EP3314555A1

EP3314555A1 - System for tracking and geolocating persons during a gathering, and method for operating same

Info

Publication number: EP3314555A1
Application number: EP16747846.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Grégory TSCHANTURIA; Xavier HUBIER; Richard RENARD; Jean-Philippe HERVE
Original assignee: Les Georges
Current assignee: Les Georges
Priority date: 2015-06-18
Filing date: 2016-06-16
Publication date: 2018-05-02
Also published as: FR3037680B1; WO2016203415A1; FR3037680A1

Abstract

A system for tracking and geolocating persons interested at least in meeting during a gathering of persons, comprising a secure central database server, a management application accessible from a web service, a connected object and a mobile application communicating with said connected object, the system being characterised in that said connected object is carried by a participant present during said gathering, said object being provided with a personalised beacon via an identifier associated with said participant and interacting with a smartphone via said mobile application, said mobile application comprising a tracking module, capable of tracking the participants connected during said gathering, via a combination of unique items of information associated with each connected object, and a geolocation module, capable of locating the tracked participants at the site of said gathering, over an adjustable distance, calculated from the power of signals from the beacons, of retrieving all of the information of said tracked participants, and of producing a visual, photographic, dynamic display of the tracked participants sorted in ascending order of distance. The invention also concerns the operating method of the above system.

Description

SYSTEM FOR THE REPORTING AND GEO-LOCALIZATION OF PEOPLE AT A GATHERING AND ITS METHOD OF OPERATION

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to the field of locating people during a gathering of people. More particularly, the invention relates to a tracking system and geo-location of people with an interest in meeting, using a connected object interacting with a smartphone or tablet via a mobile application. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

Historically, the first object said "connected" was the Nabaztag. Marketed in 2005 by the French company Violet, the connected rabbit quickly became the flagship of a new category of products. Thanks to its Wi-Fi connection, the Nabaztag is able to give the weather forecast or read the emails aloud, also offering personalized alerts. In 2006, Apple collaborated with the comma brand for the launch of Nike + iPod. A sensor, placed in a shoe, sent to an iPod the statistics of the jogging sessions. Finally, in 2010, Parrot created the connected toy market with the AR Drone, controlled by a Wi-Fi smartphone with an onboard camera and augmented reality games.

The advent of connected objects is partly due to the fact that any object can become "connected" health, sports, entertainment, home automation each area is concerned and the only common point is the smartphone.

The progress made in miniaturization for the smartphone market has opened the door to connected objects. Since 2007, and the presentation of the iPhone, smartphones have invaded the world. Competition between manufacturers requires a constant evolution of technologies and features of mobiles, including their connectivity (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 4G, NFC). With this, more and more small and sophisticated objects can communicate effectively with your smartphone, which will gradually become the crossroads of your connected life. At a group of people, for example congresses, business clubs, trade shows, etc. we have seen how difficult it is to identify "who is who" and therefore increase our chances of interactions and networking. Moreover, badges, when they exist, are most of the time difficult to read and do not make the exercise easier. This difficulty is a source of frustration and significant time loss for participants and is shared by the majority of participants at these types of gatherings.

It is therefore necessary to propose a solution to solve this problem. To do this, the applicant proposes a system for locating and geo-locating a participant during a meeting by using a connected object communicating with a mobile application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is therefore to provide a system for locating and geolocating people having at least one interest in meeting at a gathering of persons comprising a central secure database server, a management application accessible from a web service, a connected object and a mobile application communicating with said connected object. The system is characterized in that said connected object is carried by a participant present at said gathering, said object being provided with a personalized tag via an identifier associated with said participant and interacting with a smartphone via said mobile application, said mobile application comprises a tracking module, able to identify the participants connected during said gathering, via a combination of unique information associated with each connected object, and a geolocation module, able to locate at the location of said meeting, the participants identified, over an adjustable distance calculated from signal power of the beacons, retrieving all the information of said identified participants, and performing a dynamic visual display of the identified participants sorted in ascending order of distance.

[0008] By management application is meant a back-office application. Moreover, the communication of the connected object with the mobile application is performed via Bluetooth, BLE, or WIFI or other wireless communication standards.

Advantageously, the communication of the connected object with the mobile application is performed via a dedicated hardware module Bluetooth.

According to the invention, an encrypted local database is embedded in each smartphone, said encrypted local database is accessible via said mobile application and contains information from the central database.

[0012] Preferably, the encrypted local database is automatically synchronized with the central database via the web service of the management application or manually by the user via the mobile application so that the database local contains only data about the gatherings and participants for which the user has registered.

In addition, the connected object may be in the form of a portable accessory incorporating a tag, said tag being detachable and can be integrated into shape accessories conducive to portability.

According to another embodiment of the invention the connected object may be the smartphone of the participant integrating the tag.

Advantageously, the mobile application detects the portable accessory activated by the participants at the meeting and includes a module for calculating a distance between said activated mobile accessory and the smartphone, to search, in the local database, the identifier associated with said activated mobile accessory and the associated user and to recover said associated identifier, the user and a picture of said user.

Preferably, the mobile application comprises a parameterization module of the detection distance of the connected participating users, said distance being adjustable via the clickable zones, said clickable zones are configured so that by clicking on said zones the mobile application (31) displays a matrix of photos of all the participants, connected and corresponding to the criteria which are in said distance of detection, each photo of the matrix being clickable to display the details of the corresponding user.

In addition, the mobile application includes a module capable of selecting a participating user profile using user information included in the local database.

In addition, the mobile application includes a search and criteria module allowing the participant user to access the current meeting and enter search criteria and selection of users connected to said meeting, a module of display allowing the user to display all past, current and future gatherings to which he has or will participate and to display a detailed record of said gatherings and to display and modify his personal information.

In addition, the management application is accessible to the organizer via the web service of said management application using an internet browser and includes a tracking module, able to track real-time interconnections carried out during said gathering.

In addition, the management application includes a module allowing the organizer to create, modify or delete a meeting and manage the list of participants audit rally, said module allowing, during a gathering of people, to point, to update and assign participating users and connected portable accessories.

The invention also relates to a method of operating the locating and geolocation system of persons having at least one interest in meeting at a meeting described above comprising the following steps:

- Preparing a DMZ secure zone to include a central database server that includes information about gatherings and users participating in these gatherings;

- development of a management application for meeting management and participating users;

- authorization of a meeting organizer to said management application; registering a user participating in a rally by said organizer via said management application to which he accesses by means of a secure web service and recording information associated with said participating user in the central database; - Assignment for each participating user of a portable accessory with a tag, which is associated with a unique identifier, and registration of said portable accessory and detailed information of the associated user in the central database by the organizer via the management application;

- download and installation of a mobile application in the smartphone of each user participating in the rally;

- connection to the mobile application by the user, at the meeting place, with secure authentication;

- activation of the tag by the user;

synchronization of an encrypted local database, on the user's smartphone, with the information relating to the gathering and the users participating in said gathering;

detection by the mobile application of the activated tags, calculation of the distance between said tags and the smartphone of the user, search for identifiers and users associated with said tags activated in the local database;

- exposure of a matrix of participants' photos, sorted by distance;

- Obtaining a statistics of the meeting by the organizer via the management application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other features, details and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate: FIG. 1 shows the general architecture of the tracking system and geolocation according to the invention; Figure 2 illustrates interactions between a participating user, the mobile application, the tags and the central database; Figure 3 illustrates the flow of information between the central and local databases with the highlighting of the synchronization points;

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram presenting all the interactions and the steps of the operating method of the system according to the invention;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate photo matrices obtained by the mobile application in different detection zones;

Figure 5D shows photo matrices sorted in descending order of distance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The main object of the invention is to provide a tracking system and easy geo-location of participants in a gathering, people.

Another object of the invention is to put in contact people with an interest to meet at a rally and a posteriori said gathering.

Figure 1 represents the general architecture of the tracking and geolocation system according to the invention. The system includes a central database server 10 for storing the entire data of different gatherings and information about the users participating in said gatherings. The system further comprises a management application 1 1. A secure area 1 called DMZ is provided in order to place said central database server 10. The management application 1 1 is accessible by an organizer 20 via a web service of the management application 21 by an internet browser 22. Access to the management application 1 1 requires authentication. The system further comprises a mobile application 31 installed on a smartphone 32 of a participating user 30, said mobile application 31 is compatible with any smartphones and OS operating systems associated (IOS, Androïd, WP, ...). The smartphone 32 may be a tablet belonging to the user on which the mobile application 31 can be installed. An encrypted local database 33 is embedded in the mobile application 31 on each smartphone 32 and contains information from the central database 10. The system further comprises an object connected in the form of an accessory 3, said accessory is portable and is worn by a user 30 at the gathering place. Said accessory 3 is provided with a personalized tag 2 via an identifier associated with the user 30. Said accessory 3 interacts with the smartphone 32 using the mobile application 31. The communication of the accessory 3 said connected with the smartphone 32 via the mobile application 31 is made via Bluetooth LE (Low Energy), WiFi or any other wireless communication standard This communication of the accessory 3 with the smartphone 32 can also be performed via a dedicated hardware module Bluetooth. In addition, the tag 2 is detachable and can be integrated into the accessory 3. In other words the beacon 2 being detachable can be integrated into shape accessories conducive to portability. In one embodiment of the invention the tag 2 can be integrated directly into the smartphone of the user, in this case, the portable accessory 3 is the smartphone of the user. A secure DMZ is an isolated area of the internet by a firewall. In general, this zone is a subnet of a local network and includes machines that can be accessed from the Internet.

[0026] By gathering people congresses, business clubs, sports clubs, trade shows, etc. The English word beacon can be used for the tag, so the word smartphone is used for a phone mobile or tablet.

The central database 10 is placed in the secure zone DMZ 1. Access to the management application 11 is given to an organizer 20 and requires authentication. The input of the users 30 is done via an Excel import. The data of user profiles participating in the gatherings are stored in the secure central database 10. The organizer 30 assigns an accessory 3 with its tag 2 to a participant user 30. The tag 2 is detachable and is personalized via an identifier associated with a participating user. Said tag interacts with a smartphone 32 or a tablet of a user participating in the rally via the mobile application 31, said mobile application 31 is previously installed on the smartphone 32 of the user 30 via a link sent to said user by the management application 1 1. An encrypted local database 33 is embedded in the mobile application 31 in the participating user smartphone 30, said local database 33 comprises data transmitted by the central database 10. In order to optimize the system and to controlling the volume of data transmitted between the central database server 10 and the local database 33 embedded in the mobile application 31, the photos of the participants are compressed to optimize the bandwidth of the network and the data to be repatriated are filtered . In addition, the local database 33 is automatically synchronized with the central database 10 via the web service 21 of the management application. The synchronization can be done manually by the user 30 via the mobile application 31. The synchronization is such that the local database 33 contains only data relating to the gatherings and participants of said gatherings for which the user has registered.

The mobile application 31 includes a tracking module, said module is able to identify connected participants at a meeting, using a combination of unique information associated with each connected object. Indeed, each tag emits a unique identity composed of three parts: - an identifier called UUID, generally the UUID is unique for all the tags associated with a given application, - a major number (0 -65535) and - a number minor (0-65535). The major and the minor are integers.

Said mobile application 31 further comprises a geolocation module, said module can locate on the meeting place, participating users over an adjustable distance. Said distance is calculated by recovering the power of the signal measured between the smartphone and the connected object. The unit of measurement of the signal that is recovered is in decibel (dBm). An algorithm then makes it possible to convert this signal into "meter". The geolocation module also makes it possible to retrieve all the information of identified participating users and can make a dynamic visual display of the identified participants. The display is sorted in ascending order of distance. In other words, the geolocation module of the mobile application is able to calculate a distance between an activated beacon 2 and the mobile phone 32 and of search and retrieve the identifier associated with the user and their photos in the local database 33. In addition the mobile application 31 includes a parameterization module of the detection distance of connected users. This distance is adjustable via the hotspots, said hotspots are configured on different distance interval, so that when you click on an area the mobile application 31 proceeds Γ display a matrix of photos of participants , connected and corresponding to the criteria that are in said distance interval, each photo of this matrix is clickable to display the details of the corresponding participant user.

