined with the Transmitted Power to gauge the proximity of a device given normal operating conditions and antenna propagation.
RF waves are reduced according to known and understood physical properties that are represented by the formula 1/(XA2), where `X' is the distance between the two devices.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨ 11- January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
Theory of Operation Referring to Figure 4 below, this preferred embodiment utilizes the SOC in the WBR to run software to operate the BTLE radio to scan and acquire data from beacons in the area. The key to this invention is that while antennas utilized in common BLE devices are omni-directional (receive energy from all directions in a largely spherical fashion, the human body blocks RF energy creating a hemispherical pattern of reception. This provides directionality in the received signals such that for equally distant beacons of identical transmitted signal strength, the signal from the beacon in front of a body-worn WBR will have a greater RSSI than that behind the body of the observer wearing the WBR. This effect is shown in the diagram in Figure 5 below.
This allows the system shown in Figure 3 above to infer the interaction between a person wearing a WBR and a particular person or object that is tagged with a WB since the highest signal strength will be recorded for the WB that is closest and that the person is facing.
Figure 4 below describes the effects of the human body on RF signals. The body blocks RF
energy since that energy is largely absorbed in interactions with the water molecule that is the primary component of human tissues and organs. Instead of a largely spherical pattern, an RF system exhibits an oblong or hemispherical pattern with a high degree of directionality. Note that these diagrams represent idealized radiation patterns that approximate actual patterns. In practice, the patterns are not as regular or spherical.
Note that while the description in the preferred embodiment described in this patent utilizes a human body, the interactions described also operate for animals.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING dm ¨ 12- January 32018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
WBR
Without WBR
body Longitudinal view Without WBR
body WBR
Transverse view Figure 4: Human body effect on RF propagation Figure 5 below shows how this effect is utilized in the beacon interaction system. The signal is maximized when the person with a WBR is facing another person or an object to which a beacon is affixed, such as the hospital bed shown. The signal is much lower when the person with a WBR is facing the other direction. Thus, the interaction between them can be inferred and tracked and recorded.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨ 13- January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3;23 PM
//-I ¨
\..a_Strong Signal El) \µµ..Strong Signal Weak Signal 1i Weak Signal IN
Figure 5: WBR directionality Figure 6 below describes that, similar to the interactions of an RF signal with a human body, an inanimate barrier such as a metal plate or foil will also function to modify the antenna and RF
signal behavior, providing a similar effect and enabling the Wireless Beacon Relay Interaction Tracking system. Figure 6 also shows that signals can reflect from other surfaces and bodies. This effect is sometimes called `multipath'. While multipath signals can be received in addition to the direct signals, the multipath signals are always lower in magnitude, or strength, due to the signal loss from a longer path distance as well as signal loss from that absorbed since these reflections induce loss when they reflect.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -14- January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
WBR
WB I - WB
Human barrier (water-based) WBR
Metal barrier (eg metal foil) Figure 6:
The WBR gathers the information and relays it to the SS as described above.
The information includes identification of each WB and its associated RSSI (along any optional sensor information).
The diagram below shows a WBR and several WB devices around a body. As an example in the diagram below, the sorted list of the WB's would be as follows:
1. WB1, rssil 2. WB2, rssi2 3. WB4 (or WB3, they will be similar), rssi4 4. WB3 (or WB4, they will be similar), rssi3 5. WB5, rssi5 WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨ 15- January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
WB
WBS
(rssi5) Ossi2) WS4 (rssil) ossi4) Overhead view Figure 7: WBR system example with 5 WB's SOC
The core of the WBR device is a System On a Chip (SOC) integrated circuit that contains, but is not limited to the following elements computing elements (CPU), memory (including both volatile and non-volatile types such as RAM and FLASH). The SOC also includes circuitry required to implement a BTLE interface including both digital and RF circuitry. The SOC
also drives an antenna required to match the RF impedance to free air; this antenna is shown as a PCB
element, but could utilize other technologies that implement directional antennas including chip antenna components.
The SOC also includes circuitry required to transfer information and control sensors for position, motion, and direction.
The preferred implementation utilizes a Nordic Semiconductor nRF52832 or alternatively a newer SOC that provides additional range and features detailed in Bluetooth 5 such as the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840.I2 Discrete or on-board Antenna I https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/Bluetooth-low-energy/nRF52832 2 https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/nRF52840 WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc 16 January 3, 20111 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
The preferred implementation uses an antenna providing RF transmission and reception. For the preferred implementation utilizing BLE, that antenna is appropriately designed to maximize efficiency and gain in the Industrial Scientific and Medical band around 2.4 GHz (2.400 ¨ 2.490 GHz). This antenna may be implemented for a device as a specialized pattern in copper (trace) utilizing techniques available to those skilled in the art. An example is shown in the application note by Texas Instruments: http://www.ti.com/lit/an/swrall7d/swrall7d.pdf.
The antenna may also be implemented as a discrete component affixed (soldered) to a printed circuit board such as one from Johanson:
https://www.johansontechnology.com/antennas.
The antenna in this invention provides signal strength measurement of the connection to the devices (WB or WBR) for scanning and advertising.
Sensors The sensors can provide directional, movement, and positional information. The sensors can also provide environmental information such as air temperature, air humidity, light levels, surface properties, and air pressure.
In the preferred implementation, several sensor functionalities may be provided on a single chip, simplifying operation and reducing cost.
