Systems and methods for real-time user engagement and interactions
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- determining real-time location information of one or a plurality of beacon devices each used by an on-site event attendee in a venue for an event to a gateway used by an event user wherein said event user has a different role of said on-site event attendee when said beacon device connects to or approaches said gateway, wherein the location information is derived from the information from one or more signal strength indications using a wireless transceiver component of said gateway or said beacon device, and is optionally derived from other said gateways when additional accuracy of said location information is required, wherein said additional accuracy of said location information includes obtaining which said gateway is geographically closest when multiple said gateways are in the vicinity of said beacon device, obtaining direction of said beacon device to said gateway, obtaining the distance of said beacon device to said gateway, and obtaining a coordinate of said beacon device to said gateway, and wherein by determining said additional accuracy of said gateway interacts with other said gateways which store at least an entry of said location information of said beacon device, helps measure the signal strength indications to collaboratively determine said location information passively through said signal strength indications or proactively through wireless inquires with other said gateways anchored in the venue for an event and/or external communication devices, or a combination thereof, which are connected to one or more communication networks wherein wireless transceiver interfaces and/or network interfaces of said one or more communication networks are present on said beacon devices, said gateways, and said external communication devices;
discovering and surveying said gateways and said beacon devices for obtaining additional information for providing the location information of one or more said gateways and said beacon devices connected to a communication network with said gateways in a star, tree, or mesh topology, wherein initiating said one beacon device discovers gateways through parsing identification information of wireless messages sent from said gateways and said beacon devices, and surveys other said gateways beyond the immediately connected said gateway from the initiating said beacon device through multi-hop wireless message exchanges for obtaining real-time said one or more beacon devices connected to said gateways, location information of said beacon devices previously connected to said gateways, a list of location information of said gateways for creating global location information associated to said gateways, or a combination thereof, wherein a part or the whole of said location information is configured to be stored in one or a plurality of said gateways in a centralized or distributed manner, and wherein said one or more gateways optionally synchronize said location information to a server;
when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, initiating a wireless data communication session between said beacon device and said gateway either by said beacon device or said gateway, wherein, when said wireless data communication session is initiated by said beacon device, said beacon device is set in an advertisement mode and said gateway is set in a non-advertisement mode;
when said wireless data communication session is initiated by said gateway, said beacon device is set in a non-advertisement mode and said gateway is set in an advertisement mode, and said beacon device is in a low-power operation mode wherein, before said wireless data communication session occurs, at least one wireless interface of said beacon device is configured to be in a reception only mode, wherein said gateway and said beacon are connected to said wireless communication network and are causing, at least in part, said gateway to initiate identification of said beacon devices, authentication of said beacon devices, authorization of said beacon devices, or a combination thereof;
when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, autonomously generating and maintaining a location database for a venue of an event for providing location information for said beacon devices wherein the change of location information of said beacon devices causes dynamic updates of said location database;
when a wireless data communication session is initiated between said beacon device and said gateway, when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, or a combination therefore, protecting data integrity and confidentiality of data communications between said beacon device and said gateway, wherein said beacon device and said gateway are configured with security credentials for encrypting and decrypting data or for establishing a secure connection to transfer data;
when a wireless data communication session is initiated between said beacon device and said gateway, when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, or a combination therefore, generating and maintaining a list of location history information on said beacon device wherein a part or the whole of said list of said location history information can be configured to be synchronized to said gateway or said server;
when a wireless data communication session is initiated between said beacon device and said gateway, when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, or a combination therefore, enhancing real-time user interactions between said event user of said gateway and one or a plurality of on-site said event attendees using said beacon devices or between multiple said on-site event attendees using said beacon devices for providing on-site real-time participation in an interactive application with data transfers and data processing taking user inputs from one or more user input devices connected to said beacon devices for assisting in user interactions including essentially an on-site digital social activity, business, or promotion activity using said interactive application with a display device connected through said gateway in the proximity of said beacon device, wherein said user interactions occur between an application endpoint of said at least one beacon device and another application endpoint of said gateway, and wherein said beacon device is standalone with a built-in connection to said one or more user input devices, or is connected to and operational with external said one or more user input devices; and
generating and managing application data through application endpoints on said beacon device, said gateway, said server, or a combination thereof, wherein said application data includes at least location data and security data, wherein the security data includes device identification data and security credentials data and the security data can be obtained through a pre-configuration process and/or through a bootstrapping, initialization, or configuration process using a configuration application service hosted on said gateway or said server;
wherein functionalities of said server is configured to be present on either a standalone said server connected with said gateways, or on said one gateway deployed with said beacon devices on a local network.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for real-time user engagement, interactions, and management for various events. A beacon device, either a standalone beacon tag or a part of a user device, is able to interact with a gateway and/or a server. The systems and methods are used for enhancing and optimizing user experience in terms of, for example, obtaining location information of the beacon/user devices, providing location-based services, notifying users of event activities, simplifying distribution and viewing of promotional or services data, and facilitating the interactions and communication between users in different roles (such as visitors/attendees, patrons, sponsors, exhibitors, organizers, event service providers, property management users, and business users) in a venue for an event; facilitating the collection and processing of business or user information and follow-up communications after the event; and managing the data regarding locations, maps, events, users, leads, security, configurations, devices, user applications, and promotion data.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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determining real-time location information of one or a plurality of beacon devices each used by an on-site event attendee in a venue for an event to a gateway used by an event user wherein said event user has a different role of said on-site event attendee when said beacon device connects to or approaches said gateway, wherein the location information is derived from the information from one or more signal strength indications using a wireless transceiver component of said gateway or said beacon device, and is optionally derived from other said gateways when additional accuracy of said location information is required, wherein said additional accuracy of said location information includes obtaining which said gateway is geographically closest when multiple said gateways are in the vicinity of said beacon device, obtaining direction of said beacon device to said gateway, obtaining the distance of said beacon device to said gateway, and obtaining a coordinate of said beacon device to said gateway, and wherein by determining said additional accuracy of said gateway interacts with other said gateways which store at least an entry of said location information of said beacon device, helps measure the signal strength indications to collaboratively determine said location information passively through said signal strength indications or proactively through wireless inquires with other said gateways anchored in the venue for an event and/or external communication devices, or a combination thereof, which are connected to one or more communication networks wherein wireless transceiver interfaces and/or network interfaces of said one or more communication networks are present on said beacon devices, said gateways, and said external communication devices; discovering and surveying said gateways and said beacon devices for obtaining additional information for providing the location information of one or more said gateways and said beacon devices connected to a communication network with said gateways in a star, tree, or mesh topology, wherein initiating said one beacon device discovers gateways through parsing identification information of wireless messages sent from said gateways and said beacon devices, and surveys other said gateways beyond the immediately connected said gateway from the initiating said beacon device through multi-hop wireless message exchanges for obtaining real-time said one or more beacon devices connected to said gateways, location information of said beacon devices previously connected to said gateways, a list of location information of said gateways for creating global location information associated to said gateways, or a combination thereof, wherein a part or the whole of said location information is configured to be stored in one or a plurality of said gateways in a centralized or distributed manner, and wherein said one or more gateways optionally synchronize said location information to a server; when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, initiating a wireless data communication session between said beacon device and said gateway either by said beacon device or said gateway, wherein, when said wireless data communication session is initiated by said beacon device, said beacon device is set in an advertisement mode and said gateway is set in a non-advertisement mode;
when said wireless data communication session is initiated by said gateway, said beacon device is set in a non-advertisement mode and said gateway is set in an advertisement mode, and said beacon device is in a low-power operation mode wherein, before said wireless data communication session occurs, at least one wireless interface of said beacon device is configured to be in a reception only mode, wherein said gateway and said beacon are connected to said wireless communication network and are causing, at least in part, said gateway to initiate identification of said beacon devices, authentication of said beacon devices, authorization of said beacon devices, or a combination thereof;when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, autonomously generating and maintaining a location database for a venue of an event for providing location information for said beacon devices wherein the change of location information of said beacon devices causes dynamic updates of said location database; when a wireless data communication session is initiated between said beacon device and said gateway, when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, or a combination therefore, protecting data integrity and confidentiality of data communications between said beacon device and said gateway, wherein said beacon device and said gateway are configured with security credentials for encrypting and decrypting data or for establishing a secure connection to transfer data; when a wireless data communication session is initiated between said beacon device and said gateway, when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, or a combination therefore, generating and maintaining a list of location history information on said beacon device wherein a part or the whole of said list of said location history information can be configured to be synchronized to said gateway or said server; when a wireless data communication session is initiated between said beacon device and said gateway, when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, or a combination therefore, enhancing real-time user interactions between said event user of said gateway and one or a plurality of on-site said event attendees using said beacon devices or between multiple said on-site event attendees using said beacon devices for providing on-site real-time participation in an interactive application with data transfers and data processing taking user inputs from one or more user input devices connected to said beacon devices for assisting in user interactions including essentially an on-site digital social activity, business, or promotion activity using said interactive application with a display device connected through said gateway in the proximity of said beacon device, wherein said user interactions occur between an application endpoint of said at least one beacon device and another application endpoint of said gateway, and wherein said beacon device is standalone with a built-in connection to said one or more user input devices, or is connected to and operational with external said one or more user input devices; and generating and managing application data through application endpoints on said beacon device, said gateway, said server, or a combination thereof, wherein said application data includes at least location data and security data, wherein the security data includes device identification data and security credentials data and the security data can be obtained through a pre-configuration process and/or through a bootstrapping, initialization, or configuration process using a configuration application service hosted on said gateway or said server; wherein functionalities of said server is configured to be present on either a standalone said server connected with said gateways, or on said one gateway deployed with said beacon devices on a local network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus, comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one wireless transceiver and optionally one network interface; and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, said at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with said at least one processor or a plurality of said processors wherein each of said processors is equipped with at least said one memory and said at least one wireless transceiver and/or network interface causing said processors connected to at least one communication network, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following, determine real-time location information of one or a plurality of beacon devices each used by an on-site event attendee in a venue for an event to a gateway used by an event user wherein said event user has a different role of said on-site event attendee when said beacon device connects to or approaches said gateway, wherein the location information is derived from the information from one or more signal strength indications using a wireless transceiver component of said gateway or said beacon device, and is optionally derived from other said gateways when additional accuracy of said location information is required, wherein said additional accuracy of said location information includes obtaining which said gateway is geographically closest when multiple said gateways are in the vicinity of said beacon device, obtaining direction of said beacon device to said gateway, obtaining the distance of said beacon device to said gateway, and obtaining a coordinate of said beacon device to said gateway, and wherein by determining said additional accuracy of said gateway interacts with other said gateways which store at least an entry of said location information of said beacon device, helps measure the signal strength indications to collaboratively determine said location information passively through said signal strength indications or proactively through wireless inquires with other said gateways anchored in the venue for an event and/or external communication devices, or a combination thereof, which are connected to one or more communication networks wherein wireless transceiver interfaces and/or network interfaces of said one or more communication networks are present on said beacon devices, said gateways, and said external communication devices; discover and survey said gateways and said beacon devices for obtaining additional information for providing the location information of one or more said gateways and said beacon devices connected to a communication network with said gateways in a star, tree, or mesh topology, wherein initiating said one beacon device discovers gateways through parsing identification information of wireless messages sent from said gateways and said beacon devices, and surveys other said gateways beyond the immediately connected said gateway from the initiating said beacon device through multi-hop wireless message exchanges for obtaining real-time said one or more beacon devices connected to said gateways, location information of said beacon devices previously connected to said gateways, a list of location information of said gateways for creating global location information associated to said gateways, or a combination thereof, wherein a part or the whole of said location information is configured to be stored in one or a plurality of said gateways in a centralized or distributed manner, and wherein said one or more gateways optionally synchronize said location information to a server; when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, initiate a wireless data communication session between said beacon device and said gateway either by said beacon device or said gateway, wherein, when said wireless data communication session is initiated by said beacon device, said beacon device is set in an advertisement mode and said gateway is set in a non-advertisement mode;
when said wireless data communication session is initiated by said gateway, said beacon device is set in a non-advertisement mode and said gateway is set in an advertisement mode, and said beacon device is in a low-power operation mode wherein, before said wireless data communication session occurs, at least one wireless interface of said beacon device is configured to be in a reception only mode, wherein said gateway and said beacon are connected to said wireless communication network and are causing, at least in part, said gateway to initiate identification of said beacon devices, authentication of said beacon devices, authorization of said beacon devices, or a combination thereof;when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, autonomously generate and maintain a location database for a venue of an event for providing location information for said beacon devices wherein the change of location information of said beacon devices causes dynamic updates of said location database; when a wireless data communication session is initiated between said beacon device and said gateway, when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, or a combination therefore, protect data integrity and confidentiality of data communications between said beacon device and said gateway, wherein said beacon device and said gateway are configured with security credentials for encrypting and decrypting data or for establishing a secure connection to transfer data; when a wireless data communication session is initiated between said beacon device and said gateway, when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, or a combination therefore, generate and maintain a list of location history information on said beacon device wherein a part or the whole of said list of said location history information can be configured to be synchronized to said gateway or said server; when a wireless data communication session is initiated between said beacon device and said gateway, when said one beacon device connects to or approaches said one gateway, or a combination therefore, enhance real-time user interactions between said event user of said gateway and one or a plurality of on-site said event attendees using said beacon devices or between multiple said on-site event attendees using said beacon devices for providing on-site real-time participation in an interactive application with data transfers and data processing taking user inputs from one or more user input devices connected to said beacon devices for assisting in user interactions including essentially an on-site digital social activity, business, or promotion activity using said interactive application with a display device connected through said gateway in the proximity of said beacon device, wherein said user interactions occur between an application endpoint of said at least one beacon device and another application endpoint of said gateway, and wherein said beacon device is standalone with a built-in connection to said one or more user input devices, or is connected to and operational with external said one or more user input devices; and generate and manage application data through application endpoints on said beacon device, said gateway, said server, or a combination thereof, wherein said application data includes at least location data and security data, wherein the security data includes device identification data and security credentials data and the security data can be obtained through a pre-configuration process and/or through a bootstrapping, initialization, or configuration process using a configuration application service hosted on said gateway or said server; wherein functionalities of said server is configured to be present on either a standalone said server connected with said gateways, or on said one gateway deployed with said beacon devices on a local network. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification