Consensual data delivery through beacons
First Claim
1. A communications system comprising first and second beacon devices capable of wireless message transmission and at least one portable device capable of receiving such message transmissions, wherein said first beacon is arranged to broadcast a series of inquiry messages over a first broadcast range and according to a first communications protocol, wherein said at least one portable device is arranged to detect such inquiry messages when within said first broadcast range and reply with an identifier for the portable device, wherein said first beacon device is arranged to transmit a received identifier to said second beacon, wherein said second beacon and portable device are configured to perform a service interaction when the portable device is within a second broadcast range of the second beacon and when triggered by the second beacon receiving the portable device identifier, and wherein at least one of the first and second broadcast ranges is a relatively short broadcast range.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system comprises first (12) and second (14) beacon devices capable of wireless message transmission and at least one portable device (10) capable of receiving such message transmissions. The first beacon is arranged to broadcast a series of inquiry messages (INQ) over a first broadcast range (B.1) and according to a first communications protocol, such as Bluetooth. The portable device (10) detects such inquiry messages and replies with an identifier for the portable device. The first beacon (12) then transmits the received identifier to the second beacon (14), with the second beacon (14) and portable device (10) configured to perform a service interaction when the portable device (10) is within a respective second broadcast range (B.2) of the second beacon (14) and when triggered by the second beacon receiving the portable device identifier. At least one of the first (B.1) and second (B.2) broadcast ranges is relatively short, such as to permit interaction only when the user places the portable device (10) within the respective broadcast range.
-
Citations
29 Claims
- 1. A communications system comprising first and second beacon devices capable of wireless message transmission and at least one portable device capable of receiving such message transmissions, wherein said first beacon is arranged to broadcast a series of inquiry messages over a first broadcast range and according to a first communications protocol, wherein said at least one portable device is arranged to detect such inquiry messages when within said first broadcast range and reply with an identifier for the portable device, wherein said first beacon device is arranged to transmit a received identifier to said second beacon, wherein said second beacon and portable device are configured to perform a service interaction when the portable device is within a second broadcast range of the second beacon and when triggered by the second beacon receiving the portable device identifier, and wherein at least one of the first and second broadcast ranges is a relatively short broadcast range.
-
24. A method for enabling the user of a portable communications device to perform a service interaction with a beacon device in an environment containing at least first and second beacon devices capable of wireless message transmission, wherein:
-
a first beacon broadcasts a series of inquiry messages over a first broadcast range and according to a first communications protocol;
the user'"'"'s portable device detects such inquiry messages when within said first broadcast range and replies with an identifier for the portable device;
the first beacon device transmits a received identifier to said second beacon; and
the second beacon and portable device perform said service interaction when the portable device is within a second broadcast range of the second beacon and when triggered by the second beacon receiving the portable device identifier, with at least one of the first and second broadcast ranges being relatively short. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification