System and method for remote communication

• US 10,080,121 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TBWA Raad Middle East
• Original Assignee: Tbwa\Raad Middle East
• Inventors: Guida, Rafael
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hu, Rui
• Application Number:
  US13/836,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20140024312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,013 Days
• Field of Search: 455 303, 455 304, 455408, 455419, 455420, 455 92, 4551511, 455352, 455353, 455 411- 413
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A method, device, and system for a user to place an order with a service provider using a Bluetooth-enabled apparatus that connects to a Bluetooth-enabled phone. Upon pressing a button on the Bluetooth-enabled apparatus, the apparatus and the phone automatically pair, and the phone automatically dials a preset number and sends a preset message to the service provider. A confirmation can be sent to the user. An order can also be placed automatically when the lid of the apparatus is opened. The apparatus can include indicator lights to signal errors and/or the status of the order.

Claims

1. A method for remote communication between a sender using a communication device, a phone, and a recipient device, the method comprising the steps of:

at the recipient device, receiving a communication including a message from the phone, wherein;

the communication is sent by the phone based on information identifying the recipient device and in automated response to a wireless communication from the communication device,

the phone sends the communication by automatically calling a telephone number of the recipient device in response to the wireless communication,

a single user action applied to a button on the communication device is sufficient to trigger an activation of the communication device without any user selection of order details, and

the communication device sends the wireless communication to the phone in response to the activation;

at the recipient device, processing a purchase order in response to receiving the communication by;

associating the purchase order with a user account of the sender; and

extracting order details that were included in the message;

wherein the order details include information describing a good or a service to be purchased, and

wherein the order details were predefined by programming the communication device through a connection to a computer.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the communication device includes a BLUETOOTH transmitter and the phone includes a BLUETOOTH receiver.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the phone is at least one of a mobile phone and a landline telephone.

4. The method accordingly to claim 1, wherein the phone automatically disconnects after a specifiable time period within which the recipient device does not receive the call.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recipient device automatically sends an acknowledgment to the phone upon receipt of the message.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information identifying the recipient device is stored at the communication device and wirelessly transmitted to the phone in the wireless communication.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the order details are programmed over the Internet.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recipient device:

records a telephone number of the phone;

cross-references the telephone number of the phone with a database listing a desired order; and

confirms the desired order by sending an SMS message to the telephone number of the phone.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the communication device:

includes a global positioning system; and

is configured to include the location of the communication device in the wireless communication that the communication device sends to the phone.

10. A method for remote communication between a sender using a communication device, a second communication device, and a recipient device, comprising:

at the recipient device, receiving a communication from the second communication device, wherein the communication is sent by the second communication device based on information identifying the recipient device and in automated response to a wireless communication from the first communication device, wherein a single user action applied to a button on the first communication device is sufficient to trigger an activation of the first communication device without any user selection of order details, and wherein the first communication device sends the wireless communication to the second communication device in response to the activation;

at the recipient device, processing a purchase order in response to receiving the communication by;

associating the purchase order with a user account of the sender;

retrieving a missed call message transmitted by the second communication device in response to a transmission error during the call, wherein the missed call message includes a telephone number of the second communication device, wherein the second communication device is at least one of;

a mobile phone and a telephone, and wherein the second communication device sends the communication by automatically calling a telephone number of the recipient device in response to the wireless communication; and

looking up stored order details by cross-referencing the telephone number with a database to obtain the order details from the database.

11. An apparatus for transmitting a predefined message that triggers processing of a purchase order, the apparatus comprising:

a button,

wherein a single user action applied to the button is sufficient to trigger an activation of the apparatus without any user selection of order details;

a memory; and

a wireless communications circuit powered by a battery;

wherein;

the apparatus is configured to wirelessly transmit the message to a phone using the wireless communications circuit in response to the activation,

the message is configured to automatically trigger the phone to forward the message by automatically calling a telephone number of a recipient device in automated response to receipt of the message at the phone, and

the message is further configured to cause the recipient device to process the purchase order in response to receiving the message by extracting order details that were stored at the apparatus prior to the activation,

wherein the order details that were stored include information describing a good or a service to be purchased,

wherein the order details were stored by programming the apparatus through a connection to a computer, and

wherein the order details are extracted from the message.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a magnetic strip for connecting the apparatus to a magnetic surface; and

a lid.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an indicator that shows whether the wireless communications circuit is paired with the phone.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus automatically powers on when the lid is opened, and the wireless communications circuit automatically pairs with the phone.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a connection port for connecting the apparatus to the computer for programming the apparatus with the order details.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the wireless communications circuit is configured to use a BLUETOOTH protocol.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the message is programmed into the memory.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the order details are programmed over the Internet.