Patent Description:
Multi-room or multi-suite facilities, such as hotels, apartment buildings, office complexes, dormitories, office buildings, classrooms, cruise ships and laboratory facilities, and similar structures have spaces that are designed for serial use by multiple users. In a typical hotel setting, a guest will check-in at a front desk to obtain a room assignment and access credentials, such as a room key. In some instances, the guest may check-in remotely, and may be provided only with a room number and a remote access key, or the guest may obtain access credentials automatically and seamlessly, upon arrival, through a hotel mobile application (mobile app). In either instance, finding a location such as an assigned room in a large unfamiliar building, can cause discomfort and anxiety in a guest or visitor. While some buildings may provide directions at check-in or may have a map in the lobby, these are generally unhelpful once the guest arrives on his or her assigned floor especially where an assigned floor may have multiple hallways and many doors which are generally indistinguishable to the guest.

Assigning a one-time unique visual indicator to a guest to guide the guest to an assigned location (e.g., room) can have several advantages. In the first instance, it may reduce or eliminate the need for the guest to stop at the front desk, which can save time for the guest. In addition, it may also reduce the burden on front desk personnel who would otherwise be expected to provide room directions multiple times a day. In addition, the visitor or guest may prefer less direct personal interaction, when an alternate solution for locating a guest room may be available.

What is needed then, is an effective solution for improving the visitor or guest experience by a system and method for providing visually aided access to an assigned location, such as a hotel room, as further described below.

According to <CIT>, it is known to provide a method of guiding a user from an initial position to a destination, chosen from among a plurality of possible destinations, in a public area over which is distributed a plurality of lighting arrangements each of which can be driven to render one or more light patterns from a plurality of light patterns. The method comprises the steps of determining the chosen destination by obtaining a destination descriptor from the user, allocating a specific light pattern from the plurality of light patterns to the chosen destination, providing the user with a depiction of the specific light pattern allocated to the chosen destination, selecting a number of lighting arrangements between a starting point of the user and the chosen destination, and driving the selected lighting arrangements such that the selected lighting arrangements between the starting point of the user and the chosen destination render the specific light pattern.

According to <CIT>, it is known to provide a lighting system that automatically turns on lights with a key used for locking the doors of a car and a house. The system includes the key and a lighting device. The key generates and transmits a transmission signal containing verification subject information. A light control unit connected to the lighting device receives the transmission signal from the key and verifies the key with an ID code. The light control unit activates the lighting device.

According to <CIT>, it is known to provide apparatus and methods for mobile device tracking for control of vehicle subsystems. An example disclosed vehicle includes light panels embedded in the vehicle, wireless nodes, and an auxiliary body control module. The example auxiliary body control module, when a speed of the vehicle is less than a threshold speed, monitors a distance between a wireless device and the vehicle. In response to the distance satisfying a range threshold, the auxiliary body control module activates the light panels.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an access control system according to claim <NUM>.

Optionally, the building management system comprises a server.

Optionally, the wireless device comprises at least one of a mobile phone, PDA, tablet or computer, smart watch, fit device.

Optionally, the smart lighting system comprises a plurality of addressable lighting fixtures configured to display at least one lighting attribute associated with at least one of the wireless device and the locking device.

Optionally, the lighting fixtures comprise light emitting diodes.

Optionally, the lighting attribute comprises at least one of a color, intensity, brightness, direction, timed frequency and pattern.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a method for providing visually aided access to a building location according to claim <NUM>.

Optionally, the method further comprises opening a connection between the wireless device and the building management system to activate the smart lighting system to display the lighting attribute.

Optionally, the method further comprises communicating the lighting attribute to the locking device in communication with the building management system, to display the lighting attribute.

Optionally, the method further comprises opening a connection between the wireless device and the locking device.

Optionally, the method further comprises beaconing a data packet providing information from the locking device to a wireless device in a local area without requiring a bi-directional connection, to associate the lighting attribute and the locking device with at least one of the wireless device and the smart lighting system, to permit the user to unlock the locking device.

Optionally, the method further comprises performing data exchanges between the building management system and the locking device by way of the wireless device.

Optionally, the method further comprises beaconing a second data packet from the locking device to the wireless device terminating the lighting attribute when the locking device status is changed to an unlocked state.

Optionally, the lighting attribute comprises at least one of a color, intensity, brightness, direction, timed frequency, and pattern.

Optionally, the smart lighting system comprises a plurality of addressable lighting fixtures configured to display at least one lighting attribute.

Optionally, the building comprises a multi-room facility.

Optionally, a building having the building location comprises a multi-room facility.

Optionally, the multi-room facility comprises at least one of a hotel, a housing facility, an office building, an educational building, a cruise ship and a research facility.

Optionally, the building location comprises an assigned room.

Optionally, the assigned room comprises at least one of a hotel room, a residential unit, an office, a classroom, a dormitory room, a ship's cabin, a laboratory.

The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the present disclosure are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which is presented by way of example only, in which:.

Embodiments of the present invention may be applicable in various multi-room or multi-suite facilities, including, but not limited to hotels, housing facilities (e.g., multi-unit apartment building or condominium buildings), office buildings, educational buildings (e.g., classrooms, dormitories), cruise ships, research facilities, and similar structures that have spaces designed for serial use (e.g., an assigned location or assigned room) by multiple users, such as visitors or guests. It should be evident to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific examples given and could be used in other multi-room or multi-suite facilities.

In a typical hotel, guests may arrive for check-in to a hotel throughout the day, and in some cases, multiple guests may arrive at the same time or nearly the same time as other guests. In some instances, a guest upon arrival may visit the front desk of a hotel to receive a room assignment and room key, as well as directions to the assigned room. In other instances, a guest that has a wireless device, such as a smart phone, may receive a room assignment, a virtual room key upon arrival (e.g., by remote check-in, hotel kiosk or mobile app), and instructions such as an email or map for the purpose of locating his assigned room.

In general, the access control system <NUM> provides an authorized user (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>) such as a hotel visitor or guest, visually aided access to a location such as an assigned room <NUM> in a hotel. As will be described below, the access control system <NUM> may include a building or facility management system (BMS) that provides for network communication by and among the related BMS systems, subsystems and devices, and also with the wireless device <NUM> of a user <NUM>, <NUM>, via a BMS associated server <NUM>.

As further described below, upon arrival or check-in, the BMS communicates credentials to the wireless device <NUM> of a user <NUM>, <NUM>. Credentials include a virtual key to unlock a locking device <NUM>. Credentials may also include the assignment of a one-time unique lighting attribute 70a, 70b associated with each individual user <NUM>, <NUM> until the user reaches the assigned location and/or until the user has unlocked a locking device <NUM>. The BMS is configured to assign a plurality of lighting attributes 70a, 70b to a plurality of users <NUM>, <NUM> such that a different lighting attribute is uniquely assigned and displayed to each user <NUM>, <NUM> as further described below. Each assigned lighting attribute is displayed by at least one of the wireless device <NUM>, the smart lighting system and the locking device <NUM> to guide a user <NUM>, <NUM> to an assigned location, such as a hotel room having a locking device <NUM>. Once the user <NUM>, <NUM> has unlocked the locking device <NUM>, the BMS communicates with at least one of the wireless device <NUM>, the smart lighting system and the locking device <NUM> to deactivate the lighting attribute 70a, 70b such that the lighting attribute is no longer visually displayed. The lighting attribute 70a, 70b may then be assigned to another user <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an access control system <NUM>. The access control system <NUM> includes a building management system having a server <NUM> in communication with a wireless device <NUM> of a user <NUM>, <NUM>, a smart lighting system including lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and a locking device <NUM>. Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects.

