Providing navigation services using multiple electrical devices

Abstract

A system for providing navigation services to a user in a volume of space can include a user device disposed in the volume of space, where the user device broadcasts, at a first time, at least one first communication signal into the volume of space, where the at least one first communication signal includes a first identification of the user and a destination of the user. The system can also include multiple electrical devices disposed in the volume of space, where each electrical device includes a transceiver, where the transceiver of a first subset of the electrical devices receives the at least one first communication signal broadcast by the user device, where the first subset of electrical devices sends a second communication signal based on the at least one first communication signal. The system can further include a controller communicably coupled to the plurality of electrical devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing navigation services to a user in a volume of space, comprising:
 a first electrical device among a plurality of electrical devices disposed in the volume of space, wherein the first electrical device comprises a first transceiver and a first controller, wherein the first transceiver receives at a first time at least one first communication signal broadcast by a user device of the user, wherein the at least one first communication signal comprises a first identification of the user and a destination of the user, wherein the first controller:
 extracts the first identification and the destination from the at least one first communication signal; 
 determines a first user device location of the user device in the volume of space at the first time based on the at least one first communication signal and a first electrical device location of the first electrical device; 
 identifies the destination in the volume of space; 
 generates at least one navigation path from the user device location of the user device to the destination in the volume of space; 
 selects an optimal navigation path from among the at least one navigation path; and 
 sends, using the first transceiver, the optimal navigation path to the user device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second electrical device among a plurality of electrical devices disposed in the volume of space, wherein the second electrical device comprises a second transceiver and a second controller, wherein the second transceiver receives at the first time the at least one first communication signal broadcast by a user device of the user, wherein the second controller:
 determines the user device location of the user device in the volume of space based on the at least one first communication signal and a second electrical device location of the second electrical device; 
 generates a second communication signal that includes the user device location; and 
 sends, using the second transceiver, the second communication signal to the first electrical device, 
   wherein the first controller further determines the user device location of the user device using the second communication signal.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical device comprises a wireless access controller. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first controller further sends, using the first transceiver, the first user device location, the optimal navigation path, the first identification of the user, and the destination to a network manager. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical devices comprises a plurality of light fixtures. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication signal is a radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first controller further sends at least one alternative navigation path to the user device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optimal navigation path is displayed on a navigation services application loaded on the user device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user device broadcasts, at a second time, at least one second communication signal into the volume of space, wherein the at least one second communication signal is received by a second electrical device located in the volume of space, wherein the second electrical device comprises a second transceiver and a second controller, wherein the second transceiver receives the at least one second communication signal, and wherein the second controller:
 receives, using the second transceiver, the first user device location, the optimal navigation path, the first identification of the user, and the destination;   determines a second user device location of the user device in the volume of space at the second time based on the at least one first communication signal and a first electrical device location of the first electrical device; and   compares the second user device location with the optimal navigation path.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second controller further:
 determines that the second user device location of the user device at the second time corresponds with the optimal navigation path; and   sends an update of the optimal navigation path to the user device, wherein the update shows progress of the user device along the optimal navigation path at the second time.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second controller further:
 determines that the second user device location of the user device at the second time deviates from the optimal navigation path; and   sends an update of the optimal navigation path to the user device, wherein the update shows a different optimal navigation path that is generated and selected based on the second user device position of the user device at the second time relative to the destination.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to at least one second communication signal broadcast at a second time by the user device and received by the first transceiver, wherein the at least one second communication signal comprises a new destination, the first controller:
 extracts the first identification and the new destination from the at least one second communication signal;   determines a second user device location of the user device in the volume of space at the second time based on the at least one second communication signal and the first electrical device location of the first electrical device;   identifies the new destination in the volume of space;   generates at least one new navigation path from the second user device location of the user device at the second time to the new destination in the volume of space;   selects a new optimal navigation path from among the at least one new navigation path; and   sends the new optimal navigation path to the user device.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to at least one second communication signal broadcast at a second time by the user device and received by the first transceiver, wherein the at least one second communication signal comprises a stop before reaching the destination, the first controller:
 extracts the first identification and the new destination from the at least one second communication signal;   determines a second user device location of the user device in the volume of space at the second time based on the at least one second communication signal and the first electrical device location of the first electrical device;   evaluates the stop of the user in the volume of space relative to the optimal navigation path;   generates an updated optimal navigation path based on the stop; and   sends the updated optimal navigation path to the user device.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to at least one second communication signal broadcast at a second time by the user device and received by the first transceiver, wherein the at least one second communication signal comprises a stop before reaching the destination, the first controller:
 extracts the first identification and the new destination from the at least one second communication signal;   determines a second user device location of the user device in the volume of space at the second time based on the at least one third communication signal and the first electrical device location of the first electrical device;   evaluates the stop of the user in the volume of space relative to the optimal navigation path;   generates a new optimal navigation path based on the stop; and   sends the new optimal navigation path to the user device.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optimal navigation path includes an estimated amount of time to reach the destination. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one first communication further comprises special circumstances of the user, wherein the estimated amount of time to reach the destination accounts for the special circumstances. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first transceiver further receives at least one second communication signal from a third-party system, wherein the at least one second communication signal comprises information about an obstacle in the optimal navigation path, wherein the first controller further:
 extracts the information about the obstacle in the optimal navigation path;   determines a second user device location of user device in the volume of space at a second time;   generates at least one new navigation path from the second user device location of the user device at the second time based on the information about the obstacle;   selects a new optimal navigation path from among the at least one new navigation path; and   sends the new optimal navigation path to the user device.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first controller further sends possible stops to the user device along with the optimal navigation path. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first communication signal is transmitted using Bluetooth Low Energy. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first communication signal is sent using a navigation services application loaded on the user device.