Patent ID: 8346472
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
1. A method of determining and updating a traffic history of tracked resources moving over time among various spaces in a facility including a plurality of identifiable spaces each associated with one of a plurality of identifiable exits, the spaces and exits being linked by a network of pathways, the facility further including a database identifying within the facility each said identifiable space and spatial co-ordinates of at least one exit associated with each said space and calculated shortest paths between all pairs of exits associated with the facility, the method comprising: identifying a particular type of tracked resource by receiving a specification of a pre-defined attribute thereof; determining spaces within said facility occupied by each said particular type of resource at successive points in time; archiving the spatial co-ordinates of an exit associated with each said space occupied by one of said resources at each said point in time; using the archived spatial co-ordinates of said exits to determine a potential path followed by each said resource; determining pairs of adjacent exits associated with each said potential path by correlating the potential paths followed by each said resource with predetermined co-ordinates of adjacent exits within said facility; calculating, using a processor, a parameter for each pair of adjacent exits through which at least one of said potential paths passes; and calculating, using the processor, the shortest paths between at least some pairs of exits associated with the facility using a shortest path algorithm based on the calculated parameter.