Dual-mode communication devices and methods

• US 10,027,361 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2017
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin Griffin
• Original Assignee: Kevin Griffin
• Inventors: Griffin, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US15/693,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20180076841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412, 4551274
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/355 Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/538 for performing operations on behalf of the game client, e.g. rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 : involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6137 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Methods, systems, and techniques for dual-mode communication are provided. Example embodiments provide an enhanced mobile device that includes a low latency transceiver and a high latency transceiver. In some cases, the enhanced mobile device is operated by a customer and configured to interact with a point of service computing system via both the low and high latency transceivers to facilitate a customer interaction at a point of service location. For example, the enhanced mobile device may transmit via its high latency transceiver an indication that it is en route to the point of service location. Upon arrival at the point of service location, the enhanced mobile device may transmit via its low latency transceiver an indication that the customer has arrived at the point of service location. The point of service computing system may then provide a service based on the information received from the enhanced mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for providing a service at a point of service location, the method comprising:

managing a point of service dual-mode communication environment that includes a point of service computing system and a mobile device that is operated by a corresponding customer and wherein the mobile device includes a low latency transceiver and a high latency transceiver, by;

receiving an indication that the customer is en route to the point of service location, the indication received from the mobile device via its high latency transceiver;

in response to the receiving the indication that the customer is en route to the point of service location, determining an order for the customer by looking up an order predetermined by the customer, wherein the interaction between the customer and the point of service computing system for determining the order is hands free;

determining that the customer has arrived at the point of service location, based at least in part on data received from the mobile device via the low latency transceiver; and

providing a service based on the received indication, the received data, and the determined order.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the receiving an indication that the customer is en route to the point of service location, estimating arrival time of the user at the point of service location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the order for the customer by looking up the order determines the order by looking up a preferred order associated with the customer and scheduling processing of the determined order.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the receiving an indication that the customer is en route to the point of service location, allocating or scheduling resources to process an order for the customer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based on a motion/image sensor, the position of the customer relative to other customers at the location; and

arranging orders associated with the customers based on the determined position.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one or more persons that are traveling with the customer, the identifying based on an image sensor and/or data received from low latency communications received from mobile devices associated with the one or more persons; and

in response, modifying the order based on the number and identity of the customer and the one or more persons.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a vehicle operated by the customer, the identifying including image processing to determine a license plate number and/or to determine the make, model, and/or color of the vehicle; and

wherein the order is based on the vehicle operated by the customer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the determining that the customer has arrived at the point of service location, assigning the customer to a priority service queue.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the determining that the customer has arrived at the point of service location, confirming an order with the customer via the low latency transceiver.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving via the low latency transceiver an order and/or order confirmation from the customer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a service includes:

providing or processing at least one of;

an item purchase, a financial transaction, a food or drink order, a health care service, a government agency service, an airline or other transportation service, a ticketing service, a check-in service, or a social networking service.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving an indication that the customer is en route to the point of service location includes:

receiving a message from the mobile device via IP communication.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a service includes:

receiving a message from the mobile device via the Internet.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the customer has arrived at the point of service location includes:

receiving a message from the mobile device via a 2.4 gigahertz communication link.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the customer has arrived at the point of service location includes:

receiving a message from the mobile device via a communication connection that has a latency of less than 15 milliseconds.

16. A system for providing a service at a point of service location, the system comprising:

a point of service computing system; and

multiple mobile devices that are each operated by a corresponding customer and that each include a low latency transceiver, a high latency transceiver, and a module that is configured to;

communicate first data with the point of service computing system via its high latency transceiver, the first data including an indication that the customer is en route to the point of service location; and

communicate second data with the point of service computing system via its low latency transceiver, wherein the second data includes an indication that the customer has arrived at the point of service locations;

wherein the point of service computing system in response to receiving the first data from a mobile device that includes the indication that a corresponding customer is en route to the point of service location, determines an order for the corresponding customer by looking up an order predetermined by the customer, wherein the interaction between the customer and the point of service computing system for determining the order is hands free.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the multiple mobile devices are each one of a smart phone or a tablet computer.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the point of service computing system includes a motion sensor that is configured to track position and movement of users of the multiple mobile devices, and wherein the point of service computing system is configured to, upon receiving from one of the mobile devices an indication that the customer has arrived at the point of service location, transmit ordering information to the one mobile device via the high latency transceiver of the one mobile device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the low latency transceiver includes at least one of a 2.4 gigahertz transmitter with a latency of less than 10 milliseconds, a Bluetooth transceiver, a transceiver with a maximum range of about 10 meters.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the high latency transceiver communicates with the point of service computing system via at least one of IP communication, a Wi-Fi connection, a 3G connection, a 4G connection, and/or an LTE connection.