Data delivery through beacons
First Claim
1. A communications system comprising at least one beacon device capable of wireless message transmission and at least one portable device capable of receiving such a message transmission, wherein the beacon is arranged to broadcast a series of inquiry messages each in the form of a plurality of predetermined data fields arranged according to a first communications protocol, wherein the beacon is further arranged to add to each inquiry message prior to transmission an additional data field, and wherein the at least one portable device is arranged to receive the transmitted inquiry messages and read data from said additional data field.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system comprises at least one beacon device (12, 14) capable of wireless message transmission and at least one portable device (10) capable of receiving such a message transmission. The beacon (12) is arranged to broadcast a series of inquiry messages (60) each in the form of a plurality of predetermined data fields (INQ) arranged according to a first communications protocol, such as Bluetooth. For the delivery of additional data via broadcast, the beacon (12) adds to each inquiry message prior to transmission an additional data field (BCD) carrying broadcast data, with the portable device (10) receiving the transmitted inquiry messages and reading the broadcast data from the additional data field.
25 Citations
17 Claims
- 1. A communications system comprising at least one beacon device capable of wireless message transmission and at least one portable device capable of receiving such a message transmission, wherein the beacon is arranged to broadcast a series of inquiry messages each in the form of a plurality of predetermined data fields arranged according to a first communications protocol, wherein the beacon is further arranged to add to each inquiry message prior to transmission an additional data field, and wherein the at least one portable device is arranged to receive the transmitted inquiry messages and read data from said additional data field.
- 11. A beacon device capable of wireless message transmission and for use in a communications system comprising said beacon device and at least one portable device capable of receiving such a message transmission, wherein the beacon is configured to broadcast a series of inquiry messages each in the form of a plurality of predetermined data fields arranged according to a first communications protocol, and to add to each inquiry message prior to transmission an additional data field, such as to enable the at least one portable device arranged to receive the transmitted inquiry messages to read data from said additional data field.
- 15. A method for enabling the user of a portable communications device to receive broadcast messages wherein at least one beacon device broadcasts a series of inquiry messages each in the form of a plurality of predetermined data fields arranged according to a first communications protocol, wherein the beacon adds to each inquiry message prior to transmission an additional data field carrying broadcast message data, and wherein the portable device receives the transmitted inquiry messages and reads the broadcast data from said additional data field.
Specification