Credit system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A reward method including the steps of:
- communicating between a beacon and a mobile device to determine whether the mobile device is within a predetermined locale; and
crediting the mobile device to reward the user of the mobile device for presence within that locale.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of rewarding customers for staying in a locale includes communicating between a beacon (2) and a mobile device (20) to determine whether the mobile device (20) is within a predetermined locale; and crediting an account of the user (27) of the mobile device (20) depending on the length of time the mobile device (20) is within the predetermined locale to reward the user for presence within that locale. The communication may use the Bluetooth protocol.
107 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A reward method including the steps of:
-
communicating between a beacon and a mobile device to determine whether the mobile device is within a predetermined locale; and
crediting the mobile device to reward the user of the mobile device for presence within that locale. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
17. A system for crediting mobile devices, comprising:
-
a beacon for transmitting signals to be received by mobile devices within range of the beacon; and
a verification system for receiving a signal from a mobile device, identifying the mobile device, determining whether the mobile device is or was within range of the beacon and crediting the mobile device if the mobile device was within range.
-
-
21. A mobile device for use in a reward system, including:
-
a transceiver for receiving local transmitted signals containing identification information when the mobile device is located in a locale containing a beacon transmitting the signals;
a memory store; and
code for carrying out the steps of recording in the memory store information based on the broadcast identification data sets and causing the mobile device to transmit the recorded information to a verification system so that the length of time the mobile device remains within the vicinity of the beacon can be determined and the user of the mobile phone rewarded for remaining in the locale. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
24. A method of crediting or debiting a mobile device including the steps of:
-
communicating between a beacon and a mobile device to determine whether the mobile device is within a predetermined locale; and
crediting or debiting the mobile device to reward or charge the user of the mobile device for presence within that locale.
-
Specification