Patent Publication Number: US-9906918-B2

Title: Determining indoor location of devices using reference points and sensors

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/246,355, filed Apr. 7, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,456,311, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Mobile computing devices such as smartphones and tablet computers have become an integral part of many people&#39;s lives. Many people use these devices as an aid for researching, comparing and purchasing products online as well as in physical stores. In fact, some reports indicate that up to 84% of smartphone shoppers utilize their smartphones while in a physical store to, among other things, research product specifications, compare prices and read reviews. More specifically, smartphone internet usage in June 2013 totaled 44% of retail internet minutes, up from 17% in 2010; and tablet internet usage accounted for 11% of total internet minutes in retail sites over the same time period. 
     During the second quarter in 2013, mobile commerce dollars totaled $4.7 billion or 8.6% of total United States electronic commerce dollars that quarter. Additionally, between the second quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2013, mobile commerce grew 24%, compared to 16% percent growth in electronic commerce as a whole. This growth trend is likely to continue as more people adopt smartphones and tablet computers. 
     Companies have noticed the growth trend of mobile commerce and, in response, have invested in smartphone and tablet computer application development to create user experiences for shoppers both in-store and away from store. In the second quarter of 2013, an estimated 57% of smartphone users visited the same company&#39;s website or application while in the store, compared to 43% who consulted another company&#39;s website or application. The top reason shoppers consulted these websites and applications was to compare prices. Moreover, among the smartphone users who visited the same company&#39;s website or application, an estimated 59% wanted to see if there was an online discount available. Similarly, among those who checked a different company&#39;s website or application, an estimated 92% did so to see whether they could get a better price. In addition to price comparisons, many smartphone users use their devices while in the store to take a picture of a product, share the picture via multimedia messaging, email and/or social networks, and/or to text or call family or friends to discuss the product. 
     A typical big box store may contain tens of thousands of products. In order to locate an item, a retail customer needs to browse several aisles of a store, which may be the size of a few football fields. Even in a neighborhood store where the shoppers are likely familiar with the layout, locating a specific product can be a challenging task. The size of the stores also brings challenges for companies. For example, promotional items often go unnoticed by shoppers unless the promotional items are located in a special display, end cap or other prime location of which there is limited availability. 
     SUMMARY 
     Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for determining, recording and analyzing the indoor location of devices such as smartphones and tablet computers using reference points and sensors, such as beacons. According to one aspect disclosed herein, an environment analytics system can include a processor and a memory. The memory can store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The environment analytics system can retrieve a layout of an environment and determine an absolute reference point for the layout. The environment analytics system also can determine a coordinate pair for a point associated with an area of the layout. The coordinate pair can be determined relative to the absolute reference point. 
     In some embodiments, the environment analytics system also can determine a coordinate pair for a beacon deployed within the area. The coordinate pair can be associated with a unique address of the beacon, such as, for example, a serial number or a media access control (“MAC”) address of the beacon. The environment analytics system can update beacon data in an environment database to include the coordinate pair for the beacon and the unique address of the beacon. 
     In some embodiments, the environment analytics system also can receive calibration data associated with a user device. The calibration data can include a distance value, a signal strength value, and a unique address of a beacon. The distance value can be calculated by the user device from the signal strength value of a signal sent by the beacon and received by the user device. The distance value can indicate a distance of the user device from the beacon. The environment analytics system also can update the beacon data stored in the environment database to include the calibration data in association with the beacon and a specification of the user device. The beacon data can be useable by a further user device that also has the specification to calculate a location of the further device within the environment. 
     In some embodiments, the environment analytics system also can apply a coordinate system to the layout of the environment. The coordinate system can include the absolute reference point. The environment analytics system also can determine a minimum coordinate pair, a maximum coordinate pair, a granularity, and a time interval. The environment analytics system also can set a first coordinate equal to a first minimum coordinate of the minimum coordinate pair. The environment analytics system also can set a second coordinate equal to a second minimum coordinate of the minimum coordinate pair. The environment analytics system also can set a third coordinate equal to a sum of the first minimum coordinate and the granularity, and can set a fourth coordinate equal to a sum of the second minimum coordinate and the granularity. The environment analytics system also can query the environment database for a number of unique user location records with a first location coordinate between the first coordinate and the third coordinate, a second location coordinate between the second coordinate and the fourth coordinate, and a timestamp within the time interval. The environment analytics system also can determine heat map color codes for a plurality of different numbers of unique user location records. The environment analytics system also can generate a heat map that includes a plurality of areas representing at least a portion of the heat map color codes. 
     In some embodiments, the environment analytics system also can query a user coordinates table stored in the environment database for user coordinates associated with users located within the environment during a given time interval. The environment analytics system also can define a section of the layout of the environment to be analyzed. The environment analytics system also can determine user location updates that occur within the section, a time of entry into the section for each user associated with at least one of the user location updates, and a time of exit from the section for each user associated with at least one of the user location updates. The environment analytics system also can determine, based upon the time of entry and the time of exit for each user associated with at least one of the user location updates, a time spent in the section for each user associated with at least one of the user location updates, a time spent in the section for each user. The environment analytics system also can calculate an average time spent by averaging the time spent in the section for each user during the given time interval. 
     In some embodiments, the environment analytics system also can determine a time interval and borders of a promotional area within the layout. The promotional area can be associated with a plurality of beacons that define the borders the promotional area. The environment analytics system also can query the environment database for a number of unique user location records within the borders of the promotional area and for a number of sales of an item located within the promotional area. The environment analytics system also can calculate a ratio of sales to the number of unique user location records. The environment analytics system can determine, based upon the ratio, a success rate of a promotion associated with the item. 
     It should be appreciated that the above-described subject matter may be implemented as a computer-controlled apparatus, a computer process, a computing system, or as an article of manufacture such as a computer-readable storage medium. These and various other features will be apparent from a reading of the following Detailed Description and a review of the associated drawings. 
     Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a system diagram illustrating an illustrative operating environment for the various embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a beacon and components thereof, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  are block diagrams illustrating aspects of beacon advertisement, beacon discovery and beacon connection, according to illustrative embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of methods for beacon advertisement, beacon discovery and beacon connection, according to illustrative embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating aspects of a signal strength measurement and distance calibration within the indoor environment, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of a method for determining calibration data for a beacon and user device pair, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIGS. 7A-7B  are example store layouts on a two-dimensional coordinate system, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of a method for determining reference points for an indoor environment, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a table illustrating coordinate assignments for areas within an indoor environment, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIGS. 10A-10B  are example beacon layouts illustrating beacon placements on a two-dimensional coordinate system, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a table illustrating example beacon data, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a user interface diagram illustrating a user device location within a store layout and available options for user interaction, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of a method for obtaining indoor environment data for presentation on a display of a user device, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of a method for determining a location of a user device within an indoor environment, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a block diagram illustrating a user device receiving signals from a plurality of beacons within an indoor environment, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a graph illustrating a user device receiving signals from a plurality of beacons within an indoor environment for use in calculating coordinates of the user device, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is another graph illustrating a user device receiving signals from a plurality of beacons within an indoor environment for use in calculating coordinates of the user device, according to another illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is yet another graph illustrating a user device receiving signals from a plurality of beacons within an indoor environment for use in calculating coordinates of the user device, according to yet another illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of a method for calculating and displaying heat maps on a store layout, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a graph illustrating a store layout on a two-dimensional coordinate system and a granularity (“G”) used to calculate a heat map for a store layout, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is a user interface diagram illustrating an example heat map on an example store layout, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for determining location updates for a plurality of users and presenting the location updates on a store layout as a heat map, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 23  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for determining a path navigated by a user within an indoor environment, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 24  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for determining an average time spent in a section of an indoor environment, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 25  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for determining a success rate of a promotional item within a store, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 26  schematically illustrates a network, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 27  is a block diagram illustrating an example computer system, according to some illustrative embodiments. 
         FIG. 28  is a block diagram illustrating an example mobile device, according to some illustrative embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is directed to determining the indoor location of devices such as smartphones and tablet computers using reference points and sensors, such as beacons. While the subject matter described herein is presented in the general context of program modules that execute in conjunction with the execution of an operating system and application programs on a computer system, those skilled in the art will recognize that other implementations may be performed in combination with other types of program modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the subject matter described herein may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , aspects of an operating environment  100  for various embodiments of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein for determining the indoor location of devices such as smartphones and tablet computers using reference points and sensors, such as beacons, will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The operating environment  100  shown in  FIG. 1  includes an indoor environment  102  in which a plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H are deployed to provide a plurality of reference points  106 A- 106 H that can be utilized by an application  128  executed by a user device  110  associated with a user  112  to determine a location of the user device  110  within the indoor environment  102  with respect to an absolute reference point  114 . The user device  110 , in the illustrated example, is operating in communication with and/or as part of a communications network (“network”)  116  that provides the user device  110  access to an environment analytics system  118 , an environment database  120  and one or more other systems  122  so that the user device  110  can obtain data associated with the indoor environment  102  to aid the user  112  in finding products, viewing promotions, navigating the indoor environment  102 , and other tasks described herein. In addition the network  116  provides communication between the environment analytics system  118  and the other systems  122  as will be described in detail below. 
     The indoor environment  102  is described by way of example herein as a store such as a home improvement store or a grocery store. These examples are provided merely to aid in describing the concepts and technologies disclosed herein. It should be understood that the indoor environment  102  may include any environment in which the location determining techniques described herein are utilized, including, but not limited to, general purpose buildings, schools, offices, conference centers, hotels, outdoor environments, stadiums, tents and other temporary structures, houses and other residential environments, parking garages, commercial buildings, and the like. 
     The plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H can operate in accordance with any wireless protocol. The user device  110  can receive signals wirelessly from the plurality of beacons  104 - 104 H, can calculate the signal strength of the signals, and can utilize the received signal strength of the signals to calculate the distance of the user device  110  from one or more of the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H for use in determining a location of the user device  110  within the indoor environment  102 . 
