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The recommendation system provides a proactive and personalized route for a user’s movement indoors or outdoors.
Invention Summary:
Contact tracing has been shown to be an effective disease control measure and a key strategy for preventing further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, smartphone contact tracing tools have seen limited uptake, likely due to user privacy concerns and their reactive rather than proactive nature.
Rutgers researchers have developed a navigation system that proactively provides recommendations to users on the best routes or locations to be in to minimize the risk of contagion. By gathering location information from several sources on a user’s phone, including Wi-Fi Received Signal Strength Indicators (RSSI) and Geo-magnetic field levels the system can provide detailed recommendations while maintaining the user’s privacy. This method can also intake data beyond infection risk and provide recommendations that help users navigate an institution, such as locating nearby study spaces, meeting rooms, or preferred museum routes.
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Market Applications:
- Navigation recommendation for indoor and outdoor venues, including businesses, university campuses, art institutions and events
- End user mobile application
- Mobile device manufacturers
- Governments
Advantages:
- Faster than traditional contact tracing
- Predictive in recommending users a safe route
- Works indoors and outdoors
- Privacy-preserving distributed architecture
- Can incorporate building or campus-specific data
Intellectual Property & Development Status:
Patent pending. Software is available for licensing and/or research collaboration. For any business development and other collaborative partnerships contact
marketingbd@research.rutgers.edu
