WO2017003284A1

WO2017003284A1 - System and method for determining the position of individual users present at a location, such as in the spaces of a building

Info

Publication number: WO2017003284A1
Application number: PCT/NL2016/050460
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Joannes Wilhelmus VAN HERP; Johannes Hermanus Petrus Maria Oonk
Original assignee: Boekit B.V.
Priority date: 2015-06-30
Filing date: 2016-06-30
Publication date: 2017-01-05
Also published as: NL2015059B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for determining the position of individual users present at a location, such as in the spaces of a building, comprising: a plurality of transmitters arranged in fixed positions at the location, wherein the transmitters are situated at a distance from each other and the transmitters are passive; at least one mobile communication means configured to detect signals emitted by the transmitters; and a central processing unit connected to the mobile communication means for receiving and processing the signals from the transmitters received by the mobile communication means.

Description

System and method for determining the position of individual users present at a location, such as in the spaces of a building.

The present invention relates to a system and a method for determining the position of individual users present at a location, such as in the spaces of a building.

With such a system it becomes possible, among other things, to manage the occupancy of spaces in a building. The use of spaces in a building by individual users and/or groups of users can for instance thus be automatically determined with the system according to the invention.

When managing the use of a location, such as the spaces in a building, gaining an overview of the current use - such as for instance the occupancy rate - of (parts of) a location often poses a problem. It is possible here to envisage information relating to the use of an office building with flexible workspaces, the use of a conference centre or the use of a school or university building. It may however also be desirable to obtain information in respect of the presence and/or the movement of people at other locations such as catering establishments, museums, theme parks, stadiums, festival sites, sports venues and other outdoor locations.

Although spaces are as a rule booked for a specific purpose such as a meeting or a lesson, not all bookings result in actual use, and the actual occupancy often differs from the projected occupancy. The utilization of a location, such as for instance the spaces in a building, is consequently often less than optimal, and correct and up-to- date usage information can among other things make further optimization of the use possible. There may in addition be a need to be able to determine the presence and/or absence of individual people at specific locations. Information relating to the presence and the movement of people can thus simplify the regulation of crowds and even make it possible to anticipate expected

developments.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for determining the presence of individual users at a location with which presence information can be obtained in simpler and/or more effective manner than with the time-consuming, expensive and/or less reliable prior art methods of registering presence or with which an alternative is provided for the prior art presence registration.

The invention provides for this purpose a system for determining the position of individual users present at a location, such as in the spaces of a building, comprising: a plurality of transmitters arranged in fixed positions at the location, wherein the transmitters are situated at a distance from each other and each transmit a signal with a parameter derivable from the respective transmitter; at least one mobile communication means linked to the position of an individual user and configured to detect a signal strength and the parameter of each of the signals received from the transmitters and to transmit these signal strengths and

parameters to: a central processing unit connected to the mobile communication means and configured to receive and process the signal strengths and parameters transmitted by the mobile communication means to the position of the mobile communication means, and thereby of the individual user; wherein the central processing unit is provided with a picture of the positions of signal attenuating objects situated at the location and the positions where the individual transmitters are arranged at the location, and is configured to allow for signal attenuation caused by the objects when determining the position of the mobile communication means. The transmitters of the system send unique signals on the basis of which the system can determine the position of a mobile communication means, and so of the owner of the mobile communication means. This means that the signals received by the mobile communication means from the transmitters comprise information relating to transmission identification and the signal strength. This makes it possible to determine a distance from the communication means to a plurality of transmitters, wherein the signal strength received from different transmitters is used as indication of the distance to the respective transmitters. The picture of the location with which the central processing unit is provided can be deemed a "floor planVblueprint" of the location where the position of individual users must be determined.

At least some of the transmitters can consist of so-called "passive transmitters". This is understood to mean that a transmitter need only transmit signals and that the transmitted signal can be independent of external parameters or influences. Nor does the "passive transmitter" need to maintain communication with the central processing unit and/or receive signals. This makes it possible to carry out the required position determination with a number of simple transmitters. For communication use is made of the possibilities already available in the mobile communication means. After all, by making use of a mobile communication means (such as a smart phone or a tablet) capable of detecting and identifying a plurality of placed transmitters, no active detection system need be provided, as use can be made of hardware which - now that most people have such a device with them permanently - is nowadays available as standard. The invention provides the advantage of being able to measure at individual or target group level without the need for complex building-related installations other than a number of transmitters, since the mobile communication means can provide at least a part of the network.

It is efficient to also use the picture of signal-attenuating objects and the

transmitters to determine the position of the mobile communication means. This picture ("floor plan") will in practice often be a digital representation of the location and can for instance be a two-dimensional or three-dimensional display as desired. The positions of signal-attenuating objects present at the location and the positions of the separate transmitters can also be incorporated in this picture of the location. Such signal-influencing objects can for instance take the form of walls or other objects which weaken the reception of a signal at a determined distance from a transmitter. The measurement accuracy of the system is increased markedly by the picture of the presence of the signal-attenuating objects. The extent to which specific objects are signal-attenuating is preferably also included here in the picture; a thicker wall will result in more signal attenuation than a thinner wall manufactured from the same material.

The mobile communication means can be configured to register detected transmitters by means of an app(lication) installed thereon. Such an application can be enabled by the user in order to detect the transmitters and exchange information with the central processing unit.

In a specific variant at least one transmitter comprises an "iBeacon" detectable via Bluetooth. It is of course also possible for a plurality of iBeacons to be disposed such that a detectable transmitter is present in a plurality of spaces (or areas). Found to be particularly suitable is a technique wherein the transmitter comprises an iBeacon detectable via "low energy bluetooth". Such an iBeacon is a transmitter that transmits a unique identifier, wherein an iBeacon can be set such that barriers which bound a space do not allow passage of the signal and whereby this is transmitted by the mobile communication device on the basis of Wi-Fi to the central processing unit. The central processing unit is provided with a picture in which the physical location of the various iBeacons is stored so that, on the basis of identification transmitted by the mobile communication device and the thereby known position, the location of the mobile communication device can be

determined. The system according to the present invention can also comprise a plurality of iBeacons which can be disposed such that at least one detectable transmitter is present in every position in at least a number of spaces (or in a number of areas) at a location. A large open space can hereby also be divided into zones. Within the system the (automatically equivalent) location of the holder/carrier/owner of the mobile communication means is hereby also determined. On the basis of the thus determined location of a plurality of holders/carriers/owners of the mobile communication means the occupancy, occupancy rate or visitor density of spaces and/or areas of a specific location can for instance be determined. The position or the movements of an individual holder/carrier/owner of the mobile communication means can of course also be established. Not only does the system hereby know that a particular person is in a specific space/a specific area, it is also possible on the basis of this information to monitor whether there is authorization for such a presence. Another option is to register a particular use and on the basis hereof to charge fees or attach other consequences to the specific personal use (such as awarding a bonus or points for desirable behaviour).

In order to be able to perform an accurate position determination the mobile communication device is configured to register a plurality of detected transmitters and provide the central processing unit with data about the detected transmitters. Using per se known computational methods the location of the mobile

communication device in relation to the plurality of transmitters can be determined on the basis of the detected transmitters and their respective strengths. Navigation within a building, an area or a premises is hereby also made possible. The central processing unit can thus determine a position of the mobile communication means on the basis of data from a plurality of detected transmitters.

The central processing unit can also be configured to exchange data about the detected transmitters with the at least one mobile communication means and to make known to the mobile communication means the specific position at which it is located, for instance by means of showing an indication on a screen of the mobile communication means.

The system can optionally be configured such that the mobile communication means with the application calculates the position on the basis of data about the location of the transmitters obtained via the central processing unit, or that the central processing unit determines the location of the mobile communication means on the basis of the detected transmitter. The central processing unit can also be configured to update an occupancy rate or occupancy number of the at least one space in the building, and more preferably to update the occupancy rate of a plurality of spaces in a building, wherein accurate measurement is possible per floor while the space located above or below is not measured. The occupancy rate can then be made available on an online environment such as a website or via an application for the mobile communication means so that visitors or those present in the building are optionally able to determine in advance whether or not, and if so, which space(s) are available in the building. Yet another application registers the presence and the duration of this presence on specific occasions. Envisage here for instance a student tracking system wherein the presence of students at a specific tutorial/specific lecture is registered.

In order to maintain an up-to-date overview of the occupancy rate, the

communication means is preferably configured to regularly detect and register transmitters, for instance once every 10 seconds, half-minute, minute, 5 minutes or (half-)hour. This frequency can be variable and be controlled for instance on the basis of signals from the accelerometer present in a mobile communication means. It is thus possible that from an accelerometer present in a mobile communication means signals are sent to the central processing unit on the basis of which the communication means is controlled by the central processing unit in respect of the intensity of detection of the signals emitted by the transmitters. It hereby becomes possible, depending on the presence or absence of a movement of the mobile communication means detected by the accelerometer, to control the

communication means such that transmitters are detected more frequently or, conversely, less frequently.

In this way, if someone sits still for 10 minutes, measurement will for instance take place only once every 5 minutes, while in the case of movement this can be several times per minute. If a user moves, for instance if he/she intends to leave a space or an area, the accelerometer in the mobile communication means will be

automatically activated. On the basis of this movement activity the mobile communication means, prompted by the application according to the present invention, will seek contact with a plurality of iBeacons and transmit the information to the central processing unit. Leaving a space or an area is in this way visible to the central processing unit.

The smart phone seeking contact with the iBeacons can be dispensed with for a longer period of time when the accelerometer is not activated because the user substantially does not move. The amount of data sent to the central processing unit can hereby be reduced significantly without information being missed, and less energy is moreover extracted from the mobile communication means (the battery of the smart phone lasts longer).

The central processing unit can also be connected to at least one other transmitter which supplies status-dependent information to the central processing unit. By for instance combining position-dependent data with other behaviour-dependent data (such as the touching of specific objects, the use of equipment, consumption from utilities etc.) the system can make still further monitoring of behaviour possible. An example hereof is to combine measurements of the use of a soap dispenser, tap and drying equipment with the position determination of a specific person close to a washing location, which makes it possible to determine with quite high accuracy whether a specific person has washed his/her hands and how long this process has taken. It is thus possible for instance to monitor whether medical personnel comply with specific washing protocols. The central processing unit can also be configured to operate a booking system, wherein booking of spaces can be made online or via the at least one mobile communication means. It is also possible, on the basis of the established presence of a mobile communication means in a space, to send messages in targeted manner to one or more mobile communication means, and so people, in a space.

In addition, it is possible to send pictures in targeted manner from the central processing unit to one or more mobile communication means (and so people). Because the mobile communication means and their position are known to the central processing unit, pictures for instance in the form of advertising for a nearby vending machine(s) can be communicated (narrowcasting).

The central processing unit can also be configured to create a group of mobile communication means which are in the vicinity of each other, and to enable them to exchange group messages. The invention can also be used to localize and direct for instance cleaners or technical support staff.

The invention also provides an installation for the purpose of operating a system for determining the position of individual users present at a location as described above, comprising an installation for the purpose of operating a system for determining the position of individual users present at a location according to any of the foregoing claims, comprising: a plurality of transmitters arranged in fixed positions at the location, wherein the transmitters are situated at a distance from each other and each transmit a signal with a parameter derivable from the respective transmitter, and a central processing unit configured to receive and process the signal strengths and parameters transmitted by a mobile

communication means to the position of a mobile communication means, and thereby of the individual user; wherein the central processing unit is provided with a picture of the positions of signal attenuating objects situated at the location and the positions where the individual transmitters are arranged at the location, and is configured to allow for signal attenuation caused by the objects when determining the position of the mobile communication means. Such an installation is the hardware of the system as described above, but without the presence of a user in the form of a mobile communication means. Also the hardware without the presence of a user hereby forms part of the present invention. In addition, the present invention further comprises a method for calibrating a system for determining the position of individual users present at a location as described above, wherein calibration measurements are performed in a plurality of positions at the location and the signal strength of the transmitters is subsequently minimized such that at every position within the location sufficient transmitter signals are still detectable by a mobile communication means that position determination is possible. The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the following figures. Herein:

Figure 1 shows a first screenshot of a mobile communication means provided with an application according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a second screenshot of a mobile communication means provided with an application according to the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a third screenshot of a mobile communication means provided with an application suitable for making a booking;

Figure 4 shows a fourth screenshot of a mobile communication means provided with an application according to the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a first screenshot of a summary screen of the central processing unit; and

Figure 6 shows a second screenshot of a summary screen of the central processing unit. Figure 1 shows a first screenshot 1 of a mobile communication means formed by a smart phone provided with an application according to the present invention. It can be seen that the smart phone has detected a transmitter, formed by an iBeacon (and designated with iBeacon). The name of the transmitter reads 301 in accordance with the name of the space in which it is placed. A space and the corresponding iBeacon can be calibrated by means of tapping the four corners in the space. The transmitter strength and pulse rate are set here in the application.

Figure 2 shows a second screenshot 2 of a mobile communication means formed by a smart phone provided with an application according to the present invention. The application shows a summary of bookings for specific spaces in a building by the holder/carrier/owner of the smart phone, with the number of persons for the booking.

Figure 3 shows a third screenshot 3 of a mobile communication means formed by a smart phone provided with an application according to the present invention suitable for making a booking. The application can find an available space on the basis of a desired time slot and number of persons.

Figure 4 shows a fourth screenshot 4 of a mobile communication means formed by a smart phone provided with an application according to the present invention, wherein the available spaces are indicated on a floor plan of the building.

Figure 5 shows a first screenshot 5 of a summary screen of the central processing unit. A summary can be seen per mobile communication means, wherein the iBeacon registered by the relevant communication means is shown per minute.

Figure 6 shows a second screenshot 6 of a diagram for a space of the central processing unit, wherein the occupancy rate or occupancy number is plotted against time.

Claims

1 . System for determining the position of individual users present at a location, such as in the spaces of a building, comprising: a plurality of transmitters arranged in fixed positions at the location, wherein the transmitters are situated at a distance from each other and each transmit a signal with a parameter derivable from the respective transmitter; at least one mobile communication means linked to the position of an individual user and configured to detect a signal strength and the parameter of each of the signals received from the transmitters and to transmit these signal strengths and parameters to:

a central processing unit connected to the mobile communication means and configured to receive and process the signal strengths and parameters transmitted by the mobile communication means to the position of the mobile communication means, and thereby of the individual user; wherein the central processing unit is provided with a picture of the positions of signal attenuating objects situated at the location and the positions where the individual transmitters are arranged at the location, and is configured to allow for signal attenuation caused by the objects when determining the position of the mobile communication means.

2. System as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that at least some of the transmitters are passive transmitters.

3. System as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the picture of the signal-attenuating objects and the transmitters is also used to determine the position of the mobile communication means.

4. System as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the signal-influencing objects are walls.

5. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that at least one transmitter comprises an iBeacon detectable via Bluetooth.

6. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the transmitters send transmitter status-dependent signals which are passed on to the central processing unit by the mobile communication means.

7. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the central processing unit is configured to send position-dependent information to the mobile communication means.

8. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that from an accelerometer present in a mobile communication means signals are sent to the central processing unit on the basis of which the communication means is controlled by the central processing unit in respect of the intensity of detection of the signals emitted by the transmitters.

9. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the central processing unit is also connected to at least one other transmitter with which status-dependent information is supplied to the central processing unit.

10. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the central processing unit is configured to make available information to be generated by the system, such as for instance an occupancy rate, on an online environment such as a website or via an application for the mobile communication means.

1 1 . System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the central processing unit is configured to operate a booking system, wherein bookings can be made online or via the at least one mobile communication means.

12. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the central processing unit is configured to create a group of mobile communication means situated at a specific position and to enable them to exchange group messages.

13. Installation for the purpose of operating a system for determining the position of individual users present at a location as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising: a plurality of transmitters arranged in fixed positions at the location, wherein the transmitters are situated at a distance from each other and each transmit a signal with a parameter derivable from the respective transmitter, and a central processing unit configured to receive and process the signal strengths and parameters transmitted by a mobile communication means to the position of a mobile communication means, and thereby of the individual user; wherein the central processing unit is provided with a picture of the positions of signal attenuating objects situated at the location and the positions where the individual transmitters are arranged at the location, and is configured to allow for signal attenuation caused by the objects when determining the position of the mobile communication means.

14. Method for calibrating a system for determining the position of individual users present at a location as claimed in any of the claims 1 -12, wherein calibration measurements are performed in a plurality of positions at the location and the signal strength of the transmitters is subsequently minimized such that at every position within the location sufficient transmitter signals are still detectable by a mobile communication means that position determination is possible.