     In some embodiments, the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H utilize BLUETOOTH low energy (“BLE”), also known as BLUETOOTH SMART, which is part of the BLUETOOTH Core Specification Version 4.0 and later, to communicate with the user device  110 . The plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H may be off-the-shelf proximity beacons or implementation-specific beacons developed for use in accordance with the concepts and technologies disclosed herein. The plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H are representative of the plurality of reference points  106 A- 106 H, respectively, within a coordinate system created by the environment analytics system  118  for the layout of the indoor environment  102 . In the illustrated example, the coordinate system created by the environment analytics system  118  includes an X-axis  124  and a Y-axis  126  that each extends from the absolute reference point  114 . Each of the plurality of reference points  106 A- 106 H is associated with an ordered pair that includes a value along the X-axis  124  and a value along the Y-axis  126  to provide a location of one of the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H within the indoor environment  102 . 
     The user device  110  can be a smartphone, a tablet computer, a wearable device such as a watch or fitness device, or any other device capable of communicating with the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H and the network  116 . The illustrated user device  110  includes an application  128 . The application  128  can be stored in a memory or other storage component (best shown in  FIG. 26 ) of the user device  110  and can be executed by one or more processors (also best shown in  FIG. 26 ) of the user device  110  to perform various operations described herein. 
     The network  116  can include one or more wireless local area networks (“WLANs”), one or more wireless wide area networks (“WWANS”), one or more wireless metropolitan area networks (“WMANs”), one or more campus area networks (“CANs”), and/or one or more packet data networks (e.g., the Internet). The user device  110  can communicate with the network  116  using any wireless communications technology or combination of wireless communications technologies, some examples of which include, but are not limited to, WI-FI, Global System for Mobile communications (“GSM”), Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) ONE, CDMA2000, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (“UMTS”), Long-Term Evolution (“LTE”), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (“WiMAX”), other Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (“IEEE”) 802.XX technologies, and the like. The user device  110  can communicate with the network  116  via various channel access methods (which may or may not be used by the aforementioned technologies), including, but not limited to, Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”), Frequency Division Multiple Access (“FDMA”), CDMA, wideband CDMA (“W-CDMA”), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (“OFDM”), Single-Carrier FDMA (“SC-FDMA”), Space Division Multiple Access (“SDMA”), and the like. Data can be exchanged between the user device  110  and the network  116  via cellular data technologies such as, but not limited to, General Packet Radio Service (“GPRS”), Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution (“EDGE”), the High-Speed Packet Access (“HSPA”) protocol family including High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (“HSDPA”), Enhanced Uplink (“EUL”) or otherwise termed High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (“HSUPA”), Evolved HSPA (“HSPA+”), LTE, and/or various other current and future wireless data access technologies. It should be understood that the network  116  may additionally include infrastructure that operates on wired communications technologies, including, but not limited to, optical fiber, coaxial cable, twisted pair cable, and the like to transfer data between various systems, such as the environment analytics system  118 , the environment database  120 , and the other systems  122 , operating on or in communication with the network  116 . Additional details regarding an illustrative example of the network  116  is illustrated and described with reference to  FIG. 28 . 
     The illustrated environment analytics system  118  includes an analytics application  130 . The analytics application  130  can be stored in a memory or other storage component (best shown in  FIG. 27 ) of the environment analytics system  118  and can be executed by one or more processors (also best shown in  FIG. 27 ) of the environment analytics system  118  to perform various operations described herein. For example, execution of the analytics application  130  can cause the environment analytics system  118  to interact with the user device  110 , the network  116 , the environment database  120 , and the other systems  122 . Some operations performed by the environment analytics system  118  will be described now, and others will become apparent from the description of the other FIGURES. 
     The environment analytics system  118  can perform operations to interact with the environment database  120 , and more particularly, environment data  132 , customer data  134 , product data  136 , promotion data  138 , beacon data  140 , heat map data  142  and/or calibration data  144  stored within the environment database  120 . The environment analytics system  118  can save data to the environment database  120 , retrieve data from the environment database  120 , delete data from the environment database  120 , edit data and save edited data to the environment database  120 , and manipulate data stored within the environment database  120 . The environment analytics system  118  can provide data retrieved from the environment database  120  to the user device  110  and/or the other systems  122  via the network  116 . 
     The environment data  132  can include data associated with various aspects of the indoor environment  102 . For example, the environment data  132  can include dimensions of the indoor environment, a layout of the indoor environment  102 , and coordinate pair data defining one or more sections of the layout. 
     In some embodiments, the layout of the indoor environment  102 , a coordinate system, and the absolute reference point  114  can be assigned manually prior to deployment of the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H within the indoor environment  102 . In these embodiments, one or more users can assign the absolute reference point  114  within the layout of the indoor environment  102  and can measure the distance of other reference points, such as the plurality of reference points  106 A- 106 H, from the absolute reference point  114 . 
     In some other embodiments, the layout of the indoor environment  102 , a coordinate system, and the absolute reference point  114  can be assigned by one or more software applications executed by one or more of the other systems  122 , the environment analytics system  118  (e.g., the analytics application  130  and/or another application), and/or one or more computing systems or device (not shown). In these embodiments, the software application(s) can assign the absolute reference point  114  within the layout of the indoor environment  102  and can measure the distance of other reference points, such as the plurality of reference points  106 A- 106 H, from the absolute reference point  114 . 
     In some embodiments, after the layout of the indoor environment  102 , a coordinate system, and the absolute reference point  114  are assigned, the layout of the indoor environment  102  including the coordinate system, the absolute reference point  114  and the plurality of reference points  106 A- 106 H can be provided to the environment analytics system  118  so that the analytics application  130  can be executed by one or more processors of the environment analytics system  118  to provide to one or more user devices, such as the user device  110 , the layout with the absolute reference point  114  and the plurality of reference points  106 A- 106 H applied. 
     The customer data  134  can include data associated with one or more customers, such as the user  112 . For example, the customer data  134  can include identity data such name, birth date, gender, one or more physical addresses, one or more telephone numbers, one or more email addresses, social network information, customer account information including account identifiers and/or user identifiers, and/or job information. The customer data  134  can additionally or alternatively include quantitative data, such as, for example, transactional information such as the number of products purchased, details regarding the products purchases, value of products purchased, and product return history; communication information such as communication date, communication channel (e.g., telephone, email or social network) and communication subject; online activity such as website visits, product views, online registration information, and social network activity including posts, likes, and other social network interactions; and customer service information such as customer complaint details and customer inquiry details. The customer data  134  can additionally or alternatively include descriptive data, such as, for example, marital status, number of children, age of children, property type, car type, number of car doors, number and type of pets, annual income, profession, education level, and the like. The customer data  134  can additionally or alternatively include qualitative data, such as, for example, attitudinal information regarding how customers rate customer service, the value of a product, and the likelihood of purchasing a product again; opinion information regarding customer&#39;s favorite colors, favorite vacation locations, and other personal opinions; and motional information regarding why a product was purchased (e.g., personal use, business use or as a gift), one or more reasons for purchasing a product (e.g., locality, brand, price, and/or quality). The customer data also can include permission and suppression preferences. It should be understood that the customer data  134  can include any combination of the aforementioned data and other data associated with customer that is not specified herein. 
     The product data  136  can include data associated with one or more products available for purchase within the indoor environment  102 . The product data  136  can include, for example, category, title, description, image, uniform resource locator (“URL”) for corresponding web page on a website associated with the indoor environment  102 , stock keeping unit (“SKU”), universal product code (“UPC”), shelf-life, wholesale price, retail price, location within the indoor environment (e.g., coordinates and section, shelf location, and/or shelf name)  102 , quantity-on-hand, quantity-on-order, and backorder status. It should be understood that the product data  134  can include any combination of the aforementioned data and other data associated with products that is not specified herein. 
     The promotion data  138  can include data associated with one or more promotions being offered by the indoor environment  102 . The promotion data  138  can include identifiers to identify products for which data is stored as part of the product data  136 , promotion category, promotion title, promotion description, promotion price, promotion location coordinates within the indoor environment  102 , promotion restrictions, and promotion expiration date. It should be understood that the promotion data  138  can include any combination of the aforementioned data and other data associated with products that is not specified herein. 
     The beacon data  140  can include data associated with the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H. The beacon data  140  can include, for example, beacon technology type (e.g., BLE, infrared, near field communications, or other short-range wireless communications technology), beacon location coordinates within the indoor environment  102 , unique identifier for each beacon, beacon section within the indoor environment  102  (e.g., produce, dairy, frozen, or the like in a grocery store), and beacon calibration data. It should be understood that the beacon data  140  can include any combination of the aforementioned data and other data associated with beacons that is not specified herein. 
     The heat map data  142  can include data associated with customer heat maps. Customer heat maps are used herein to identify hot spots, dead areas and bottlenecks of customer traffic within the indoor environment  102 . Customer heat maps can aid companies to optimize store performance, to improve customer service and to improve marketing and promotion results. Companies can use heat maps to visualize the impact of changes to the indoor environment in terms of customer flows, sold items, average sales values, and the like. The heat map data  142  can include previously recorded customer coordinate during a given time interval and/or real-time customer coordinate information. It should be understood that the heat map data  142  can include any combination of the aforementioned data and other data associated with heat maps that is not specified herein. 
     The beacon calibration data  144  can include data associated with the calibration of one or more of the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H. During a calibration process, the received signal strength of each beacon of the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H can be measured by a plurality of user devices having different hardware, software, and/or firmware components and specifications, since the received signal strength might differ for different beacon and user device pairs. Moreover, the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H may include different beacon models having different hardware, software, and/or firmware that may affect the radio characteristics of a given beacon/user device pair. Each beacon model received signal strength can be measured at different distances for each different user device model, such as a set of the most popular user devices available. The beacon calibration data  144  therefore can include expected received signal strength indicator (“RSSI”) values measured for different distances for each user device model and beacon pair used during the calibration process. 
     In some embodiments, each beacon to be used in a deployment within the indoor environment  102  is calibrated prior to the deployment. In some other embodiments, each beacon is calibrated after deployment within the indoor environment  102 . In some other embodiments, one or more beacons are re-calibrated after deployment within the indoor environment  102 . In some other embodiments, user devices that have not been used during a calibration process can measure RSSI for different distances from one or more of the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H and the beacon calibration data  144  stored within the environment database  120  can be updated accordingly. In this manner, as new user devices come to market after initial deployment and are used within the indoor environment  102 , the beacon calibration data  144  can be updated. 
     It is contemplated that the environment database  120  can store other data that does not fall into one or more of the aforementioned data categories. As such, the inclusion of the aforementioned data categories in the environment database  120  should not be construed as being limiting in any way. 
     The other systems  122  can include customer relationship management (“CRM”) systems. CRM systems can include one or more physical or virtualized computing systems that execute one or more CRM software applications, such CRM software applications available from MICROSOFT CORPORATION, SAP AG, ORACLE, SALESFORCE.COM, and others. CRM systems can be provided in accordance with a software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) model or other computing model. 
     The other systems  122  can additionally or alternatively include enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) systems. The ERP systems can include one or more physical or virtualized computing systems that execute one or more ERP software applications, such ERP software applications available from MICROSOFT CORPORATION, SAP AG, ORACLE, SALESFORCE.COM, and others. The other systems  122  can additionally or alternatively include marketing systems. 
     In some embodiments, the other systems  122  include one or more corporate systems that communicate with the environment analytics system  118 , which is responsible for performing analytics for the indoor environment  102 . In some other embodiments, the other systems  122  communicate with the environment analytics system  118 , which is responsible for performing analytics for the indoor environment  102  and one or more other environments (not shown). In some embodiments, the environment analytics system  118  and/or one or more of the other systems  122  are provided by a telecommunications service provider. 
     According to various embodiments, the functionality of the environment analytics system  118  may be provided by one or more server computers, desktop computers, mobile devices, laptop computers, set-top boxes, other computing systems, cloud computing systems, and the like. It should be understood that the functionality of the environment analytics system  118  can be provided by a single device, by two similar devices, and/or by two or more dissimilar devices. For purposes of describing the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, the environment analytics system  118  is described herein as a single computer system. It should be understood that this embodiment is illustrative, and should not be construed as being limiting in any way. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one user device  110 , one application  128 , one network  116 , one environment analytics system  118 , one analytics application  130 , and one environment database  120 . It should be understood, however, that various implementations of the operating environment  100  include multiple user devices  110 , multiple applications  128 , multiple networks  116 , multiple environment analytics systems  118 , multiple analytics applications  130 , and environment databases  120 . As such, the illustrated embodiment should be understood as being illustrative, and should not be construed as being limiting in any way. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram illustrating an example beacon  200  and components thereof will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. Each of the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H described with reference to  FIG. 1  can be configured with components as now described with reference to the beacon  200  of  FIG. 2 , although it is contemplated that modifications may be made to the beacon  200  to accommodate certain implementation details. It should be understood that the beacon  200  may or may not include the functionality described herein with reference to  FIG. 2 . While connections are not shown between the various components illustrated in  FIG. 2 , it should be understood that some, none, or all of the components illustrated in  FIG. 2  can be configured to interact with one other to carry out various beacon functions. In some embodiments, the components are arranged so as to communicate via one or more busses (not shown). Thus, it should be understood that  FIG. 2  and the following description are intended to provide a general understanding of a suitable beacon architecture in which various aspects of embodiments can be implemented, and should not be construed as being limiting in any way. 
     The illustrated beacon  200  is associated with a unique address  202 . The unique address  202  can be any identifier that uniquely identifies the beacon  200 , including, for example, a universally unique identifier (“UUID”) or a media access control (“MAC”) address. The unique address  202  for the beacon  200  can be stored in the environment database  120  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) as part of the beacon data  140  (also shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     The illustrated beacon  200  includes one or more hardware components  204  that enable the beacon  200  to communicate with devices such as the user device  110  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In some embodiments, the hardware component  204  includes a single module that contains a BLE radio, microcontroller, and solid-state memory. In some other embodiments, the hardware components  204  include multiple modules that collectively contain a BLE radio, microcontroller, and solid-state memory. 
     The illustrated beacon  200  also includes one or more power components  206 . The power component(s)  206  can include a battery (e.g., a coin-sized battery or other low wattage battery) for powering the hardware component(s)  204 . The power components(s)  206  also include solar panels, vibration sensors or other components capable of recharging the battery. The power component(s) can additionally or alternatively include a plug suitable for connection to a continuous power source such as, for example, an alternating current (“AC”) power supply. 
     The illustrated beacon  200  also includes one or more software and/or firmware components  208  that can be executed by the hardware components  204  to perform various operations described herein. The software and/or firmware components  208  can include a BLE software stack, BLUETOOTH profile details, security configuration, and updateable firmware. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , diagrams illustrating aspects of beacon advertisement, beacon discovery and beacon connection will be described, according to illustrative embodiments. Turning first to  FIG. 3A , an advertisement diagram  300  will be described. The advertisement diagram  300  includes a beacon  104  of the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H and the user device  110 . The beacon  104  is operating in an advertising state in which the beacon  104  advertises its presence periodically so that compatible devices, such as the user device  110 , can detect the beacon  104  during a scanning state. 
     In the illustrated example, the beacon  104  generates multiple data units with different protocol data unit (“PDU”) types during an advertising state. In particular, the beacon  104  generates ADV_IND data units  304  in accordance with the BLE specification. The ADV_IND data units  304  are used by the beacon  104  to advertise its presence to compatible devices. The user device  110  can detect the ADV_IND data units  304  and, in response, generate a SCAN_REQ data unit  306  to request more information from the beacon  104 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3B , a discovery and connection diagram  308  will be described. The discovery and connection diagram  308  includes the beacon  104  and the user device  110 . The user device  110  generates a CONNECT_REQ data unit  310  to request establishment of a connection to the beacon  104 . Once the connection is established, the beacon  104  sends an address packet (ADDRESS_PKT)  312  to the user device  110 . The address packet  312  can include the unique address  202  of the beacon  104 . The application  128  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) executing on the user device  110  uses the unique address  202  included in the address packet  312  to query the environment database  120  for beacon coordinate data associated with the beacon  104 . The application  128  can then cause the user device  110  to measure the received signal strength from the beacon  104  and can calculate the relative distance of the user device  110  from the beacon  104 . The application  128  can repeat these operations for each of the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H detected within the indoor environment  102  and use the results to estimate the location of the user device  110  within the indoor environment  102 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a method  400  for beacon advertisement, discovery and connection will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. It should be understood that the operations of the methods disclosed herein are not necessarily presented in any particular order and that performance of some or all of the operations in an alternative order(s) is possible and is contemplated. The operations have been presented in the demonstrated order for ease of description and illustration. Operations may be added, omitted, and/or performed simultaneously, without departing from the scope of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein. 
     It also should be understood that the methods disclosed herein can be ended at any time and need not be performed in its entirety. Some or all operations of the methods, and/or substantially equivalent operations, can be performed by execution of computer-readable instructions included on a computer storage media, as defined herein. The term “computer-readable instructions,” and variants thereof, as used herein, is used expansively to include routines, applications, application modules, program modules, programs, components, data structures, algorithms, and the like. Computer-readable instructions can be implemented on various system configurations including single-processor or multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, personal computers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based, programmable consumer electronics, combinations thereof, and the like. 
     Thus, it should be appreciated that the logical operations described herein are implemented (1) as a sequence of computer implemented acts or program modules running on a computing system and/or (2) as interconnected machine logic circuits or circuit modules within the computing system. The implementation is a matter of choice dependent on the performance and other requirements of the computing system. Accordingly, the logical operations described herein are referred to variously as states, operations, structural devices, acts, or modules. These states, operations, structural devices, acts, and modules may be implemented in software, in firmware, in special purpose digital logic, and any combination thereof. As used herein, the phrase “cause a processor to perform operations” and variants thereof is used to refer to causing a processor of a computing system or device, such as, for example, the beacon  104  (e.g., a microcontroller), the user device  110 , the environment analytics system  118 , and/or one or more of the other systems  122  to perform one or more operations and/or causing the processor to direct other components of the computing system or device to perform one or more of the operations. 
     For purposes of illustrating and describing the concepts of the present disclosure, the methods disclosed herein are described as being performed by the beacon  104 , the user device  110 , the environment analytics system  118 , and/or one or more of the other systems  122  alone or in combination via execution of one or more software modules such as, for example, the application  128 , the analytics application  130 , the software of the other systems  122 , and/or the software/firmware component(s)  208 . It should be understood that additional and/or alternative devices and/or network nodes can provide the functionality described herein via execution of one or more modules, applications, and/or other software including, but not limited to, the application  128 , the analytics application  130 , the software of the other systems  122 , and/or the software/firmware component(s)  208 . Thus, the illustrated embodiments are illustrative, and should not be viewed as being limiting in any way. 
     The method  400  will be described as being performed by the beacon  200  as an illustrative embodiment of operations that can be performed by each of the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H. In some embodiments, multiple beacons perform simultaneously the operations of the method  400 . For ease of explanation, however, the method  400  will be described from the perspective of a single beacon. 
     The method  400  begins at operation  402 , where the beacon  200  enters an advertising state during which the beacon  200  can advertise its presence for detection by any compatible devices within range of the beacon  200  (approximately 160 feet for embodiments in which the beacon  200  utilizes BLE). From operation  402 , the method  400  proceeds to operation  404 , where the beacon  200  advertises its presence, for example, using the ADV_IND data unit  304  (shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ). The beacon  200  can send an ADV_IND data unit  304  every X milliseconds in accordance with a predefined advertisement schedule. 
     From operation  404 , the method  400  proceeds to operation  406 , where the beacon  200  receives a scan request, such as the SCAN_REQ data unit  306  (shown in  FIG. 3A ), from the user device  110 . The scan request can include a request for more information about the beacon  200 . 
     From operation  406 , the method  400  proceeds to operation  408 , where the beacon  200  responds to the scan request with a scan response, such as the SCAN_RSP data unit  302  (shown in  FIG. 3A ). The scan response can provide additional information about the beacon  200  that may vary according to implementation details. The user device  110  can utilize the additional information contained within the scan response to determine whether or not the user device  110  should attempt connection with the beacon  200 . The user device  110  may not want to connect to certain beacons, such as, for example, beacons that belong to a neighboring indoor environment, another user device that is functioning as a beacon, or other reasons. 
     From operation  408 , the method  400  proceeds to operation  410 , where the beacon  200  receives a connect request, such as the CONNECT_REQ  310  (shown in  FIG. 3B ), from the user device  110 . From operation  410 , the method  400  proceeds to operation  412 , where the beacon  200  and the user device  110  establish a connection via a data channel over which the beacon  200  can send information, such as the unique address  202  of the beacon  200 , to the user device  110 . 
     From operation  412 , the method  400  proceeds to operation  414 . The method  400  ends at operation  414 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , a diagram illustrating aspects of a signal strength measurement and distance calibration within the indoor environment  102  will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The diagram shown in  FIG. 5  will be described with further reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     The diagram includes a portion  500  of the indoor environment  102  that includes a calibration beacon  502  that is positioned between shelving units  504 A- 504 B. The calibration beacon  502  can be configured as or similar to the beacon  200  described above with reference to  FIG. 2 . The calibration beacon  502  is utilized to obtain calibration data for different user devices. Different user devices may have different hardware, power, software, and/or firmware components that affect in one or more ways communications with the beacons  104  deployed within the indoor environment  102 . As such, a calibration method can be utilized by a device, such as the user device  110 , to measure the signal strength of a signal received from the calibration beacon  502  and to measure and record the distance to the calibration beacon  502  for the corresponding signal strength value. 
     In some embodiments, the received signal strength is obtained from the operating system of the device as the received signal strength indicator (“RSSI”) associated with the communications component associated with the technology (e.g., BLE) used to communicate with the calibration beacon  502 . By way of example, the following code sample provides details regarding how a device application that is programmed to perform operations of a calibration method may obtain RSSI values from IOS, available from APPLE INC.: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
                 (void)centralManager:(CBCentralManager*)central 
               
               
                   
                   
                 didDiscoverPeripheral:(CBPeripheral*)peripheral 
               
               
                   
                   
                 advertisementData:(NSDictionary*) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 advertisementData RSSI:(NSNumber *)RSSI 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In the illustrated example, the calibration beacon  502  advertises its presence, such as described above with reference to  FIGS. 3A and 4 . The user device  110 , operating as a calibration device for this example, can receive a first signal  506 A from the calibration beacon  502  at a first location  508 A and can receive a second signal  506 B from the calibration beacon  502  at a second location  508 B. The first signal  506 A can have a first signal strength value, for example, represented as RSSI(1); and the second signal  506 B can have a second signal strength value, for example, represented as RSSI(2). The user device  110  can measure the RSSI(1) to calculate a first distance, and then the distance from the user device  110  to the calibration beacon  502  can be measured manually, for example, represented as D(1), from the first location  508 A to the calibration beacon  502 . The user device  110  can then measure the RSSI(2), and then the second distance from the user to the beacon measured manually, for example, represented as D(2), from the second location  508 B to the calibration beacon  502 . The distance values, D(1) and D(2), can be associated with the RSSI values, RSSI(1) and RSSI(2), respectively, and the specifications of both the calibration beacon  502  and the user device  110 . The process can be repeated for each beacon and device pair at several points to obtain adequate number of RSSI and distance pairs in order to calculate device locations properly. This information, collectively referred to herein as “calibration data,” can be sent by the user device  110  to the environment analytics system  118  for storage in the environment database  120  as part of the beacon data  140 . 
     It is contemplated that before, during or after implementation of beacons within an environment, a calibration method such as described above and as further described below with reference to  FIG. 6  can be performed for different user device and beacon combinations. In some embodiments, user devices may be leveraged to perform the calibration method prior to deployment of one or more beacons within an environment, as part of an initial setup process (e.g., when a user first uses the application  128  within the indoor environment  102 ), from time to time on an opt-in basis, or otherwise to ensure the beacon calibration data  144  stored within the environment database  120  includes calibration data for the latest user devices available. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , aspects of a calibration method  600  for determining calibration data for a beacon and user device pair will be described in detail, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
     The method  600  begins at operation  602 , where a beacon and user device pair are selected for calibration. From operation  602 , the method  600  proceeds to operation  604 , where an RSSI value is selected. From operation  604 , the method  600  proceeds to operation  606 , where the distance from the selected beacon and user device is measured for the selected RSSI value. From operation  606 , the method  600  proceeds to operation  608 , where the distance measured at operation  606  is recorded, in the environment database  120  in association with the selected RSSI for the selected beacon and user device pair. 
     From operation  608 , the method  600  proceeds to operation  610 , where the environment analytics system  118  makes available the measure distance value, the RSSI value, the unique address of the selected beacon, and the device specifications to the application  128  of the user device  110  and other similar application of other user devices for use in location determinations as will be described in greater detail below. 
     From operation  610 , the method  600  proceeds to operation  612 . The method  600  ends at operation  612 . The method  600  can be repeated for each beacon/user device pair that are to be used in a deployment within the indoor environment  102 . After deployment, a similar method may be used to re-calibrate previously calibrated beacon/user device pairs and/or add calibration data for new beacon/user device pairs. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , an example store layout  700  on a two-dimensional coordinate system will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. Turning first to  FIG. 7A , the coordinate system includes an absolute reference point  702 . The absolute reference point  702  can be located anywhere within the store layout  700 , but for convenience and ease of description, the absolute reference point  702  is shown in the lower-hand corner of the store layout  700  and represents the southwest corner of an example store. An X-axis  704  extends horizontally from the absolute reference point  702  and represents the west-to-east direction. A Y-axis  706  extends vertically from the absolute reference point  702  and represents the south-to-north direction. It should be understood, however, that the actual alignment of south-to-north and/or east-to-west directions is not required because the coordinate system is based upon relative positions with respect to the absolute reference point  702 . 
     The store layout  700  includes a plurality of sections  708 A- 708 U. The coordinates that define each of the plurality of sections  708 A- 708 U can be determined as a relative distance from absolute reference point  702 . For example, a point  710  represents the location of the upper left-hand corner of a tools section  708 N of the store layout  700 . In this manner, each of the plurality of sections  708 A- 708 U can be defined using one or more coordinate pairs in reference to the absolute reference point  702 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 7B , the store layout  700  is shown with coordinate pairs for each corner of a builder&#39;s hardware section  708 O of the store layout  700 . In particular, the upper left-hand corner of the builder&#39;s hardware section  708 O is assigned the coordinate pair (30, 18), the upper right-hand corner of the builder&#39;s hardware section  708 O is assigned the coordinate pair (38, 18), the lower left-hand corner of the builder&#39;s hardware section  708 O is assigned the coordinate pair (30, 6), and the lower right-hand of the builder&#39;s hardware section  708 O is assigned coordinate pair (38, 6). The combination of the aforementioned coordinate pair defines the four corners of the rectangular-shaped builder&#39;s hardware section  708 O. Coordinate pairs that define each of the plurality of sections  708 A- 708 U can be defined in accordance with the method described below with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 8 , a method  800  for determining reference points for an environment will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The method  800  will be described with further reference to  FIGS. 1, 7A and 7B  and, more particularly, the environment for which reference points are determined in the method  800  is the indoor environment  102  introduced in  FIG. 1  with the example store layout  700  introduced in  FIG. 7A . It should be understood, however, that the method  800  is applicable to any environment having any layout and therefore the examples illustrated and described herein should not be construed as being limiting in any way. Moreover, the method  800  is described as being performed by the environment analytics system  118  via execution of one or more software applications. It should be understood, however, that other computing systems and/or devices may perform the method  800  or a similar method to determine the reference points for a given environment layout. In other implementations, some or all of the operations of the method  800  are performed responsive to inputs received from one or more users. 
     The method  800  begins and proceeds to operation  802 , where the environment analytics system  118  retrieves the store layout  700  for the indoor environment  102  from the environment database  120 . From operation  802 , the method  800  proceeds to operation  804 , where the environment analytics system  118  determines an absolute reference point, such as the absolute reference point  702  in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , for the store layout  700 . Also at operation  804 , the environment analytics system  118  applies a two-dimensional coordinate system to the store layout  700 . 
     In some embodiments, the environment analytics system  118  selects an absolute reference point. The environment analytics system  118  may select an absolute reference point based upon user input. The environment analytics system  118  may execute the analytics application  130  to select a pre-programmed location (such as the southwest corner in  FIGS. 7A and 7B ) within a given layout as an absolute reference point. The environment analytics system  118  may execute the analytics application  130  to analyze the store layout  700  and to determine an absolute reference point based upon an algorithm that may or may not consider previous determinations of absolute reference points in determining an absolute reference point for the store layout  700 . In some other embodiments, the absolute reference point and coordinate system is pre-assigned to the layout and, as such, the operation  804  may be skipped. 
     From operation  804 , the method  800  proceeds to operation  806 , where the environment analytics system  118  determines coordinates for one or more areas, such as the plurality of sections  708 A- 708 U shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , within the store layout  700  and assigns coordinates to the two-dimensional coordinate system on the layout. From operation  806 , the method  800  proceeds to operation  808 , where the environment analytics system  118  updates the environment data  132  stored in the environment database  120  with the store layout  700 , including the absolute reference point and the assigned coordinates for one or more areas of the store layout  700 . 
     From operation  808 , the method  800  proceeds to operation  810 . The method  800  ends at operation  810 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 9 , a coordinate assignment table  900  illustrating coordinate assignments for various areas within indoor environments will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The coordinate assignment table  900  can be generated, at least in part, using the method  800  described above. The coordinate assignment table  900  is illustrated for a single store, such as the indoor environment with the store layout  700  shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , but alternatively may be used for multiple stores such as stores belonging to a franchise or other business chain. The coordinate assignment table  900  can be stored in the environment database  120  as part of the environment data  132  and can be updated from time-to-time to accommodate for changes to the store layout  700 . For example, a new promotion may temporarily change the size or arrangement of one or more sections of the store layout  700 . 
     The illustrated coordinate assignment table  900  includes a store number column  902 , a section description column  904 , an X 1  coordinate column, an X 2  coordinate column  906 , a Y 1  coordinate column, and a Y 2  coordinate column. It is contemplated that a different number of coordinate columns may be provided in the coordinate assignment table  900 . 
     The store number column  902  identifies a store number associated with the particular store to which the values of the other columns belong. In the illustrated example, the store number is the same for each row, but some implementations may include different store numbers to identify different stores within a franchise or other business chain. Store names or other descriptions may be used as an alternative to or in addition to the store number in the store number column  902  or in another column (not shown). 
     The section column  904  identifies the section or other area defined by coordinate pairs in columns  906 - 912 . The X 1  coordinate column  906  identifies a first X-coordinate (e.g., associated with a first corner) for each section listed in the section column  904 . The X 2  coordinate column  908  identifies a second X-coordinate (e.g., associated with a second corner) for each section listed in the section column  904 . The Y 1  coordinate column  910  identifies a first Y-coordinate (e.g., associated with a first corner) for each section listed in the section column  904 . The Y 2  coordinate column  912  identifies a second Y-coordinate (e.g., associated with a second corner) for each section listed in the section column  904 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 10A-10B , an example beacon layout  1000  within the indoor environment  102  will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The  FIGS. 10A-10B  will be described with additional reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     Turning first to  FIG. 10A , the beacon layout  1000  includes a two-dimensional coordinate system with an absolute reference point  1002 . An X-axis  1004  extends from the absolute reference point  1002  in a first direction. A Y-axis  1006  extends from the absolute reference point  1002  in a second direction. The beacon layout  1000  also includes a plurality of shelving units  1008 A- 1008 H associated with a plurality of reference points  1010 A- 1010 H, respectively. Beacons, such as the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H, can be positioned, respectively, on, within, beneath, or within a predefined proximity of the plurality of shelving units  1008 A- 1008 H. The location of these beacons is represented by coordinate pairs of the reference points  1010 A- 1010 H, similar to the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In addition, an ice cream shelving unit  1008 C includes a promotional reference point  1012  used to indicate the coordinate for a promotional ice cream product stored on the ice cream shelving unit. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 10B , the plurality of reference points  1010 A- 1010 H are shown with coordinate pair values for the associated beacons. The plurality of shelving units  1008 A- 1008 G also are divided into sections  1016 A- 1016 C representative of different product categories. The coordinate pair values, unique address, beacon type, and section can be stored in a beacon data table  1100 , which will now be described. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 11 , the beacon data table  1100  will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The beacon data table  1100  can be stored in the environment database  120  as part of the beacon data  140  and can be updated from time-to-time to accommodate changes. The illustrated beacon data table  1100  includes a unique address column  1102 , a beacon type  1104 , an X coordinate column  1106 , a Y coordinate column  1108 , and a section description column  1110 . 
     The unique address column  1102  identifies the unique address for each beacon. The beacon type column  1104  identifies the beacon type for each beacon. The X coordinate column  1106  identifies an X-coordinate for each beacon. The Y coordinate column  1108  identifies a Y-coordinate for each beacon. The section description column  1110  identifies the section in which each beacon is located. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 12 , a user interface  1200  will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The user interface  1200  include a store map  1202  on which a device location  1204  is presented. The device location  1204  indicates the location of the user device  110  so the user  112  knows where on the store map  1202  he or she is located. 
     The user interface  1200  also includes selectable options. A first option  1206  that, when selected by the user  112 , causes the user device  110  to present one or more promotions that are available. A second option  1210 , when selected by the user  112 , causes the user device  110  to present names of the aisles on the store map  1202 . A third option  1208 , when selected by the user  112 , causes the user device  110  to present a product search interface through which the user  112  can search for specific product types, product names, and enter other search criteria to locate one or more products on the map  1202 . A fourth option  1212 , when selected by the user  112 , causes the user device  1110  to present a navigation interface through which the user  112  can enter a destination (e.g., a particular section of the store) to which he or she wants to navigate. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 13 , a method  1300  for obtaining indoor environment data for presentation on a display on the user device  110  will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The method  1300  begins and proceeds to operation  1302 , where the user device  110  launches the application  128 . From operation  1302 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1304 , where the application  128  causes the user device  110  to scan the indoor environment  102  to check for available beacons. From operation  1304 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1306 , where the application  128  determines if one or more beacons are available. If one or more beacons are available, the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1308 , where the application  128  causes the user device  110  to determine which of the available beacons is associated with the highest received signal strength and causes the user device  110  to obtain the unique address from that beacon. 
     From operation  1308 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1310 , where the application  128  causes the user device  110  to query the environment database  120  using the unique address obtained at operation  1308  for environment data associated with the indoor environment  102  in which the beacon is located. From operation  1310 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1312 , where the application  128  receives the environment data from the environment database  120 . From operation  1312 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1314 , where the application  128  causes the user device  110  to present the environment data on a display of the user device  110 . 
     From operation  1314 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1316 . The method  1300  ends at operation  1316 . 
     If the application  128  determines, at operation  1306 , that no beacons are available, the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1318 , where the application  128  causes the user device  110  to determine its geographical location using cellular triangulation, WI-FI triangulation, GPS, other location determining techniques, or a combination thereof. From operation  1318 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1320 , where the application  128  determines the indoor environments that are located within a specified distance of the geographical location. From operation  1320 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1322 , where the application  128  causes the user device  110  to display the indoor environments. From operation  1322 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1324 , where the application  128  receives a selection of one of the indoor environments from the displayed indoor environments. 
     From operation  1324 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1326 , where the application  128  causes the user device  110  to query the environment database  120  for environment data associated with the selected indoor environment. From operation  1326 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1312 , where the application  128  receives the environment data from the environment database  120 . From operation  1312 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1314 , where the application  128  causes the user device  110  to present the environment data on a display of the user device  110 . 
     From operation  1314 , the method  1300  proceeds to operation  1316 . The method  1300  ends at operation  1316 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 14 , a method  1400  for determining the location of the user device  110  within the indoor environment  102  will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The method  1400  begins and proceeds to operation  1402 , where the application  128  causes the user device  110  to scan the indoor environment  102  for beacons. From operation  1402 , the method  1400  proceeds to operation  1404 , where the application  128  obtains the received signal strength from the each available beacon. From operation  1404 , the method  1400  proceeds to operation  1406 , where the application  128  calculates the distance corresponding to the received signal strength from each beacon using the calibration information (i.e., the distance and signal strength values generated during the method  600 ). 
     From operation  1406 , the method  1400  proceeds to operation  1408 , where the application  128  selects a number of closest beacons. In some embodiments, the application  128  is programmed to select at least three of the closest beacons. It should be understood that the application  128  may be programmed to select any number of closest beacons, although resulting distance calculations may be more or less accurate as a result. 
     From operation  1408 , the method  1400  proceeds to operation  1410 , where the application  128  obtains the unique address for each of the closest beacons. From operation  1410 , the method  1400  proceeds to operation  1412 , where the application  128  downloads the environment layout and coordinates associated with the closest beacons. From operation  1412 , the operation  1400  proceeds to operation  1414 , where the application  128  calculates the location of the user device  110 . From operation  1414 , the method  1400  proceeds to operation  1416 , where the application  128  presents the location of the user device  110  on the environment layout. From operation  1416 , the method  1400  proceeds to operation  1418 , where the application  128  causes the user device  110  to record the location of the user device  110  in association with the timestamp. 
     From operation  1418 , the method  1400  proceeds to operation  1420 . The method  1400  ends at operation  1420 . 
     In some embodiments, output of a gyroscope, accelerometer and/or other sensor(s) of the user device  110  can be used by the application  128  to continuously monitor whether the user device  110  has moved a distance that at least meets a predefined movement threshold. If so, the application  128  can recalculate the location of the user device  110  in accordance with the operations described above. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 15 , a block diagram illustrating the user device  110  receiving signals  1500 A- 1500 D from beacons  1502 A- 1502 D associated with shelving units  1504 A- 1504 D, respectively, will be used as further reference for  FIGS. 16-18  described below. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 16 , a graph  1600  illustrating the user device  110  receiving the signals  1500 A- 1500 D from the beacons  1502 A- 1502 D for use in calculating coordinates of the user device  110  will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The coordinate pairs (x 1 , y 1 ), (x 2 , y 2 ), (x 3 , y 3 ), and (x 4 , y 4 ) are known (i.e., these coordinate pairs are predefined and recorded beacon coordinates stored in the environment database  120 ). D1, D2, D3, and D4 are the distances from the beacon coordinate pairs. These distances are calculated from the measured RSSI as explained above. 
     The graph  1600  shows the coordinate pair for the location of the user device  110  as (x 1 +h, Y 2 −x). The below calculation explains how h and x can be calculated, using the known parameters. If a to b to c to d forms a rectangle as illustrated, then a=c=y 2 −y 1 ; b=d=x 3 −x 1 ; x 2 +h 2 =(D 2 ) 2  (Equation I); h 2 +(a−x) 2 =(D 1 ) 2  (Equation II); cos(C)=(a−x)/D 1 ; or a−x=D 1  cos(C). Thus, x=a−D 1  cos(C) (Equation III). Expanding Equation II yields h 2  a 2 −2ax+x 2 =(D 1 ) 2 . Using Equation I, x 2 +h 2  can be replaced by D 2   2 , then using the Equation III, x can be replaced by a−D 1  cos(C). The resulting equation can then be simplified, yielding (D 2 ) 2 =a 2 +(D 1 ) 2 −2 D 2  D 1  cos(C), where a, D 1 , and D 2  are all known. Cos (C) can be calculated as Cos (C)=[(a 2 +(D 1 ) 2 −(D 2 ) 2 /(2 D 2  D 1 )]. If Cos (C) is known, then x can be calculated using Equation III and h can be calculated using Equation II. Thus, the coordinates of the user device  110  can be calculated as (x 1 +h, Y 2 −x), as all the parameters are known. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 17 , another graph  1700  illustrating the user device  110  receiving the signals  1500 A- 1500 D from the beacons  1502 A- 1502 D for use in calculating coordinates of the user device  110  will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The graph  1700  shows an example in which the locations of the beacons do not fit into a rectangle with respect to the coordinate axis. The distances between the beacons, however, can still be calculated since the coordinate pairs (x 1 , y 1 ), (x 2 , y 2 ), (x 3 , y 3 ), and (x 4 , y 4 ) for the beacons are known (i.e., these coordinate pairs are predefined and recorded beacon coordinates stored in the environment database  120 ) using a=sqrt[(x 2 −x 1 ) 2 +(y 2 −y 3 ) 2 ]. D1, D2, D3, and D4 are the distances from the beacon coordinate pairs to the user device  110 . These distances are calculated from the measured RSSI as explained above. 
     For the sake of simplicity, and since the location of the user device  110  can be calculated approximately in reference to the four closest reference beacon coordinates, a method for calculating the location of the user device  110  may assume that a, b, c, and d form a rectangle. The error caused by this assumption is negligible. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 18 , another graph  1800  illustrating the user device  110  receiving the signals  1500 A- 1500 D from the beacons  1502 A- 1502 D for use in calculating coordinates of the user device  110  will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The coordinate pairs (x 1 , y 1 ), (x 2 , y 2 ), (x 3 , y 3 ), and (x 4 , y 4 ) are known (i.e., these coordinate pairs are predefined and recorded beacon coordinates stored in the environment database  120 ). D1, D2, D3, and D4 are the distances from the beacon coordinate pairs. These distances are calculated from the measured RSSI as explained above. After the coordinates are calculated using the closest beacons associated with the coordinate pairs (x 1 , y 1 ), (x 2 , y 2 ), another calculation can be made for the coordinate pairs (x 3 , y 3 ) and (x 4 , y 4 ). Similar calculations can be made for additional beacons  1802 A- 1802 D. The X coordinate values and the Y coordinate values can be averaged for the sake of accuracy. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 19 , a method  1900  for calculating and displaying heat maps on a store layout will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. In some embodiments, one or more of the operations of the method  1900  are performed by the environment analytics system  118  in response to input from a user. In some other embodiments, one or more of operations of the method  1900  are automated by the environment analytics system  118  using machine learning algorithms and/or other techniques programmed into the analytics application  128 . 
     The method  1900  begins and proceeds to operation  1902 , where the environment analytics system  118  determines minimum and maximum coordinates (X min , Y min  and X max , Y max ), which are used to determine the area to be analyzed. From operation  1902 , the method proceeds to operation  1904 , where the environment analytics system  118  determines a granularity to be used. The granularity is an increment used to calculate the size of each granular area inside the area to be analyzed. From operation  1904 , the method  1900  proceeds to operation  1906 , where the environment analytics system  118  determines a time interval. The time interval is used to specify the time during which the analysis is to be made. 
     From operation  1906 , the method  1900  proceeds to operation  1908 , where the environment analytics system  118  sets Y 1 =Y min  and Y 2 =Y min +G. From operation  1908 , the method  1900  proceeds to operation  1910 , where the environment analytics system  118  sets X 1 =X min  and X 2 =X min +G. The method  1900  then proceeds to operation  1912 , where the environment analytics system  118  queries the environment database  120  for the number of unique user records with coordinate X between X 1  and X 2 , coordinate Y between Y 1  and Y 2 , and the timestamp is between T 1  and T 2 . 
     From operation  1912 , the method  1900  proceeds to operation  1914 , where the environment analytics system  118  assigns a heat map color for each area based upon the number of unique user records. For example, if the number of unique users is 0, the heat map color may be white; for 1-10 unique users, the heat map color may be light yellow; for 11-50 users, the heat map color may be dark yellow; for 51-100 unique users, the heat map color may be orange; for 101-200 unique users, the heat map color may be brown; and for greater than 200 unique users, the heat map color may be red. These colors are provided as examples only and the actual number of unique users for each heat map color may be specified differently for different implementations of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein. An example heat map is shown in grayscale in  FIG. 21 . 
     From operation  1914 , the method  1900  proceeds to operation  1916 , where the environment analytics system  118  enters a first while loop. In particular, while X 2 &lt;X max , X 1  is set equal to X 2  and X 2  is set equal to X 2 +G and operations  1912  and  1914  are repeated. From operation  1916 , the operation  1900  proceeds to operation  1918 , where the environment analytics system  118  enters a second while loop. In particular, while Y 2 &lt;Y max , Y 1  is set equal to Y 2  and Y 2  is set equal to Y 2 +G and operations  1912 ,  1914  and  1916  are repeated. Turning now to  FIG. 20 , a graph  2000  illustrating a store layout on a two-dimensional coordinate system and a granularity (“G”)  2002  used to calculate a heat map for a store layout is illustrated, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 21 , an example heat map  2100  on an example store layout is illustrated, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 22 , a method  2200  for determining location updates for a plurality of users and presenting the location updates on a store layout as a heat map will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The method  2200  begins and proceeds to operation  2202 , where the environment analytics system  118  monitors and captures location updates for a plurality of users navigating the indoor environment  102 . From operation  2202 , the method  2200  proceeds to operation  2204 , where the environment analytics system  118  presents the location updates on a display in accordance with color codes associated with each granular area of the indoor environment  102 . From operation  2204 , the method  2000  proceeds to operation  2206 , where the method  2200  ends. The method  2200  shows the location updates on the layout. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 23 , a method  2300  for determining a path navigated by the user  112  within the indoor environment  102  will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The method  2300  begins and proceeds to operation  2302 , where the environment analytics system  118  queries a user coordinates table for user coordinate associated with a unique user ID during a given time interval. From operation  2302 , the method  2300  proceeds to operation  2304 , where the environment analytics system  118  presents the user coordinates on a layout of the indoor environment  102 . 
     From operation  2304 , the method  2300  proceeds to optional operation  2306 , where the environment analytics system  118  animates the user coordinates in sequential order from earliest location update to latest location update to illustrate user movement throughout the indoor environment  102 . From operation  2306 , the method  2000  proceeds to operation  2308 , where the method  2300  ends. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 24 , a method  2400  for determining an average time spent in a section of the indoor environment  102  will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The method  2400  begins and proceeds to operation  2402 , where the environment analytics system  118  queries the user coordinates tables for user coordinates during a given time interval. From operation  2402 , the method  2400  proceeds to operation  2404 , where the environment analytics system  118  defines one or more sections of the indoor environment  102  to be analyzed. 
     From operation  2404 , the method  2400  proceeds to operation  2406 , where the environment analytics system  118  determines user location updates that occurred within the defined section(s). From operation  2406 , the method  2400  proceeds to operation  2408 , where the environment analytics system  118  determines the time of entry into the defined section(s) for each user. The method  2400  then proceeds to operation  2410 , where the environment analytics system  118  determines the time of exit from the defined section(s) for each user. From operation  2400 , the method  2400  proceeds to operation  2412 , where the environment analytics system  118  determines the time spent in the defined section(s) for each user. From operation  2412 , the method  2400  proceeds to operation  2414 , where the environment analytics system  118  calculates the average time spent for all users in the defined section(s) during the given time interval. 
     From operation  2414 , the method  2400  proceeds to operation  2416 . The method  2400  ends at operation  2416 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 25 , a method  2500  for determining a success rate of a promotional item within a store will be described, according to an illustrative embodiment. The method  2500  begins and proceeds to operation  2502 , where the environment analytics system  118  determines a time interval during which to determine the success rate of the promotional item. From operation  2502 , the method  2500  proceeds to operation  2504 , where the environment analytics system  118  determines the borders of the promotional area in which the promotional item is located. The borders can be defined by multiple coordinate pairs obtained from the environment data  132  stored in the environment database  120 . 
     From operation  2504 , the method  2500  proceeds to operation  2506 , where the environment analytics system  118  queries the environment database  120  for the number of unique user records with coordinate X between X 1  and X 2 , coordinate Y between Y 1  and Y 2 , and a timestamp within the time interval determined at operation  2502 . From operation  2506 , the method  2500  proceeds to operation  2508 , where the environment analytics system  118  queries the environment database  120  for the number of sales of the promotional item within the promotional area. The method  2500  then proceeds to operation  2510 , where the environment analytics system  118  calculates a ratio of sales to the number of unique user records obtained at operation  2506 . From operation  2510 , the method  2500  proceeds to operation  2512 , where the environment analytics system  118  determines the success rate of the promotional item based upon the ratio of sales to the number of unique records calculated at operation  2510 . 
     From operation  2512 , the method  2500  proceeds to operation  2514 . The method  2500  ends at operation  2514 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 26 , an illustrative mobile device  2600  and components thereof will be described. In some embodiments, the user device  110  described above, in part, with reference to  FIG. 1  can be configured as and/or can have an architecture similar or identical to the mobile device  2600  described herein with respect to  FIG. 26 . It should be understood, however, that the user device  110  may or may not include the functionality described herein with reference to  FIG. 26 . While connections are not shown between the various components illustrated in  FIG. 26 , it should be understood that some, none, or all of the components illustrated in  FIG. 26  can be configured to interact with one other to carry out various device functions. In some embodiments, the components are arranged so as to communicate via one or more busses (not shown). Thus, it should be understood that  FIG. 26  and the following description are intended to provide a general understanding of a suitable environment in which various aspects of embodiments can be implemented, and should not be construed as being limiting in any way. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 26 , the mobile device  2600  can include a display  2602  for displaying data. According to various embodiments, the display  2602  can be configured to display at least a portion of the environment data  132 , at least a portion of the customer data  134 , at least a portion of the product data  136 , at least a portion of the promotion data  138 , at least a portion of the beacon data  140 , at least a portion of the heat map data  142 , various graphical user interface (“GUI”) elements such as the elements illustrated and described herein with reference to  FIG. 12 , text, images, video, virtual keypads and/or keyboards, messaging data, notification messages, metadata, internet content, device status, time, date, calendar data, device preferences, map and location data, combinations thereof, and/or the like. The mobile device  2600  also can include a processor  2604  and a memory or other data storage device (“memory”)  2606 . The processor  2604  can be configured to process data and/or can execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory  2606 . The computer-executable instructions executed by the processor  2604  can include, for example, an operating system  2608 , one or more applications  2610  such as the application  128 , other computer-executable instructions stored in a memory  2606 , or the like. In some embodiments, the applications  2610  also can include a UI application (not illustrated in  FIG. 26 ). 
     The UI application can interface with the operating system  2608  to facilitate user interaction with functionality and/or data stored at the mobile device  2600  and/or stored elsewhere, such as in the environment database  120 . In some embodiments, the operating system  2608  can include a member of the SYMBIAN OS family of operating systems from SYMBIAN LIMITED, a member of the WINDOWS MOBILE OS and/or WINDOWS PHONE OS families of operating systems from MICROSOFT CORPORATION, a member of the PALM WEBOS family of operating systems from HEWLETT PACKARD CORPORATION, a member of the BLACKBERRY OS family of operating systems from RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED, a member of the IOS family of operating systems from APPLE INC., a member of the ANDROID OS family of operating systems from GOOGLE INC., and/or other operating systems. These operating systems are merely illustrative of some contemplated operating systems that may be used in accordance with various embodiments of the concepts and technologies described herein and therefore should not be construed as being limiting in any way. 
     The UI application can be executed by the processor  2604  to aid a user in interacting with at least a portion of the environment data  132 , at least a portion of the customer data  134 , at least a portion of the product data  136 , at least a portion of the promotion data  138 , at least a portion of the beacon data  140 , at least a portion of the heat map data  142 , and/or other data associated with the indoor environment, the environment analytics system  118 , the network  116 , and/or the other systems  122 . The UI application can be executed by the processor  2604  to aid a user in answering/initiating calls, entering/deleting other data, entering and setting user IDs and passwords for device access, configuring settings, manipulating address book content and/or settings, multimode interaction, interacting with other applications  2610 , and otherwise facilitating user interaction with the operating system  2608 , the applications  2610 , and/or other types or instances of data  2612  that can be stored at the mobile device  2600 . The data  2612  can include, for example, at least a portion of the environment data  132 , at least a portion of the customer data  134 , at least a portion of the product data  136 , at least a portion of the promotion data  138 , at least a portion of the beacon data  140 , at least a portion of the heat map data  142 , and/or other applications or program modules. According to various embodiments, the data  2612  can include, for example, presence applications, visual voice mail applications, messaging applications, text-to-speech and speech-to-text applications, add-ons, plug-ins, email applications, music applications, video applications, camera applications, location-based service applications, power conservation applications, game applications, productivity applications, entertainment applications, enterprise applications, combinations thereof, and the like. The applications  2610 , the data  2612 , and/or portions thereof can be stored in the memory  2606  and/or in a firmware  2614 , and can be executed by the processor  2604 . The firmware  2614  also can store code for execution during device power up and power down operations. It should be appreciated that the firmware  2614  can be stored in a volatile or non-volatile data storage device including, but not limited to, the memory  2606  and/or a portion thereof. 
     The mobile device  2600  also can include an input/output (“I/O”) interface  2616 . The I/O interface  2616  can be configured to support the input/output of data such at least a portion of the environment data  132 , at least a portion of the customer data  134 , at least a portion of the product data  136 , at least a portion of the promotion data  138 , at least a portion of the beacon data  140 , at least a portion of the heat map data  142 , presence status information, user IDs, passwords, and application initiation (start-up) requests. In some embodiments, the I/O interface  2616  can include a hardwire connection such as a universal serial bus (“USB”) port, a mini-USB port, a micro-USB port, an audio jack, a PS2 port, an IEEE 1394 (“FIREWIRE”) port, a serial port, a parallel port, an Ethernet (RJ411) port, an RJ11 port, a proprietary port, combinations thereof, or the like. In some embodiments, the mobile device  2600  can be configured to synchronize with another device to transfer content to and/or from the mobile device  2600 . In some embodiments, the mobile device  2600  can be configured to receive updates to one or more of the applications  2610  via the I/O interface  2616 , though this is not necessarily the case. In some embodiments, the I/O interface  2616  accepts I/O devices such as keyboards, keypads, mice, interface tethers, printers, plotters, external storage, touch/multi-touch screens, touch pads, trackballs, joysticks, microphones, remote control devices, displays, projectors, medical equipment (e.g., stethoscopes, heart monitors, and other health metric monitors), modems, routers, external power sources, docking stations, combinations thereof, and the like. It should be appreciated that the I/O interface  2616  may be used for communications between the mobile device  2600  and a network device or local device. 
     The mobile device  2600  also can include a communications component  2618 . The communications component  2618  can be configured to interface with the processor  2604  to facilitate wired and/or wireless communications with one or more networks such as the network  116  and one or more of the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H described herein. In some embodiments, the communications component  2618  includes a multimode communications subsystem for facilitating communications via the cellular network and one or more other networks. 
     The communications component  2618 , in some embodiments, includes one or more transceivers. The one or more transceivers, if included, can be configured to communicate over the same and/or different wireless technology standards with respect to one another. For example, in some embodiments one or more of the transceivers of the communications component  2618  may be configured to communicate using GSM, CDMAONE, CDMA2000, LTE, and various other 2G, 2.5G, 3G, 4G, and greater generation technology standards. Moreover, the communications component  2618  may facilitate communications over various channel access methods (which may or may not be used by the aforementioned standards) including, but not limited to, TDMA, FDMA, W-CDMA, OFDM, SDMA, and the like. 
     In addition, the communications component  2618  may facilitate data communications using GPRS, EDGE, the HSPA protocol family including HSDPA, EUL or otherwise termed HSUPA, HSPA+, and various other current and future wireless data access standards. In the illustrated embodiment, the communications component  2618  can include a first transceiver (“TxRx”)  2620 A that can operate in a first communications mode (e.g., GSM). The communications component  2618  also can include an N th  transceiver (“TxRx”)  2620 N that can operate in a second communications mode relative to the first transceiver  2620 A (e.g., UMTS). While two transceivers  2620 A-N (hereinafter collectively and/or generically referred to as “transceivers  2620 ”) are shown in  FIG. 26 , it should be appreciated that less than two, two, or more than two transceivers  2620  can be included in the communications component  2618 . 
     The communications component  2618  also can include an alternative transceiver (“Alt TxRx”)  2622  for supporting other types and/or standards of communications. According to various contemplated embodiments, the alternative transceiver  2622  can communicate using various communications technologies such as, for example, WI-FI, WIMAX, BLUETOOTH, BLE, infrared, infrared data association (“IRDA”), near field communications (“NFC”), other RF technologies, combinations thereof, and the like. As such, the alternative transceiver  2622  facilitates communications with one or more of the plurality of beacons  104 A- 104 H. 
     In some embodiments, the communications component  2618  also can facilitate reception from terrestrial radio networks, digital satellite radio networks, internet-based radio service networks, combinations thereof, and the like. The communications component  2618  can process data from a network such as the Internet, an intranet, a broadband network, a WI-FI hotspot, an Internet service provider (“ISP”), a digital subscriber line (“DSL”) provider, a broadband provider, combinations thereof, or the like. 
     The mobile device  2600  also can include one or more sensors  2624 . The sensors  2624  can include temperature sensors, light sensors, air quality sensors, movement sensors, orientation sensors, noise sensors, proximity sensors, or the like. As such, it should be understood that the sensors  2624  can include, but are not limited to, accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, infrared sensors, noise sensors, microphones, combinations thereof, or the like. One or more of the sensors  2624  can be used to detect movement of the mobile device  2600 . The movement can be compared to a threshold movement as described in  FIG. 14 . Additionally, audio capabilities for the mobile device  2600  may be provided by an audio I/O component  2626 . The audio I/O component  2626  of the mobile device  2600  can include one or more speakers for the output of audio signals, one or more microphones for the collection and/or input of audio signals, and/or other audio input and/or output devices. 
     The illustrated mobile device  2600  also can include a subscriber identity module (“SIM”) system  2628 . The SIM system  2628  can include a universal SIM (“USIM”), a universal integrated circuit card (“UICC”) and/or other identity devices. The SIM system  2628  can include and/or can be connected to or inserted into an interface such as a slot interface  2630 . In some embodiments, the slot interface  2630  can be configured to accept insertion of other identity cards or modules for accessing various types of networks. Additionally, or alternatively, the slot interface  2630  can be configured to accept multiple subscriber identity cards. Because other devices and/or modules for identifying users and/or the mobile device  2600  are contemplated, it should be understood that these embodiments are illustrative, and should not be construed as being limiting in any way. 
     The mobile device  2600  also can include an image capture and processing system  2632  (“image system”). The image system  2632  can be configured to capture or otherwise obtain photos, videos, and/or other visual information. As such, the image system  2632  can include cameras, lenses, charge-coupled devices (“CCDs”), combinations thereof, or the like. The mobile device  2600  may also include a video system  2634 . The video system  2634  can be configured to capture, process, record, modify, and/or store video content. Photos and videos obtained using the image system  2632  and the video system  2634 , respectively, may be added as message content to an MMS message, email message, and sent to another mobile device. The video and/or photo content also can be shared with other devices via various types of data transfers via wired and/or wireless communication devices as described herein. 
     The mobile device  2600  also can include one or more location components  2636 . The location components  2636  can be configured to send and/or receive signals to determine a geographic location of the mobile device  2600 . According to various embodiments, the location components  2636  can send and/or receive signals from GPS devices, assisted-GPS (“A-GPS”) devices, WI-FI/WIMAX and/or cellular network triangulation data, combinations thereof, and the like. The geographic location of the mobile device  2600  can be used, for example, as described in  FIG. 13  if no beacons are detected. The location component  2636  also can be configured to communicate with the communications component  2618  to retrieve triangulation data for determining a location of the mobile device  2600 . In some embodiments, the location component  2636  can interface with cellular network nodes, telephone lines, satellites, location transmitters and/or beacons, wireless network transmitters and receivers, combinations thereof, and the like. In some embodiments, the location component  2636  can include and/or can communicate with one or more of the sensors  2624  such as a compass, an accelerometer, and/or a gyroscope to determine the orientation of the mobile device  2600 . Using the location component  2636 , the mobile device  2600  can generate and/or receive data to identify its geographic location, or to transmit data used by other devices to determine the location of the mobile device  2600 . The location component  2636  may include multiple components for determining the location and/or orientation of the mobile device  2600 . 
     The illustrated mobile device  2600  also can include a power source  2638 . The power source  2638  can include one or more batteries, power supplies, power cells, and/or other power subsystems including alternating current (“AC”) and/or direct current (“DC”) power devices. The power source  2638  also can interface with an external power system or charging equipment via a power I/O component  2640 . Because the mobile device  2600  can include additional and/or alternative components, the above embodiment should be understood as being illustrative of one possible operating environment for various embodiments of the concepts and technologies described herein. The described embodiment of the mobile device  2600  is illustrative, and should not be construed as being limiting in any way. 
       FIG. 27  is a block diagram illustrating a computer system  2700  configured to provide the functionality described herein for determining the indoor location of devices using reference points and sensors, in accordance with various embodiments of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the environment analytics system  118  and/or one or more of the other systems  122  can be configured as and/or can have an architecture similar or identical to the computer system  2700  described herein with respect to  FIG. 27 . It should be understood, however, that the user device  110  may or may not include the functionality described herein with reference to  FIG. 26 . 
     The computer system  2700  includes a processing unit  2702 , a memory  2704 , one or more user interface devices  2706 , one or more input/output (“I/O”) devices  2708 , and one or more network devices  2710 , each of which is operatively connected to a system bus  2712 . The bus  2712  enables bi-directional communication between the processing unit  2702 , the memory  2704 , the user interface devices  2706 , the I/O devices  2708 , and the network devices  2710 . 
     The processing unit  2702  may be a standard central processor that performs arithmetic and logical operations, a more specific purpose programmable logic controller (“PLC”), a programmable gate array, or other type of processor known to those skilled in the art and suitable for controlling the operation of the computer system  2700 . Processing units are generally known, and therefore are not described in further detail herein. 
     The memory  2704  communicates with the processing unit  2702  via the system bus  2712 . In some embodiments, the memory  2704  is operatively connected to a memory controller (not shown) that enables communication with the processing unit  2702  via the system bus  2712 . The memory  2704  includes an operating system  2714  and one or more program modules  2716 . The operating system  2714  can include, but is not limited to, members of the WINDOWS, WINDOWS CE, and/or WINDOWS MOBILE families of operating systems from MICROSOFT CORPORATION, the LINUX family of operating systems, the SYMBIAN family of operating systems from SYMBIAN LIMITED, the BREW family of operating systems from QUALCOMM CORPORATION, the MAC OS, and/or iOS families of operating systems from APPLE CORPORATION, the FREEBSD family of operating systems, the SOLARIS family of operating systems from ORACLE CORPORATION, other operating systems, and the like. 
     The program modules  2716  may include various software and/or program modules described herein. In some embodiments, for example, the program modules  2716  include the analytics application  130 . The analytics application  130  and/or other software programs can be embodied in computer-readable media containing instructions that, when executed by the processing unit  2702 , perform at least a portion of one or more of the methods  600 ,  800 ,  1900 ,  2200 ,  2300 ,  2400 ,  2500  described in detail above with respect to  FIGS. 6, 8, 19, 22, 23, and 25 . According to embodiments, the program modules  2716  may be embodied in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. Although not shown in  FIG. 27 , it should be understood that the memory  2704  also can be configured to store all or a portion of the environment database  120  and/or other data, if desired. 
     By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may include any available computer storage media or communication media that can be accessed by the computer system  2700 . Communication media includes computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics changed or set in a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. 
     Computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, Erasable Programmable ROM (“EPROM”), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (“EEPROM”), flash memory or other solid state memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (“DVD”), or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computer system  2700 . In the claims, the phrase “computer storage medium” and variations thereof does not include waves or signals per se and/or communication media. 
     The user interface devices  2706  may include one or more devices with which a user accesses the computer system  2700 . The user interface devices  2706  may include, but are not limited to, computers, servers, personal digital assistants, cellular phones, or any suitable computing devices. The I/O devices  2708  enable a user to interface with the program modules  2716 . In one embodiment, the I/O devices  2708  are operatively connected to an I/O controller (not shown) that enables communication with the processing unit  2702  via the system bus  2712 . The I/O devices  2708  may include one or more input devices, such as, but not limited to, a keyboard, a mouse, or an electronic stylus. Further, the I/O devices  2708  may include one or more output devices, such as, but not limited to, a display screen or a printer to output data such as the data stored in the environment database  120  in the form of text, numbers, characters, maps, other visualizations, and the like. 
     The network devices  2710  enable the computer system  2700  to communicate with other networks or remote systems via a network, such as the network  116 . Examples of the network devices  2710  include, but are not limited to, a modem, a radio frequency (“RF”) or infrared (“IR”) transceiver, a telephonic interface, a bridge, a router, or a network card. The network  104  may include a wireless network such as, but not limited to, a WLAN such as a WI-FI network, a WWAN, a Wireless Personal Area Network (“WPAN”) such as BLUETOOTH, a WMAN such a WiMAX network, or a cellular network. Alternatively, the network  104  may be a wired network such as, but not limited to, a WAN such as the Internet, a LAN, a wired PAN, or a wired MAN. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 28 , additional details of an embodiment of the network  116  are illustrated, according to an illustrative embodiment. The network  116  includes a cellular network  2802 , a packet data network  2804 , for example, the Internet, and a circuit switched network  2806 , for example, a publicly switched telephone network (“PSTN”). The cellular network  2802  includes various components such as, but not limited to, base transceiver stations (“BTSs”), Node-B&#39;s or e-Node-B&#39;s, base station controllers (“BSCs”), radio network controllers (“RNCs”), mobile switching centers (“MSCs”), mobile management entities (“MMEs”), short message service centers (“SMSCs”), multimedia messaging service centers (“MMSCs”), home location registers (“HLRs”), home subscriber servers (“HS Ss”), visitor location registers (“VLRs”), charging platforms, billing platforms, voicemail platforms, GPRS core network components, location service nodes, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (“IMS”), and the like. The cellular network  2802  also includes radios and nodes for receiving and transmitting voice, data, and combinations thereof to and from radio transceivers, networks, the packet data network  2804 , and the circuit switched network  2806 . 
     A mobile communications device  2808 , such as, for example, the user device  110 , a cellular telephone, a user equipment, a mobile terminal, a PDA, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, and combinations thereof, can be operatively connected to the cellular network  2802 . The cellular network  2802  can be configured as a 2G GSM network and can provide data communications via GPRS and/or EDGE. Additionally, or alternatively, the cellular network  2802  can be configured as a 3G UMTS network and can provide data communications via the HSPA protocol family, for example, HSDPA, EUL (also referred to as HSUPA), and HSPA+. The cellular network  2802  also is compatible with 4G mobile communications standards as well as evolved and future mobile standards. 
     The packet data network  2804  includes various devices, for example, servers, computers, databases, and other devices in communication with another, as is generally known. The packet data network  2804  devices are accessible via one or more network links. The servers often store various files that are provided to a requesting device such as, for example, a computer, a terminal, a smartphone, or the like. Typically, the requesting device includes software (a “browser”) for executing a web page in a format readable by the browser or other software. Other files and/or data may be accessible via “links” in the retrieved files, as is generally known. In some embodiments, the packet data network  2804  includes or is in communication with the Internet. The circuit switched network  2806  includes various hardware and software for providing circuit switched communications. The circuit switched network  2806  may include, or may be, what is often referred to as a plain old telephone system (“POTS”). The functionality of a circuit switched network  2806  or other circuit-switched network are generally known and will not be described herein in detail. 
     The illustrated cellular network  2802  is shown in communication with the packet data network  2804  and a circuit switched network  2806 , though it should be appreciated that this is not necessarily the case. One or more Internet-capable devices  2810 , for example, a personal computer (“PC”), a laptop, a portable device, or another suitable device, can communicate with one or more cellular networks  2802 , and devices connected thereto, through the packet data network  2804 . It also should be appreciated that the Internet-capable device  2810  can communicate with the packet data network  2804  through the circuit switched network  2806 , the cellular network  2802 , and/or via other networks (not illustrated). 
     As illustrated, a communications device  2812 , for example, a telephone, facsimile machine, modem, computer, or the like, can be in communication with the circuit switched network  2806 , and therethrough to the packet data network  2804  and/or the cellular network  2802 . It should be appreciated that the communications device  2812  can be an Internet-capable device, and can be substantially similar to the Internet-capable device  2810 . In the specification, the network  104  is used to refer broadly to any combination of the networks  2802 ,  2804 ,  2806 . It should be appreciated that substantially all of the functionality described with reference to the network  104  can be performed by the cellular network  2802 , the packet data network  2804 , and/or the circuit switched network  2806 , alone or in combination with other networks, network elements, and the like. 
     Based on the foregoing, it should be appreciated that systems and methods for determining the indoor location of devices using reference points and sensors have been disclosed herein. Although the subject matter presented herein has been described in language specific to computer structural features, methodological and transformative acts, specific computing machinery, and computer-readable media, it is to be understood that the concepts and technologies disclosed herein are not necessarily limited to the specific features, acts, or media described herein. Rather, the specific features, acts and mediums are disclosed as example forms of implementing the concepts and technologies disclosed herein. 
     The subject matter described above is provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting. Various modifications and changes may be made to the subject matter described herein without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the embodiments of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein.