EA046207B1 - ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN A WIRELESS VISITOR INTERACTION SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

Cross references to related applications

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 15/459906, filed March 15, 2017, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and U.S. Provisional Patent Applications No. 62/420998, filed November 11, 2016, and No. 62/ 440938, filed December 30, 2016, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical field

The subject matter of the present invention relates to technologies and equipment for providing automated interaction with site visitors using wireless sensor technologies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Visitors to hotels and resorts, cruise ships, and other retail and commercial establishments have come to expect a high level of service and interaction from their hosts. The service may include providing rapid access to private and/or restricted areas without the need to display a badge or other form of identification, insert or swipe an access card, or otherwise authenticate oneself in advance. The interaction may include ensuring that the host recognizes you personally and provides services and recommendations based on this, without requiring visitors to identify themselves or remind the host of their preferences or prior reservations.

In the present context, service and interaction are provided only on the basis that users provide their name or identity, apply or insert an access card, and the receiving party manually obtains reservation information through a computer terminal. For example, visitors must present a photo ID and credit card during check-in, visitors must swipe or insert an access card in order to operate elevators or unlock doors to health care facilities and guest rooms during their stay, and visitors must be identified each time they interact with the concierge, restaurateur or reception staff. As a result, interactions between hosts and visitors are impersonal and disconnected.

The present invention provides an innovative visitor experience system that relies on recent improvements in low-power wireless communications technologies and distributed sensor networks to provide innovative services to visitors without requiring visitors to identify or authorize in advance. The visitor engagement system thus allows hosts to harmoniously interact with visitors at their sites and provide recommendations to visitors based on the visitors' previous experiences.

The essence of the invention

The ideas expressed herein provide a system and methods for providing a harmonious experience for visitors to facilities including, but not limited to, resorts, cruise ships, hotels, convention centers, retail and other commercial establishments, amusement parks, casinos or other a large establishment (or group of establishments) through the use of wireless sensor technologies. These functions are based on the fact that visitors have individual visitor devices, used to automatically identify and authenticate visitors throughout the facility, in order to seamlessly provide services to visitors.

The visitor engagement system relies on visitor devices (also called medallions) to periodically broadcast beacons that uniquely identify the devices and their associated visitors. Periodic beacon signals are detected by sensors located throughout the property and used by the visitor interaction system to provide personalized services. Services include automatically unlocking doors, including hotel room or cabin doors, based on visitors' close proximity to their assigned room door. The Services also include automatic payment services provided at checkout or point-of-sale terminals and automatic account login on interactive displays and portals, among other things, based on secure wireless authentication of visitors' devices.

The visitor experience system includes a plurality of visitor devices provided to users of the visitor experience system, wherein each visitor device includes a wireless communications antenna and is used to emit a periodic beacon signal that broadcasts a unique identifier of the visitor device using Bluetooth Low Energy communications. (BLE). The visitor interaction system further includes a sensor network comprising a plurality of sensors, each installed at a different known location and used to detect periodic beacons containing unique identifiers emitted via BLE communication by visitor devices from a plurality of visitor devices that are close to the sensor. System

- 1 046207 interaction with visitors further includes a communication network connecting each of the multiple sensors of the sensor network, and a central server. A central server is communicatively connected to each of the plurality of sensor network sensors via a communications network and stores a log associating each unique visitor device ID detected via BLE communication by a sensor network sensor with a known sensor location and timestamp.

The visitor experience system includes a plurality of visitor devices provided to users of the visitor experience system, each visitor device having a unique identifier and including first and second wireless antennas respectively adapted to communicate using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standards. and near-field communication (NFC). The visitor interaction system further includes a sensor network containing a plurality of sensors, each of which is installed in a different location. At least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is used to detect devices of visitors located in its vicinity and receives unique identifiers from them based on BLE communication with the devices of visitors, and at least one more sensor of the plurality of sensors is used to detect devices of visitors that are located in the vicinity it, and receiving unique identifiers from them based on NFC communication with visitors’ devices. The visitor interaction system also includes a communications network connecting each of the multiple sensors in the sensor network and a central server. A central server is communicatively connected to each of the plurality of sensors in the sensor network via a communications network and stores a log associated with each unique visitor device identifier received via BLE communication or NFC communication by the sensor network sensor.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a node includes a wireless device and an accessory. The wireless device has a conical-shaped device body including a front surface, a rear surface having the same shape as the front surface and a larger size than the front surface, and a cavity in which a processor and at least one wireless communication antenna are located. The accessory is designed to be worn by a user and has an accessory body having a conical cavity configured to accommodate a wireless device with the ability to remove it. The conical cavity includes a rear opening having the same shape as the front and rear surfaces of the device body.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a wireless device includes a body having a conical shape including a front surface and a rear surface having the same shape as the front surface and a size larger than the front surface. The housing includes a cavity that houses the processor and at least one wireless communication antenna.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an accessory configured to be worn by a user includes a housing having internal and external surfaces respectively configured to face toward and away from the user while the accessory is worn. The housing has a conical cavity extending between a front opening in the outer surface of the housing and a rear opening in the inner surface of the housing, the rear opening having the same shape as the front opening and the size of the rear opening being larger than the size of the front opening.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a portable wireless device includes a housing having a completely enclosed cavity, all dimensions of the housing being 2.5 inches or less and a thickness of the housing being 5/8 inch or less. The portable wireless device further includes a processor, a memory, a battery, and first and second wireless antennas located in the cavity. The first and second wireless antennas are respectively adapted for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Near Field Communication (NFC) communications.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a portable wireless device includes a housing having a completely enclosed cavity, and a processor, a memory, a battery, and first and second wireless antennas disposed in the cavity. The first and second wireless antennas are respectively adapted for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Near Field Communication (NFC) communications. The housing includes an open metal ring arranged to substantially surround a housing cavity, and the open metal ring includes at least one opening in which a non-conductive material is located.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a portable wireless device includes a housing having a completely enclosed cavity, and a processor, a memory, a battery, and first and second wireless antennas disposed in the cavity. The body has a truncated conical shape, a round front surface and a rear surface which is circular and has a diameter larger than the diameter of the front surface. Front and rear diameters

- 2046207 The thickness is from 0.75 to 2.5 inches, the body thickness is from 1/8 to 5/8 inch, and the angle between the front surface and the side surface of the frustoconical body is in the range from 86 to 88°. The first and second wireless antennas are respectively adapted for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Near Field Communication (NFC) communications.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an electronic door lock assembly includes a latch assembly, a door lock communication module, and an access panel. The latch assembly includes a latch and an electronically controlled locking mechanism used to selectively unlock the door. The door lock communication module is electrically coupled to the electronically controlled latch locking mechanism assembly and includes a radio capable of wireless communication. The access panel includes a radio device configured to communicate wirelessly with a door lock communication module, a first transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with a user device, and a second transceiver configured to communicate with a reservation server.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a door latch assembly includes a door handle, a latch selectively actuated by use of the door handle, an electronically controlled locking mechanism used to selectively unlock the latch, and a proximity sensor used to detect user contact with the door latch. handle or approaching it.

An electronically controlled locking mechanism is used to selectively release the latch based on the user's contact with or proximity to the door handle, as detected by the proximity sensor.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an access panel for operating an electronically controlled door lock includes a radio device and first and second transceivers. The radio device is configured to communicate wirelessly with a door lock communication module electrically coupled to the electronically controlled locking mechanism. The first transceiver is configured to communicate wirelessly with a user device to identify a user who wishes to operate the electronically controlled locking mechanism. The second transceiver is configured to communicate with a reservation server storing identifiers of users who are authorized to operate the electronically controlled locking mechanism. Each of the radio device, the first transceiver and the second transceiver operates in accordance with a different communication standard.

Additional advantages and innovative features will be set forth in part in the following portion of the specification and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following portion and the accompanying drawings or can be learned by manufacture or operation of the examples. The benefits of the present ideas can be realized and achieved through the practical implementation or application of various aspects of the techniques, tools and combinations outlined in the detailed examples presented below.

Brief description of graphic materials

The drawings depict one or more embodiments of the present teachings by way of example and not limitation. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

In fig. 1A and 1B show high-level functional block diagrams representing components of a visitor experience system.

In fig. 2A-2E and 3A-3E illustrate medallions or visitor devices used in a visitor interaction system, and accessories in which the medallions can be removably housed.

In fig. 4A-4F show exploded perspective views of other accessories in which medallions can be removably housed.

In fig. 5A-5L are diagrams depicting components of visitor medallions or devices.

In fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the functional components of the medallion.

In fig. 7A-7I shows an automated door lock assembly and its components that provide automatic unlocking of the door based on interaction with the medallion.

In fig. 8A-8N are diagrams depicting visitor interaction system sensors and their components.

In fig. Figure 9 is a high-level block diagram depicting additional components, including end devices, and visitor interaction systems.

In fig. 10 is a perspective view of a gaming station that can be used as part of a visitor interaction system.

In fig. 11 and 12 show simplified block diagrams of computer hardware platforms that can be used to implement the functions of a visitor interaction system.

- 3 046207

Detailed Description of the Invention

In the following detailed description, numerous specific features are set forth by way of examples to provide a proper understanding of the related ideas. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present ideas may be practiced without such indications. In other cases, well-known methods, procedures, components and/or circuits have been described at a relatively high level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessary complexity of aspects of the present ideas.

The various techniques and equipment systems described herein provide the ability to automatically interact with users or site visitors using wireless sensor technologies.

The visitor experience system is based on wireless sensor technologies to reliably identify visitors based on medallions that visitors wear or carry, and to automatically provide services to visitors based on reliable identification. The system further provides an enhanced visitor experience by maintaining a database of visitor locations and experiences, and allows services to be seamlessly delivered to the visitor regardless of location.

In fig. 1A is a general block diagram illustrating the components of the visitor interaction system 10. The visitor interaction system 10 of FIG. 1A may be provided in a facility such as a ship (e.g., cruise ship), hotel, restaurant, resort, convention center, medical center or other health care facility, retail or other commercial establishment, entertainment venue (e.g., concert hall, movie theater, arena or stadium, amusement park or casino), transportation center (for example, an airport, seaport or terminal, train or bus station, transit center), or at another facility or combination of such facilities. In one example, the facility may be a cruise ship that accommodates a large number of visitors, or a cruise line that includes multiple cruise ships, associated shore facilities (for example, port facilities), and partner facilities (for example, partner facilities providing shore-based activities for visitors cruise). In another example, the facility may be a resort that includes one or more hotels, restaurants, theaters, amusement parks, and other related facilities distributed over one or more geographic locations. In yet another example, an object may be a group of objects associated with a specific event, such as a conference or trade show, including the locations of several partner establishments (for example, hotels, restaurants, museums, arenas, shopping centers or other retail locations). Users of the visitor interaction system are generally referred to herein as visitors 12. In the cruise ship example, visitors 12 include cruise passengers and may more broadly include stewards, staff, and other users of visitor devices 11. In other examples, visitors 12 may include any person interacting with the visitor interaction system 10, including users of visitor devices 11. Thus, the term visitors 12 may refer to patients, nursing staff, physicians, and caregivers, among other users, in the illustrative context of a medical or health care setting; conference visitors and/or exhibitors in the illustrative context of a convention center; customers, staff, travelers, sales personnel and others in illustrative contexts of various types of business enterprises.

The visitor interaction system 10 is configured to communicate wirelessly with visitor devices 11, such as medallions that visitors 12 wear or carry, each of which provides a unique identification of the associated visitor and is configured to communicate securely with the visitor interaction system 10. visitors. In the examples described in detail herein, the visitor devices 11 are in the form of medallions and will generally be referred to herein as medallions. However, the devices/medallions 11 may have other formats, and thus the term medallion is not intended to limit the scope of visitor devices 11 that may be used as part of the system 10. The visitor devices/medallions 11 are preferably lightweight and compact so that users can easily carry them on themselves or with them. The visitor devices/medallions 11 are configured to communicate using at least one wireless communication technology/protocol and are preferably configured to communicate using two or more separate wireless communication technologies/protocols. For example, medallion 11 may be configured to communicate in accordance with both Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standards, although medallion 11 may generally operate using only one of the standards at any given time. time to reduce energy consumption.

The visitor interaction system 10 includes a sensor network 13 consisting of sensors 15 installed throughout the facility and capable of wireless

- 4 046207 no connection with medallions of 11 visitors. Sensor 15 of network 13 may be used to detect the location of a visitor (or proximity to sensor 15), such as by detecting beacons or other signals emitted by medallion 11. Sensor 15 may also engage in two-way communication with medallion 11 to transmit information to and receive medallion 11. information from him. The sensor 15 may also be located or otherwise associated with a particular interface device 17 or system interface function, such as a sensor associated with a door lock 17a, an automatic door or turnstile, a vending machine 17b, a cash register, a slot machine, an interactive display 17c, or portal 17d, or the like. In some situations, sensor 15 is mounted within interface device 17, while in other situations, sensor 15 associated with interface device 17 is mounted adjacent to interface device. For example, a point sensor may be placed over a location where a user will be interacting with interface device 17 (e.g., over a location immediately in front of and within about 1 foot of interface device 17) such that only beacon signals are detected. emitted by user medallions immediately in front of and adjacent to interface device 17. When sensor 15 is associated with a particular interface device 17 or interface function, it may engage in two-way communication with medallion 11 and provide a secure communication channel between the device and medallion, for example to provide automatic unlocking the door lock based on the strong authentication of the particular visitor's medallion.

The visitor experience system 10 may further use end devices, such as BLE-enabled mobile devices, tablet computers, or interactive displays, to provide services to visitors by detecting (and communicating with) the medallions 11. The services provided by the end devices may be provided in addition to the above-mentioned services provided by the sensors 15 of the sensor network 13 and the service provisioning interface devices 17. As described in more detail below (see, for example, the description of FIG. 9), services provided by end devices may include location-related services (including locating medallions based on end devices detecting beacon signals from medallions, and reporting detected medallions and locations to the system server 21), and the entry of medallions into or out of various operating modes (such as sleep, beacon, and bidirectional modes), among other services.

The visitor experience system 10 also includes one or more servers 21 communicatively connected to a sensor network 13, to interface devices 17, and wirelessly to medallions 11 through various sensors 15 located throughout the visitor experience system 10 and across the corresponding object. One or more communication networks 19 provide the ability to communicate between different elements of the system 10. In one example, the visitor interaction system 10 includes at least one authentication server used to authenticate visitor medallions and provide encryption and decryption services. The system may further include one or more servers storing databases of visitor information (e.g., reservations made by visitors), payment transaction servers (e.g., including billing information for visitors), location information (e.g., the location of the sensors 15 within the object and the location of the medallions 11 within the object and elsewhere), etc.

Detailed descriptions of the various components of the visitor experience system 10 will now be presented with reference to accompanying graphics. The descriptions focus on illustrative embodiments of system components and are not intended to limit the scope of features and functions of the components and system.

The system may employ two different sensor structures 15. In one example, each individual sensor 15 in the visitor experience system 10 includes a processor and storage device that at least partially controls the operation of the sensor 15. In such an example, each sensor may further include a network a transceiver containing a communication port for connecting the sensor 15 with the communication network 19. The network transceiver may be an Ethernet, Wifi, or other suitable transceiver.

Alternatively or additionally, the visitor experience system 10 may include sensor network peripherals 14 distributed throughout the facility and deployed such that sensors 15 are directly attached thereto. In such an example, in FIG. 1B is a high-level block diagram depicting a more detailed view of the sensor network 13 of the visitor interaction system 10, depicting the sensor network peripherals 14 that are used to connect the sensors 15 to the communications network 19. In particular, as shown in the figure, each sensor 15 of the sensor network 13 is directly connected to a corresponding sensor network peripheral device 14, and each is powered by and operated under the control of a corresponding sensor network peripheral device 14. In turn, the peripheral devices 14 of the sensor network are connected to the communication network 19 and communicate with the servers 21 via the network 19.

Each sensor network peripheral typically includes a network transceiver

- 5 046207 chik for communicating with a communication network 19, such as an Ethernet transceiver, Wifi or other suitable network transceiver. Each sensor network peripheral 14 further includes at least one port for connecting to at least one associated sensor 15. For example, sensor network peripheral 14 typically includes one or more communication buses through which communications can be made. several 15 sensors or other devices are connected. For example, sensor network peripheral 14 may include two buses, each used to connect up to sixteen sensors 15 in one example. Through these connections, sensor network peripherals 14 serve to transmit sensor information received by sensors 15 to communications network 19 and servers 21 and to transmit control or communication signals from communications network 19 and servers 21 back to sensors 15. Peripherals 14 The sensor network may further transmit data or other communication signals received from the medallions 11 by the sensors 15 to the communication network 19 and servers 21, and transmit control or communication signals from the communication network 19 and from the servers 21 back to the medallions 11 via the sensors 15.

Each of the sensor network peripherals 14 includes a processor and a memory and is used to control the operation of the sensor(s) 15 coupled thereto. In particular, the use of a sensor network peripheral 14 may allow the visitor interaction system 10 to operate with sensors 15 that have little or no inherent processing power and storage capacity, and sensors 15 that require minimal configuration during initial system installation. In particular, through the use of sensor network peripherals 14, individual sensors 15 do not need to store individual network identifiers (e.g., unique network addresses) for use by sensors 15 to identify them within the communications network 19 and to identify data transmitted by each respective sensor 15 within the network. 19 as originating from the corresponding sensor 15. Instead, the sensor network peripherals 14 are configured to package data received from sensors 15 coupled thereto for transmission over the network 19, and in particular are configured to associate data received from each respective sensor 15, with an identifier for the corresponding sensor 15. The sensor network peripherals 14 are further configured to package data from the sensors 15 for transmission over the network 19. In addition, individual sensors 15 do not need to be able to communicate on the network 19, and each the corresponding sensor 15 does not need to have sufficient computing power to identify and process packets destined for the corresponding sensor from packets transmitted over network 19. Instead, sensor network peripherals 14 are configured to process data transmitted over network 19 to identify the packets , designed for the corresponding peripheral device 14 of the sensor network and/or for the sensors 15 connected to it, to process the commands contained in the packets and control the corresponding sensor(s) 15 connected to it according to the processed commands.

As described above, the use of sensor network peripherals 14 in this manner allows the wireless visitor interaction system 10 to operate using low-cost sensors 15 that contain no network communication circuitry and have little or no processing power and storage capacity. Additionally, the use of sensor network peripherals 14 allows the wireless visitor interaction system 10 to be configured and started to operate without having to assign separate network identifiers to each sensor 15 and/or without having to configure servers 21 using information about each individual sensor 15 in the system. Instead, the wireless visitor interaction system 10 may be configured to operate by attaching a plurality of sensors 15 directly to nearby sensor network peripherals 14 located throughout the facility, and by configuring the sensor network peripherals 14 to communicate via a communication network 19 with servers 21 .

Although the foregoing description has focused on sensor network peripherals 14 coupled directly to sensors 15 configured to detect the presence of and/or communicate with medallions 11, sensor network 13 and sensor network peripherals 14 may more broadly support other types of sensors or devices (generally designated by reference number 16 in FIG. 1B). Namely, the sensor network 13 and the sensor network peripherals 14 may be used to control the operation and transmit sensor data from other sensors or devices 16 over the communication network 19 . Sensors or devices 16 may include sensors such as smoke or CO (carbon monoxide) detectors, infrared or occupancy sensors, photodiodes or light sensors, temperature and/or humidity sensors, and the like. Other sensors or devices 16 may also include devices such as speakers and/or microphones (eg, parts of a public address system), actuators or controllers (eg, for opening or closing vents or window shades), switches or relays (for example, to turn on/off lighting, heating and ventilation, electricity), cameras (for example, as part of a security system), etc. Peripherals 14

- 6 046207 sensor networks may further be configured to support sensors installed in vending machines 17b, interactive displays 17c, and other interface devices 17 described herein (or associated with them).

The functionality provided by the sensor network peripherals 14 may also be implemented into other components of the wireless visitor interaction system 10 . In particular, the functions of the sensor network peripherals 14 may be embedded in components such as a processor, a memory, and a network transceiver to enable communications in the communication network 19. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, an access panel 705 provided in conjunction with a door lock 17a may be configured to serve as a sensor network peripheral 14. It should be noted that the access panel 705 is described in more detail below in relation to FIG. 7A-7I. In the example shown in FIG. 1B, access panel 705 may include at least one port and/or bus for connecting one or more sensors 15 thereto, and access panel 705 may be configured to support operation of sensors 15 as described above with respect to peripheral devices 14 sensor network.

As described above, the visitor device 11 may be in the form of a medallion 11, such as the illustrative medallion 11 shown in FIG. 2A. As shown, medallion 11 is in the form of a badge having an outer diameter of approximately 1.25 inches (ranging from 0.75 to 2.5 inches), a thickness of approximately 3/8 inch (ranging from 1/8 to 5/8 inch) and weighs approximately 1.8 ounces (range 1.2 to 2.4 ounces).

The medallion 11 is configured to be inserted into various accessories worn by visitors 12. The accessories allow the medallions 11 to be securely attached to visitors 12 so as to ensure that visitors do not accidentally lose or forget their medallions. In fig. 2B shows an exemplary accessory 201 in the form of a wrist strap or bracelet. Other types of accessories, including cords, pendants, keychains, necklaces, buckles, swimwear (eg, bikini rings), piercings, and the like, some of which are depicted in FIG. 4A-4F may also apply. The medallion 11 is configured to be inserted into a cavity of a wrist strap accessory 201 that is shaped and sized to receive the medallion 11. As shown, the medallion 11 is inserted through the back of the wrist strap accessory 201, i.e. through a side of the accessory 201 that is designed to face the user, such as an inner surface of a wrist strap that is designed to contact the user's wrist when the wrist strap is worn. The medallion 11 is inserted through the back of the wrist strap accessory 201 to prevent the medallion 11 from accidentally slipping out of the accessory 201 when the accessory 201 is worn by the user. In particular, as shown in FIG. 2C, the cavity of the accessory 201, configured to receive the medallion, may be conical and thus have an inclined or beveled edge, allowing the medallion 11 to be inserted into the cavity of the accessory 201, but preventing it from passing through the cavity and exiting the accessory 201 through its front. surface. In the example shown in FIG. 2C, the edge slope is approximately 3° relative to the rectangular edge (corresponding to an angle of 87° relative to the front or rear surface). More precisely, the cavity in the example shown in FIG. 2C may not have a cylindrical shape, but instead may have a conical shape, such as a truncated cone in the form of a segment of a cone having a circular base and edges that are inclined relative to the circular base at a predetermined angle (for example, 3° (±1°) relative to rectangular edge, which corresponds to an angle of 87° (in the range of 86-88°) relative to the front or back surface). The angle is such that the rear/lower opening of the cavity is larger than the front/upper opening, thereby preventing the medallion 11 from passing through the cavity.

Likewise, the medallion 11 may have a conical shape having an inclined edge along its outer peripheral surface, and the edge may be inclined at a predetermined angle equal to the angle of the cavity (for example, 3° (±1°) relative to the rectangular edge, corresponding to an angle of 87° (in the range of 86-88°) relative to the front or rear surface), as also shown in FIG. 2C. The angled edge of the medallion is designed such that the medallion has a smaller size (e.g., smaller diameter) on the front/top surface 11a of the medallion 11 compared to the back/bottom surface 11b of the medallion 11. Essentially, the combination of the angled edges of the medallion 11 and the cavity in the accessory 201 ensures that the medallion can only be placed in the accessory 201 such that the front surface 11a of the medallion 11 faces outward while the rear surface 11b faces rearward. Additionally, the size of the medallion 11 may be slightly smaller than the size of the cavity in order to facilitate the fitting of the medallion 11 within the cavity. For example, the medallion 11 may have an outer dimension, such as an outer diameter, that is 0.75 mm (e.g., in the range of 0.5-1 mm) smaller than the internal size/diameter of the cavity, in order to allow the medallion 11 to be inserted into the cavity, even if the medallion is not perfectly aligned with the cavity and/or is at an angle relative to the cavity.

In summary, the medallion can be easily and securely connected to the accessory 201 due to the following features. The medallion 11 has an angled edge positioned at a predetermined angle (eg, 3 degrees) from the front surface of the medallion to the rear surface so as to be aligned with the oppositely shaped angled edge of the accessory 201. The angled edge design allows the medallion 11 to be aligned relative to accessory by inserting the medallion on the back of the accessory. Since the medallion 11 can only be inserted or removed from the rear of the accessory 201, the forces required to dislodge the medallion 11 from the accessory 201 are directed rearward and thus directed towards the body of the visitor wearing the accessory 201 (and/or directed towards another surface obstructing the medallion being easily dislodged) when the medallion is in the accessory 201. As such, the medallion 11 cannot be easily dislodged or removed from the accessory 201 when the accessory 201 is worn.

The foregoing description has focused on the medallions 11 having round shapes and the corresponding cavities having round shapes. However, the present invention is not limited to such medallions and cavities. More generally, medallions 11 and corresponding accessory cavities may have oval or other round shapes, or square, rectangular or other angular shapes (eg, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.). In each case, the medallions 11 and corresponding cavities may have conical shapes containing angled edges positioned at a predetermined angle (for example, 3°) from the front surface of the medallion to the rear surface so as to ensure that the medallion 11 can only be inserted or removed through the rear side of the accessory 201. In such cases, the front and rear surfaces of the medallions 11 may have substantially similar (or identical) shapes and different sizes to impart a conical shape to the medallions 11, and the accessory cavities may likewise have front and rear openings having substantially similar (or identical) shapes and different sizes in order to give a conical shape to the cavities.

Additionally, medallion 11 and accessory 201 may include magnets used to cause automatic placement of medallion 11 in a predetermined angular orientation relative to the cavity of accessory 201 (eg, self-alignment of medallion 11 in accessory 201). The magnets further provide a magnetic attraction between the medallion 11 and the accessory 201 to reduce the likelihood of the medallion 11 separating from (and/or falling out of) the accessory 201. For this purpose, different numbers of magnets can be used. For example, two, three, four or five or more magnets may be used. The magnets may be evenly distributed along the peripheral sides of the medallion 11 and the cavity, or, more generally, may be spaced at predetermined locations on the peripheral sides selected so that each magnet installed in the medallion 11 is aligned with a corresponding magnet installed on the periphery cavity when medallion 11 is inserted in the desired orientation into the cavity of the accessory.