A building management system (BMS) is, in general, hardware and/or software configured to control, monitor, and manage subsystems and devices in or around a building or buildings. BMS subsystems or devices can include heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and refrigeration systems (HVAC/R), security systems and devices which may include access control devices such as locking device <NUM>, lighting systems or devices, such as a smart lighting system having lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, fire alerting systems or devices, elevator systems or devices, other devices that are capable of managing building functions, or any combination thereof. The BMS may also include a property management system (PMS) to manage reservations, billing and guest profiles as well as other accounting and property management functions. As further described below, the BMS also includes systems and components for generating and assigning a one-time unique lighting attribute 70a, 70b to each user <NUM>, <NUM>.

The BMS may include a server <NUM> in communication with a communication interface and related systems, subsystems and components for conducting wireless communication within or outside of a building, for example, the communication among the various building subsystems, and with wireless devices (e.g., <NUM>) under certain circumstances. For example, the BMS may include a server <NUM>, such as a cloud computing system that is network connected (e.g., an internet connection, a LAN, WAN OR WLAN connection) to one or more subsystems, devices or modules. The server <NUM> may be configured to be in one-way or two-way communication with wireless device <NUM>, the smart lighting system such as lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and the access control system, such as locking device <NUM> associated with an assigned room <NUM>. As assigned room <NUM> is described for illustrative purposes only. An assigned room <NUM> may include any room in a commercial or residential facility where a user <NUM>, <NUM> may engage in a variety of activities, including but not limited to, work (e.g., office, factory, laboratory), rest or sleep (e.g., hotel, residential unit, ship's cabin, dormitory), dining (e.g., restaurant) socializing (e.g., club), and exercising (e.g., gym).

The BMS communication interface may include one or more devices or modules configured to communicate via point-to-point (e.g., device pairing), one-to-many (e.g., broadcasting) or mesh network, such as a Wi-Fi and/or a Bluetooth® low energy communications (BLE) module and/or near-field communication (NFC) devices, NFC-enabled devices or NFC-equipped devices or ultra-wide band (UWB) enabled devices with UWB fixed stations that can communicate with locking device <NUM> and/or mobile device <NUM>. The BMS server <NUM> may employ one or more protocols for network communication including, but not limited to: NB-IoT, eMTC, EC-GSM-IoT, LTE-M, DASH7, NB-FI, LPWAN, Ethernet, SAP, SAS, ATP, Bluetooth, GSM, TCP/IP, WiFi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, CAT6 Ethernet, HomePlug, and NFC communication interfaces and protocols, including NFCIP-<NUM>, NFCIP-<NUM> and SNEP. For example, the communication interface or a wireless interface associated with locking device <NUM> described below, may include a Bluetooth® Smart radio configured to beacon a data packet to Bluetooth® Smart radio devices, such as locking device <NUM>.

The wireless device <NUM> may include a mobile phone (smart phone), personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet computer, mini-tablet, laptop, mini-laptop, or other smart device that provides continuous or periodic sensing and combined sensor data from a combination of sensors, such as motion, biometrics, and/or GPS (e.g., a smart watch or fit device), etc., and may include a device that has or may only have short range or local-area wireless capabilities. Mobile phone generally refers to a mobile handset with at least cellular telephonic communications capabilities, computing capabilities, and wireless/short-range data communication capabilities (e.g., Bluetooth, RFID, NFC, etc.) and may also include GPS capabilities.

A user <NUM>, <NUM>, includes a person who is an authorized visitor of a multi-room or multi-suite facility, for example, as a guest of a hotel whose credentials have been authenticated by the BMS or PMS via server <NUM>. Authentication services may vary based on facility, or in some instances, by location within the facility. User authentication may occur during check-in, such as when a user <NUM>, <NUM> enters the facility, or visits a location such as a hotel front desk where user <NUM>, <NUM> data (e.g., name, address, contact information, reservation number, payment information, biometric data, etc.) is obtained and entered into the BMS or PMS. In other instances, user authentication may occur wirelessly through the BMS communications interface. For example, user authentication may occur through use of a mobile application (mobile app) for use on a wireless device <NUM>, or in combination with a BMS device, including any electronic access control device (e.g., locking device <NUM>, wall reader, hotel kiosk, rim panic device, etc.).

Upon authentication, the BMS or PMS may wirelessly communicate credentials to the user <NUM>, <NUM> which may include a secure digital key that permits user <NUM>, <NUM> access to authorized locations throughout the hotel, including an assigned room <NUM>. In addition, credentials may also include the assignment of a one-time unique lighting attribute 70a, 70b that is unique to each user <NUM>, <NUM>, and which may be associated with each user's wireless device <NUM>, the smart lighting system lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, and the locking device <NUM>, as further described below. For example, the BMS or PMS may assign lighting attribute 70a to user <NUM>, and lighting attribute 70b to user <NUM>, and so on. A lighting attribute 70a, 70b may include at least one of color, intensity, brightness, direction, timed frequency, and pattern.

In general, the smart lighting system includes a plurality of lighting fixtures, e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, to provide a visual aid for guiding a user <NUM>, <NUM> to assigned room <NUM>, such as a hotel room. The smart lighting system may be in wired or wireless communication with the BMS or PMS. The lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be addressable such that one or more may be configured to operate in accordance with instructions received from a BMS or PMS, as further described below. In some embodiments, the lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may include light emitting diodes (LED), or other light fixtures that generally have a long life, are energy efficient, durable and are programmable to display a lighting attribute 70a, 70b.

The lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be located at various places throughout the hotel, as in the hallway illustrated in <FIG>. For example, the lighting fixtures may be operably coupled or adjacent to a locking device <NUM>, such as lighting fixture <NUM>. In some embodiments, the lighting fixtures may be mounted to a wall, such as lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM> or a ceiling (not shown). It should be appreciated that the smart lighting system and lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be located in various places throughout a multi-room or multi-suite facility, such a lobby, and is not limited to the illustrated example.

A locking device <NUM>, provides access to the multi-room or multi-suite facility, such as to an assigned room <NUM>, such as a hotel room, conference room, office, classroom, waiting area, lobby, etc. The locking device <NUM>, in communication with the BMS or PMS, provides access to users <NUM>, <NUM> who have been authenticated by the BMS or PMS and who have the proper credentials for accessing an assigned room <NUM>, and for denying access to others (i.e., to lock and unlock a locking device <NUM>). The locking device <NUM> includes a locking mechanism to selectively switch between a locked state and an unlocked state. In this example, a locking mechanism may include an electrically actuated dead bolt for selectively locking the locking device <NUM>.

The locking device <NUM> may also include a wireless interface in communication with the BMS (or PMS) communication interface via server <NUM>. The locking device <NUM> wireless interface may be operatively connected to the locking mechanism to control changes between a locked and an unlocked state. A magnetic strip and/or RFID card reader can also be operatively connected to the locking mechanism in a local area without requiring bi-directional connection and to support bi-directional connections as needed to transfer data to the locking device <NUM>.

The locking device <NUM> wireless interface may be configured to periodically beacon a data packet providing information to a wireless device <NUM> in a local area without requiring a bi-directional connection and to support bi-directional connections as needed to transfer data to the locking device <NUM>. In one non-limiting embodiment, the data packet may include the lighting attribute 70a, 70b assigned by the BMS or PMS to a user <NUM>, <NUM>, and to the lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The wireless interface may be configured to vary the beacon rate for beaconing a data packet depending on, for example, the instructions provided to the smart lighting system or other suitable factors such as the reservation status of a user <NUM>, <NUM>, time of day, day of the week, the estimated time to reach the locking device <NUM> from a local check-in location (e.g., front door, lobby, front desk, check-in kiosk, etc.), or proximity of a user <NUM>, <NUM> to a locking device <NUM>. The locking device may also include a controller configured to vary the transmission power/amplitude of the beaconing data packet, for example, on the foregoing factors.

The BMS, PMS and associated controllers for the smart lighting system and/or the locking device <NUM> may include a processor, memory, and storage for software/firmware with non-transitory instructions for implementing method steps further described below.

Optionally, the lighting system <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> will be enabled by the offline mesh network as well. For example, a user <NUM>, <NUM> having a mobile device <NUM> may come within range of a location, such as the front desk. In this example, the mobile device <NUM> will obtain data pertaining to the assigned room <NUM> (e.g., access credential, room assignment, location data) over a BLE mesh network, causing the lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to illuminate guiding the user <NUM>, <NUM> to the assigned room <NUM>. Once the user <NUM>, <NUM> reaches the assigned room <NUM> and unlocks the locking device <NUM> with valid credentials, then the locking device <NUM> may sense the unlocking event (e.g., through a handle switch sensor), and send a signal to turn off the lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the locking device <NUM> may send a signal to the BMS or the smart lighting system, or to the lighting fixture <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Optionally, when user <NUM>, <NUM> exits the assigned room <NUM> and activates (locks) the locking device <NUM> (e.g., by hand, using a mobile app, or key card). The locking device <NUM>, through for example a handle switch sensor, may send a signal or prompt (visual or audio) to mobile device <NUM> of a user <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the prompt may query the user <NUM>, <NUM> (e.g., "where do you want to go (facility location or destination details)"). In this example, coincident with the signal or prompt, the smart lighting system (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) may also turn on to guide the user <NUM>, <NUM> to the destination).

<FIG> illustrates a method for providing visually aided access to a building location <NUM>. The method shown in <FIG>, can be implemented in and will be described using the BMS or PMS through a server <NUM>. The function steps are indicated with rectangles, whereas the logic steps or questions, are shown within diamond-shaped parallelograms. In one embodiment, the flow chart of <FIG>, or condition(s) operations blocks <NUM>-<NUM> can be performed periodically, repeatedly, continuously, upon operation action or responsive to the authentication of a user's credentials and assignment of a lighting attribute 70a, 70b.

The method begins at step <NUM> with a multi-room or multi-suite facility (e.g., hotel, housing facility, such as a multi-unit apartment building or condominium building, an office building, educational building (e.g., classrooms, dormitories), a cruise ship, a research facility, and similar structures that have spaces designed for serial use (e.g., an assigned location or assigned room) by multiple users <NUM>, <NUM>, such as visitors or guests.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the multi-room or multi-suite facility is a hotel having a BMS that may be in communication with one or more BMS systems, subsystems (e.g., the PMS) or devices, including wireless devices <NUM> over a connected network (e.g., an internet connection, a LAN, WAN OR WLAN connection), using a server <NUM> and a communications interface. Connected BMS systems may include a PMS for managing user <NUM>, <NUM> reservations, billing information, user profiles, and other data that may be necessary or appropriate to authenticate credentials and/or distinguish one user <NUM>, <NUM> from another user in the BMS, a smart lighting system including lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and an access control system, including locking device <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, a user <NUM>, <NUM>, having a wireless device <NUM>, arrives at the hotel. The wireless device <NUM> may include a mobile phone (smart phone), personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet computer, mini-tablet, laptop, mini-laptop, etc., and may include a device that has or may only have short range or local-area wireless capabilities. For example, user <NUM>, <NUM> may have a mobile phone with at least cellular telephonic communications capabilities, computing capabilities, and wireless/short-range data communication capabilities (e.g., Bluetooth, RFID, NFC, etc.) and may also include GPS capabilities.

In step <NUM>, the user <NUM>, <NUM> may have a mobile application (mobile app) on his or her wireless device <NUM> that permits the user <NUM>, <NUM> to be recognized by the BMS for the purposes of authentication and /or credentialing by the BMS, and to access a secure website for remote check-in at the hotel. Check-in may occur on or off-site through the mobile app. Secure check-in may occur through a local device such as a wall reader, hotel kiosk or through interaction with front desk personnel. Authentication of a user <NUM>, <NUM> may occur in numerous ways, including identifying the user's <NUM>, <NUM> wireless device <NUM> and/or confirming a user's profile in a database accessible by the BMS when the user <NUM>, <NUM> arrives at the hotel or interacts with front desk personnel.

In step <NUM>, a determination is made whether the user <NUM>, <NUM> has been provided an assigned room <NUM>, such as a hotel room accessible by presenting credentials (e.g., a key, key card, virtual key, etc.) to a locking device <NUM>. For example, a user <NUM>, <NUM> who is a frequent or regular guest may have room preferences stored in his or her profile, which may permit the BMS to automatically assign a room to a user <NUM>, <NUM> based on preference and room availability. In this example, the BMS may fetch a room assignment from a room availability database and assign a room to the user <NUM>, <NUM>. Alternatively, the BMS may not have assigned a room to the user <NUM>, <NUM>, in which event, the user <NUM>, <NUM> may, in step <NUM>, be directed to the hotel front desk services. In this event, the front desk services may assign a room to the user <NUM>, <NUM> through the BMS. When a user <NUM>, <NUM> has received a room assignment, then the method continues to step <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the BMS assigns a one-time, unique lighting attribute to the user <NUM>, <NUM> which may be displayed on at least one of the user's wireless device <NUM> via mobile app, the smart lighting system via lighting elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the locking device <NUM>. For example, user <NUM> may be assigned lighting attribute 70a (e.g., a RED color). The BMS also assigns the same lighting attribute 70a to the smart lighting system (e.g., lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and/or the locking device <NUM>. Similarly, user <NUM> may be assigned lighting attribute 70b (e.g., a GREEN color). The BMS also assigns the same lighting attribute 70b to the smart lighting system and/or the locking device <NUM>.

Optionally, the smart lighting system may include a plurality of addressable lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> which may be configured to display at least one lighting attribute associated with at least one of the wireless device <NUM> and the locking device <NUM>. In some examples, the BMS may be configured such that different lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> display different colors to avoid confusion. For example, the lighting fixture <NUM> adjacent to the locking device <NUM> for the room assigned to user <NUM>, may display a RED light, while the lighting figure adjacent to the locking device associated with user <NUM>, may display a GREEN light.

Optionally, the BMS may be configured to display the lighting attribute of a user <NUM>, <NUM> on the lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, as the user <NUM>, <NUM> moves through the hotel on the way to the assigned room <NUM>. In some examples, the BMS may also associate the user's lighting attribute 70a, 70b with the locking device <NUM>, so that the locking device <NUM> may also display the lighting attribute to guide the user to the assigned room. For example, referring to <FIG>, user <NUM> may be assigned lighting attribute 70a (e.g., a RED light). In this example, a RED light may also be displayed on or adjacent to locking device <NUM>.

In another non-limiting example, the lighting attribute 70a, 70b may be displayed by the lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or the locking device as the user <NUM>, <NUM> approaches within some range (e.g., <NUM> feet (approximately <NUM>) ahead and <NUM> feet (approximately <NUM>) behind the user <NUM>, <NUM>). This may avoid the lights being continuously displayed.

In step <NUM>, once a room has been assigned to the user <NUM>, <NUM> the BMS may push data to the user's mobile device <NUM> through the mobile app associated with that hotel to allow the user <NUM>, <NUM> to display a lighting attribute on his mobile device <NUM>. A lighting attribute may include the display of at least one of a color, a light intensity, brightness, direction, timed frequency and pattern. By way of example, referring to <FIG>, a user <NUM> may be assigned a lighting attribute such as the color RED which may displayed on the wireless device of user <NUM> through a mobile app.

In step <NUM>, when multiple users have each received a room assignment, the BMS may be configured to push data, that may include an assigned lighting attribute 70a, 70b. <NUM>n, to a plurality of mobile devices 20n, as each user is assigned a room. In each instance, the BMS may be configured to assign a unique lighting attribute to each user <NUM>, <NUM>, so that users having a room assignment within a certain proximity to one another, will not be assigned the same or similar lighting attribute. By way of example, referring to <FIG>, a user <NUM> may be assigned a lighting attribute (e.g., RED) which may be displayed on the wireless device <NUM> of user <NUM> through a mobile app on that user's mobile device <NUM>. A second user <NUM>, may have also been assigned a room on the same floor or within some proximity to the room of the first user <NUM>. In this instance, the second user <NUM> may be assigned a different lighting attribute (e.g., GREEN) which may be displayed through the mobile app on the second user's mobile device <NUM>.

In some examples, the BMS may be configured to alter the signal relating to the lighting attribute 70a, 70b. In step <NUM>, the method determines whether the user <NUM>, <NUM> is approaching the assigned room <NUM>. If the user <NUM>, <NUM> approaches the assigned room <NUM>, then the method proceeds to step <NUM> causing a change to the lighting attribute 70a, 70b. For example, the closer the user <NUM> is to reaching assigned room <NUM> and locking device <NUM>, at least one of the wireless device <NUM>, the lighting fixtures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the locking device <NUM> may begin to flash with greater frequency or may display greater intensity (e.g., brightness). In some examples, proximity may also trigger an audible alert, such as a voice announcing one's arrival at the destination, or a chime or other sound.

Proximity to the locking device <NUM> may be determined in a variety of ways, including using for example, the GPS of the mobile device <NUM>, or a sensor in communication with the locking device <NUM> for sensing proximity.

In step <NUM>, when the BMS determines that the user <NUM>, <NUM> has reached the assigned room <NUM>, it may suspend the lighting attribute 70a, 70b to permit the user to present his access credentials, such as a room key, key card, or virtual key. In step <NUM>, when the user <NUM>, <NUM> has presented his or her access credentials, the BMS terminates the lighting attribute 70a, 70b, which may now be assigned to a new user.

Examples of the disclosed embodiments may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices in software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof, the computer-executable instructions may be organized into one or more computer-executable components or modules. Examples may be implemented with any number and organization of such components or modules. For example, aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific computer-executable instructions or the specific components or modules illustrated in the Figures and described herein. Other examples may include different computer-executable instructions or components having more or less functionality than illustrated and described herein. Examples may transform a generalpurpose computer into a special-purpose computing device when configured to execute the instructions described herein.

The order of execution or performance of the operations in examples illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and examples may include additional or fewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is possible.

As it is employed in the subject specification, the term "processor" can refer to substantially any computing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited to comprising, single-core processors; single-processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Processors can exploit Nano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing processing units.

In the subject specification, terms such as "data store," "data storage," "database," "cache," and substantially any other information storage component relevant to operation and functionality of a component, refer to "memory components," or entities embodied in a "memory" or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components, or computer-readable storage media, described herein can be either volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memory. By way of illustration, and not limitation, non-volatile memory can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synch link DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methods herein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising, these and any other suitable types of memory.

When introducing elements of aspects of the invention or the examples thereof, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. " The phrase "one or more of the following: A, B, and C" means "at least one of A and/or at least one ofB and/or at least one of C".

Claim 1:
An access control system (<NUM>) for providing visually aided access to a building location having a locking device, the access control system comprising:
a wireless device of a user comprising credentials including a virtual key to unlock the locking device;
a smart lighting system;
the locking device; and
a building management system in communication with the wireless device (<NUM>), the smart lighting system and the locking device (<NUM>), the building management system being configured to:
assign a lighting attribute (70a, 70b) to the user; and
communicate the lighting attribute to the wireless device;
wherein the wireless device is configured to display the lighting attribute;
wherein the smart lighting system is configured to:
receive, from the building management system, the lighting attribute; and
display the lighting attribute to guide the user to the building location;
and wherein the building management system is configured to communicate with at least the wireless device and the smart lighting system to deactivate the lighting attribute (70a, 70b) such that the lighting attribute is no longer visually displayed when the locking device has been unlocked by the user with valid credentials.