Battery The WB and WBR devices use a battery to supply power for the circuitry. Since the power requirements are very low in the preferred implementation, power is supplied by a coin cell sized primary cell lithium battery. The preferred implementation uses a CR2032 or CR2450 such as provided by Panasonic.3 Monitoring of battery status is performed by the SOC using integral analog to digital inputs.
This status can be shown using the on-board indicators (LEDs) and alternatively included in advertising data for reception by the WBR and SS.
https://industrial.panasonic.com/ww/products/batteries/primary-batteries/lithium-batteries/coin-type-lithium-batteries-cr-series/CR2032 WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨17¨ January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
LEDs and switches The LEDs and switches provide on-board status indication and control of the operating states of the WBR device and system. They are sensed and controlled by the SOC
through digital or analog input and output signals (pins). In addition, these status can included in advertising data for reception by the WBR and SS.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨18- .. January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred implementation for the elements of the WBR device are detailed in the schematic below. The block diagram and previous sections describe the electronic components.
These elements are specific embodiments of those described above.
The same preferred implementation can be used in the WB implementation.
Note that it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other .designs may be used to implement this invention.
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'Zen _________________________________________________ g'r 'Err LIZItISI3gtcS71016"VI 'OA WASH, SCI1 VI 0 1 SchDoc Figure 8: WBR hardware preferred embodiment circuitry WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRAC,K1NG.doc ¨19¨ January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
SOFTWARE COMPONENTS
The preferred embodiments described above include software components that provide many of the functional elements. Those elements providing device and beacon operation, scanning, and advertising functions are described in the Bluetooth low energy specifications (Bluetooth 4.0 and later) 4, as well as documentation and examples provided by Nordic Semiconductor (www.nordicsemi.com ). Additionally, Nordic Semiconductor documentation for their Bluetooth low energy software (software stack or "Softdevice") provides implementation details for Bluetooth low energy software components and interfaces implemented utilizing the Nordic nRF52832 utilized in the preferred embodiment.
A unique implementation is provided in this invention that allows the WBR to implement both the scanner and advertiser functionality virtually simultaneously.
4 http://www.bluetooth.com WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -20- January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
WBR operation The WBR device provides the beacon information used for location and relays that to the SS
to provide interaction information. The software in the WBR device (firmware) implements the functionality and algorithms for the necessary functions. The diagrams and example javascript software code below detail the preferred implementation of this operation.
Note that there arc many ways to implement the required functionality and alternate implementations can perform the required operation. Similar user interfaces can also be implemented that provide the essential unique features.
The high level software operation is described in the flowchart below.
, =
Figure 9: WBR high level level software operation WB ADVERTISING PACKAGE
As described earlier in this disclosure, the WBR scans for beacon devices. In order to simplify the operational software, the preferred implementation scans for WB
devices that implement the Eddystone UID beacon type (https://github.com/google/eddystone/tree/master/eddystone-uid).
The data components advertised in that beacon are shown below in Table 1.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨2 1 ¨ January 1, 2018 AM/I'Mt 321 PM
Byte offset(s) Field Description 0 Frame Type 0x00 1 Ranging Data Tx power at Om 2-11 Namespace ID 10-byte namespace, fixed for a given deployment 12-17 Instance ID 6-byte instance, with lower 4-bytes unique for each device in deployment 18-19 Reserved 0x00 Table 1: WB Eddystone UID advertising data WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨22¨ January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
WBR ADVERTISING PACKAGE
The WBR uses an advertising package to broadcast the collected information to the SS. The contents of that advertising package are described below in Table 2.
Byte offset(s) Field Description 0 Frame Type Ox01 1 Count/Length Upper 3 bits are cyclic count.
Lower 5 bits are length of manufacturer specific data (number of bytes in the frame starting from the next byte) 2-5 Instance ID 4-byte instance of the NorBLE itself
Note that the preferred implementation in this disclosure utilizes Bluetooth low energy (BTLE) technology for wireless RE communications between the WBR and system components. The WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING don ¨10¨ January 3.2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
general system and particular components could be implemented with other RF
technologies such as WiFi, ANT, Thread, ThreadX, Zigbee. Technologies include, but are not limited to, 2.4 GHz devices, 5.8 GHz devices, ad 900 MHz devices in the Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) band, as well as other portions of the radio spectrum. Note that it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other technologies in the RF and visual light spectrum may be used to implement this invention.
(BTLE) technology and its specification and usage embody the capability to transmit data without connecting devices during what is termed 'advertising' and `scanning'.
A BTLE device that is a beacon advertises data that can uniquely identify the beacon within a set of devices. One implementation of this beacon identification is described in the Apple iBeacon standard, and another implementation for beacon advertising data is described in the Eddystone standard (https://developers.google.com/beacons/eddystone). The preferred implementation described in this disclosure utilizes the Eddystone standard, but it could easily be implemented utilizing the iBeacon or other available schema for structuring and advertising identification data.
Another key data element that is transmitted in advertising data per the BTLE
and beacon standards such as iBeacon and Eddystone details the strength of the RF signal normally transmitted by the device performing the advertising operation, the Transmitted Power.