The mobile application further comprises a search and criteria module. Said module gives the user the possibility to access the current meeting and to enter search criteria via the keyboard of his smartphone and thus to select the other connected users. The mobile application also gives the user the opportunity to display all of his personal information. The user can also modify and update his personal information.

The mobile application further comprises other features and modules for the user to display all the past, current and future gatherings to which he has or will participate and thus to display the detailed record of said gatherings , said detailed sheet allowing the user to modify the answers to the questions asked by an organizer in order to confirm or cancel his participation in said meeting. The application allows a user to display and search all the users of his network, previously put in his favorites, and to display the detailed records of each of said users. In addition, the application includes a discussion management module for displaying the user's chat history and refining the search by user or particular meeting. The mobile application 31 further includes a chat module allowing a user to interact directly with another user such as an instant messenger.

The mobile application further comprises a module capable of automatically selecting a user profile participating in a gathering using information contained in the local database. The system according to the invention is such that the management application 1 1 is accessible to an organizer 20. The organizer can connect to the management application1 1 via a web service 21 with the help of an internet browser 22. The connection is secure and requires authentication. The management application 1 1 allows the authorized organizer 20 to create, modify or delete a meeting and manage the list of participating users of said meeting, said module also allows during a gathering, to point, to update and to assign participants 30 and portable accessories 3.

[0034] FIG. 2 represents interactions between a user participating in a rally, the mobile application 31, the tags 2 and the central database O. As shown in the figure, during a rally, the user participant 30 retrieves the portable accessory 3 provided with a tag 2 with an associated identifier. Participating user 30 connects 209 to the mobile application 31 previously downloaded 207 and installed 208 on his smartphone or tablet 32. Via the mobile application 31, the user 30 detects 210 all the active tag signals 2 and thus retrieves 214 the combination of the unique identifier associated with each tag 2 detected. Using the different modules of the mobile application 31, the user 30 can search 215 in the central database 10 the participant corresponding to each tag 2 and thus retrieves 216 information, profiles and the photo of said corresponding participating users. The mobile application embedded in each smartphone 32 is capable of calculating 21 1 the distance between the detected beacon 2 and said smartphone 32. Thus the user participating 30 using the geolocation module can locate the other participants and sort them 217 by increasing order of distance and display 213 a matrix of photos of said participants. The display of the photo matrix is dynamic, said matrix may be smaller or much larger depending on the distance between the smartphone and the detected tags. Once the photo matrix is displayed on the screen of the smartphone 32, the user can select a photo 218 and the application allows him to display the identity of the selected person. The mobile application 31 also allows the participant user to put the people found in his favorites in order to facilitate linking and saving his favorites in the database. central data 10. The most important in the diagram of Figure 2 is the fact that from beacon signals 2, the mobile application 31 will then proceed to the geolocation of a person and retrieves all the information of the latter whose photo to allow a user to interact with a participant and facilitate the connection between them. All participants are displayed in a matrix sorted by increasing distance with display of photos of each participant. In addition, the mobile application 31 includes a module that is able to select a particular participating user profile by using user information contained in the local database 33.

FIG. 3 represents the information flow of the data between the central and local databases 33 with the highlighting of the synchronization points 4, 5 and 6. The first synchronization 4 of the data between the local databases and central is performed when the user 30 connects to the mobile application 31. The synchronization 4 is performed automatically by the management application 1 1. A possibility of user manual synchronization is also present at the mobile application menu 31 during the dynamic display of the photo matrix. In other words, another synchronization point 6 is set up during access to the participants' photo matrix and during the use of the matrix according to a parameterizable delay by the management application 1 1.

