System for location based triggers for mobile devices

• US 10,194,291 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2018
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyfan, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dyfan, LLC
• Inventors: Andrews, Scott Sturges, Fuchs, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Manoharan, Muthuswamy
• Application Number:
  US15/947,758
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• 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

Various systems are provided comprising: a building including one or more facilities each including at least one broadcast short-range communications unit having a fixed location, an application/computer code configured for execution by at least one of a plurality of mobile devices, and at least one server, that, together, are configured to cooperate to trigger one or more mobile device actions including causing to be output visual information, based on particular location-relevant information that is, in turn, based on at least one value.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a building including a plurality of facilities therein each including at least one broadcast short-range communications unit having a fixed location and configured to;

generate one or more broadcast messages including an address portion and a plurality of fields including at least one field with at least one value, the one or more broadcast messages including a first identifier field with the at least one value being the same for each of at least a first subset of a plurality of the broadcast short-range communications units in the building, and a second identifier field with an other value that is different for each of at least a second subset of the plurality of the broadcast short-range communications units in the building,

broadcast, via a first wireless communications protocol, the one or more broadcast messages including the address portion, the plurality of fields, and the at least one value, for intended receipt by a plurality of mobile devices in a communication range of the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit, and

re-broadcast, via the first wireless communications protocol, the one or more broadcast messages including the address portion, the plurality of fields, and the at least one value, for intended receipt by the plurality of mobile devices in the communication range of the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit;

code configured to be executed by at least one of the plurality of mobile devices, the code, when executed, configured to;

cause display, via a display of the at least one mobile device, of an option for causing visual information to be output via the at least one mobile device,

receive an indication of a user input for the option displayed via the display of the at least one mobile device,

receive an indication of a receipt, from the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit and via the first wireless communications protocol, of the one or more broadcast messages including the address portion, the plurality of fields, and the at least one value, and

cause to be sent, from the at least one mobile device and via a second wireless communications protocol and an Internet Protocol, at least one message; and

at least one server configured to;

receive, from the at least one mobile device and via the Internet protocol, the at least one message,

in response to the receipt, from the at least one mobile device and via the Internet protocol, of the at least one message;

retrieve location-relevant information, and

after the location-relevant information is retrieved, cause to be sent, from the at least one server to the at least one mobile device and via the Internet protocol, a response message including the location-relevant information;

said code, when executed, further configured to;

receive, from the at least one server and via the second wireless communications protocol and the Internet Protocol, the response message including the location-relevant information, and

after the receipt, from the at least one server and via the second wireless communications protocol, of the response message including the location-relevant information;

cause to be output, via the at least one mobile device, the visual information, based on the location-relevant information and whether a threshold has been met, the visual information being based on user-specific demographic or preference information;

wherein the system is configured such that the location-relevant information includes at least one image, and the system is further configured such that, after the indication of the user input is received and after the output of the visual information is caused, subsequent output of different visual information, that is brand- or product-specific, is caused as the at least one mobile device is moved among the plurality of the facilities of the building.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit is incapable of accessing the location-relevant information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the at least one value of the one or more of the plurality of fields is associated with the location-relevant information for permitting the location-relevant information to be retrieved based on the at least one value.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of:

a location of the at least one mobile device is capable of being identified by cooperating with a plurality of wireless components utilizing received signal strength measurements;

the second wireless communications protocol includes a WiFi wireless communications protocol;

the second wireless communications protocol includes a cellular wireless communications protocol;

at least one of the plurality of fields is part of a header;

at least one of the plurality of fields is capable of having a null value;

the plurality of fields are part of a header;

the plurality of fields are portions of at least one identifier;

the plurality of fields are portions of at least one identifier;

the at least one value takes the same form in connection with the one or more broadcast messages and the at least one message;

the indication of the user input includes a signal that results from a detection of the user input;

the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages includes a signal that results from the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages;

the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages, includes the at least one value;

the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages, includes only the at least one value;

the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages includes the address portion, the plurality of fields, and the at least one value;

the at least one value includes an address;

the at least one value includes an identifier;

the option is displayed in connection with a message and the user input involves a contact to a predetermined location;

the option involves a preference setting;

the option is associated with a use of the code;

the option for causing to be output, via the at least one mobile device, the visual information, is for allowing the user to control whether the system operates to output the visual information;

the option for causing to be output, via the at least one mobile device, the visual information, is for allowing the user to control whether the system operates to output the visual information in connection with the building;

the option for causing to be output, via the at least one mobile device, the visual information, is for allowing the user to control whether the system operates to send the at least one message and receive the location-relevant information, in order to output the visual information in connection with the building;

the at least one message is caused to be sent before the receipt of the indication of the user input;

the at least one message is caused to be sent after the receipt of the indication of the user input;

the at least one message is caused to be sent in response to the receipt of the indication of the user input;

