Abstract:
A system and method is discussed for targeting a message to an intended listener over a public announcement system by selecting a single broadcast location, such as a speaker, from a plurality of broadcast locations. A typical method for locating a listener uses a method of triangulation of a wireless device located on the listener. A broadcast location is selected from distance calculations that determine which broadcast location is closest to the listener. Each broadcast location has an associated Internet Protocol (IP) address. The message is delivered to the IP address of the closest broadcast location. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology can be used to selectively deliver the message.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention provides a method and apparatus for targeting messages provided over public announcement systems. More particularly, the present invention provides a system for tracking an intended listener broadcasting a message from a broadcast location in a public announcement system selected for its proximity to the intended listener.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Announcements made over public announcement (PA) systems are generally intended for an entire listening audience. Some announcements, however, are intended for a subset of the listening audience or even for an individual person. Currently, public announcement (PA) systems broadcast messages through connected speakers to a general audience regardless of the size or location of the intended audience. This can be especially annoying in instances where large groups of people are disrupted from their current activities to hear an announcement intended for only one person.  
         [0005]     Recent advances in communications technologies have given rise to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in which a spoken message is transmitted from one telephonic device to another using technologies and methodologies developed for the Internet. In VoIP, an Internet Protocol (IP) address is assigned to a receiver so as to enable messages to get to an intended location. The possibility of extending VoIP technology to PA systems provides an opportunity to provide PA systems with extended capabilities.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention is a system and method for selecting a single broadcast location from a plurality of broadcast locations. An example of a broadcast location could be the location of a speaker electrically wired to a public announcement system. The location of a listener can be determined in relation to the plurality of broadcast locations using a suitable method of triangulation. In one embodiment, triangulation occurs using radio waves to determine a location of a wireless device located on the listener. A broadcast location is then selected based on the proximity of the broadcast location to the listener location. Each broadcast location has an associated coverage area over which a message broadcast from the broadcast location can be heard by a listener. The coverage area can be defined by a boundary zone, which is a contour of the coverage area. A boundary zone can be determined, for example, by having a technician test for acceptable listening distances from a broadcast location and recording representative locations along the boundary zone. The coordinates of these boundary zone locations can then be stored in a software database. Calculations can be made using the recorded coordinates to further define a software representation of the coverage area. When a listener location is found to be within the boundary zone, the corresponding broadcast location is selected. The broadcast signal is delivered to the selected broadcast location rather than to all broadcast locations. In an exemplary embodiment, each broadcast location has an associated Internet Protocol (IP) address. A broadcast signal is delivered to the appropriate IP address of the selected broadcast location by using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, for example.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     For a detailed understanding of the present invention, references should be made to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements have been given like numerals.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary short-range wireless network suitable for determining a listener location;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts a set of broadcast locations that provide audio coverage over portions of a coverage area;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary short-range wireless network for determining location;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary method for providing a boundary zone;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary system for determining a listener location;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary policy server;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates an implementation of the present invention in which broadcast locations are connected to a central hub; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  depicts a flowchart illustrating a process of delivering a message to an intended listener in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     In view of the above, the present invention through one or more of its various aspects and/or embodiments is presented to provide one or more advantages, such as those noted below.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary short-range wireless network suitable for determining a listener location. The exemplary short-range wireless network  100  includes a set of broadcast locations  102  that provides portions  104  of a coverage area. Typically, the coverage area portions  104  may extend beyond traditional physical boundaries or desired access areas. In this exemplary embodiment, the coverage area portions  104  extend beyond a physical boundary  106 , such as a building, a room, an office space, a residence, or a shop location. In other examples, the boundaries or desired access areas  106  may include conceptual regions such as patios, balconies, reception areas, gardens, and parks.  
         [0018]     The nature of the short-range wireless network is such that individuals having wireless enabled devices located within the portions  104  of the short-range wireless network coverage area may receive signals from one or more of the broadcast locations  102 . An individual within a preferred access area, such as a listener  108 , may receive data emitted by the broadcast locations  102 . In addition, a user located outside the preferred access area, such as user  110 , may also receive data transmitted from the broadcast locations  102 .  