The WBR includes RF electronic circuit components and computing and storage elements that interpret the RF signal into data, and that data into information structured as the beacons found utilizing BTLE or other RF wireless technology and gives the data to the processing elements in the WBR. The RF components also interpret the strength of the signal received, the Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and that data can be combined with the Transmitted Power to gauge the proximity of a device given normal operating conditions and antenna propagation.
RF waves are reduced according to known and understood physical properties that are represented by the formula 1/(XA2), where `X' is the distance between the two devices.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨ 11- January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
Theory of Operation Referring to Figure 4 below, this preferred embodiment utilizes the SOC in the WBR to run software to operate the BTLE radio to scan and acquire data from beacons in the area. The key to this invention is that while antennas utilized in common BLE devices are omni-directional (receive energy from all directions in a largely spherical fashion, the human body blocks RF energy creating a hemispherical pattern of reception. This provides directionality in the received signals such that for equally distant beacons of identical transmitted signal strength, the signal from the beacon in front of a body-worn WBR will have a greater RSSI than that behind the body of the observer wearing the WBR. This effect is shown in the diagram in Figure 5 below.
This allows the system shown in Figure 3 above to infer the interaction between a person wearing a WBR and a particular person or object that is tagged with a WB since the highest signal strength will be recorded for the WB that is closest and that the person is facing.
Figure 4 below describes the effects of the human body on RF signals. The body blocks RF
energy since that energy is largely absorbed in interactions with the water molecule that is the primary component of human tissues and organs. Instead of a largely spherical pattern, an RF system exhibits an oblong or hemispherical pattern with a high degree of directionality. Note that these diagrams represent idealized radiation patterns that approximate actual patterns. In practice, the patterns are not as regular or spherical.
Note that while the description in the preferred embodiment described in this patent utilizes a human body, the interactions described also operate for animals.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING dm ¨ 12- January 32018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
WBR
Without WBR
body Longitudinal view Without WBR
body WBR
Transverse view Figure 4: Human body effect on RF propagation Figure 5 below shows how this effect is utilized in the beacon interaction system. The signal is maximized when the person with a WBR is facing another person or an object to which a beacon is affixed, such as the hospital bed shown. The signal is much lower when the person with a WBR is facing the other direction. Thus, the interaction between them can be inferred and tracked and recorded.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨ 13- January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3;23 PM
//-I ¨
\..a_Strong Signal El) \µµ..Strong Signal Weak Signal 1i Weak Signal IN
Figure 5: WBR directionality Figure 6 below describes that, similar to the interactions of an RF signal with a human body, an inanimate barrier such as a metal plate or foil will also function to modify the antenna and RF
signal behavior, providing a similar effect and enabling the Wireless Beacon Relay Interaction Tracking system. Figure 6 also shows that signals can reflect from other surfaces and bodies. This effect is sometimes called `multipath'. While multipath signals can be received in addition to the direct signals, the multipath signals are always lower in magnitude, or strength, due to the signal loss from a longer path distance as well as signal loss from that absorbed since these reflections induce loss when they reflect.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -14- January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
WBR
WB I - WB
Human barrier (water-based) WBR
Metal barrier (eg metal foil) Figure 6:
The WBR gathers the information and relays it to the SS as described above.
The information includes identification of each WB and its associated RSSI (along any optional sensor information).
The diagram below shows a WBR and several WB devices around a body. As an example in the diagram below, the sorted list of the WB's would be as follows:
1. WB1, rssil 2. WB2, rssi2 3. WB4 (or WB3, they will be similar), rssi4 4. WB3 (or WB4, they will be similar), rssi3 5. WB5, rssi5 WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨ 15- January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
WB
WBS
(rssi5) Ossi2) WS4 (rssil) ossi4) Overhead view Figure 7: WBR system example with 5 WB's SOC
The core of the WBR device is a System On a Chip (SOC) integrated circuit that contains, but is not limited to the following elements computing elements (CPU), memory (including both volatile and non-volatile types such as RAM and FLASH). The SOC also includes circuitry required to implement a BTLE interface including both digital and RF circuitry. The SOC
also drives an antenna required to match the RF impedance to free air; this antenna is shown as a PCB
element, but could utilize other technologies that implement directional antennas including chip antenna components.
The SOC also includes circuitry required to transfer information and control sensors for position, motion, and direction.
The preferred implementation utilizes a Nordic Semiconductor nRF52832 or alternatively a newer SOC that provides additional range and features detailed in Bluetooth 5 such as the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840.I2 Discrete or on-board Antenna I https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/Bluetooth-low-energy/nRF52832 2 https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/nRF52840 WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc 16 January 3, 20111 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
The preferred implementation uses an antenna providing RF transmission and reception. For the preferred implementation utilizing BLE, that antenna is appropriately designed to maximize efficiency and gain in the Industrial Scientific and Medical band around 2.4 GHz (2.400 ¨ 2.490 GHz). This antenna may be implemented for a device as a specialized pattern in copper (trace) utilizing techniques available to those skilled in the art. An example is shown in the application note by Texas Instruments: http://www.ti.com/lit/an/swrall7d/swrall7d.pdf.
The antenna may also be implemented as a discrete component affixed (soldered) to a printed circuit board such as one from Johanson:
https://www.johansontechnology.com/antennas.
The antenna in this invention provides signal strength measurement of the connection to the devices (WB or WBR) for scanning and advertising.
Sensors The sensors can provide directional, movement, and positional information. The sensors can also provide environmental information such as air temperature, air humidity, light levels, surface properties, and air pressure.
In the preferred implementation, several sensor functionalities may be provided on a single chip, simplifying operation and reducing cost.
Battery The WB and WBR devices use a battery to supply power for the circuitry. Since the power requirements are very low in the preferred implementation, power is supplied by a coin cell sized primary cell lithium battery. The preferred implementation uses a CR2032 or CR2450 such as provided by Panasonic.3 Monitoring of battery status is performed by the SOC using integral analog to digital inputs.
This status can be shown using the on-board indicators (LEDs) and alternatively included in advertising data for reception by the WBR and SS.
https://industrial.panasonic.com/ww/products/batteries/primary-batteries/lithium-batteries/coin-type-lithium-batteries-cr-series/CR2032 WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨17¨ January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
LEDs and switches The LEDs and switches provide on-board status indication and control of the operating states of the WBR device and system. They are sensed and controlled by the SOC
through digital or analog input and output signals (pins). In addition, these status can included in advertising data for reception by the WBR and SS.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨18- .. January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred implementation for the elements of the WBR device are detailed in the schematic below. The block diagram and previous sections describe the electronic components.
These elements are specific embodiments of those described above.
The same preferred implementation can be used in the WB implementation.
Note that it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other .designs may be used to implement this invention.
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MUM
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'Zen _________________________________________________ g'r 'Err LIZItISI3gtcS71016"VI 'OA WASH, SCI1 VI 0 1 SchDoc Figure 8: WBR hardware preferred embodiment circuitry WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRAC,K1NG.doc ¨19¨ January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
SOFTWARE COMPONENTS
The preferred embodiments described above include software components that provide many of the functional elements. Those elements providing device and beacon operation, scanning, and advertising functions are described in the Bluetooth low energy specifications (Bluetooth 4.0 and later) 4, as well as documentation and examples provided by Nordic Semiconductor (www.nordicsemi.com ). Additionally, Nordic Semiconductor documentation for their Bluetooth low energy software (software stack or "Softdevice") provides implementation details for Bluetooth low energy software components and interfaces implemented utilizing the Nordic nRF52832 utilized in the preferred embodiment.
A unique implementation is provided in this invention that allows the WBR to implement both the scanner and advertiser functionality virtually simultaneously.
4 http://www.bluetooth.com WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -20- January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
WBR operation The WBR device provides the beacon information used for location and relays that to the SS
to provide interaction information. The software in the WBR device (firmware) implements the functionality and algorithms for the necessary functions. The diagrams and example javascript software code below detail the preferred implementation of this operation.
Note that there arc many ways to implement the required functionality and alternate implementations can perform the required operation. Similar user interfaces can also be implemented that provide the essential unique features.
The high level software operation is described in the flowchart below.
, =
Figure 9: WBR high level level software operation WB ADVERTISING PACKAGE
As described earlier in this disclosure, the WBR scans for beacon devices. In order to simplify the operational software, the preferred implementation scans for WB
devices that implement the Eddystone UID beacon type (https://github.com/google/eddystone/tree/master/eddystone-uid).
The data components advertised in that beacon are shown below in Table 1.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨2 1 ¨ January 1, 2018 AM/I'Mt 321 PM
Byte offset(s) Field Description 0 Frame Type 0x00 1 Ranging Data Tx power at Om 2-11 Namespace ID 10-byte namespace, fixed for a given deployment 12-17 Instance ID 6-byte instance, with lower 4-bytes unique for each device in deployment 18-19 Reserved 0x00 Table 1: WB Eddystone UID advertising data WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨22¨ January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
WBR ADVERTISING PACKAGE
The WBR uses an advertising package to broadcast the collected information to the SS. The contents of that advertising package are described below in Table 2.
Byte offset(s) Field Description 0 Frame Type Ox01 1 Count/Length Upper 3 bits are cyclic count.
Lower 5 bits are length of manufacturer specific data (number of bytes in the frame starting from the next byte) 2-5 Instance ID 4-byte instance of the NorBLE itself
6-8 Sensors 4 x 6-bit sensor readings:
1. Acceleration X
2. Acceleration Y
3. Acceleration Z
4. Battery Level: 100% = 0x3f, 0% = 0x00 Acceleration: -2g (0x21) to +2g (0x1f). 0x20 = void.
9-12 (1) Instance ID 4-byte instance of the strongest observable device 13 (1) Status Status of strongest observable device Upper two bits reserved for future use Lower 6-bits RSSI: 0x3f = -28dBm, 0x00 = -92dBm 14-17 (2) Instance ID 4-byte instance of the second-strongest observable device 18 (2) Status Status of second-strongest observable device Upper two bits reserved for future use Lower 6-bits RSSI: 0x3f = -28dBm, 0x00 = -92dBm 19-22 (3) Instance ID 4-byte instance of the third-strongest observable device 23 (3) Status Status of third-strongest observable device Upper two bits reserved for future use Lower 6-bits RSSI: 0x3f = -28dBm, 0x00 = -92dBm Table 2: WBR advertising package data WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING.doc -23- January 3,2018 AM/PMt 323 PM
WBR SOFTWARE IMPLMENTATION EXAMPLE
Below is a detailed implementation of the WBR software. The example below is designed to operate utilizing the Espruino javascript (http://www.espruino.com) interpreter implemented on the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52832 SOC.
Another preferred implementation would utilize embedded C code. That implementation could offer improved power efficiency not possible with an interpreted system such as Espruino.
Note that it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other software code may be used to implement this invention.
// User-configurable constants const INSTANCE ID = [ 0x12, 0x34, 0x56, 0x78];
const RSSI_THRRSHOLD = -85;
const SCAN_DURATION_MILLISECONDS = 200;
const SCAN INTERVAL MILLISECONDS = 4000;
const ADVERTISING IRTERVAL MILLISECONDS = 500;
const LED BLINK_DdLLISECONRS = 200;
const NAMRSPACE_FILTER_ID = [ OxcO, Oxde, Oxbl, 0x0e, Oxld, Oxdl, 0xe0, Oxlb, Oxed, Ox0c ];
// BLE constants const FLAGS GAP TYPE = Ox01;
const SERVIEE DATA_GAP TYPE = 0x16;
const MANUFACTIJRER_SPEIFIC_DATA_GAP_TYPE = Oxff;
// Eddystone protocol constants const EDDYSTONE_SERVICE = 'feaa';
const EDDYSTONE_UID_DATA LENGTH = 26;
const EDDYSTONE_UID_FRAMR = 0x00;
const EDDYSTONE_FRAME_OFFSET = 4;
const EDDYSTONE_NAMESPACE_OFFSET = 6;
const EDDYSTONE_NAMESPACE_LENGTH = 10;
// Norwegian Blue constants const COMPANY_CODE_MSB = 0x05;
const COMPANY CODE_LSB = 0x83;
const FRAME TYPE = Ox01;
const MAX NRMBER STRONGEST = 3;
const PACRET COURT LENGTH OFFSET = 8;
const INSTANCE OFFSET = 18;
const INSTANCE LENGTH = 4;
const MANUFACTURER SPECIFIC_DATA_LENGTH_OFFSET = 3;
const MAX_BATTERY_VOLTAGE = 3.3;
const MIN_BATTERY_VOLTAGE = 2.0;
const MAX_RSSI_TO_ENCODE = -28;
const MIN_RSSI_TO_ENCODE = -92;
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING.doc -24- January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
II Global variables var gCyclicCount = 0;
var gIsSleeping = false;
/**
* Initialise the packet that will be advertised.
* @param {function} callback The function to call on completion.
*/
function initialiseAdvertisingPacket(callback) {
var packet = [
0x02, // Length of flags FLAGS_GAP TYPE, 0x06, // EE general discoverable, BR/EDR not supported Ox0c, // Length of manufacturer specific data MANUFACTURER_SPECIFIC_DATA_GAP_TYPE, COMPANY_CODE_LSB, COMPANY CODE_MSB.
FRAME TYPE
0x07, // Count/length INSTANCE_ID[0], INSTANCE_ID[1], INSTANCE_ID[2], INSTANCE_ID[3], 0x82, // Sensors 0x08, // Sensors encodeBatteryPercentage() l;
return callback(packet);
/**
* Encode the battery percentage.
* @return {Number} The battery percentage.
*/
function encodeBatteryPercentage() {
var voltage = NRF.getBattery();
if (voltage <= MIN_BATTERY_VOLTAGE) {
return 0x00;
}
if(voltage >= MAX BATTERY VOLTAGE) {
return 0x3f;
return Math.round(0x3f * (voltage - MIN BATTERY VOLTAGE) /
(MAX_BATTERY_VOLTAGE - MIN_BATTEiY_VOLTAEE));
/**
* Determine the offset of the given GAP type in the given data.
* TODO: MAKE OBSOLETE WHEN ESPRUINO SUPPORTS SERVICE DATA
* @param {Array} data The payload data.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -25-January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
* @param {Number} type The GAP type to look for.
* @return {Number} Offset if GAP type exists, -I otherwise.
*/
function getTypeOffset(data, type) {
var cByte = 0;
while(cByte < data.length) {
if(data[cByte + 1] === type) {
return cByte;
}
cByte += data[cByte] + 1;
return -1;
/**
* Determine if this is a device with which to measure proximity interactions.
* @param {Object} device The detected device.
* @return {boolean} True if the device matches the target.
*/
function isTargetDevice(device) {
if(!((device.services.length === 1) &&
(device.services[0] === EDDYSTONE_SERVICE))) {
return false;
}
var typeOff set = getTypeOffset(device.data, SERVICE_DATA_GAP_TYPE);
var isUID = (device.data[typeOffset + EDDYSTONE_FRAME_OFFSET] ===
EDDYSTONE_UID_FRAME);
if(!isUID) {
return false;
}
var namespaceOffset = typeOff set + EDDYSTONE_NAMESPACE_OFFSET;
for(var cByte = 0; cByte < EDDYSTONE_NAMESPACE_LENGTH; cByte++) {
var byte = device.data[namespaceOffset + cByte];
if(byte != NAMESPACE_FILTER_ID[cByte]) {
return false;
}
return true;
/**
* Extract the instance identifier from the given device's data.
* @param {Object} device The detected device.
* @return {Array} The instance identifier as an array of bytes.
*/
function getInstance(device) {
var instance = [];
var typeOff set = getTypeOffset(device.data, SERVICE_DATA_GAP_TYPE);
for(var cByte = 0; cByte < INSTANCE_LENGTH; cByte++) {
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -26-January 3, 2010 AM/PMt 3'23 PM
instance.push(device.data[typeOffset + INSTANCE OFFSET + cByte]);
return instance;
/**
* Determine the indexes of the given device array which correspond with * the strongest RSSI values above the threshold.
* @param {Array} devices The detected devices.
* @param {Number} limit The maximum number of devices to consider.
* @param {function} callback The function to call on completion.
*/
function getStrongest(devices, limit, callback) {
var strongest = [];
var rssi = [];
for(var cDevice = 0; cDevice < devices.length; cDevice++) {
var device = devices[cDevice];
if((device.rssi > RSSI THRESHOLD) && isTargetDevice(device)) {
if(strongest.length === 0) {
strongest.push(cDevice);
rssi.push(device.rssi);
else {
for(var cStrongest = 0; cStrongest < strongest.length; cStrongest++) if(device.rssi > rssi[cStrongest]) {
strongest.splice(cStrongest, 0, cDevice);
rssi.splice(cStrongest, 0, device.rssi);
cStrongest = strongest.length;
else if((cStrongest < limit) && (cStrongest === (strongest.length -1) )) {
strongest.push(cDevice);
rssi.push(device.rssi);
cStrongest = strongest.length;
return callback(strongest.slice(0,3));
/**
* Encode the given RSSI.
* @param {Number} rssi The given RSSI.
* @return {Number} The encoded RSSI.
*/
function encodeRssi(rssi) {
if(rssi >= MAX_RSSI_TO_ENCODE) {
return 0x3f;
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING dm ¨27¨ January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
if(rssi <= MIN_RSSI_TO_ENCODE) {
return Ox00;
return rssi - MIN_RSSI_TO_ENCODE;
/**
* Append the instance and RSSI of the given strongest devices to the given packet.
* @param {Array} packet The packet that will be advertised.
* @param {Array} devices The detected devices.
* @param {Array} strongest The indexes of the strongest devices.
*/
function appendStrongest(packet, devices, strongest) {
for(var cStrongest = 0; cStrongest < strongest.length; cStrongest++) {
var device = devices[strongest[cStrongest]];
var instance = getInstance(device);
packet.push(instance[0]);
packet.push(instance[1]);
packet.push(instance[2]);
packet.push(instance[3]);
packet.push(encodeRssi(device.rssi));
packet[MANUFACTURER_SPECIFIC_DATA_LENGTH_OFFSET] += 5;
packet[PACKET_COUNT_LENGTH_OFFSET] += 5;
/**
* Increment the cyclic count of the given packet.
* @param {Array} packet The packet that will be advertised.
*/
function incrementCyclicCount(packet) {
if(++gCyclicCount > 0x07) {
gCyclicCount = 0;
}
packet[PACKET_COUNT_LENGTH_OFFSET] += (gCyclicCount << 5);
/**
* Watch the button to toggle between sleep and wake */
setWatch(function(e) {
if(gIsSleeping) {
LED2.write(true); // Green = wake setTimeout(function () {
LED2.write(false);
gIsSleeping = false;
NRF.wake();
1, LED_BLINK_MILLISECONDS);
else {
LED1.write(true); // Red = sleep WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -28- January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
setTimeout(function () LED1.write(false);
gIsSleeping = true;
NRF.setServices({}, { uart: false });
NRF.sleep();
1, LED_BLINK_MILLISECONDS);
1, BTN, { edge: "rising", repeat: true, debounce: 50 });
/**
* This is the equivalent of the 'main function */
setInterval(function() initialiseAdvertisingPacket(function(packet) NRF.findDevices(function(devices) getStrongest(devices, MAX_NUMBER_STRONGEST, function(strongest) {
appendStrongest(packet, devices, strongest);
incrementCyclicCount(packet);
NRF.setAdvertising(packet, { interval:
ADVERTISING_INTERVAL_MILLISECONDS });
});
1, SCAN_DURATION_MILLISECONDS);
});
1, SCAN_INTERVAL_MILLISECONDS);
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨29¨ January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
ADDITIONAL METHODS
The preferred implementation described above utilizes certain components and elements that combined present a preferred embodiment. Other technologies could be employed if appropriate for reasons such as future developments, alternative usage models and requirements, and alternative components, technologies or elements.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -30- January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
1. Acceleration X
2. Acceleration Y
3. Acceleration Z
4. Battery Level: 100% = 0x3f, 0% = 0x00 Acceleration: -2g (0x21) to +2g (0x1f). 0x20 = void.
9-12 (1) Instance ID 4-byte instance of the strongest observable device 13 (1) Status Status of strongest observable device Upper two bits reserved for future use Lower 6-bits RSSI: 0x3f = -28dBm, 0x00 = -92dBm 14-17 (2) Instance ID 4-byte instance of the second-strongest observable device 18 (2) Status Status of second-strongest observable device Upper two bits reserved for future use Lower 6-bits RSSI: 0x3f = -28dBm, 0x00 = -92dBm 19-22 (3) Instance ID 4-byte instance of the third-strongest observable device 23 (3) Status Status of third-strongest observable device Upper two bits reserved for future use Lower 6-bits RSSI: 0x3f = -28dBm, 0x00 = -92dBm Table 2: WBR advertising package data WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING.doc -23- January 3,2018 AM/PMt 323 PM
WBR SOFTWARE IMPLMENTATION EXAMPLE
Below is a detailed implementation of the WBR software. The example below is designed to operate utilizing the Espruino javascript (http://www.espruino.com) interpreter implemented on the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52832 SOC.
Another preferred implementation would utilize embedded C code. That implementation could offer improved power efficiency not possible with an interpreted system such as Espruino.
Note that it is understood by one skilled in the practice of this type of design that other software code may be used to implement this invention.
// User-configurable constants const INSTANCE ID = [ 0x12, 0x34, 0x56, 0x78];
const RSSI_THRRSHOLD = -85;
const SCAN_DURATION_MILLISECONDS = 200;
const SCAN INTERVAL MILLISECONDS = 4000;
const ADVERTISING IRTERVAL MILLISECONDS = 500;
const LED BLINK_DdLLISECONRS = 200;
const NAMRSPACE_FILTER_ID = [ OxcO, Oxde, Oxbl, 0x0e, Oxld, Oxdl, 0xe0, Oxlb, Oxed, Ox0c ];
// BLE constants const FLAGS GAP TYPE = Ox01;
const SERVIEE DATA_GAP TYPE = 0x16;
const MANUFACTIJRER_SPEIFIC_DATA_GAP_TYPE = Oxff;
// Eddystone protocol constants const EDDYSTONE_SERVICE = 'feaa';
const EDDYSTONE_UID_DATA LENGTH = 26;
const EDDYSTONE_UID_FRAMR = 0x00;
const EDDYSTONE_FRAME_OFFSET = 4;
const EDDYSTONE_NAMESPACE_OFFSET = 6;
const EDDYSTONE_NAMESPACE_LENGTH = 10;
// Norwegian Blue constants const COMPANY_CODE_MSB = 0x05;
const COMPANY CODE_LSB = 0x83;
const FRAME TYPE = Ox01;
const MAX NRMBER STRONGEST = 3;
const PACRET COURT LENGTH OFFSET = 8;
const INSTANCE OFFSET = 18;
const INSTANCE LENGTH = 4;
const MANUFACTURER SPECIFIC_DATA_LENGTH_OFFSET = 3;
const MAX_BATTERY_VOLTAGE = 3.3;
const MIN_BATTERY_VOLTAGE = 2.0;
const MAX_RSSI_TO_ENCODE = -28;
const MIN_RSSI_TO_ENCODE = -92;
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING.doc -24- January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
II Global variables var gCyclicCount = 0;
var gIsSleeping = false;
/**
* Initialise the packet that will be advertised.
* @param {function} callback The function to call on completion.
*/
function initialiseAdvertisingPacket(callback) {
var packet = [
0x02, // Length of flags FLAGS_GAP TYPE, 0x06, // EE general discoverable, BR/EDR not supported Ox0c, // Length of manufacturer specific data MANUFACTURER_SPECIFIC_DATA_GAP_TYPE, COMPANY_CODE_LSB, COMPANY CODE_MSB.
FRAME TYPE
0x07, // Count/length INSTANCE_ID[0], INSTANCE_ID[1], INSTANCE_ID[2], INSTANCE_ID[3], 0x82, // Sensors 0x08, // Sensors encodeBatteryPercentage() l;
return callback(packet);
/**
* Encode the battery percentage.
* @return {Number} The battery percentage.
*/
function encodeBatteryPercentage() {
var voltage = NRF.getBattery();
if (voltage <= MIN_BATTERY_VOLTAGE) {
return 0x00;
}
if(voltage >= MAX BATTERY VOLTAGE) {
return 0x3f;
return Math.round(0x3f * (voltage - MIN BATTERY VOLTAGE) /
(MAX_BATTERY_VOLTAGE - MIN_BATTEiY_VOLTAEE));
/**
* Determine the offset of the given GAP type in the given data.
* TODO: MAKE OBSOLETE WHEN ESPRUINO SUPPORTS SERVICE DATA
* @param {Array} data The payload data.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -25-January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
* @param {Number} type The GAP type to look for.
* @return {Number} Offset if GAP type exists, -I otherwise.
*/
function getTypeOffset(data, type) {
var cByte = 0;
while(cByte < data.length) {
if(data[cByte + 1] === type) {
return cByte;
}
cByte += data[cByte] + 1;
return -1;
/**
* Determine if this is a device with which to measure proximity interactions.
* @param {Object} device The detected device.
* @return {boolean} True if the device matches the target.
*/
function isTargetDevice(device) {
if(!((device.services.length === 1) &&
(device.services[0] === EDDYSTONE_SERVICE))) {
return false;
}
var typeOff set = getTypeOffset(device.data, SERVICE_DATA_GAP_TYPE);
var isUID = (device.data[typeOffset + EDDYSTONE_FRAME_OFFSET] ===
EDDYSTONE_UID_FRAME);
if(!isUID) {
return false;
}
var namespaceOffset = typeOff set + EDDYSTONE_NAMESPACE_OFFSET;
for(var cByte = 0; cByte < EDDYSTONE_NAMESPACE_LENGTH; cByte++) {
var byte = device.data[namespaceOffset + cByte];
if(byte != NAMESPACE_FILTER_ID[cByte]) {
return false;
}
return true;
/**
* Extract the instance identifier from the given device's data.
* @param {Object} device The detected device.
* @return {Array} The instance identifier as an array of bytes.
*/
function getInstance(device) {
var instance = [];
var typeOff set = getTypeOffset(device.data, SERVICE_DATA_GAP_TYPE);
for(var cByte = 0; cByte < INSTANCE_LENGTH; cByte++) {
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -26-January 3, 2010 AM/PMt 3'23 PM
instance.push(device.data[typeOffset + INSTANCE OFFSET + cByte]);
return instance;
/**
* Determine the indexes of the given device array which correspond with * the strongest RSSI values above the threshold.
* @param {Array} devices The detected devices.
* @param {Number} limit The maximum number of devices to consider.
* @param {function} callback The function to call on completion.
*/
function getStrongest(devices, limit, callback) {
var strongest = [];
var rssi = [];
for(var cDevice = 0; cDevice < devices.length; cDevice++) {
var device = devices[cDevice];
if((device.rssi > RSSI THRESHOLD) && isTargetDevice(device)) {
if(strongest.length === 0) {
strongest.push(cDevice);
rssi.push(device.rssi);
else {
for(var cStrongest = 0; cStrongest < strongest.length; cStrongest++) if(device.rssi > rssi[cStrongest]) {
strongest.splice(cStrongest, 0, cDevice);
rssi.splice(cStrongest, 0, device.rssi);
cStrongest = strongest.length;
else if((cStrongest < limit) && (cStrongest === (strongest.length -1) )) {
strongest.push(cDevice);
rssi.push(device.rssi);
cStrongest = strongest.length;
return callback(strongest.slice(0,3));
/**
* Encode the given RSSI.
* @param {Number} rssi The given RSSI.
* @return {Number} The encoded RSSI.
*/
function encodeRssi(rssi) {
if(rssi >= MAX_RSSI_TO_ENCODE) {
return 0x3f;
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING dm ¨27¨ January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
if(rssi <= MIN_RSSI_TO_ENCODE) {
return Ox00;
return rssi - MIN_RSSI_TO_ENCODE;
/**
* Append the instance and RSSI of the given strongest devices to the given packet.
* @param {Array} packet The packet that will be advertised.
* @param {Array} devices The detected devices.
* @param {Array} strongest The indexes of the strongest devices.
*/
function appendStrongest(packet, devices, strongest) {
for(var cStrongest = 0; cStrongest < strongest.length; cStrongest++) {
var device = devices[strongest[cStrongest]];
var instance = getInstance(device);
packet.push(instance[0]);
packet.push(instance[1]);
packet.push(instance[2]);
packet.push(instance[3]);
packet.push(encodeRssi(device.rssi));
packet[MANUFACTURER_SPECIFIC_DATA_LENGTH_OFFSET] += 5;
packet[PACKET_COUNT_LENGTH_OFFSET] += 5;
/**
* Increment the cyclic count of the given packet.
* @param {Array} packet The packet that will be advertised.
*/
function incrementCyclicCount(packet) {
if(++gCyclicCount > 0x07) {
gCyclicCount = 0;
}
packet[PACKET_COUNT_LENGTH_OFFSET] += (gCyclicCount << 5);
/**
* Watch the button to toggle between sleep and wake */
setWatch(function(e) {
if(gIsSleeping) {
LED2.write(true); // Green = wake setTimeout(function () {
LED2.write(false);
gIsSleeping = false;
NRF.wake();
1, LED_BLINK_MILLISECONDS);
else {
LED1.write(true); // Red = sleep WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -28- January 3,2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
setTimeout(function () LED1.write(false);
gIsSleeping = true;
NRF.setServices({}, { uart: false });
NRF.sleep();
1, LED_BLINK_MILLISECONDS);
1, BTN, { edge: "rising", repeat: true, debounce: 50 });
/**
* This is the equivalent of the 'main function */
setInterval(function() initialiseAdvertisingPacket(function(packet) NRF.findDevices(function(devices) getStrongest(devices, MAX_NUMBER_STRONGEST, function(strongest) {
appendStrongest(packet, devices, strongest);
incrementCyclicCount(packet);
NRF.setAdvertising(packet, { interval:
ADVERTISING_INTERVAL_MILLISECONDS });
});
1, SCAN_DURATION_MILLISECONDS);
});
1, SCAN_INTERVAL_MILLISECONDS);
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc ¨29¨ January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
ADDITIONAL METHODS
The preferred implementation described above utilizes certain components and elements that combined present a preferred embodiment. Other technologies could be employed if appropriate for reasons such as future developments, alternative usage models and requirements, and alternative components, technologies or elements.
WIRELESS BEACON RELAY INTERACTION TRACKING doc -30- January 3, 2018 AM/PMt 3:23 PM
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2990782A CA2990782A1 (en) | 2018-01-04 | 2018-01-04 | Wireless beacon relay providing interaction tracking |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2990782A CA2990782A1 (en) | 2018-01-04 | 2018-01-04 | Wireless beacon relay providing interaction tracking |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2990782A1 true CA2990782A1 (en) | 2019-07-04 |
Family
ID=67138981
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2990782A Abandoned CA2990782A1 (en) | 2018-01-04 | 2018-01-04 | Wireless beacon relay providing interaction tracking |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2990782A1 (en) |
-
2018
- 2018-01-04 CA CA2990782A patent/CA2990782A1/en not_active Abandoned
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| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20200106 |