the at least one message includes the at least one value;

the at least one message is based on the at least one value;

the at least one message is independent of the at least one value;

the at least one message is used in retrieving the location-relevant information by being used to locate the location-relevant information;

the location-relevant information is retrieved in response to the receipt, from the at least one mobile device and via the Internet protocol, of the at least one message, with no intermediate operation therebetween;

the location-relevant information is retrieved in response to the receipt, from the at least one mobile device and via the Internet protocol, of the at least one message, with at least one intermediate operation therebetween;

the one or more broadcast messages are received and the at least one message is caused to be sent via the same network I/O unit;

the one or more broadcast messages are received and the at least one message is caused to be sent via different network I/O units;

the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit is configured to automatically generate the one or more broadcast messages for an unsolicited broadcast thereof;

the Internet protocol includes a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet protocol;

the plurality of facilities include one or more spaces;

the plurality of facilities include one or more departments;

the building includes a retail space;

the building includes a retail space in a shopping mall;

the visual information, the location-relevant information, and the causing to be output are mobile device-independent;

the user-specific demographic or preference information includes the demographic information;

the user-specific demographic or preference information includes the preference information;

the user-specific demographic or preference information includes the demographic and the preference information;

the visual information is based on the user-specific demographic or preference information by being retrieved based on the user-specific demographic or preference information;

the visual information is based on the user-specific demographic or preference information by being selected based on the user-specific demographic or preference information;

the visual information is based on the user-specific demographic or preference information by being conditionally output based on the user-specific demographic or preference information;

the different visual information is brand-specific;

the different visual information is product-specific;

the different visual information is brand and product-specific;

the visual information is caused to be output based on the whether the threshold has been met, by being caused to be output if the threshold is met;

the visual information is caused to be output based on the whether the threshold has been met, by being caused to be output if the threshold is not met;

the threshold is utilized to determine a relevance of the visual information;

the threshold relates to hardware of the at least one mobile device;

the threshold relates to software of the at least one mobile device;

the threshold relates to the code;

the threshold relates to use of the code;

the threshold relates to prior use of the code;

the threshold indicates use of the code to display the visual information;

the threshold is a number of devices;

the threshold is a number of users;

the threshold is a number of social network site members;

the threshold relates to accumulated data associated with a parameter;

the first broadcast short-range communications unit includes a dedicated unit;

the first broadcast short-range communications unit includes a network information outlet;

the first broadcast short-range communications unit includes a dedicated short-range communications roadside unit;

the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit is capable of only transmitting;

the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit is capable of transmitting and receiving;

a range of the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit is that mandated by a Bluetooth wireless communications protocol;

the fixed location results from an installation of the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit at a location;

the fixed location results from an installation of the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit, which is initially portable, at a particular location;

the first wireless communications protocol includes a Bluetooth protocol;

the causing to be output is carried out, at least in part, by the at least one mobile device and is caused, at least in part, by the code;

the causing to be output is carried out, at least in part, by the at least one mobile device and is supported, at least in part, by the code;

the location-relevant information is retrieved, by using the at least message to retrieve the location-relevant information;

the code is part of an application;

the location-relevant information includes information that is relevant to a location;

the location-relevant information includes information that is relevant to a brand located at a location;

the location-relevant information includes information that is relevant to a product located at a location;

the location-relevant information is associated with the at least one value, by being retrieved based on the at least one value;

the location-relevant information is associated with the at least one value, so as to be retrieved from memory on the at least one mobile device based on the at least one value;

the location-relevant information is associated with the at least one value, so as to be retrieved from memory on the at least one server based on the at least one value;

the visual information is caused to be output based on the location-relevant information, by including at least a portion of the location-relevant information;

the visual information is caused to be output based on the location-relevant information, by being triggered in response to the receipt of the response message including the location-relevant information;

the one or more broadcast messages, the at least one message, and the response message are of a different format;

the one or more broadcast messages and the at least one message are identical;

the one or more broadcast messages, the at least one message, and the response message are the same in at least one aspect;

the one or more broadcast messages, the at least one message, and the response message are different in at least one aspect;

the visual information is derived from the location-relevant information;

the visual information is based on the location-relevant information;

the visual information includes at least a portion of the location-relevant information;

the visual information includes at least one of a plurality of different images, and at least one of;

at least one of the different images is accessible using the visual information, at least one of the different images is accessible via the visual information, at least one of the different images is accessible by being included in the visual information, or each of the different images is accessible via different visual information;

the option includes a selectable option for information delivery being conditioned;

the option includes a selectable option for information delivery being conditioned on a service attribute;

the option includes a selectable option related to at least one aspect of information delivery;

the option is caused to be displayed after the receipt of the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages;

the option is caused to be displayed before the receipt of the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages;

the output of the visual information is caused after the receipt of the response message, by being caused in response to the receipt of the response message;

the output of the visual information is caused in response to the receipt of the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages, by retrieving the location-relevant information from memory on the at least one mobile device in response to the receipt of the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages;

the output of the visual information is caused in response to the receipt of the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages, by retrieving the location-relevant information from memory on the at least one server in response to the receipt of the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages;

the one or more broadcast messages are broadcasted and re-broadcasted for intended receipt by the plurality of mobile devices in the communication range of the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit, where the one or more broadcast messages are broadcasted and re-broadcasted for intended receipt by the plurality of mobile devices at the same time;

the one or more broadcast messages are broadcasted and re-broadcasted for intended receipt by the plurality of mobile devices in the communication range of the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit, where the one or more broadcast messages are broadcasted and re-broadcasted for intended receipt by the plurality of mobile devices at different times;

the causation of the output of the visual information is triggered based on a location of the at least one mobile device;

the causation of the output of the visual information is triggered based on the receipt of the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages;

the causation of the output of the visual information is conditioned on the receipt of the indication of the user input;

the at least one server includes a proxy server;

or

the system further comprises the at least one mobile device.

5. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a computer configured to display at least one configuration interface for receiving an administrator input in connection with the other value.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit uses the first wireless communications protocol so as to have a first range that is shorter than a second range of the at least one mobile device when the at least one mobile device uses the second wireless communications protocol.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that, after the receipt of the indication of the user input, the visual information is automatically caused to be output, in response to the receipt of the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages that are broadcasted after the receipt of the indication of the user input.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the visual information is automatically caused to be output without requiring further communication with the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit, after the receipt of the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the causing to be output is based on user feedback information received from a user of the at least one mobile device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the one or more broadcast messages are re-broadcasted at predetermined intervals.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the subsequent output of the different visual information is capable of being caused without additional user input after the user input.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the code, when executed, is configured to cause the at least one message to be sent and the response message to be received, before the receipt of the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the code, when executed, is configured to cause the at least one message to be sent, in response to the receipt of the indication of the receipt of the one or more broadcast messages.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the building includes a shopping mall, and the plurality of facilities include different private facilities associated with different brands, and further include at least one public food court that includes at least one public food court broadcast short-range communications unit.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the building includes a retail space, and the plurality of facilities have different locations in the retail space and are associated with different product types.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the user-specific demographic or preference information is received based on particular user input from a user of the at least one mobile device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the user-specific demographic or preference information includes age information, gender information, hobby information, and interest information.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the visual information is caused to be output based on whether the threshold has been met, by being caused to be output if the threshold is not met.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the visual information is caused to be output based on the whether the threshold has been met, by being caused to be output if the threshold is not met, where the threshold relates to prior use of the code.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications protocol is a personal area network protocol and the second wireless communications protocol is a WiFi protocol or a cellular protocol.

21. A system, comprising:

a building including a plurality of facilities therein each including a broadcast short-range communications means having a fixed location and configured to;

generate one or more broadcast messages including an address portion and a plurality of fields including at least one field with at least one value, the one or more broadcast messages including a first identifier field with the at least one value being the same for each of at least a first subset of a plurality of the broadcast short-range communications means in the building, and a second identifier field with an other value that is different for each of at least a second subset of the plurality of the broadcast short-range communications means in the building,

broadcast, via a first wireless communications protocol, the one or more broadcast messages including the address portion, the plurality of fields, and the at least one value, for intended receipt by a plurality of mobile devices in a communication range of the broadcast short-range communications means, and

re-broadcast, via the first wireless communications protocol, the one or more broadcast messages including the address portion, the plurality of fields, and the at least one value, for intended receipt by the plurality of mobile devices in the communication range of the broadcast short-range communications means;

code means configured to be executed by at least one of the plurality of mobile devices, the code means, when executed, configured to;

cause display, via a display of the at least one mobile device, of an option for causing to be output, via the at least one mobile device, visual information,

receive an indication of a user input for the option displayed via the display of the at least one mobile device,

receive an indication of a receipt, from the broadcast short-range communications means and via the first wireless communications protocol, of the one or more broadcast messages including the address portion, the plurality of fields, and the at least one value, and

cause to be sent, from the at least one mobile device and via a second wireless communications protocol and an Internet Protocol, at least one message; and

at least one server means configured to;

receive, from the at least one mobile device and via the Internet protocol, the at least one message,

in response to the receipt, from the at least one mobile device and via the Internet protocol, of the at least one message;

retrieve location-relevant information, and

after the location-relevant information is retrieved, cause to be sent, from the at least one server means to the at least one mobile device and via the Internet protocol, a response message including the location-relevant information;

said code means, when executed, further configured to;

receive, from the at least one server means and via the second wireless communications protocol and the Internet Protocol, the response message including the location-relevant information, and

after the receipt, from the at least one server means and via the second wireless communications protocol, of the response message including the location-relevant information;

cause, utilizing the code means, to be output, via the at least one mobile device, the visual information based on the location-relevant information and whether a threshold has been met, the visual information being based on user-specific demographic or preference information;

wherein the system is configured such that the location-relevant information includes at least one image, and the system is further configured such that, after the indication of the user input is received and after the output of the visual information is caused, subsequent output of different visual information, that is brand- or product-specific, is caused as the at least one mobile device is moved among the plurality of the facilities of the building.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the first wireless communications protocol is a sensor network protocol and the second wireless communications protocol is a WiFi protocol or a cellular protocol.

23. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing at least one broadcast short-range communications unit configured to;

generate one or more broadcast messages including an address portion and a plurality of fields including at least one field with at least one value, the one or more broadcast messages including a first identifier field with the at least one value being the same for each of at least a first subset of a plurality of the broadcast short-range communications units in a building, and a second identifier field with an other value that is different for each of at least a second subset of the plurality of the broadcast short-range communications units in the building,

broadcast, via a first wireless communications protocol, the one or more broadcast messages including the address portion, the plurality of fields, and the at least one value, for intended receipt by a plurality of mobile devices in a communication range of the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit, and

re-broadcast, via the first wireless communications protocol, the one or more broadcast messages including the address portion, the plurality of fields, and the at least one value, for intended receipt by the plurality of mobile devices in the communication range of the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit;

providing code configured to be executed by at least one of the plurality of mobile devices, the code, when executed, configured to;

cause display, via a display of the at least one mobile device, of an option for causing to be output, via the at least one mobile device, visual information,

receive an indication of a user input for the option displayed via the display of the at least one mobile device,

receive an indication of a receipt, from the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit and via the first wireless communications protocol, of the one or more broadcast messages including the address portion, the plurality of fields, and the at least one value, and

cause to be sent, from the at least one mobile device and via a second wireless communications protocol and an Internet Protocol, at least one message; and

providing access to at least one server configured to;

receive, from the at least one mobile device and via the Internet protocol, the at least one message,

in response to the receipt, from the at least one mobile device and via the Internet protocol, of the at least one message;

retrieve location-relevant information, and

after the location-relevant information is retrieved, cause to be sent, from the at least one server to the at least one mobile device and via the Internet protocol, a response message including the location-relevant information;

said code, when executed, further configured to;

receive, from the at least one server and via the second wireless communications protocol and the Internet Protocol, the response message including the location-relevant information, and

after the receipt, from the at least one server and via the second wireless communications protocol, of the response message including the location-relevant information;

cause to be output, via the at least one mobile device, the visual information based on the location-relevant information and whether a threshold has been met, the visual information being based on user-specific demographic or preference information;

wherein the location-relevant information includes at least one image, and after the indication of the user input is received and after the output of the visual information is caused, subsequent output of different visual information, that is brand- or product-specific, is caused as the at least one mobile device is moved.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein the first wireless communications protocol is an 802.15 network protocol and the second wireless communications protocol is a WiFi protocol or a cellular protocol.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of at least one mobile device, cause the at least one mobile device to:

receive an indication of a receipt of a broadcast, from at least one broadcast short-range communications unit via a first wireless communications protocol, of one or more broadcast messages including an address portion and a plurality of fields including at least one field with at least one value, for intended receipt by the at least one mobile device when in a communication range of the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit, the one or more broadcast messages including a first identifier field with the at least one value being the same for each of at least a first subset of a plurality of the broadcast short-range communications units in a building, and a second identifier field with an other value that is different for each of at least a second subset of the plurality of the broadcast short-range communications units in the building;

receive an indication of a receipt of a re-broadcast, from the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit via the first wireless communications protocol, of the one or more broadcast messages including the address portion, the plurality of fields, and the at least one value, for intended receipt by the at least one mobile device when in the communication range of the at least one broadcast short-range communications unit;

cause display, via a display of the at least one mobile device, of an option;

receive an indication of a user input for the option displayed via the display of the at least one mobile device;

cause to be sent, from the at least one mobile device to at least one server via a second wireless communications protocol and an Internet Protocol, at least one message;

receive, from the at least one server via the second wireless communications protocol and the Internet Protocol, a response message including location-relevant information that includes at least one image and that is brand- or product-specific;

after the receipt, from the at least one server via the second wireless communications protocol, of the response message including the location-relevant information;

cause to be output, via the at least one mobile device, the at least one image; and

after the indication of the user input is received and after the output of the at least one image is caused, cause to be output one or more different images as the at least one mobile device is moved based on whether a threshold has been met, the one or more different images being based on user-specific demographic or preference information.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the user-specific demographic or preference information is received based on user input from a user of the at least one mobile device.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 26, wherein the user-specific demographic or preference information includes age information, gender information, hobby information, and interest information.