Abstract: To prevent the spread of hospital-acquired infections, embodiments described herein monitor mobile device usage in clinical settings (by a physician, nurse, etc.) to characterize potential pathogenic contamination of the mobile device, the user's hands, and the surfaces in contact with the device. Our method considers the physical properties of how the device is handled and held during use, as well as the location and setting before, during, and after use to estimate potential contamination and transmission of pathogens. A system can use the estimation, along with knowledge (e.g., of the user's upcoming schedule) to alert them of potential contamination hazards and suggest when to avoid mobile device use as well as when to sanitize the device and user's hands.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method performed in a computerized system incorporating a central processing unit, a localization signal receiver, a plurality of sensors, separate and distinct from the localization signal receiver, and a memory, the computer-implemented method involving: using the central processing unit to initialize a plurality of particles based on an information on a map graph; using the central processing unit to repeatedly execute a particle filter loop, wherein the particle filter loop includes: using the central processing unit to perform a motion update of the plurality of particles; using the central processing unit to perform a measurement update of the plurality of particles; and using the central processing unit to perform a resampling of the plurality of particles based on particle importance weights and the map graph information. The location of the computerized system is subsequently determined based on the plurality of particles.

Abstract: A system and method that extend the protections provided by the existing state-of-the-art to provide location-aware two-factor authentication for authenticating users of computer systems. There are many potential use cases where location-aware two-factor authentication could be of value. For instance, for purposes of access to critical business documentation, such as intellectual property, financial data, sales data for publicly traded companies, and personal medical information are all heavily protected information artifacts in most organizations. Providing controls to insure this information is only accessed in secure, trusted locations could greatly reduce the potential of inappropriate information access.

Abstract: A system and method for automating scheduling and coordination activities associated with the organizational responsibilities of hosting visitors (whether from the same company or an external organization). System leverages location technologies and other services to track the location of visitors, hosts, and other key participants related to the agenda items. The system performs the matching tracking information of visitor(s), participant(s), and the location of agenda event(s). The design of the described system rests on the assumption that visitors are a special type of person in an organization whose movements are actively tracked and managed through organizational policies and/or practices.

Abstract: This disclosure focuses on providing a technology framework for creating secure, location-based applications. The disclosure details a technology solution that can allow users to access secure information on commodity computation devices (e.g., tablets and smartphones) without a heavy infrastructure burden. The technology consists of a collection of software services that run on end-user devices, services on network accessible servers (e.g., cloud), and a specialized device that provides high-assurance location services atop a tamper resistant, trusted computation platform.

Abstract: System is built using the particle filter (PF) framework which utilizes data from round trip time (RTT) ranging or BLE signal strength to perform both (1) sensing the environment by using the scan data during measurement phase and (2) detect motion state of the user which it utilized during the motion update phase of PF. To detect the motion state of the user the temporal difference of the received ranging scans is used over which is utilized within the PF framework. The primary advantage of the described technique is that the velocity parameter of the PF can dynamically be updated based on the motion state as estimated using ranging scans.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, the method being performed in a computerized system incorporating a central processing unit, a localization signal receiver, a display and a memory, the computer-implemented method involving: receiving a request from a user for a content; receiving at least one localization signal using the localization signal receiver; determining a location based on the received localization signal; using a plurality of content access rules to determine whether the requested content is authorized to be accessed from the determined location; and providing content to the user only if the content is authorized to be accessed from the determined location.

Abstract: A probabilistic motion model to calculate the motion parameters of a user's hand held device using a noisy low cost Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor. Also described is a novel technique to reduce the bias noise present in the aforesaid IMU sensor signal, which results in a better performance of the motion model. The system utilizes a Particle Filter (PF) loop, which fuses radio signal data accumulated from Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons using BLE receiver with the signal from IMU sensor to perform localization and tracking. The Particle Filter loop operates based on a Sequential Monte Carlo technique well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. The described approach provides a solution for both the noise problem in the IMU sensor and a motion model utilized in the Particle Filter loop, which provides better performance despite the noisy IMU sensor.

Abstract: A novel solution to generate an optimal spatial placement map of Radio Frequency (RF) beacons, such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, which can be used for indoor localization. A described embodiment solves for both generating optimal number of beacons required in a given environment and optimizing their location. The solution also incorporates behavior of RF signal due to various environmental factors such as signal reflection and absorption due to static and dynamic obstacles. In one embodiment, the framework is built upon Genetic Algorithm (GA) for optimization of beacon placement. The experimental results achieved using one implementation of the described method reduced the number of beacons by 50% as compared to beacons placed using expert knowledge. Furthermore, the overall localization error increased by ˜0.4 m when the results using the RF/BLE map generated by the described system were compared with the RF/BLE map generated using expert knowledge.

Abstract: To prevent the spread of hospital-acquired infections, embodiments described herein monitor mobile device usage in clinical settings (by a physician, nurse, etc.) to characterize potential pathogenic contamination of the mobile device, the user's hands, and the surfaces in contact with the device. Our method considers the physical properties of how the device is handled and held during use, as well as the location and setting before, during, and after use to estimate potential contamination and transmission of pathogens. A system can use the estimation, along with knowledge (e.g., of the user's upcoming schedule) to alert them of potential contamination hazards and suggest when to avoid mobile device use as well as when to sanitize the device and user's hands.

Abstract: A system and method that extend the protections provided by the existing state-of-the-art to provide location-aware two-factor authentication for authenticating users of computer systems. There are many potential use cases where location-aware two-factor authentication could be of value. For instance, for purposes of access to critical business documentation, such as intellectual property, financial data, sales data for publicly traded companies, and personal medical information are all heavily protected information artifacts in most organizations. Providing controls to insure this information is only accessed in secure, trusted locations could greatly reduce the potential of inappropriate information access.

Abstract: A system and method, which utilizes incremental smoothing and mapping (iSAM) algorithm and automatically builds a beacon location map using various sensor and environmental information. The aforesaid iSAM algorithm fuses received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values available from different beacons in the environment and the information provided by the IMU sensor. The aforesaid iSAM algorithm is capable of simultaneously generating beacon and landmark map and localize the mobile computing device in the environment without having any prior information about any beacon locations. To accommodate for noisy sensor data and achieve better convergence for the iSAM algorithm, the system uses a prior beacon location map, which contains location information of some of the BLE beacons located in the environment. These known beacon locations provide cleaner environmental information to the iSAM algorithm and hence improve the overall estimation of beacon locations, which were not available apriori.

Abstract: A novel solution to generate an optimal spatial placement map of Radio Frequency (RF) beacons, such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, which can be used for indoor localization. A described embodiment solves for both generating optimal number of beacons required in a given environment and optimizing their location. The solution also incorporates behavior of RF signal due to various environmental factors such as signal reflection and absorption due to static and dynamic obstacles. In one embodiment, the framework is built upon Genetic Algorithm (GA) for optimization of beacon placement. The experimental results achieved using one implementation of the described method reduced the number of beacons by 50% as compared to beacons placed using expert knowledge. Furthermore, the overall localization error increased by ˜0.4 m when the results using the RF/BLE map generated by the described system were compared with the RF/BLE map generated using expert knowledge.

Abstract: A probabilistic motion model to calculate the motion parameters of a user's hand held device using a noisy low cost Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor. Also described is a novel technique to reduce the bias noise present in the aforesaid IMU sensor signal, which results in a better performance of the motion model. The system utilizes a Particle Filter (PF) loop, which fuses radio signal data accumulated from Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons using BLE receiver with the signal from IMU sensor to perform localization and tracking. The Particle Filter loop operates based on a Sequential Monte Carlo technique well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. The described approach provides a solution for both the noise problem in the IMU sensor and a motion model utilized in the Particle Filter loop, which provides better performance despite the noisy IMU sensor.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method performed in a computerized system incorporating a central processing unit, a localization signal receiver, a plurality of sensors, separate and distinct from the localization signal receiver, and a memory, the computer-implemented method involving: using the central processing unit to initialize a plurality of particles based on an information on a map graph; using the central processing unit to repeatedly execute a particle filter loop, wherein the particle filter loop includes: using the central processing unit to perform a motion update of the plurality of particles; using the central processing unit to perform a measurement update of the plurality of particles; and using the central processing unit to perform a resampling of the plurality of particles based on particle importance weights and the map graph information. The location of the computerized system is subsequently determined based on the plurality of particles.

Abstract: This disclosure focuses on providing a technology framework for creating secure, location-based applications. The disclosure details a technology solution that can allow users to access secure information on commodity computation devices (e.g., tablets and smartphones) without a heavy infrastructure burden. The technology consists of a collection of software services that run on end-user devices, services on network accessible servers (e.g., cloud), and a specialized device that provides high-assurance location services atop a tamper resistant, trusted computation platform.

Abstract: A system and method, which utilizes incremental smoothing and mapping (iSAM) algorithm and automatically builds a beacon location map using various sensor and environmental information. The aforesaid iSAM algorithm fuses received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values available from different beacons in the environment and the information provided by the IMU sensor. The aforesaid iSAM algorithm is capable of simultaneously generating beacon and landmark map and localize the mobile computing device in the environment without having any prior information about any beacon locations. To accommodate for noisy sensor data and achieve better convergence for the iSAM algorithm, the system uses a prior beacon location map, which contains location information of some of the BLE beacons located in the environment. These known beacon locations provide cleaner environmental information to the iSAM algorithm and hence improve the overall estimation of beacon locations, which were not available apriori.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, the method being performed in a system comprising an electronic lock and a client device comprising a central processing unit, a localization signal receiver and a memory, the computer-implemented method comprising: receiving at least one localization signal using the localization signal receiver; measuring a strength of the received localization signal; using the central processing unit to extract a identifier from the received localization signal; determining a location of the client device based at least on the measured strength of the received localization signal and the extracted identifier; and causing the electronic lock to unlock based on the determined location.

Abstract: A system and method for automating scheduling and coordination activities associated with the organizational responsibilities of hosting visitors (whether from the same company or an external organization). System leverages location technologies and other services to track the location of visitors, hosts, and other key participants related to the agenda items. The system performs the matching tracking information of visitor(s), participant(s), and the location of agenda event(s). The design of the described system rests on the assumption that visitors are a special type of person in an organization whose movements are actively tracked and managed through organizational policies and/or practices.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, the method being performed in a system comprising an electronic lock and a client device comprising a central processing unit, a localization signal receiver and a memory, the computer-implemented method comprising: receiving at least one localization signal using the localization signal receiver; measuring a strength of the received localization signal; using the central processing unit to extract a identifier from the received localization signal; determining a location of the client device based at least on the measured strength of the received localization signal and the extracted identifier; and causing the electronic lock to unlock based on the determined location.