         [0019]     Broadcast locations typically utilize a set of wireless transmitters having an effective range suitable to transmit a signal to a wireless receiver located near the plurality of broadcast locations. In exemplary embodiments, the broadcast locations  102  may provide a short-range wireless network using standards and protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11x, IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.16, and Bluetooth. A short-range wireless network may, for example, have an effective coverage area portion provided by an broadcast location, wherein the effective coverage area does not exceed 1000 feet in radius, such as not greater than 200 feet, or not greater than about 50 feet in radius. The short-range wireless network may, for example, provide wireless data network access in proximity to the broadcast locations, such as in and around a building, room, residence, office space, shop, or preferred access area. Wireless devices accessing the short-range wireless network may include wireless enabled computational devices, such as portable commuters, printers, handheld computational devices, portable digital assistants (PDAs), wireless data network enabled cellular telephones, and other networkable devices. In general, a short-range wireless network is not a cellular or pager based network and is an internet protocol (IP) based wireless data network. Alternately, long-range wireless networks can be used. Long-range wireless networks generally provide wireless networks having a radius greater than about 1000 feet. For example, long-range wireless networks include pager networks and cellular telephone networks, such as time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), and global system for mobile communication (GSM) networks.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary short-range wireless network  200  that includes a set of broadcast locations  202  that each provide portions  204  of a wireless network coverage area. Listeners having wireless enabled devices such as listeners  208  and  210  may be located within the coverage area portions  204  and, as such, may receive network transmissions transmitted from broadcast locations  202 . For example, a server or other network equipment may include boundary data that defines the boundary zone  214  and the boundaries  212 . In this exemplary embodiment the boundary zone  214  corresponds closely with a preferred access area such as a room or building  206 .  
         [0021]     The location of a wireless enabled device and the listener carrying it may be determined using data from the broadcast locations. In one exemplary embodiment, a triangulation method uses at least three broadcast locations. For example, location may be determined by evaluating timing data associated with a signal reaching several broadcast locations. Network equipment such as a server or router device may include instructions for determining location based on timing data provided by the broadcast locations. In another exemplary embodiment, the triangulation method may use relative power levels of wireless communications received either at the wireless device or at the broadcast locations. The network equipment may determine the location relative to the broadcast locations based on these power measurements. In alternative embodiments, methods may be employed such as power measurement methods to determine location using one or two broadcast locations. A set of triangulated boundary points may be compared to locations of devices in the coverage area to determine whether the devices are located within a boundary zone.  
         [0022]     The network equipment may use data from the broadcast locations  202  to determine whether wireless devices, such as those co-located with listeners  208  and  210  are located within the boundary zone  214 . In one exemplary embodiment, the network equipment utilizes triangulation methods based on at least three broadcast locations  202  to determine the location of a listener and whether the listener is located within the boundary  212  or the boundary zone  214 . Using this determination, the network equipment can select a broadcast location suitable for delivery of a message to the intended listener.  
         [0023]     In one exemplary embodiment, the location of the intended listener with respect to the boundary zone can determine whether a message is delivered.  FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary short-range wireless network  300  that determines location. The short-range wireless network  300  may include wireless broadcast locations  302  that each cover a portion  304  of a coverage area. Within the coverage area, a boundary  312  may define a boundary zone  314  that represents an access area. In this exemplary embodiment, the access area and boundary zone  314  are located within a physical structure  306 . For example, an access region may be located within a building, a room, a residence, an office space, a shop or a patio region. In this exemplary embodiment, wireless enabled devices located within the boundary zone  314 , such as devices co-located with user  308  may indicate the accessibility of an intended listener. For example, the set of boundary locations  302  may provide data to network equipment, such as a server or router that determines the location of the listener will be able to hear a message and determines whether the user is within the boundary zone  314 . Network packets provided to and received from the wireless device associated with the user  308  may be transmitted across the wireless network and may be given access to external wired networks. In contrast, wireless enabled devices located outside of the boundary zone  314 , such as devices co-located with user  310 , may indicate a listener is outside of a region for which a message can be delivered. For example, network equipment may determine the location of the user  310  based on data from a set of broadcast locations  302 . Using this location determination, a message for the listener  310  may be dropped, discarded, or sent to a holding place or trash  318 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary method for providing a boundary zone. As shown at step  402 , a set of boundary locations is established. For example, a wireless calibration device may communicate with network equipment to establish a set of locations along a boundary. The first step to “triangulation” on a target user is to establish a set of boundary location around the broadcast locations. The boundary can be established, for example, by taking discrete triangulation measurements while walking the contour of the area where a zone is to be established. To simplify the operation of establishing a zone, a Wi-Fi handheld device can be setup as the distant end unit to measure location in relation to the broadcast locations. For the purposes of triangulation while walking the boundary zone of the broadcast location, multiple (at least three) broadcast locations and a Boundary Zone Application enable building a software representation of the boundary zone. The Boundary Zone Application is a simple program that records measurements between broadcast location and Wi-Fi device to provide a location of the Wi-Fi device. This set of locations may be converted to boundary data that defines a boundary zone. In this manner, the boundary zone is determined, as shown at step  404 . By placing enough points together, a curve can be established that effectively defines the boundary zone. Once this boundary zone has been established and set by the Boundary Zone Application, all future listener locations can be defined as being either inside or outside a boundary zone.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary system  500  for determining a listener location. A listener-carried device  504 , such as a wireless hand-held electronic device, a wireless enabled laptop or a short-range wireless enabled cell phone, may interact with broadcast locations  504  when located within the coverage area of the short-range wireless network. Each broadcast location comprises a radio transmitter and receiver working typically within the 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum. When a Wi-Fi device first enters a Wi-Fi network it responds to a beacon request for response. The Wi-Fi device responds to all available broadcast locations within the wireless network. The difference in arrival times between the Wi-Fi device and at least three broadcast locations provides enough information to triangulate the location of the user. The wave propagation characteristics of radio waves from the radio transmitter travel at the speed of light. The speed of light is a calculation based upon distance and time and is a known value. An acceptable value for the speed of light in air is 299,702,547 meters per second. The time value is determined between multiple broadcast locations and the Wi-Fi device. The time value is calculated by differences in times between each broadcast location and the Wi-Fi device. The distances can thus be calculated from known value of the speed of light and time differences measured at the broadcast locations. The broadcast locations  504  collect data associated with the location of the wireless device  502  and transfer that data via a router or other network equipment  506  to a policy server  508 . For example, the broadcast locations  504  may record a time that a signal was received. This signal arrival time may be transferred to the policy server  508  and the policy server  508  may determine the location of the wireless device within a coverage area based on the reported signal arrival times from each broadcast location  504 . The policy server  508  compares the location with boundary zone data to determine whether the wireless device  502  is located within a boundary zone.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary policy server  600 . The policy server  600  may be a separate computational system or may be implemented within other data network equipment. The policy server includes processors  602 , network and device interfaces  604 , and storage  606 , such as memory. The storage or memory  606  includes boundary data  608  and programs and instructions  612 , and may include policy data and/or algorithms  610 .  
         [0027]     The network and device interfaces  604  interact with the broadcast locations and with network equipment. For example, the network and device interfaces  604  include interfaces to broadcast locations that implement a wireless short-range wireless network and a PA speaker. Through this interaction with the broadcast locations, data associated with the location of a wireless device are transferred to the policy server  600 .  
         [0028]     Programs and instructions  612  are operable by the processors  602  to determine the location of the wireless device within the short-range wireless network coverage area based on the data received from the broadcast locations. For example, the programs and instructions  612  may include logic for determining location. In addition, the program and instructions  612  may also include software instructions for comparing the location of the wireless device to boundary data  608 . From this comparison, the system determines whether particular wireless devices are located within or outside of a boundary zone.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary implementation  700  of the present invention in which broadcast locations  710 ,  712 , and  714  are connected in a star configuration (e.g., parallel connection) to a central hub  730 , such as an Ethernet switch. Other configurations for connecting broadcast locations are also possible for implementing the present invention. Broadcast locations  710 ,  712 , and  714  cover corresponding boundary zones  720 ,  722 , and  724 , respectively.  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  illustrates a flowchart  800  for implementing the present invention and delivering a message to an intended listener. The present invention leverages the characteristics of an Ethernet Packet network. Each broadcast location is assigned a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address. The listener is located (Box  802 ) by triangulation methods for locating a wireless device carried by the listener. Upon determination of the listener location, the policy server determines the broadcast location most suitable for broadcasting a message to the listener by determining in which boundary zone the listener resides at the point of broadcast. The policy server then identifies the IP address of the closest broadcast location (Box  804 ). In accordance with the policy server, the Ethernet switch  730  then transfers the message to the appropriate broadcast location (Box  806 ). In an exemplary method message transfer, VoIP is used to deliver the message to the broadcast location. In the illustration of  FIG. 7 , the listener  740  is located within boundary zone  720 , so the message would be delivered to broadcast location  710 . An advantage of the present invention is that it provides “zoning” without re-engineering the speaker (PA system) cabling.  
         [0031]     While the examples depict utilize a boundary that is determined based on data associated with a short-range network, a boundary zone may be determined using long-range networks and policies and features applied based on location within the long-range network. For example, location may be determined by GPS or cellular triangulation and policies applied to devices based on a policy mapping within the cellular network. Policies, such as the feature policy or network policy, may be implemented on a long-range network. In addition, IP-based communications protocols may be implemented that extend beyond the typical range of short-range wireless networks. In one exemplary embodiment, a Wi-Max or IEEE 802.16 network that has a long-range coverage area may be used to implement boundary zones.  
         [0032]     Although the invention has been described with reference to several exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words that have been used are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in its aspects. Although the invention has been described with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed; rather, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses such as are within the scope of the appended claims.  
         [0033]     In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Furthermore, alternative software implementations including, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein.  
         [0034]     It should also be noted that the software implementations of the present invention as described herein are optionally stored on a tangible storage medium, such as: a magnetic medium such as a disk or tape; a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk; or a solid state medium such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories. A digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the invention is considered to include a tangible storage medium or distribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored.  
         [0035]     Further, the system of the present invention provides a substantially online, real time system for managing attendance throughout an organization, wherein attendance-related data may be entered at various locations and through various input devices, some of which may be entered in real time and may include exception time reporting. The system further provides selected attendance reports to employees, supervisors and management personal in real time through an intracompany server and/or via the Internet.  
         [0036]     Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the invention is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents.