Secure beacon-based location systems and methods

• Main Authors: South, John A, Schiller, Michael
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.03.2020
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

A method for secure, beacon-based emergency location is disclosed. The method includes detecting, with an app instance executing on a user device, a signal from a beacon disposed in a geographical location physically proximate to the user device, and transmitting in response to the detecting app instance verification information to the beacon. Further, the method includes receiving, with the app instance executing on the user device, beacon verification information from the beacon, the beacon verification information being based at least partially on the app instance verification information, and transmitting the beacon verification information to an emergency information server. The method also includes authenticating, with the emergency information server, the beacon verification information to verify that the user device is physically proximate to the beacon and, if the beacon verification information is authentic, determining the geographical location of the user device based on the geographical location of the beacon.