CLIAMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A method for locating a nearest Bluetooth beacon within a plurality of Bluetooth beacons, the method comprising:
identifying a latest highest Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) value Bluetooth beacon associated with a highest RSSI value from within a set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons;
computing at least one average RSSI value for a predefined number of RSSI value detections associated with at least one Bluetooth beacon within a latest and previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons, wherein the at least one Bluetooth beacon is common in the set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons and the previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons;
identifying a highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon from within the latest and previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons, the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon being associated with a highest average RSSI value within the at least one average RSSI value; and
selecting the nearest Bluetooth beacon, from the set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons and the previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons, based on the identifying of the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the identifying of the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the nearest Bluetooth beacon comprises determining whether the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon are the same.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon is selected as the nearest Bluetooth beacon, when the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon are the same.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising predicting a set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons based on Bluetooth beacon sequence data, lost-found beacon data, and a set of detected nearest Bluetooth beacons, when the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon is different from the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon, the Bluetooth beacon sequence data being representative of arrangement of the plurality of Bluetooth beacons.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the lost-found data comprises information associated with lost Bluetooth beacons that failed detection by a mobile device and newly found Bluetooth beacons that are recent detections by the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising predicting the nearest Bluetooth beacon based on historical Bluetooth beacon data using machine learning techniques, when at least one predefined criteria is satisfied, the at least one predefined criteria comprising each of the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon being present within the set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons and each of the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon being absent in the set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons, the historical Bluetooth beacon data comprising mapping of historical nearest Bluetooth beacon to corresponding latest RSSI values associated with each of the plurality of Bluetooth beacons.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising predicting the nearest Bluetooth beacon based on historical Bluetooth beacon data using machine learning techniques, when the lost-found data is not available to predict set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons, the historical Bluetooth beacon data comprising mapping of historical nearest Bluetooth beacon to corresponding latest RSSI values of each of the plurality of Bluetooth beacons.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising confirming the selection of the nearest Bluetooth beacon, when the set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons comprises one of the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising predicting a set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons based on Bluetooth beacon sequence data, lost-found beacon data, and a set of detected nearest Bluetooth beacons, when number of RSSI value detections for each Bluetooth beacon in the set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons is below a predefined threshold. the Bluetooth beacon sequence data being representative of arrangement of the plurality of Bluetooth beacons.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined number of RSSI value detections is determined based on external parameters affecting determination of RSSI values, the external parameters being selected from a group comprising arrangement of the Bluetooth beacons, signal interference, and attenuations in signal strengths due to environmental factors.
11. A mobile device for locating a nearest Bluetooth beacon within a plurality of Bluetooth beacons, the mobile device comprising:
at least one processor; and
a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
identifying a latest highest Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) value Bluetooth beacon associated with a highest RSSI value from within a set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons;
computing at least one average RSSI value for a predefined number of RSSI value detections associated with at least one Bluetooth beacon within a latest and previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons, wherein the at least one Bluetooth beacon is common in the set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons and the previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons;
identifying a highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon from within the latest and previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons, the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon being associated with a highest average RSSI value within the at least one average RSSI value; and

selecting the nearest Bluetooth beacon, from the set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons and the previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons, based on the identifying of the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the identifying of the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the selecting operation further comprise operation of determining whether the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon are the same.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon is selected as the nearest Bluetooth beacon, when the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon are same.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise predicting a set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons based on Bluetooth beacon sequence data, lost-found beacon data, and a set of detected nearest Bluetooth beacons, when the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon is different from the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon, the Bluetooth beacon sequence data being representative of arrangement of the plurality of Bluetooth beacons.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the lost-found data comprises information associated with lost Bluetooth beacons that failed detection by a mobile device and newly found Bluetooth beacons that are recent detections by the mobile device.

16. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise predicting the nearest Bluetooth beacon based on historical Bluetooth beacon data using machine learning techniques, when at least one predefined criteria is satisfied, the at least one predefined criteria comprising each of the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon being present within the set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons and each of the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon being absent in the set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons, the historical Bluetooth beacon data comprising mapping of historical nearest Bluetooth beacon to corresponding latest RSSI values associated with each of the plurality of Bluetooth beacons.

17. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise predicting the nearest Bluetooth beacon based on historical Bluetooth beacon data using machine learning techniques, when the lost-found data is not available to predict set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons, the historical Bluetooth beacon data comprising mapping of historical nearest Bluetooth beacon to corresponding latest RSSI values of each of the plurality of Bluetooth beacons.

18. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise confirming the selection of the nearest Bluetooth beacon, when the set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons comprises one of the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon.

19. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise predicting a set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons based on Bluetooth beacon sequence data, lost-found beacon data, and a set of detected nearest Bluetooth beacons, when number of RSSI value detections for each Bluetooth beacon in the set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons is below a predefined threshold, the historical Bluetooth beacon data comprising mapping of historical nearest Bluetooth beacon to corresponding latest RSSI values of each of the plurality of Bluetooth beacons.

20. A system for locating a nearest Bluetooth beacon within a plurality of Bluetooth beacons, the system comprising:
a mobile device configured to:
identify a latest highest Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) value Bluetooth beacon associated with a highest RSSI value from within a set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons;
compute at least one average RSSI value for a predefined number of RSSI value detections associated with at least one Bluetooth beacon within a latest and previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons, wherein the at least one Bluetooth beacon is common in the set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons and the previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons;
identify a highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon from within the latest and previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons, the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon being associated with a highest average RSSI value within the at least one average RSSI value; and
select the nearest Bluetooth beacon, from the set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons and the previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons, based on the identifying of the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the identifying of the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon; and
a server in communication with the mobile device configured to:
predict a set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons based on Bluetooth beacon sequence data, lost-found beacon data, and a set of detected nearest Bluetooth beacons, when the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon is different from the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon, the Bluetooth beacon sequence data being representative of arrangement of the plurality of Bluetooth beacons.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the server is further configured to predict the nearest Bluetooth beacon based on historical Bluetooth beacon data using machine learning techniques, when at least one predefined criteria is satisfied, the at least one predefined criteria comprising each of the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon being present within the set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons and each of the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon being absent in the set of possible nearest Bluetooth beacons, the historical Bluetooth beacon data comprising mapping of historical nearest Bluetooth beacon to corresponding latest RSSI values associated with each of the plurality of Bluetooth beacons.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for locating a nearest Bluetooth beacon within a plurality of Bluetooth beacons, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to:
identify a latest highest Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) value Bluetooth beacon associated with a highest RSSI value from within a set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons;
compute at least one average RSSI value for a predefined number of RSSI value detections associated with at least one Bluetooth beacon within a latest and previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons, wherein the at least one Bluetooth beacon is common in the set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons and the previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons;
identify a highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon from within the latest and previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons, the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon being associated with a highest average RSSI value within the at least one average RSSI value; and
select the nearest Bluetooth beacon, from the set of latest scanned Bluetooth beacons and the previous set of scanned Bluetooth beacons, based on the identifying of the latest highest RSSI value Bluetooth beacon and the identifying of the highest average RSSI value Bluetooth beacon.

Dated this 28th day of March 2015
Shwetha A Chimalgi
Of K&S Partners
Agent for the Applicant

,TagSPECI:TECHNICAL FIELD
This disclosure relates generally to Bluetooth beacons and more particularly to methods and system for locating nearest Bluetooth beacons.