As shown in FIG. 2D, four magnets may be provided in the accessory 201 in locations that coincide with the four magnets provided in the medallion 11 to ensure that the medallion 11 is always oriented in the correct position relative to the X and Y axes. In particular, magnets with opposite polarities may be provided at each location in medallion 11 and accessory 201, as shown in FIG. 2E to automatically align medallion 11 into a specific angular orientation relative to accessory 201. For example, in the magnetic coupling mechanism shown in FIG. 2E, the magnets on the top of the medallion 11 and accessory 201 (e.g., the top in the orientation shown in FIG. 2D) have polarities opposite to the polarities of the magnets on the bottom of the medallion 11 and accessory 201 (e.g., the bottom in the orientation shown in FIG. 2D) so as to prevent medallion 11 from being inserted in an upside-down angular position relative to the orientation shown in FIG. 2D and 2E. This characteristic feature, together with the sloping edges described in connection with FIGS. 2B and 2C allow medallion 11 to be inserted into accessory 201 in only (or preferably) one orientation. As shown in FIG. 3A, medallion 11 may have a metal outer rim and a plastic housing located within the metal outer rim. The electronic components contained in the medallion 11 are mounted inside a plastic housing. The metal outer rim is interrupted in at least one location to form an open ring and includes a plastic or other non-conductive spacer within the gap formed. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, the metal outer rim is formed from two separate semicircular metal casings which, when positioned along the outer rim of the medallion 11, are separated from each other by two diametrically opposed gaps. Gaps in the metal outer rim (or between portions of the metal outer rim) prevent eddy currents from moving around the metal outer rim, and thus prevent the wireless communication capabilities of the medallions 11 from being significantly degraded by the eddy currents. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3E, the circular metal casing may include one or more gaps filled with injection molded plastic. As also shown in FIG. 3E, the circular metal casing may include recesses to accommodate magnets such as those described above in connection with FIG. 2D-2E. In general, the metal outer ring is made of a non-magnetic metal material and can be made, for example, of polished aluminum.

A similar gap in the metal outer rim may be included in the accessories 201, as in

- 8 046207 shown in Fig. 3B. More specifically, in embodiments in which the accessory 201 is metal or includes metal components around the periphery of the cavity configured to receive the medallion 11, the accessory 201 includes a gap in the metal outer rim of the cavity. The clearance in the metal outer rim (or between portions of the metal outer rim) prevents eddy currents from moving around the metal outer rim, and thus prevents the wireless communication capability of the medallion 11 housed in the accessory 201 from being significantly degraded by the eddy current. To ensure proper operation of the gaps in the metal outer rims of the medallion 11 and the accessory 201, the gaps of the medallion 11 and the accessory 201 must be aligned when the medallion 11 is installed in the accessory 201. Namely, the alignment of the gaps ensures that even when the outer metal rims of the medallion 11 and the accessory are in contact 201 with each other, the metal rims do not collectively form a closed metal loop around the electronic components of the medallion 11. In order to ensure gap alignment, magnets such as those described above in connection with FIGS. 2D and 2E may be used to provide the desired angular alignment of the medallion 11 within the accessory 201. The geometric properties and polarity of the magnets are selected to cause the medallion to independently assume an orientation within the accessory in which the gaps in the metal outer rings are aligned with each other (e.g., adjacent to each other or in contact with each other).

The gaps in the medallion 11 and accessory 201 have widths selected to ensure that a closed metal loop is not formed even if the medallion 11 and accessory 201 are not perfectly aligned. Alternatively or additionally, an insulating pad 41, such as the plastic or other insulating pad shown in FIG. 3C and 3D may be provided along the inner surface of the cavity in the accessory 201 housing the medallion 11. The insulating spacer 41 may extend around the entire circumference of the cavity, or the insulating spacer 41 may be positioned to contact a gap in the metal outer rim of the medallion 11 when the medallion 11 is installed in the desired orientation in the accessory 201. The insulating spacer 41 prevents the metal rim of the accessory 201 from shorting across the gap in the metal outer rim of the medallion 11 by providing insulation between the gap in the metal outer rims of the medallion 11 and the accessory 201.

As shown in FIG. 2B, accessory 201 may be in the form of a wrist strap. However, other accessory formats may also be used. For example, in FIG. 4A-4E show various other types of accessories configured to receive medallions 11 inserted therein. In this regard, FIGS. 4A shows an accessory in the form of a sports band, including a sports band (made, for example, from silicone), a locking ring (made, for example, from stainless steel and containing a gap filled with a non-conductive material 31), which is inserted into the sports band and includes recesses to accommodate the magnets, and a two-piece clasp designed to secure the strap around the user's wrist. In its center, the locking ring contains a cavity designed to accommodate the medallion 11 with the possibility of its removal. In fig. 4B shows a paperclip (made, for example, from aluminum) containing a cavity configured to removably receive a medallion 11 and further including a gap filled with non-conductive material 31 around the periphery of the cavity. In some examples, the paper clip may be attached to a key fob. In fig. 4C shows a wristband (made, for example, from nylon) containing a retaining ring (made, for example, from stainless steel and containing a gap filled with a non-conductive material, such as plastic), which is inserted into the wristband and contains recesses for retaining magnets. In its center, the locking ring contains a cavity designed to accommodate the medallion 11 with the possibility of its removal.

In fig. 4D shows a bracelet (made, for example, of stainless steel, containing a gap 32 filled with a non-conductive material 31), and a locking ring 33 (made, for example, of stainless steel and containing a gap filled with a non-conductive material 31), which is inserted into the bracelet and contains recesses 34 for holding magnets. In its center, the locking ring contains a cavity designed to accommodate the medallion 11 with the possibility of its removal. In fig. 4E shows a pendant (made, for example, of stainless steel, containing a gap 32 filled with a non-conductive material 31), and a retaining ring 33 (made, for example, of stainless steel and containing a gap filled with a non-conductive material 31), which is inserted into the pendant and contains recesses for holding magnets. In its center, the locking ring contains a cavity designed to accommodate the medallion 11 with the possibility of its removal. In some examples, the pendant is configured to be attached to a decorative chain for wear by a visitor. In other examples, the pendant is configured to be attached to a keychain or other item. Finally, in FIG. 4F shows a mount configured to be worn with a watch-like strap. The mount (made, for example, of stainless steel, containing a gap filled with non-conductive material) has a retaining ring (made, for example, of stainless steel, and contains a gap filled with non-conductive material 31), which is inserted into the mount and contains recesses for holding magnets.

- 9 046207

The accessories shown in FIG. 4A-4E are non-limiting examples of accessories in which medallions 11 may be mounted. However, other types of accessories may also be used, including cords, pendants, key chains, necklaces, buckles, swimwear (eg, bikini rings), piercings, etc. .P.

The foregoing description of the medallions 11 has focused on the external features of the medallions 11, such as the medallions shown in FIG. 5A. Namely, in FIG. 5A shows top, bottom and side views of the illustrative medallion 11. In the following description of FIG. 5B-5E similarly discuss the internal structures of various medallion embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5E, various embodiments of medallions 11 include magnets 501, bottom cap 503, foam core 505, battery assembly 507 (e.g., CR2025 battery), insulating film separator 509, printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) ) 511, a BLE antenna 513 (e.g., a J-shaped BLE antenna), an NFC antenna 515 (e.g., a wire coil antenna), a metal casing 517 (e.g., aluminum), and a top cover 519. The BLE antenna 513 may be soldered to the top surface of the PCB 511, while the NFC antenna 515 can be attached to the PCB 511 using spring contacts. In the embodiment of FIG. The 5E 515 NFC antenna is coated with silicone for durability. As shown in FIG. 5B, magnets 501 may be placed in recesses provided in the top cap 519 (or, alternatively, the bottom cap 503) and are held in place by the recesses. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5E, magnets 501 may be placed in recesses provided in the silicone covering NFC antenna 515 and may be held in place by the recesses.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5B, 5D, and 5E, the metal casing 517 is manufactured separately from the bottom and top caps 503 and 519. The metal casing 517 may be made of aluminum or other metal, while the bottom and top caps 503 and 519 may be made of plastic. In contrast, in the embodiment of FIG. 5C, the top cover 519 is integrally formed with the metal casing 517. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5C, the top cover 519 and the metal casing 517 can be machined from a block of material including metal and plastic materials arranged in the block such that, after machining, the top cover 519 has an open metal ring (for example, at 517) located around it outer peripheral surface, which is interrupted by one or more gaps filled with plastic or other insulating material. Additionally, after machining, the top cap 519 has a plastic (or insulating) center. For this purpose, the block of material used for machining may be metal infused with plastic.

In fig. 5F and 5G show detailed views of the PCB assemblies 511 used in the medallions 11, which detail a J-shaped BLE antenna mounted on the top surface of the PCB. As shown in FIG. 5F, the J-shaped BLE antenna may be made of stamped steel, contain machined bent pins, and include alignment rods for placement on the PCB. The rods can also provide connections to ground and power terminals. As shown in FIG. The 5G, J-shaped BLE antenna can be made using the laser direct structuring (LDS) process as an injection molded plastic part coated with metal, and can include latches on the bottom of the molded part for placement and alignment on the PCB.

Detailed diagrams of the J-shaped BLE antenna are shown in Figs. 5H-5L. In fig. 5H-5K show detailed schematic views of the BLE antenna showing front, side, rear and bottom views, respectively, while FIG. 5L shows a perspective view of a BLE antenna. Antenna dimensions and design dimensional tolerances are shown in millimeters (mm) in the figures. The dimensions shown are illustrative and the BLE antenna may be scaled up or down from the dimensions shown depending on the specific application in which the BLE antenna element is intended to be used. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the antenna dimensions are set such that the overall length of the antenna allows the _antenna to resonate at the desired frequency in the 2.4 GHz band, for example by setting the overall length of the radiating element to approximately ^1/4 wavelength at 2.4 GHz. In addition, the radius of curvature of the J-shaped antenna can be set to maximize the radius of curvature of the antenna within the spatial constraints imposed by the medallion cavity in which the antenna is located, while ensuring that the antenna does not contact the metal outer ring of the medallion.

In embodiments in which the J-shaped BLE antenna is made using a direct laser structuring (LDS) process as an injection molded plastic part coated with metal, the back surface (illustrated in FIG. 5J) may be made of an injection molded plastic part. , while the front surface (shown in FIG. 5H) may be substantially completely covered with metal. The metal coating formed on the front surface may extend to the rear surface, namely, may extend to those portions of the rear surface shown in gray in FIG. 5J. In particular, a metal coating can

- 10 046207 walk along the top edge 521 of the J-shaped antenna to the rear surface of the antenna and thereby provide an antenna ground terminal that is electrically connected to the ground terminal of PCBA 511. The metal coating may additionally extend along the side projection 523 of the J-shaped antenna to the rear surface of the antenna and thus provide a RF pin electrically coupled to the PCBA 511. Thus, in operation, the PCBA 511 can apply signals between the ground pin (at 521) and the RF pin (at 523) in order to emit BLE signals using an antenna, and can detect signals on those pins to receive BLE signals using an antenna.

Additionally, as shown in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 5I, the J-shaped antenna has a non-flat profile including two bend points used to raise the antenna element above the ground plane of PCBA 511. By positioning the antenna element high above the ground plane, the antenna element can radiate more RF energy. Finally, the corners of the J-shaped antenna can be laser trimmed to be non-rectangular (90°) to allow fine tuning of the frequency.

In fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the functional components of the medallion 11. The components shown in FIG. 6, including microprocessor 603, memory 601, transceivers 607 and 609, and sensor 605, form part of the PCBA 511 shown in FIG. 5B-5E.

As shown in FIG. 6, medallion 11 includes a memory 601, a microprocessor 603, optional sensor(s) 605 such as an accelerometer, one or more transceivers 607, 609 and associated antennas 513, 515, and a battery 507. The components may be connected to enable communication and/or electrically connected to each other through circuits integrated into the PCB of PCBA 511. In particular, memory 601 is communicatively coupled to microprocessor 603 such that computer-readable program instructions stored in memory 601 can be executed by the microprocessor 603 in order to cause the medallion 11 to perform functions such as those described in this text. In addition to the program instructions, memory 601 stores a unique identifier used by the visitor interaction system 10 to uniquely identify each medallion. Storage device 610 may also store encryption and decryption keys and encrypted data. For example, in one example, the storage device stores both a public identifier for medallion 11, which uniquely identifies the medallion and is broadcast in the beacon signal emitted by the medallion, and a private identifier, which also uniquely identifies the medallion and is stored in an encrypted format in the storage device, and is used to reliable medallion authentication (for example, for use in payments and for unlocking doors). Additionally, the microprocessor 603 is communicatively coupled to one or more optional sensors 605, such as an accelerometer sensor, and one or more transceivers 607, 609.

As stated above, the medallion includes at least one transceiver and an associated antenna configured to communicate wirelessly with the visitor interaction system 10. As shown, medallion 11 includes two transceivers, each operating in accordance with a different communication standard. In this example, the first transceiver 607 operates in accordance with the BLE standard and is connected to the corresponding antenna 513 used for BLE communication, while the second transceiver 609 operates in accordance with the NFC standard (for example, the radio frequency identification (RFID) standard) and is connected to the corresponding antenna 515, used for NFC communication. Although each transceiver is shown to have a dedicated antenna, FIG. 6, in some embodiments, two or more transceivers may share the same antenna.

As described above, the BLE transceiver and antenna are used by the medallion 11 to emit periodic beacon signals that allow the visitor interaction system 10 to determine the location and identity of the visitor and provide services to the visitor. The BLE transceiver and antenna can also be used for secure communication. However, operation of the BLE transceiver and antenna generally requires that the battery 507 provide sufficient power to operate the medallion 11. When the charge level of the battery 507 falls below a threshold and/or when the battery or BLE transceiver fails, the medallion 11 may lose capability. communicate using BLE signals. However, in such situations, the medallion can still work as a passive NFC/RFID device. In particular, to function as a passive NFC/RFID device, the medallion does not require battery power to operate. Instead, the medallion uses energy collected through the NFC antenna from radio signals that cause an electrical current to flow through the antenna. When operating as a passive NFC/RFID device, the medallion may be adapted to transmit signals including a unique medallion identifier in response to receipt of RFID interrogation signals or other signals that cause sufficient electrical current to flow through the antenna. Thus, the visitor interaction system 10 may be able to provide limited services to visitors even if the medallions are

- 11 046207 vehicles do not receive sufficient working power from their batteries.

When battery 507 provides sufficient power to operate the BLE transceiver, medallion 11 is configured to operate in three different modes of operation. In particular, memory 601 stores software instructions that, when executed by microprocessor 603, cause medallion 11 to operate according to one selected mode of three modes of operation. Initially, when the medallion 11 is first activated by equipping the battery 507, the medallion 11 operates in a sleep mode of operation. Sleep mode is a very low-power operating mode that saves battery power. In sleep mode, medallion 11 periodically listens to the network for network notifications from the recognized visitor interaction system 10 and remains in sleep mode until a notification is received from the recognized visitor interaction system 10. In sleep mode, medallion 11 listens to the network for network notifications at periodic intervals - for example, every 30 seconds, every minute, every 5 minutes, or the like. If a network notification is received during the periodic listening period, medallion 11 determines whether the notification was sent by the recognized visitor interaction system 10 and, after determining that the notification was sent from the recognized visitor interaction system 10, medallion 11 switches to a bidirectional mode of operation.

In a bidirectional mode of operation, medallion 11 is configured to both emit a beacon signal via the BLE transceiver 607 and antenna 513 and listen to the network for messages from the recognized visitor interaction system 10 via the transceiver 607 and antenna 513. Medallion 11 can additionally listen to the network for messages via transceiver 609 and NFC antenna 515 in bidirectional operation. The medallion 11 listens to the network for messages from the recognized visitor interaction system 10 on a periodic basis in a bidirectional mode of operation, such as every 10 ms, every 100 ms, or the like. Additional detailed information on bi-directional operation is provided below in relation to the door lock description. The medallion 11 may continue to operate in a bidirectional mode of operation until the medallion 11 receives a message from the recognized visitor interaction system 10 that causes the operation mode to switch to the beacon mode. Bidirectional operation may consume more power than sleep mode.

In the beacon mode, the medallion 11 is adapted to emit a beacon signal through the BLE transceiver 607 and antenna 513 . Optionally, the medallion can periodically listen to the network for messages from the recognized visitor interaction system 10 via the BLE transceiver 607 and antenna 513, but in beacon mode the listening periods occur less frequently (e.g., every second, every 5 seconds, etc.) than in bidirectional operating mode. As a result, the beacon mode of operation is associated with less power consumption than the bidirectional mode of operation, but with more power consumption than the sleep mode of operation. Periodic listening periods in beacon mode are used to listen to the network for messages from the recognized visitor interaction system 10, resulting in the mode switching to bidirectional mode.

In both bidirectional and beacon modes of operation, periodic beacon signals are transmitted from medallion 11. In general, beacon signals contain a unique medallion identifier and are transmitted on a periodic basis (e.g., every 10 ms, every 100 ms, every second, or the like). P.). The beacon signals may be detected by sensors 15 of the recognized visitor experience system 10 and used by the visitor experience system 10 to determine the approximate location of the medallion 11 within the facility. Beacon signals are also used by the recognized visitor interaction system 10 to provide services to the visitor, as described in more detail below.

The medallions 11 communicate wirelessly with the sensors 15 of the recognized visitor interaction system 10 to allow the visitor interaction system to provide automated interaction with users or visitors of the facility in which the sensors 15 are installed. Although the sensors 15 may be installed throughout the facility, some sensors 15 are installed or otherwise associated with a particular interface device 17 or system interface function. As shown in FIG. 1A, interface devices 17 include door locks 17a, automatic doors or turnstiles, vending machines 17b, cash registers, slot machines, interactive displays 17c or portals 17d, and the like. The specific interface device 17 providing the functionality of the door lock 17a is described in detail below in relation to FIG. 7A-7I.

Door lock 17a allows visitors to gain access to their cruise ship cabin, resort room, or other restricted access facility (eg, VIP lounge, spa, fitness center, elevator system, or the like) simply by walking up to door by reaching out to the door handle and opening the door, which automatically unlocks based on wireless communication with the visitor medallions 11. Namely, the door lock 17a detects the presence of the medallion 11 in front of (or in close proximity to) the door and unlocks the door

- 12 046207 for authorized visitor(s) or service personnel (e.g. stewards, housekeepers or venue technical staff). Additionally, door lock 17a may include a display panel that provides a visual and audible greeting to the visitor and may provide real-time information about upcoming events for the visitor and/or messages from crew, staff, or other participants in the event in which the visitor is participating. The door lock display panel may include a panel-mounted camera used to record images and video of unauthorized persons attempting to enter the room, as well as images of crew, staff members, and others who gain access to the room.

In fig. 7A-7I illustrate an automated door lock assembly 700 providing the functionality of the door lock 17a to automatically unlock the door based on interaction with the visitor medallion 11. As shown in FIG. 7A, the automated door lock assembly 700 may be used on a ship (eg, a cruise ship) or a hotel to selectively unlock the door of a visitor's room (eg, a cabin or hotel room). Namely, the automated door lock assembly 700 may be used to selectively unlock a visitor's room door to allow entry into the room. In general, the door is left unlocked from inside the room at all times to allow visitors to exit the room unhindered.

The automated door lock assembly 700 includes a latch assembly 701, illustrated in more detail in FIG. 7E, 7G and 7I, a door lock module 703 that selectively unlocks the latch assembly 701, and an access panel 705 mounted proximate the door. The latch assembly 701 includes a latch and a door handle lever, door knob, or other mechanical component(s) providing the functions of a door lever/knob handle, and is generally mounted within the door that it controls. The latch assembly 701 also includes an electronically controlled locking and unlocking mechanism, such as a solenoid-controlled locking mechanism. The locking and unlocking mechanism of the latch 701 assembly is controlled by a door lock module 703, which is an electronic module used to send locking and unlocking signals to the electronically controlled locking mechanism. The latch assembly 701 typically also includes a mechanical locking and unlocking mechanism, such as a key mechanism, that allows the door to be unlocked using a physical key.

The door lock module 703 is electrically coupled to the latch assembly 701, and more specifically to the locking mechanism of the latch assembly 701, through a wire or other conductor. The door lock module 703 is typically battery powered and mounted inside the door, although the door lock module 703 may be located in different locations depending on the implementation. The same battery can be used to power both the door lock module 703 and the electronic locking and unlocking latch assembly 701. In addition to controlling the electronically controlled locking mechanism, door lock module 703 communicates wirelessly with access panel 705, from which it receives commands to unlock the door.

The access panel 705 communicates wirelessly with the door lock module 703, and provides door unlock commands to the door lock module 703. The access panel 705 also communicates wirelessly with the visitor medallions 11 and determines, based on a secure reading of the information stored in the visitor medallion 11, whether or not to command the door lock module 703 to unlock the door. The access panel 705 further communicates with the central reservation server 21 of the visitor interaction system 10 to securely obtain information about visitors who are allowed to access the door, and determines whether or not to command the door lock module 703 to unlock the door based on whether or not whether the information obtained from the visitor medallion 11 (for example, a unique encrypted identifier) is information about the visitor who is allowed access to the door. Although the access panel 705 can be powered by a battery, the access panel 705 is typically powered from an external source (eg, through Power over Ethernet (POE) technology). In some examples, the access panel 705 communicates wirelessly with the central reservation server 21, such as over a Wi-Fi network. Typically, however, the access panel 705 is connected to a wired network (eg, an Ethernet network) through which it communicates wirelessly with the central backup server 21 and through which it obtains power for operation. It should be noted that the access panel 705 may be connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to be able to continue to function even during utility or generator power outages.

In fig. 7C and 7D show detailed views of an example access panel 705. As shown in the figures, the access panel includes a flat panel display (e.g., a 7-inch touchscreen display), an integrated camera, and wireless transceivers and associated antenna(s) for communicating with the medallions 11 via BLE and/or NFC. A flat panel display can be used to display greetings to visitors for whom the door is unlocked, to display information to visitors for whom the door is not unlocked, and to display other information. Additional functions of the access panel 705 are described in more detail below.

In fig. 7E, 7G, and 7I show exploded views of the latch assembly 701, including the lever.

- 13 046207 new/round door handle and door latch mechanism. Additionally in FIG. 7E shows a door lock module 703 that may be located within the latch housing assembly 701 and which controls the operation of the electronically controlled unlocking mechanism of the latch assembly 701.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 7E, 7G, and 7I, the latch assembly 701 includes electrically insulating bushings mounted on the door handle shaft and configured to electrically isolate the door handle from other parts of the latch assembly 701. For example, electrical grommets can isolate a door handle from the latch mechanism. Electrical isolation of the door handle may allow the door lock module 703 to use the door handle as a communications antenna for its ISM radio. Electrical isolation of the door handle may further allow the door lock module 703 to monitor the door handle capacity and identify changes in the door handle capacity. In one example, door lock module 703 measures changes in the door handle's electrical potential by charging the door handle to a nominal voltage (eg, 0.05 V) and determining when the door handle's electrical potential returns to zero. Capacity tracking performed by the door lock module 703 allows the door lock module 703 to detect when a person touches, contacts, or is in close proximity (e.g., less than a few centimeters) to the door handle in order to operate the latch release mechanism 701 in collection only when a person is in contact with the door handle or is in close proximity to it.

In fig. 7F shows a translucent view of an alternative latch assembly 701.

As shown, the latch assembly includes an LED status indicator, depicted as a translucent ring-shaped indicator located around the base of the door handle, which is used to provide information regarding the status of the door latch assembly. In one example, the LED status indicator may glow green when the visitor is authorized to open the door, and glow red when the user is denied authorization to open the door.

In fig. 7H is a block diagram illustrating components of a door lock module 703 and an access panel 705. As shown in FIG. 7H, the door lock module 703 includes a microprocessor that controls the operation of the door lock module 703, and a memory that stores instructions for execution on the microprocessor. The door lock module 703 further includes a sensor, such as a radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), or capacitive proximity sensor, used to detect when a visitor's hand contacts or is in close proximity to the door handle. The door lock module 703 further includes a short-range radio, such as an industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio, for encrypted wireless communication with the access panel 705. The door lock module 703 is powered by a battery and a step-up voltage converter, such as a 4.5V step-up converter.

The access panel 705 includes a microprocessor that controls the operation of the access panel 705 and a memory device that stores instructions for execution on the microprocessor. The access panel 705 further includes a short-range radio, such as an industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio, for encrypted wireless communication with the door lock module 703. The access panel 705 may include a backup battery to provide backup power and typically includes a power source that receives electrical power from an external source, such as power received over an Ethernet cable. The access panel 705 further includes one or more transceivers and associated antennas for communicating with the medallions 11, such as a BLE transceiver and antenna and an NFC transceiver and antenna. In some examples, the antenna(s) of the access panel 705 are specifically designed to wrap around the outer edge of the display of the access panel 705. Additionally or alternatively, the access panel 705 may be coupled (and coupled) to a point sensor 15 located on the ceiling immediately in front of the door, and the operation of the access panel 705 may be based on beacon signals detected by the point sensor 15 and emitted from the visitor medallions 11 located immediately in front of the door. Additionally, the network transceiver allows the access panel 705 to communicate over a wired or wireless network, such as the communication network 19 of the visitor interaction system 10, with the central reservation server 21. In general, each access panel 705 is associated with one particular door at which it is located, and the access panel 705 is coupled on a one-to-one basis to that one door's door lock module 703 such that the access panel 705 can only control the unlocking of one door and the module The door lock 703 operates in response to commands from only this access panel 705.

In operation, the latch assembly 701 generally maintains the door in the default locked state. The access panel 705 maintains its BLE transceiver (or the BLE transceiver of the associated sensor 15) in an on state to detect any beacon signals transmitted by medallions 11 operating in the vicinity of the access panel 705. To this end, the access panel 705 and/or its associated sensor 15 may be configured to detect beacon signals transmitted by recognized medallions within a range of 2-4 feet from the access panel. Thus, when recognized

- 14 046207 medallion 11 comes into the reading range of the access panel 705 and/or its associated sensor 15, the access panel 705 begins to receive the periodic beacon signals transmitted by the medallion 11 and initiates the door unlocking sequence.

First, based on the time of reception of the recognized beacon signal, the access panel 705 determines when the next time period will occur during which the medallion will monitor the network for messages from the visitor interaction system 10. In turn, during a certain period of time, access panel 705 initiates a secure connection with medallion 11, over which access panel 705 can request a unique private identifier for the medallion (eg, using encryption, such as elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) encryption). The unique private identifier may be in the form of an encrypted code, such as a 48-byte encrypted code, that uniquely identifies medallion 11. In response to the request, access panel 705 and medallion 11 establish a secure and/or encrypted communication channel over which the medallion transmits its unique private identifier to the access panel 705. Typically, a unique private identifier is transmitted over an encrypted BLE connection. Upon receiving the unique private identifier, the access panel 705 operates a lock control unit (LCU) used to assist the local storage device in determining whether the visitor associated with the unique private identifier and medallion 11 is currently allowed access to the door. The purpose of the access panel 705 is to maintain a white list in local storage containing records of the unique private medallion identifiers that are currently and in the future allowed to access the door. If the unique private identifier received from medallion 11 is encrypted, the LCU decrypts the identifier and determines whether the decrypted identifier is whitelisted. If the access panel 705 determines that the visitor associated with the unique private identifier and medallion 11 is currently allowed access to the door (for example, the unique private identifier is whitelisted), the access panel 705 displays a welcome message on its display and initiates unlocking the door . Otherwise, if the access panel 705 determines that the received ID is not in the list of IDs that are allowed access to the door, the access panel 705 contacts the reservation server 21 over the network 19 to obtain updated information (if any) about the medallion IDs that are allowed access to door. In turn, if the received ID is not listed in the updated information, the access panel 705 determines that the visitor is not allowed access to the door at this time and optionally turns on its camera to take a photo of the visitor and transmits the photo to the central server 21. It should be noted that that in cases in which the access panel 705 detects multiple medallions 11 in its vicinity, the access panel 705 performs the above steps for each detected medallion, displays a welcome message on its display in the visitor's chosen language, identifying each visitor associated with the medallion 11 who is authorized door access, and initiates unlocking the door if at least one of the detected medallions is whitelisted.

As part of the door unlocking, the access panel 705 activates its ISM radio and establishes a secure communication channel with the ISM radio of the associated door lock module 703. When a secure communication channel is established and it is determined that a visitor or crew member is authorized to access the door, the access panel 705 transmits a readiness code (eg, a door unlock authorization signal) to the door lock module 703 over a secure channel in the ISM band. The readiness code can be sent as a message encrypted, for example, using 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). In response to receiving the readiness code, the door lock module 703 actuates a proximity sensor (e.g., a capacitive proximity sensor) to detect when a visitor's (or crew member's) hand touches or directly approaches the door handle. Upon detection of a visitor's (or crew member's) hand touching or directly approaching the door handle, the door lock module 703 actuates the release mechanism (eg, solenoid) of the latch assembly 701. If the door is unlocked and open, the door lock module 703 may report that the door has been opened to the access panel 705, and the access panel 705 may in turn command the medallion 11 to return to beacon mode.

Optionally, the door lock module 703 can continuously monitor when a person's hand contacts or approaches directly the door handle. In turn, if a door unlock authorization signal has not been received from the access panel 705 and the door lock module 703 determines that a person's hand has touched or approached directly the door handle, the door lock module 703 may send an unauthorized access attempt signal to the access panel 705. In response to receiving an unauthorized access attempt signal, the access panel 705 activates its camera to capture a photo of the person who attempted to access the door and transmits the photo to the central server 21.

In embodiments in which medallion 11 is configured to operate in both bidirectional and beacon operating modes, the door unlocking sequence is described

- 15 046207 above, may include additional steps. If medallion 11 operates in a bidirectional mode of operation, the door unlocking sequence may proceed as described above. Optionally, when it is determined that the door is unlocked, the door lock module 703 may report that the door has been opened to the access panel 705, and the access panel 705 may in turn communicate to the medallion 11 that the medallion can return to beacon mode. .

If medallion 11 is operating in beacon mode, visitor interaction system 10 may need to command medallion 11 to switch to a bidirectional mode of operation to allow medallion 11 to establish a secure communication channel with access panel 705 and provide access panel 705 with a unique private medallion identifier. To this end, in one example, the access panel 705 may determine, based on the time it receives a beacon signal from the medallion, when the next time period will occur during which the medallion will monitor the network for messages from the visitor interaction system 10. In turn, during a certain period of time, the access panel 705 transmits a signal to the medallion 11 to cause the medallion to switch to a bidirectional operating mode. For example, access panel 705 may transmit a request for a unique private medallion identifier and, in response to receiving the request, the medallion may switch to bidirectional mode while continuing to transmit periodic beacons.

In another example, the visitor interaction system 10 may cause the medallion 11 to switch to a bidirectional mode of operation before the medallion 11 approaches directly the access panel 705 (for example, before it approaches within 2-4 feet of the access panel 705). In this example, the location-based services provided by the visitor experience system 10 track the location of each visitor within the facility via the visitor medallion 11. Namely, the network 13 of sensors 15 of the visitor interaction system 10 continuously monitors beacon signals received from medallions 11 on each network sensor 15 and identifies medallions 11 that are in the vicinity of each sensor 15 based on the received beacon signals and public identifiers contained in them. Based on tracking the locations of the medallions 11, the visitor interaction system 10 may determine whether a recognized medallion is approaching a locked door that is associated with the medallion 11. For example, the system 10 may determine that the medallion 11 has entered a hallway in which there is a door to which it has access. access by a visitor associated with the medallion, or that medallion 11 has appeared in a predetermined vicinity (eg, 100 feet or less) of such door. In response to the determination, the visitor interaction system 10 causes one or more sensors 15 that are within the communication radius of the medallion 11 to transmit a wake-up command to the medallion 11 to cause the medallion 11 to switch to a bidirectional mode of operation.

In the above example, the visitor interaction system 10 may further send a wake command to the access panel 705 of the door that the medallion has access to when the medallion 11 approaches the door. In response to the wake command, the access panel may begin monitoring its BLE transceiver for any medallions 11 that are within its read range and are in a list of authorized users (e.g., a whitelist) that is stored in the access panel 705 .

The description of the operation of the automated door lock assembly 700 provided above has focused on BLE-based detection and communication between the access panel 705 and the medallion 11. However, both the access panel 705 and the medallion 11 may also be configured for detection and communication. NFC-based, and the access panel 705 also provides functionality for unlocking the associated door based on NFC-based communication. NFC-based communications can be used, among other use cases, in situations in which the medallion's battery has died and thus the medallion is unable to emit BLE-based beacons or participate in BLE-based communications. To support NFC-based communication, the access panel 705 periodically emits an NFC read signal or an NFC request signal, which is used to power any NFC-based passive devices in its vicinity. If medallion 11 is located in the vicinity of access panel 705, the NFC read signal will activate the medallion's antenna and NFC transceiver and cause medallion 11 to transmit to access panel 705 an NFC-based beacon response signal containing the public identifier of medallion 11. Based on the received response signal, access panel 705 then can establish a secure NFC-based communication channel with medallion 11 and proceed to unlock the door based on an NFC-based unlocking process similar to the BLE-based unlocking process described above (except that all communication will be via the NFC transceiver rather than the BLE transceiver ). The NFC-based unlocking process can also be used with NFC-enabled devices other than medallions, for example including NFC-enabled access cards.

In addition to the sensors 15 installed in the interface devices 17, the visitor interaction system 10 includes a sensor network 13 of autonomous sensors 15 located throughout the facility (or facilities). Each sensor 15 has a known location, and the sensors 15 in the network 13 are

- 16 046207 is used to track the locations of medallions 11 in a facility by creating a log of each medallion 11 detected by each sensor 15 with a corresponding timestamp. In addition, each sensor 15 may engage in bidirectional communication with medallions 11 within its communication radius, including detecting medallions 11 by detecting beacon signals and other signals transmitted by medallions 11, and transmitting signals to and receiving signals from medallions 11. Examples of autonomous sensors 15 are shown and described in FIGS. 8A-8D. In particular, in FIG. 8A and 8B show views of a directional or omnidirectional sensor, while FIG. 8C and 8D show views of the point sensor. An omnidirectional sensor has a large communication range (eg, 30-50 feet, and up to 100 feet or more) that extends in all directions around the sensor; A directional sensor has a similar large communication range (eg, 30-50 feet and up to 100 feet or more) that travels in some (but not all) directions around the sensor. A point sensor has a shorter beam-shaped communication range, the diameter of which can be adjusted and can reach 7-10 feet or more, and typically a beam-shaped range typically has a communication range extending in the selected direction from the sensor over a shorter distance than an omnidirectional sensor (e.g. 15 feet or less). It should be noted that the communication range of each sensor can be adjusted downwards from the maximum range values stated above.

In fig. 8A is an exploded view of a directional or omnidirectional sensor that includes an electronics PCB 807 and an antenna PCB 803 mounted between a support plate 811 and a radome 801. The antenna PCB 803 includes an antenna element 802 mounted thereon and communicatively coupled to circuitry. PCB 803 antennas. The antenna element 802 has a special shape, such as the shapes detailed in FIG. 8E-8N and 8K-8N, which give the sensor directional or omnidirectional sensitivity. The antenna PCB 803 communicates with the electronics PCB 807 via a cable 805, and a connector 809 provides a connection between the electronics PCB 807 and the wired network 19. The sensor 15 may be mounted on or in the ceiling or wall of an object (for example, using a connector nut 813 ) and can be used to track and communicate with medallions located in the vicinity (for example, within the communication range) of the sensor. In fig. 8B shows a directional or omnidirectional sensor when all components are installed together.

In fig. 8C shows an exploded view of a point sensor that includes an electronics PCB 807 and an antenna mounted between a base plate 811 and a radome 801. A decorative base 814 may be optionally provided. The antenna PCB 803 includes an antenna element 802 mounted thereon and connected to the communication with the antenna PCB 803 circuit. The antenna element 802 has a special shape, shown in detail in FIG. 8I-8J, which gives the sensor point or point directional sensitivity. The antenna includes an antenna PCB 803 including a foam spacer 804 mounted on its surface and an antenna element 802 mounted on the foam spacer 804. The antenna PCB 803 communicates with the electronic components PCB 807 via a cable 805, and a connecting element 809 provides a connection between PCB 807 of electronic components and a wired network 19. Sensor 15 may be mounted on or in the ceiling or wall of an object (eg, using a connection nut 813), and can be used to monitor and communicate with medallions located in the vicinity (eg, within range and communication beam) of the sensor. In fig. 8D shows the point sensor when all components are installed together.

Detailed views of antenna elements 802 that may be attached to antenna PCB 803 located in sensors 15, such as those depicted in FIG. 8A-8D are provided in connection with FIGS. 8E-8M. In fig. 8E-8H show detailed views of an antenna element 802 located in a directional sensor such as that shown in FIG. 8A and 8B. Antenna element 802 may be designed to be mounted on a wall or ceiling within a site and may provide directional sensitivity capability with a large beam width to impart a linear direction of polarized radiation to the front surface of the antenna. As shown in the top and side views of FIG. 8E-8G, antenna element 802 has an inverted V shape that is generally symmetrical about a centerline and includes two contacts extending downward from the main surface of the antenna that are used for attachment to antenna PCB 803. The main surface of the antenna shown in FIG. 8E includes a rectangular center portion including symmetrical parallelogram-shaped projections extending from opposite sides of the rectangular center portion. Exemplary dimensions of antenna element 802, measured in inches, are shown in the figures. The dimensions shown are illustrative, and the scale of the antenna element 802 may be increased or decreased from the dimensions shown depending on the specific application for which the antenna element 802 (and associated sensor 15) is designed. In particular, dimensions can be selected and adjusted to change the center frequency and impedance matching of the antenna. For example, these dimensions may be selected to provide antenna element 802 with a resonant operating frequency of 2.4 GHz (within the BLE operating range in the ISM band), given the appropriate PCB ground spacing and dielectric

- 17 046207 proximity of the building. The lower contacts extending downward from the main surface of the antenna serve as a power connection and a ground connection electrically connected to the PCB 803 and also serve to maintain the antenna element 802 at the proper height distance from the PCB ground plane.

In fig. 8I-8J show detailed views of an antenna element 802 provided in a point (or beam) sensor such as that shown in FIG. 8C and 8D. Antenna element 802 may be designed for ceiling mounting (or high-height, downward-sloping wall mounting) within a facility and may provide high-gain sensitivity capability with a narrow beam pattern (i.e., pinpoint), providing radiation with circular polarization (CP). As shown in the top and side views of FIG. 8I-8J, antenna element 802 is generally planar and shaped like a square with diagonally opposite corners spaced at 45 degree angles with respect to the sides of the square. Antenna element 802 of FIG. 8I and 8J may be attached to the antenna PCB 803 via a foam spacer 804 as shown in FIG. 8C. Exemplary dimensions of antenna element 802, measured in millimeters (mm), are shown in the figures. The dimensions shown are illustrative, and the scale of the antenna element 802 may be increased or decreased from the dimensions shown depending on the specific application for which the antenna element 802 (and associated sensor 15) is designed. In particular, dimensions can be selected and adjusted to change the center frequency, ellipticity coefficient, and impedance matching of the antenna. For example, these dimensions may be selected to provide antenna element 802 with a resonant operating frequency of 2.4 GHz (within the ISM band BLE operating range), given the appropriate PCB ground spacing and package dielectric proximity.

In fig. 8K-8N show detailed views of an antenna element 802 provided in the circular sensor. For example, the antenna element shown in FIG. 8K-8N may provide omnidirectional sensitivity and may be used in a sensor 15 such as that shown in FIG. 8A and 8B. Antenna element 802 may be designed to be mounted on a ceiling within a facility and provide a linear polarized broad beam width to provide an azimuthal omnidirectional sensing pattern. As shown in the top and side views of FIG. 8K8M, antenna element 802 has a generally symmetrical shape about a centerline and includes two contacts extending downward from the main surface of the antenna that are used for attachment to antenna PCB 803 (as depicted, for example, in FIG. 8A). The main surface of the antenna shown in FIG. 8K, has a generally round shape. Exemplary dimensions of antenna element 802, measured in inches, are shown in the figures. The dimensions shown are illustrative, and the scale of the antenna element 802 may be increased or decreased from the dimensions shown depending on the specific application for which the antenna element 802 (and associated sensor 15) is designed. In particular, dimensions can be selected and adjusted to change the center frequency and impedance matching of the antenna. For example, these dimensions may be selected to provide the antenna element 802 with a resonant operating frequency of 2.4 GHz (within the BLE operating range in the ISM band), given the appropriate PCB ground spacing and package dielectric proximity. The lower contacts extending downward from the main surface of the antenna serve as a power connection and a ground connection electrically connected to the PCB 803 and also serve to maintain the antenna element 802 at the proper height distance from the PCB ground plane. The power connection and the ground connection may provide different directions of current flow on the surface of the antenna radiating element 802.

In general, sensors 15 installed in the interface devices 17 of the visitor interaction system 10, such as the antennas of the access panels 705 used to unlock doors, are adjusted to have a limited range (for example, 2-4 feet) in order to detect only medallions 11 of visitors located in close proximity to the interface devices 17. Additionally, the sensors 15 of the interface devices 17 can be directional or point-type sensors used to detect medallions 11 only in selected directions. Thus, the sensor associated with the access panel 705 can only be used to detect medallions 11 located at a limited distance in any direction from the sensor, whereas a payment terminal or point of sale sensor can only detect medallions 11 located within a limited angular range ( for example, directly in front of a payment terminal or point-of-sale machine) and within a limited distance (for example, less than 2 feet) from the sensor.

As mentioned above, sensors 15 are located throughout the facility and are used to monitor the locations of medallions 11 throughout the facility and provide services to visitors based on the detected signals. Specifically, the sensors 15 are used by the visitor experience system 10 to provide location information to the visitor experience system 10 at selected levels of accuracy. At a low level of accuracy, the location of the medallion 11 identification

- 18 046207 is cited based on the identifier(s) of one or more sensors 15 or other devices that detect beacon signals from medallion 11 at any given time. Thus, the position of the medallion at any time can be approximately determined based on the known positions of the sensor(s) (and/or the positions of other devices, if known) that detected the most recently detected beacon signal(s) from the medallion. To determine the position of medallion 11 at a higher level of detail, the position of the medallion is determined based on the relative strength of the received beacon signal measured at each sensor that received the beacon signal and/or based on the detection range and detection beam characteristics (e.g., detection range and detection direction ) sensor(s). In particular, when beacon signals from medallion 11 are received by three or more sensors 15, the relative strength of the received beacon signal at each of the sensors 15 (and/or the delay between the time the beacon signal is received at each of the sensors 15) can be used to triangulate the position of medallion 11 relative to known locations of each of the sensors 15.

Tracking the locations of medallions 11 within an object can be performed not only by sensors 15 of the sensor network 13, but also by sensors 15 installed in the interface devices 17 of the visitor interaction system 10. For example, access panels 705 of automated door lock assemblies 700 located throughout the facility may be used to detect all medallions 11 moving past the access panels 705. The access panels 705 may transmit the identifiers of all detected medallions 11 to a central location server that maintains a log of the locations of all medallions with corresponding timestamps. Additionally, location tracking may be accomplished by detection of the medallions 11 by BLE- or NFC-enabled devices, such as BLE- or NFC-enabled mobile devices, tablet computers, or interactive displays, that communicate with the servers 21 of the visitor experience system 10. BLE or NFC enabled mobile devices, such as visitor mobile devices or crew tablets, can detect medallions 11 located within the devices' communication ranges and report to a central location server the IDs of the detected medallions 11 along with discovery timestamps and device location information ( if it is possible).

To provide continuous real-time tracking of the locations of the medallions 11, each of the sensors and devices that detect the medallions 11 transmits the IDs of all detected medallions 11 along with detection timestamps to the same central location server. Thus, the central location server maintains a log of the locations of all medallions with corresponding timestamps. Thus, the central location server may be used to identify the newest detected location of each medallion based on the newest log entry for medallion 11 or, if necessary, based on two or more new log entries for medallion 11 (e.g., to provide increased location accuracy by combining two different location detection techniques). Thus, the visitor interaction system 10 provides calculations of the location of each medallion in real time (or near real time). The location information may be further used by the visitor interaction system 10 to provide additional services to visitors or others, such as providing notifications to systems used to activate personalized interactions when it is determined that the medallion 11 has arrived in a certain area, is moving through an area, or is staying in an area in within a predetermined time or leaves an area or space equipped with sensors 15.

Location-based services can be further enhanced by the use of sensors 15 located near the entry and/or exit points of the facility. Namely, if the last entry for a particular medallion 11 in the log maintained by the central location server is for the entry/exit location and the log does not contain any additional occurrences of medallion 11 at a later time at the site, the system may determine that medallion 11 (and associated visitor) have left the facility. In turn, when medallion 11 is again detected at the same (or different) entry/exit location, it can be determined that the medallion has re-entered the facility. Thus, the visitor interaction system 10 may maintain a log of medallions 11 that are on site and a log of medallions 11 that have left the site. Users can be provided with notifications based on these logs, for example to inform another visitor that a member of their family has left the site and/or returned to the site.

In addition to the above-described functions, the visitor interaction system 10 may additionally be used for ship assembly, emergency evacuation, or the like. Namely, since the visitor interaction system 10 includes sensors 15 throughout the facility (or ship) configured to tracking the positions of medallions 11, the visitor interaction system 10 constantly maintains current up-to-date information about the locations of visitors within the facility based on the tracked locations of all medallions 11

- 19,046,207 visitors. Based on current information about visitor locations, the visitor interaction system 10 may dynamically assign collection points or evacuation routes to visitors when a collection or evacuation operation is in progress. Namely, the visitor interaction system 10 may dynamically assign rally points or evacuation routes to visitors so as to assign visitors the rally point or evacuation route closest to their current location when a collection or evacuation operation begins. Additionally or alternatively, the visitor interaction system 10 may dynamically assign collection points or evacuation routes to visitors so as to avoid overcrowding a particular collection point or evacuation route when a collection or evacuation operation begins. For example, in situations in which a large number of visitors are concentrated in a particular part of the facility (for example, a large number of visitors are at the stern or stern of a ship), dynamic assignment can be used to assign specific visitors assembly points or evacuation routes at the bow or stern. the bow of the ship to prevent visitors from overcrowding any assembly point or evacuation route. Additionally, visitor interaction system 10 may monitor the position of medallions and visitors during a collection or evacuation operation and dynamically change a particular visitor's assigned collection point or evacuation route based on real-time updated information derived from real-time tracking of location changes ( i.e. movement) of visitors around the facility. Thus, a visitor's assigned collection point or evacuation route may be updated if the visitor takes an unexpected route during a collection or evacuation operation, for example if the visitor takes an unexpected route to pick up a child during a collection or evacuation operation, or if a visitor is forced to bypass a smoke-filled corridor during evacuation.

The visitor interaction system 10 may further be used to automatically identify rooms in which no visitors remain during a collection or evacuation operation, for example by determining that a room is missing medallions and/or determining that all visitors associated with room, are located in other areas of the facility (based on tracked visitor medallion locations). Alternatively, the visitor interaction system 10 may be used to automatically identify rooms in which visitors are present during a collection or evacuation operation (based on tracked visitor medallion locations) and to direct crew and/or emergency personnel to identified rooms to help evacuate visitors.

The above-described features of the visitor interaction system 10 for use in collection and/or evacuation are enabled in part by the visitor interaction system's ability to communicate information to visitors during a collection or evacuation operation. To this end, the visitor interaction system 10 relies on access panels 705, interactive displays 17c, portals 17d, and the like located throughout the facility. Namely, the visitor interaction system 10 provides collection and/or evacuation instructions on the displays of the interface devices 17, such as arrows (or more detailed instructions) indicating the path to collection points and evacuation routes. Instructions may be further customized for individual visitors whose medallions are detected in the vicinity of each interface device 17, for example, to instruct one visitor to evacuate in a certain direction, while instructing another visitor to evacuate in a different direction (for example, to allow another visitor to rejoin other visitors in his/her company). Instructions may also provide visitors with information about other visitors in the same company, such as providing visitors with information about the current location, designated collection location, and/or designated evacuation route for the visitor's child, spouse, or boyfriend. Instructions can also be customized to be displayed to each visitor in the visitor's chosen language.

The visitor interaction system 10 provides services and interaction with visitors through various methods and terminals. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the visitor experience system 10 may provide services and interactions through end devices 18, such as mobile devices 18a (e.g., smartphones), tablet computers 18b, interactive displays 18c (e.g., touch display screens), web-enabled televisions ( such as stateroom televisions), 18d desktop computers and/or web interfaces, kiosks, among others. In general, end device 18 includes a processor, a memory storing program instructions, a display, and a user input interface such as a touch screen, although additional components (or fewer components) may be used. Some end devices 18, including interactive displays 18c, web-enabled televisions, kiosks, and the like, may also function as interface devices 17, and vice versa. In particular, end devices 18 that support BLE (e.g., having a BLE transceiver) may generally function as interface devices 17. Conversely, interface devices 17 containing a user input interface and providing access to an application

- 20 046207 for interaction with visitors, which is described in more detail below, can perform the function of end devices 18.

The services and interactions provided by the visitor experience system 10 may be provided through an application or other executable program that is stored and executed by the end devices 18, such as a custom visitor experience application. Alternatively or additionally, services and interactions may be provided through web interfaces, such as a visitor interface running on server 21, accessed through a web browser running on end device 18 and having a communications connection to server 21. Services and interactions typically rely at least in part on data and information received from the servers 21 of the visitor interaction system 10 over the network connections (e.g., Internet connections) of the end devices 18, although certain services and interactions may be provided without network connections or without receiving data and information from servers 21. For the purpose of communicating with servers 21, end devices 18 are shown in FIG. 9 as having wireless (eg, in the case of end devices 18a and 18b) or wired (eg, in the case of end devices 18c and 18d) connections to servers 21 via a communications network 19. It should be noted that the communication network 19 may include one or more of a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 9, some of the end devices 18 through which services and interactions are provided may be BLE-enabled devices, such as BLE-enabled mobile devices 18a, tablet computers 18b, or interactive displays 18c. When such end device 18 runs a visitor interaction application, the visitor interaction application may optionally drive the BLE transceiver of the end device 18 to provide additional services to the user. For example, a visitor engagement application may actuate the BLE transceiver of end device 18 and use the powered BLE transceiver to listen to the network for beacons emitted by medallions 11 that are within the BLE communication range of end device 18. The visitor engagement application may it is optional to report to the servers 21 the identifiers of the medallions 11 from which the beacons were received, along with a reception timestamp and location information for the end device 18 (when available). The visitor interaction application may further use the powered BLE transceiver to implement bidirectional communication with the medallions 11 from which the beacon signals have been received. In one example, the visitor interaction application may trigger a change in the operating mode of the medallion 11. In one example use, the visitor interaction application may cause the BLE transceiver of the end device 18 to transmit a notification from the visitor interaction system to cause any medallion 11 in its communication range to exit from sleep mode when medallion 11 detects a notification. In another use case, a visitor interaction application may cause the medallion 11 operating in beacon mode to enter a bidirectional mode or sleep mode of operation, or cause the medallion 11 operating in bidirectional mode to enter a beacon mode or sleep mode of operation.

Additionally or alternatively, in some cases, the application for interacting with visitors may actuate the NFC transceiver of the end device 18 when the application is running on the NFC-enabled end device 18. In such situations, the application may be used to detect medallions 11 and engage in communication with medallions 11 via NFC . In particular, although the description herein focuses on BLE-based communication between end devices 18 and medallions 11, features described in the context of BLE-based communication may similarly be implemented through NFC-based communication between end device 18 and medallions 11 when using an NFC-enabled end device 18.

References to an application for interacting with visitors in this document refer not only to cases in which the application for interacting with visitors is in the form of an application or other executable program that is stored and executed by the end device 18, but also refers to cases in which the application for interacting with visitors with visitors has the form of a web interface or other interface on the terminal side. In general, the user interfaces provided through application interfaces and web interfaces will be similar, although certain application features for interacting with visitors may only be offered through application interfaces or web interfaces. Additionally, references to a visitor experience application may refer to different versions of the application, including visitor versions that contain only features offered to visitors, staff versions that contain additional features offered to the host or staff, versions designed for managers, which contains features offered to managers who supervise personnel, and versions for administrators, which contain

- 21 046207 functions offered only to system administrators.

To use the application to interact with visitors through the end device 18, the visitor typically needs to identify and authenticate. If a visitor is not identified and authenticated, the visitor can only access limited functionality of the application and in particular, the visitor cannot access information based on the user's profile. In cases in which the visitor engagement application runs on a BLE-enabled end device 18, the visitor engagement application may listen to the network for BLE beacons from visitor medallions 11 and, in response to detecting one or more beacons, may provide a page login, personalized for the visitor(s), who are automatically identified based on detected beacons. Visitors can then authenticate to enter the application by entering a password or personal identification number (PIN) into the application. If the application is running on an end device 18 that does not support BLE, and/or if the visitor's medallion beacon signal is not detected by the application, the visitor can be identified and authenticated to enter the application by entering both a username and a password or personal identification number (PIN) to the application. It should be noted that when the application is running on the visitor's own mobile device 18a, the visitor may choose to remain logged out of their account within the application so that they do not have to enter a password or PIN each time the visitor uses the application. Alternatively, a visitor may be automatically logged out of an app's account if there has been no interaction with the visitor for a predefined period of time. Additionally, in cases where login to an account was based on detection of a medallion beacon, the visitor may be automatically logged out of the account if the medallion beacon is no longer detected by the application or end device 18 within a predetermined period of time or if it is determined that the medallion 11 has moved away from the end device 18.

Once an account is logged in, the application can automatically access and securely retrieve profile information associated with an identified and authenticated visitor from 21 servers. The application can also be used to ask the visitor to provide, complete, or view missing profile information, which is then downloaded from applications to servers 21. Profile information may include name, identification photograph, reservation and other reservation information, payment information (for example, information about saved payment methods for a specified visitor), etc. Profile information may also include additional data associated with the visitor, including information about the visitor's past, present and future activities (determined from booking and reservation information and location data), past, present and future locations (determined from booking and reservation information and based on location data), past, present and planned future orders and preferences, etc. Profile information may also include pictures, music, videos and other types of data associated with the visitor.

Through the visitor versions of the application, the visitor interaction system 10 provides a variety of services to visitors. For example, a visitor using the application may use the application to view reservations, registrations and reservations made by the visitor, including past, present and future registrations for rental accommodations, restaurants, performances, events and the like. The visitor can also use the application to receive information about available rental housing, restaurants, performances, events, etc. and reserve them. The information may be based on recommendations for future bookings, registrations and reservations personalized to the visitor based on the visitor's profile information. The visitor may also use the application to view photos, videos, and other media items available through the visitor experience system 10, including photos, videos, and other media items associated with the visitor. The association of media items with a visitor may be based on a match between the visitor's profile information and tagged media item information, e.g., profile and tag information indicates that the video was taken at the location visited by the visitor's medallion, profile and tag information indicates that the photo is of a person, associated with the visitor, based on the fact that the person's medallion was discovered in the vicinity of the photographer at the time the photograph was taken, or the like. The application may also provide access to games (which may not necessarily include gambling), shopping, and other features.

The visitor experience system 10 may also allow visitors to view live performances using the visitor version of the application. The performance can be watched, for example, on a TV in the visitor's cabin, on which an application can be accessed to interact with visitors. More specifically, a visitor using an application to interact with visitors may choose to view a performance live through the application, such as a performance in a theater or other venue within the property in which

- 22 046207 rum installed system 10 interaction with visitors, or outside the facility. In response to the choice, the visitor is provided with live streaming audio and/or video of the event. Additionally, the application allows the visitor to interact with the participant of the performance live. More specifically, the application may allow the attendee to send instant messages or provide other feedback to the speaker, such as by typing a message for the speaker into the application's user input interface (e.g., on an on-screen keyboard or cabin TV remote) or selecting a feedback button (e.g. , applause buttons, laugh buttons, thumbs up buttons, heart buttons, etc.). Instant messages or feedback are then displayed on a screen in front of the speaker and/or provided as audience feedback to the speaker (for example, by including pre-recorded sounds of applause or laughter) to notify the speaker of the feedback received from visitor, and provide the opportunity for the participant to interact with the visitor during the performance.

In some examples, the visitor interaction application provides communication functionality to allow users of the application (including both visitors and staff) to communicate with each other using the application. Communication functions may include communication between users based on text, audio and/or video, such as communication via chat, instant messaging (IM), voicemail or video voicemail, and the like. In addition, communication features may allow users to obtain information about other connected users, including location information. Linked users may include, in the case of a visitor, other visitors from his/her company (for example, other visitors related to the same reservation, such as children, parents, etc.) or visitors who have accepted an invitation in the form of a link per visitor, or, in the case of a staff member, one or more people to whom the staff member is required to provide services (for example, a visitor who has a staff member deliver food or drink). For example, when users are connected, the communication function of a visitor interaction application may provide the visitor with general location information (for example, to indicate that another visitor is at or has left the property) and/or precise location information (for example, to indicate that another visitor is in his cabin). The communications feature may also indicate whether another associated patron is available for instant communication and, in some examples, may identify patrons who have left the establishment as unavailable for communication.

The visitor engagement system 10 provides additional functionality through staff versions of the visitor engagement application. Staff versions of the visitor experience application may run on endpoint devices 18 used by the host and staff to provide services and interactions to site visitors. Typically, the host and staff will access the staff version of the visitor experience application on an end device in the form of a tablet computer 18b that supports BLE (e.g., the end device includes a BLE transceiver and a BLE antenna), although in some In situations, the host and personnel will access the application through other end devices (eg, interactive displays 18c, portals, door lock access panels 705, etc.).

In one example, a staff version of a visitor engagement application may be used by a staff representative to interact with visitors. To this end, the visitor interaction application uses the BLE transceiver of the end device 18 to detect any medallions 11 in the vicinity (e.g., within the BLE communication range) of the end device 18. Specifically, the BLE transceiver is used to detect beacon signals emitted by medallions 11 in the vicinity of the end device devices 18. When one or more beacon signals are detected, the staff version of the visitor interaction application is adapted to obtain the public identifier of each medallion contained in the emitted beacon signals and to obtain profile information associated with the device from the servers 21 received by the identifier(s) and associated by the visitor(s). The profile information obtained typically includes a photo and name (or nickname) associated with the visitor. The received profile information is then displayed on the terminal device 18 to allow the staff member or host to interact with the visitor(s) based on the received profile information. For example, based on the profile information received, a staff member may visually identify the visitor, greet the visitor by name or nickname, and discuss the visitor's upcoming reservation with the visitor.

In situations in which profile information for multiple visitors is received by end device 18, the visitor interaction application may display profile information for multiple visitors. In some examples, profiles may be displayed in order of the estimated distance of each visitor from the end device 18, where the estimated distance

- 23 046207 can be determined based on the signal strength or transmission delay associated with the corresponding BLE beacon signal associated with each visitor medallion 11 and the detected end device 18.

Based on the profile information received, a representative of the staff or host may provide assistance to the visitor. For example, a staff or host representative may review a visitor's reservation, check-in, and reservations; provide information and/or make recommendations or reservations for future bookings, registrations and reservations personalized to the visitor based on the visitor's profile information; order drinks and food for delivery to the visitor; help the visitor find his way around the site; or the like The application may also allow a member of staff or host to engage in games (not necessarily including gambling) with the visitor and provide additional functionality.

The visitor experience system 10 may further provide payment functionality through a staff version of the visitor experience application. As described above, medallions 11 may be used for payments by creating a secure communication channel between medallion 11 and a payment terminal (e.g., 17b), authenticating the entity of medallion 11 over the secure communication channel using a unique private medallion identifier, or other encrypted information stored in medallion 11 , and, based on the authenticated entity, process a payment transaction using the payment information associated with the authenticated medallion 11. Such payment transactions may be performed over BLE or NFC communications between the medallion 11 and a payment terminal (e.g., 17b) and may be performed by vending machines, cash registers, machines and other payment terminals that do not require the presence of a staff member or cashier. Additionally, an expedited payment process can be implemented through a staff version of the app. Namely, through the staff version of the application, a staff member can authenticate a visitor by visually recognizing the visitor based on a comparison of the visitor's appearance with a photo stored in the visitor's profile. In particular, the visitor interaction system 10 may prompt a staff member using the staff version of the application to authorize a payment associated with the visitor's bank account. The offer may be displayed in response to a selection by a staff member through the application, such as placing an order on behalf of the visitor (e.g., ordering food or drink, registering for a tour, making a reservation for a performance, upgrading a room, paying for a game, or the like). ). An offering may typically rely on two complementary identification methods to allow personnel to authorize payment, although a different number of identification methods (including one identification method) may be used. For example, the offering may rely on an end device 18 running a staff version of the application that detects a visitor's medallion 11 from which payment is to be taken (e.g., using BLE and NFC communication methods to locate the medallion 11), obtains profile information (including a photo ) of the detected medallion 11 from server 21, displays a photo of the visitor associated with medallion 11, prompts the staff member to visually confirm that the visitor the staff member is interacting with matches the displayed photo, and, after receiving confirmation from the staff member that the visitor matches the photo, processes the payment. In this example, the two complementary identification methods used are detection of the medallion 11 and visual confirmation of the visitor's identity, although in other examples other methods (and different numbers and combinations thereof) may be used.

The visitor interaction system 10 also provides a wayfinding function and provides an interface for wayfinding through a visitor interaction application. The pathfinding function provided by the visitor interaction system 10 can be used to find a path in a moving coordinate system as well as in a stationary coordinate system. For example, in the case of wayfinding on a cruise ship, traditional positioning systems such as GPS cannot be easily used for several reasons. First, a cruise ship can move, and therefore the ship's wayfinding must be based on the ship's moving coordinate system rather than a stationary (eg, ground) coordinate system. As a result, GPS-based positioning and other fixed-frame positioning are of limited use because the GPS-based location of a user cannot be used to determine the user's location relative to a moving ship. Second, the cruise ship contains significant amounts of metal and other surfaces that interfere with the propagation of GPS signals (so that GPS signals cannot be received inside the ship) and/or result in significant signal interference due to electromagnetic signals reflected from metal surfaces . As a result, traditional positioning systems are usually ineffective for finding a way on a ship.

- 24 046207

To overcome the above disadvantages, the visitor interaction system 10 provides its own wayfinding function based on the sensor network 13 of the visitor interaction system 10. More specifically, the visitor experience system 10 maintains a database of locations at which medallions 11 have been detected. Each entry in the database includes a medallion identifier (e.g., the public identifier of medallion 11 that is broadcast as part of the device's beacon signal), a location identifier ( for example, the location identifier(s) of the sensor(s) 15 or other antenna or device that detected the beacon signal, and/or a more precise location determination based on triangulation, multilateration, or other location method), and a timestamp. Thus, the location determination performed by the visitor interaction system 10 may be based on sensors in the sensor network 13 as well as beacons detected by end devices 18, interface devices 17, and the like. As stated previously, location determination can be performed with different levels of accuracy, depending on the types of sensors 15 through which the beacon signals were detected (e.g., point sensors provide more detailed location information than omnidirectional sensors), depending on the number of sensors 15 , detected beacon signals, depending on whether triangulation, multilateration, transmission delay or signal strength information from multiple sensors, etc. are used.

The wayfinding function provided by the visitor interaction system 10, including the wayfinding provided by the visitor interaction application, is thus provided based on the location determination performed by the visitor interaction system 10. Namely, the location of visitors is determined by the server 21 of the visitor interaction system 10 by detecting the location of the user medallion 11 and communicating the detected location to the visitor via the visitor interaction application. For example, the visitor's location may be displayed overlaid on a map or on a 3D ship model displayed in an application user interface provided on the end device 18 that the visitor is currently using. Thus, the position of the visitor is not generally determined by the end device 18 used by the visitor, but instead the position of the visitor is generally determined by the visitor experience system 10 (e.g., the server 21 of the visitor experience system 10) based on the location of the visitor medallion 11 detected by the sensor network 13 systems 10 interaction with visitors.

It should be noted that, as described above, the sensor network 13 of the visitor interaction system 10 may extend to several different objects, including objects located on the ship and objects located off the ship. Thus, the visitor interaction system 10 can be used to provide accurate location and wayfinding to any of objects, including stationary objects (eg, land-based), moving objects (eg, located on a ship), and objects including both stationary and moving components (for example, objects visited by passengers during a cruise, which may include both objects on the ship and objects on land). In such cases, the visitor interaction system 10 may automatically determine the visitor's position according to an appropriate fixed or moving coordinate system, depending on whether the visitor is currently located in a stationary (eg, land) or moving (eg, ship) coordinate system, and provide location information through an application to interact with visitors in a coordinate system determined to correspond to the visitor's current position.

As described in detail above, the visitor interaction system 10 may determine the position/location of the visitor based on the medallion 11, and more specifically based on the locations at which beacon signals emitted by the medallion 11 are detected. The detection relies on the operation of the sensors 15 of the system 10, and more specifically to the known location at which each sensor 15 is installed, and the detection range of each sensor (eg, the shape and orientation of the directional detection range). Discovery may also rely on detection of beacons by end devices 18, including end devices 18 having variable locations, such as mobile devices 18a and tablet computers 18b. More specifically, in the case of end devices 18, the locations of the end devices 18 having immutable locations may be stored on the servers 21 of the visitor experience system 10, and the stored location information may be used to determine the locations of detected medallions 11.

In the case of mobile end devices 18, the visitor experience system 10 may rely on two sources of information to determine the current location of the end device 18 and thus infer the location of the medallions 11 detected by the end device 18. First, the visitor experience system 10 may receive periodic reports from end devices 18 including identifiers of medallions 11 from which beacons were detected, and may infer the location of medallion 11 by determining the location of the end device 18 from which the report was received. The visitor experience system 10 can then determine the location of the end device 18 based on the Wi-Fi ID

- 25 046207 or other wireless access point through which the end device 18 is connected to the communication network 19 of the system 10. For this purpose, the visitor interaction system 10 maintains a database identifying the installation location of each wireless access point in the facility, and uses the database for identification locations of end devices 18 and medallions 11 detected by end devices 18. The wireless access point identifier may be reported to visitor experience system 10 by end device 18 or determined by visitor experience system 10 based on header information contained in packets received from the end device 18.

Second, as part of the periodic reports received from the end devices 18 identifying the medallions 11 detected by the end devices, the visitor experience system 10 may receive information about the location of the end devices 18 when such information is available. The location information reported by the end device 18 may be a location determined by the end device 18 based on the end device's own position determination function, such as GPS position determination. In such situations, the visitor experience system 10 may use reported location information provided by the end device 18 to determine the location of the medallions 11 detected by the end device 18. The visitor experience system 10 may additionally use the moving coordinate system location information (e.g., location by GPS of the ship on which the end device 18 is traveling to determine the position of the end device 18 relative to the moving coordinate system.

The wayfinding function may be used by the visitor experience system 10 to allow a user of the visitor experience application to determine the location of another visitor or staff member by tracking the other visitor or staff member in real time. This visitor tracking feature can be used by a visitor to determine the location of another visitor (e.g. boyfriend, spouse, child, ...) and by a member of staff or host to determine the location of a visitor (e.g. to deliver food, drink or another order, or to provide other assistance to the visitor), among other things. The visitor tracking feature allows one application user to obtain, through the visitor interaction application, information about the current location of another visitor as determined by the visitor interaction system 10, including a display of the other visitor's current location overlaid on a map or 3D model of a ship (or other object) shown in application user interface. The visitor tracking feature also allows one user to be provided with directions to the current location of another visitor based on a combination of the user's location (determined by the visitor experience system 10 based on the detected location of the user medallion 11) and the location of the other visitor (determined by the visitor experience system 10 based on the detected location of medallion 11 of another visitor). Locations can be updated in real time as the user and visitor move around the site, and wayfinding directions can be updated accordingly in real time.

The above-described functions of the visitor interaction system 10 may enable the following services (described in an illustrative context using the example of a cruise ship) to be provided.

The visitor interaction system 10 through a visitor interaction application allows visitors to interact with the system from outside the facility in which the system is installed. For example, visitors can interact from home by accessing their profile through the web version of the application or through the end device 18 (eg, mobile phone 18a, tablet computer 18b, desktop computer 18d, or the like) running the application. Visitors can then, at their own time, complete their visitor profile by entering any required documentation such as passport information, completing health forms and travel details, and indicating their preferred form of payment. Visitors can also upload photos, create a digital avatar to further personalize their profile, and arrange or book services, such as arranging for expedited luggage delivery straight to their cabin.

Guests may also interact while at the airport, particularly in cases where visitors have received their medallions 11 in advance of travel. For example, in the case where visitors are traveling to a facility that uses the visitor interaction system 10, staff members may meet the visitors at the arrival airport. In this example, staff members located at the airport may be equipped with end devices 18 running a visitor interaction application. Personnel representatives may use endpoint devices 18 and the application to detect arriving visitor medallions 11, obtain visitor profile information, including photographs, and recognize visitors based on the proximity of medallions 11 and visually recognize visitors based on photographs.

- FY 26 046207 In this way, staff representatives can personally greet visitors, confirm the status of their documents, and direct them around the airport (for example, to direct visitors to the fleet of buses heading to the port terminal).

While traveling on buses, visitors can again access the visitor application using their end devices 18 (e.g., mobile phones 18a or tablet computers 18b) to explore options offered at the destination site (e.g., a cruise ship, in one example), book events and learn more about the people, places and cultures they will encounter.

Additionally, upon arrival at a cruise terminal (eg, in the cruise ship example), visitors may be able to board the ship with minimal additional interaction with staff members since visitors are already equipped with their medallions 11, which function as a key to their cabins. Additionally, staff representatives at the terminal may use end devices 18 running a staff application to identify arriving visitors, identify visitors who have not yet completed the check-in process, approach those visitors and assist them in completing the check-in process. .

Further examples of interface devices 17 that may be used as part of the customer interaction system 10 are gaming stations 100 such as those depicted in FIG. 10. Gaming stations 100 provide an environment in which patrons can engage in gaming, including gambling, multiplayer games with other patrons, and head-to-head games against other patrons.

Each gaming station 100 typically includes ergonomic seating 101 for multiple patrons (eg, four patrons in the examples shown in FIG. 10), although a single-customer gaming station 100 or modular gaming stations 100 for a variable number of patrons may also be used. The seat 101 can accommodate diners facing each other, with a central frame positioned between the diners and supporting components of the gaming station. Some visitors can also be seated next to each other, as shown in FIG. 10. The gaming station 100 also includes one or more display screens 102 attached to the central frame and used for displaying gaming screens and images to users, and input devices 103 such as keyboards, touch pads, touch displays, or the like. attached to a central frame and used to receive input from users. Input devices 103 may also include microphones (e.g., a microphone array comprising multiple microphones located at different locations within the gaming station 100), optical sensors, and/or ultrasonic proximity sensors used to provide enhanced user input, user position data, and /or data on user movements within the gaming station.

Gaming station 100 also includes one or more sensors 15 (not shown) that are installed within station 100 (e.g., in hidden or discrete locations) and are used to identify patrons currently seated in station 100 or otherwise using the station. 100. Sensors 15 are used to detect medallions 11 of users of station 100 in order to allow users to log into gaming station 100 with their accounts and participate in the game. The sensors 15 may also be used to create secure connections with the medallions 11 of users of the station 100 to authenticate the medallions 11 and participate in payment transactions. In general, the sensors 15 have detection beams directed toward the seat 101 of the gaming station 100 so as to detect medallions 11 of patrons who are seated in the gaming station 100. In some examples, the detection beams of the sensors 15 are adjusted so that only the medallions 11 that are within the gaming stations 100 may be detected by sensors 15. In one example, sensors 15 are positioned and adjusted to detect medallions 11 at each seat location separately so that the gaming station can distinguish between patrons located at each individual seat location. The seat location can be defined as an area two feet wide, zero to 5 feet from the floor, and one foot from the edge of the table (to cover the purse/bag at the user's feet) to three feet from the edge of the table. The medallions 11 can be detected when they are in an accessory, pocket (front or back), or bag located within the seat location.

In some embodiments, the gaming station 100 also includes a canopy 105 extending over the seat 101 of the gaming station 100. In the examples shown in FIGS. 10, the canopy 105 is supported by two struts 107 and is made of a translucent material or mesh material. The struts 107 support the canopy 105 and contain lighting (eg, LED lighting) built into them to provide multi-colored lighting. The lighting may be controlled by a processor of the gaming station 100 to output lighting having an activation pattern and/or color scheme that is synchronized with the game being played on the gaming station 100. The spacers 107 may further include water and/or aerosol aerosol dispensers. spray

- 27 046207 whether a substance has certain odors/flavors. The aerosol dispensers may be coupled to the water supply valve or container (e.g., a fragrance container) via conduit extending through the spacers 107 and into the seat 101 of the gaming station 100. The aerosol dispensers coupled to the water supply valve may be selectively controlled by the processor of the gaming station 100 for releasing an aqueous aerosol having an activation circuit that is synchronized with the game being played on the gaming station 100. The aerosol dispensers coupled to one or more containers of a specific odor substance may be selectively controlled by the processor of the gaming station 100 to release the specific odor substances. (or mixtures of substances with a particular odor) having activation patterns and/or aromas that are synchronized with the game being played on the gaming station 100. Separate aerosol nozzles and conduits may be provided in the spacers 107 for separate and independent delivery of aerosol and substances with a certain smell. Additionally, different aerosol nozzles and conduits may be provided to release different substances with a particular odor into the gaming station 100.

The gaming station 100 typically includes additional means of sensory feedback for users, in addition to the visual feedback provided through displays and lighting. For example, gaming station 100 typically includes speakers for audio feedback (e.g., speakers attached to the central frame, seat 101, and spacers 107), as well as haptic or contact feedback provided by actuators attached to input devices 103 and 101 user seat, among other locations.

The gaming station 100 may also include one or more outward-facing displays 109 on which game screens and images can be displayed in real time to allow other patrons to view the gameplay. In some examples, the outward-facing display 109 is touch-sensitive and allows viewing patrons to participate in the gameplay and/or place bets on the outcome of the gameplay and players. In such examples, the gaming station 100 may include one or more outward-facing sensors 15 positioned to detect patron medallions 11 in front of the outward-facing display 109. The outward-facing sensors 15 may be used to detect patron medallions 11 and allow those patrons to enter under account to the gaming station 100 via the outward-facing display 109 to allow visitors to participate in or place bets on the gaming process. The outward-facing displays 109 may also be used by patrons to register or queue for gameplay, such that patrons may be invited to join gameplay in the check-in order or queue as seating becomes available in the gaming station 100.

Operation of the gaming station 100 may be controlled by a computer platform located within the seat 101. The computer platform typically includes one or more processors (e.g., three or more processors in some embodiments), a storage device storing program instructions for gameplay, a power supply ( for example, including an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)) and connections to each of the displays 103 and 109 and input devices 102. The computer platform is also connected via a communication network 19 to the servers 21 of the visitor interaction system 10. The computer platform is further connected to actuators that control the aerosol nozzles, as well as control devices that control lighting, sound, and haptic or contact feedback. Different feedback methods can be controlled individually for each player's seating position, so that different players can be provided with different sensory feedback (including aerosol spray, smells, sound, haptics, contact, light and display) at any time under the control of the computer platform .

In fig. 11 and 12 show illustrations of block diagrams of hardware platforms of general purpose computers. In fig. 11 depicts a network or host computer platform that may typically be used to implement a server, such as any of the servers 21 described herein. In fig. 12 depicts a computer with user interface elements that may be used to implement a portal (eg, 17d) or other type of workstation or end device of the visitor interaction system 10, although the computer of FIG. 12 can also act as a server if programmed accordingly. Those skilled in the art are expected to be familiar with the structure, programming and general operation of such computer equipment and, as a result, the graphics should be self-explanatory.

The server, for example, includes a communication interface for transmitting data packets. The server also includes a central processing unit (CPU), in the form of one or more processors, for executing software instructions. A server platform typically includes an internal communications bus, program storage, and data storage for the various data files that the server needs to process and/or transmit, although the server often receives programs and data through network communications. The hardware elements, operating systems and programming languages of such servers are traditional in nature, and it is expected that specialists

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Claims (11)

those skilled in the art are sufficiently familiar with them. Of course, server functions can be implemented in a distributed manner across multiple similar platforms to distribute the data processing load. Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, quantities, ratings, positions, absolute values, sizes and other characteristics set forth in this specification, including the following claims, are approximate and not exact. They are assumed to have a reasonable range consistent with the functions to which they are associated and the accepted standards in the area to which they relate. The scope of protection is limited only by the claims presented below. This scope is intended and should be construed to be as broad as possible within the ordinary meaning of the language used in the claims when construed in light of this technical specification and the following application history, and is intended to cover all structural and functional equivalents. It is intended that no claim cover subject matter that does not meet the requirements of Sections 101, 102, or 103 of the Patent Act and should not be so construed. Any inadvertent coverage of such subject matter is thus disclaimed. Except as stated directly above, nothing stated or depicted is intended or should be construed as conveying for public use any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage or equivalent. It will be understood that the terms and expressions used in this application have the usual meaning corresponding to such terms and expressions in relation to their respective fields of study and study, except to the extent that specific meanings have been otherwise set forth herein. Terms expressing relationships, such as first and second, etc., may be used solely to distinguish one object or action from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between such objects or actions. The terms contains, containing, or any other variant thereof are intended to have a non-exclusive scope such that a process, method, article, or device that includes a list of elements includes not only those elements, but may include other elements that are not listed expressly or which are inherent in such a process, method, product or device. An element specified in the singular does not exclude, without further limitation, the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or device that contains that element. The abstract is provided so that the reader can quickly understand the essence of the technical description. It is provided with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing detailed description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in different embodiments for the purpose of simplifying the description. This manner of disclosure should not be construed to imply that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly listed in each claim. Instead, as reflected in the following claims, the innovative subject matter of the invention lies in less than all of the characteristic features of the single disclosed embodiment. Accordingly, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as subject matter claimed separately. Although what is considered to be the best embodiment and/or other examples have been described above, it should be understood that various modifications may be made thereto and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be embodied in various forms and examples, and that the ideas can be applied to numerous applications, only a few of which have been described herein. The following claims are intended to cover any and all uses, modifications and variations falling within the true scope of the present teachings. CLAIM 1. An electronic door lock assembly comprising a latch assembly including a latch and an electronically controlled locking mechanism used to selectively unlock the door; a door lock communication module electrically coupled to the electronically controlled latch locking mechanism assembly and including a radio device configured to communicate wirelessly; and an access panel that is separate from and permanently mounted adjacent the door lock and latch communication module assembly, and which includes a radio device configured to communicate wirelessly with the door lock communication module, a first transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the portable user device, and - 29 046207 a second transceiver for communicating with the reservation server, wherein the access panel, which is separate from the door lock communication module and permanently installed near it, is configured to receive door access information from the reservation server through the second transceiver, determining whether it should whether to unlock the door based on the specified door access information received from the reservation server, and transmitting a command to unlock the door to the door lock communication module via the radio device based on the results of the specified determination. 2. The electronic door lock assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the radio device, the first transceiver and the second transceiver of the access panel operates in accordance with a different communication standard. 3. The electronic door lock assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the access panel communicates with the user device through a first transceiver using the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication standard and communicates with the reservation server through a second transceiver and a wired network connection . 4. The electronic door lock assembly according to claim 1, wherein the door lock communication module and the access panel communicate via a short-range radio operating in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band. 5. The electronic door lock assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the door lock communication module is configured to interact in encrypted wireless communication with the access panel via a radio device of the door lock communication module and the access panel is configured to interact in encrypted wireless communication with the module communicating the door lock via the access panel radio and interacting in encrypted wireless communication with the user device via the first access panel transceiver. 6. The electronic door lock assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the access panel is configured to receive a unique identifier from the user’s device via wireless communication with the user’s device through the first transceiver, determining whether the received unique identifier corresponds to an authorized user based on information about authorized users received from the reservation server via the second transceiver, and selectively transmitting a door unlock signal to the door lock communication module based on the determination result. 7. The electronic door lock assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the access panel further comprises a display configured to display information received from the reservation server and selected based on a unique identifier received from the user device, and a camera configured to selectively capturing the user's image based on the determination result. 8. The electronic door lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch assembly further comprises a door handle and a proximity sensor used to detect the user's contact with or approach to the door handle, and wherein an electronically controlled locking mechanism is used to selectively unlocking a door based on user contact with or proximity to a door handle detected by a proximity sensor. 9. The electronic door lock assembly of claim 8, wherein the door handle is electrically isolated and the proximity sensor is a capacitive touch sensor electrically coupled to the electrically insulated door handle and used to detect user contact with or proximity to the electrically insulated door handle. her. 10. Electronic door lock assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the door handle is electrically isolated from the ground and the door handle functions as a communication antenna for the radio device of the door lock communication module. 11. Door latch assembly containing door handle; a latch selectively actuated by actuating the door handle; an electrical insulating sleeve mounted on the door latch assembly shaft and configured to electrically isolate the door handle from other parts of the door latch assembly; an electronically controlled locking mechanism used to selectively release the latch; a proximity sensor used to detect user contact with or approach to a door handle; and an access panel that is separate from the door handle and latch and includes a radio device configured to communicate wirelessly with an electronically controlled locking mechanism, a first transceiver configured with the possibility of implementing - 30 046207 wired connection with the user’s portable device, and a second transceiver for