Wireless Visitor Navigation System for Building Wayfinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Visitors often get lost in unfamiliar buildings, such as hospitals and government agencies, and may inadvertently access restricted areas due to the lack of effective navigation systems.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system that includes a check-in computer for recording identification and destination information, and a wireless communicator to provide directions through navigation stations using a unique wireless identifier, ensuring visitors reach their intended destinations while avoiding restricted areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a navigation system is implemented to assist visitors, then navigation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wireless communicator as an intermediary device that bridges the check-in computer and navigation stations. This mediator carries identification information and enables wireless communication throughout the building, allowing the system to track visitor location and provide directions without requiring complex infrastructure at every navigation point.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation system is divided into discrete functional components: a check-in computer for initial registration, multiple distributed navigation stations for directional guidance, and portable wireless communicators for visitor identification. This segmentation allows each component to be simple and independent, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining navigation accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple navigation stations are deployed throughout the building, then navigation coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each navigation station is designed as a universal device that can identify visitors through wireless communication, determine their destination, calculate directions, and provide guidance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized equipment at different locations, allowing the same simple station design to be deployed throughout the entire building for comprehensive coverage.
3Reliability
If visitor identification and tracking are implemented, then security control is improved, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary identification information (name, destination, wireless identifier) at the check-in point and stores it locally in the wireless communicator. This extraction approach minimizes data transmission and storage requirements, reducing the risk of information loss while maintaining sufficient data for navigation and security purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A navigation system and method which provides direction to visitors in buildings or groups of buildings. The system includes a check-in computer for recording identification information and destination information of a person upon entry into a building, for interrogating a wireless communicator associated with the person to obtain a wireless identifier, and for storing the identification information, the destination information, and the wireless identifier in a record. The system further includes a plurality of navigation stations for receiving the wireless identifier along a route of the person, for determining directions to a next navigation station along the route based upon the destination information in the record, and for providing the directions to the person.