FIG. 4 represents a detailed diagram of all the interactions and illustrates the principle of the operating method of the system according to the invention. This diagram represents the interactions between the actors (organizer and participant), the tags 2, the mobile application 31, the local database 33 (of the mobile application), the web service 21 of the management application, the management application 1 1 and the central database 10. As shown in this diagram the organizer connects 201 to the management application 1 1 via the web service 21 using an internet browser 22 and prepares the gathering 202 and records information about the collection in the central database 10. The organizer 20, registers the participant user 30 and records 203 information associated with said participant user 30 in the central database. 10. The application of management 1 1 sends 205 a confirmation email to the user 30 with a link to download the mobile application 31. The organizer assigns 206 an accessory 3 equipped with a tag 2 to each participating user 30 and saves 203 said accessory 3 and detailed information of the associated user in the central database 10. Participating user downloads 207 the mobile application 31 and installs 208 in his smartphone 32. Then on the day of the gathering, the participant user 30 connects 209 to the mobile application 31 with secure authentication, the mobile application 31 includes a module to call the web service 223 21 of the management application to verify the authentication of the user 30 in the central database 10. After the return 224 of the authentication data, the participant user 30 activates the tag 2. It should be noted that a synchronization of the central database 10 and the local database 33 will be set up after the connection of the user to the mobile application 31 so that the local database 33 contains information and photos belonging only to the participants of said gathering. Synchronization of the local and central databases 33 can be done manually via the mobile application 31 by the user. Mobile application 31 detects 210 the activated tags 2, the activated tag 2 sends the signal 214 to the mobile application 31, the mobile application 31 calculates 21 1 the distance between the smartphone 32 and the activated tag 2 and searches for the user 212 associated with the identifier of the tag 2 in the local database 33. In this way the mobile application retrieves 225 the detailed information of the associated person and his photo. Then using a geolocation module in the mobile application 31, the participant user 30 locates people through the signals of their tags 2. The mobile application 31 displays 213 a matrix of photos of people found. It should be noted that at this moment there may be another synchronization point of the local base 33 with the data of the central base 10. The organizer can obtain a real-time gathering statistic via the application of management.

Figures 5A, 5B and 5C represent matrices of photos, participants connected and present at the meeting. These photos are displayed on the smartphone of a participating user when they click on the detection areas to view photos of other connected participants. Figure 5A corresponds to a detection zone close to the participating user, thus Figures 5B and 5C correspond to the detection zones further away from the user. Figure 5D shows photo matrices sorted in descending order of distance.

The invention further relates to the method of operation of the system according to the present invention. The steps of the operating method are detailed in the diagram of FIG. 4.

The main advantage of the present invention is to increase the chances of interactions and networking during a gathering of people, and thus an easy relationship between people wishing to meet with the use of a connected portable accessory and a mobile application. Said secure system allows a participant in a gathering to locate other participants and display their photos on the screen of his smartphone.

Moreover, the advantage of using a dedicated Bluetooth hardware module for communication between the connected accessory 3 and the mobile application 31, according to the present invention, is in the hardware management of the detection with Possibilities of proprietary protocols and protection system. In addition, the use of this communication module allows an unloading of search and calculation for the smartphone, which saves significantly the battery. Indeed, it is no longer the smartphone that scan all the tags, those are the tags that scan each other. The smartphone then reads only the memory of the nearest beacon and thus displays an instantaneous view of the near environment with the faces and profiles of the participants sorted by distance from the smartphone.

The use of this dedicated bluetooth hardware module allows to have uniform results, whatever the user's equipment (smartphone and sensitivity). Moreover with this means of communication, there will be a permanent detection and filtering of the environment with an almost instantaneous visualization on the smartphone.

Claims

System for locating and geolocating people having at least one interest in meeting during a gathering of persons, comprising a central secure database server (10), a management application (1 1) accessible from a web service ( 21), a connected object (3) and a mobile application (31) communicating with said connected object, the system is characterized in that said connected object is carried by a participant (30) present at said gathering, said connected object being provided with a personalized tag (2) via an identifier associated with said participant (30) and interacting with a smartphone (32) via said mobile application (31), said mobile application (31) comprises a tracking module, able to identify the participants connected during said gathering, via a combination of unique information associated with each connected object (3), and a geolocation module, able to locate on the location of said meeting. the participants identified, over an adjustable distance, calculated from signal power of the beacons (2), to retrieve all the information of said identified participants, and to perform a dynamic visual display of the identified participants sorted in ascending order of distance .

Tracking and geolocation system according to claim 1 wherein the communication of the connected object (3) with the mobile application (31) is performed via Bluetooth, BLE, or WIFI or other wireless communication standards.

Tracking and geolocation system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the communication of the connected object (3) with the mobile application 31 is performed via a dedicated hardware module Bluetooth.

A tracking and geolocation system according to claim 1 wherein an encrypted local database (33) is embedded in each mobile application (31), said local encrypted database (33) is accessible via said mobile application (31) and contains information from the central database (10).

A tracking and geolocation system according to claims 1 or 4 wherein the encrypted local database (33) is automatically synchronized with the central database (10) via the web service (21) of the management application. (1 1) or manually by the participating user via the mobile application (31) such that the local database (33) only contains data relating to the gatherings and participants for which the user has registered .

6. Tracking and geolocation system according to claim 1 wherein the connected object (3) can be in the form of a portable accessory (3) incorporating a beacon (2), said beacon (2) being detachable and can s integrating into shape accessories conducive to portability.

7. Tracking and geolocation system according to claim 1 wherein the connected object (3) may be the smartphone of the participant integrating the tag (2).

8. Tracking and geolocation system according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the mobile application (31) detects the accessory (3) activated by the participants in the meeting and includes a module for calculating a distance between said accessory (3) activated and the smartphone (32), to search, in the local database (33), the identifier associated with said accessory (3) and the associated participant user and to retrieve said associated identifier, the user (30) and a picture of said user.

9. Tracking and geolocation system according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the mobile application (31) comprises a parameterization module of the detection distance of the connected participating users, said distance being adjustable via the clickable zones, configured so that by clicking on said zones the mobile application (31) displays a matrix of photos of all the participants, connected and corresponding to the criteria which are in said detection distance, said photo being clickable to display the details of the corresponding user.

10. tracking and geolocation system according to one of the preceding claims wherein the mobile application (31) further comprises a module capable of selecting a participating user profile using user information contained in the local database (33).

1 1. Tracking and geolocation system according to claim 1 wherein the management application (1 1) is accessible to the organizer (20) via the web service (21) of said management application using a browser internet (22) and includes a tracking module, able to follow real-time interconnections made during said gathering.

12. Tracking and geolocation system according to the preceding claim wherein the management application (1 1) comprises a module allowing the organizer (20) to create, modify or delete a meeting and manage the list of participants ( 30) said gathering, said module allowing, during a gathering of people, to point, update and assign the participating users (30) and the portable accessories (3) connected.

13. A method of operating the system for locating and geolocating persons having at least one interest in meeting during a gathering of persons according to claims 1 to 12 comprising the following steps:

- preparing a DMZ secure area (1) for integrating a central database server (10) including information about gatherings and users participating in said gatherings;

- development of a management application for meeting and user management;

- authorization of an organizer (20) to said management application

(1 1);

preparing (202) a collection and registration (204) of a user participating (30) in said gathering by said organizer (20) via said management application (1 1) to which he accesses by means of a web service ( 21) secure and record (203) information associated with said audit gathering and auditing user participating in the secure central database (10);

assigning (206) for each participating user a portable accessory (3) provided with a tag (2), to which a unique identifier is associated, and recording (203) of said portable accessory (3) and detailed information of the associated user in the central database (10) by the organizer (20) via the management application (1 1);

downloading (207) and installing (208) a mobile application (31) into a smartphone (32) of each user participating (30) in said gathering;

connection (209) to the mobile application (31) by the user, at the gathering place, with secure authentication;

activation of the tag (2) by the user (30);

synchronizing (210) an encrypted local database (33) on the user's smartphone (32) (30) with the gathering information and the users participating in said gathering;

detection (210) by the mobile application (31) tags (2) enabled, calculation (21 1) of the distance between said tags (2) and the smartphone (32) of the user, search (212) identifiers and associated users audited tags (2) enabled in the local database (33);

exposure (213) of a matrix of photos of the participants, sorted in ascending order of distance and consultation of the detailed record of a participant;

obtaining (214) a collection statistic by the organizer 20 via the management application 1 1.