IDENTIFYING AND REACHING USERS THROUGH MOBILE DEVICES TO PROVIDE RELEVANT AND REAL-TIME INFORMATION
First Claim
1. Method to identify and reach users of mobile devices to provide relevant and real-time information, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) having a plurality of access nodes deployed to track mobile devices, said access nodes being capable of short range communication and long range communication with mobile devices;
b) having a server connected to said plurality of access nodes to process information obtained by access nodes about mobile devices in range for short range communication between a access node and a mobile device;
c) an access node identifying one or more mobile devices when said one or more mobile devices are in a short range, the short range being conducive to short range communication between said access node and said mobile device; and
d) access node communicating mobile device information with server to obtain appropriate information from the server to deliver to said mobile device,where information is delivered to mobile devices using short range and long range communication and where the information delivered in relevant and real-time in nature.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method to identify and reach users of mobile devices to provide relevant and real-time information including discount coupons and promotional messages is disclosed. The present invention uses short range connectivity present in most mobile devices to identify mobile devices and reaches the mobile devices using long range or short range communication to provide relevant and real-time information. In one embodiment, the present invention enables identifying new and existing members in stores implementing customer loyalty programs to effectively share information about discounts and promotions with existing customers and convert prospective customers in new members. In another embodiment, the present invention enables tracking of user in events including trade shows, exhibitions, seminars, city tours etc, to provide relevant and real-time information based on the location and the needs of the user.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. Method to identify and reach users of mobile devices to provide relevant and real-time information, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) having a plurality of access nodes deployed to track mobile devices, said access nodes being capable of short range communication and long range communication with mobile devices; b) having a server connected to said plurality of access nodes to process information obtained by access nodes about mobile devices in range for short range communication between a access node and a mobile device; c) an access node identifying one or more mobile devices when said one or more mobile devices are in a short range, the short range being conducive to short range communication between said access node and said mobile device; and d) access node communicating mobile device information with server to obtain appropriate information from the server to deliver to said mobile device, where information is delivered to mobile devices using short range and long range communication and where the information delivered in relevant and real-time in nature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Method for identifying and reaching new and existing customers to sign up to loyalty program, with a system where a plurality of access nodes are connected to a server, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) customers pairing with the system; b) storing unique ID on the server; c) server sending an SMS to customers confirming their participation in loyalty program; d) access node sending a WAP push to customers asking them to download an application specific to the mobile device, the application being associated with the unique ID; e) transferring the application based on the customers mobile device over WAP through the access node, the application being encoded with the unique ID; f) customer downloading the application and installing the application; g) application sending a message with unique ID to server; h) server provisioning the application and registering the customer for loyalty program when the unique ID matches with the unique ID stored on the server. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Method of identifying customers singed up for loyalty programs, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) customer coming in proximity to an access node; b) access node connecting with the customer'"'"'s mobile device using short range connectivity and obtaining customer mobile device information; and c) access node matching customer'"'"'s unique ID with the server and identifying the customer, where the mobile device of customer supports short range connectivity through Bluetooth. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. Method of identifying customers singed up for loyalty programs, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) customer sending a request through an application downloaded from the access node; b) application making a request based on customer'"'"'s request to the access node with the unique ID; and c) access node matching the unique ID with the server and identifying the customer; where the mobile device of customer does not support short range connectivity. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. Method of tracking users in an event, with a system where a plurality of access nodes are connected to a server, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) access node connecting to a mobile device using a short range connectivity; b) access node sending a WAP push to the mobile device requesting the user to download an application specific to the mobile device, the application being encoded with a unique ID; c) access node sending the unique ID along with the location information of the mobile device to the server; d) the server further checking if the mobile is already registered with the server; e) the server registering the mobile device, if the server does not find the device information already registered with the server; f) the server retrieving relevant information and sending the information encoded with the unique ID to the access node which initiated the identification of the mobile device. g) access node receiving the information and pushing the information to the mobile device by using the unique ID; h) user of the mobile device receiving the information and accessing the information through the application downloaded. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system to enable identifying and reaching users to provide relevant and real-time information, where users are identified through their mobile devices, the system comprising:
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a) a plurality of access nodes, for interaction with mobile devices of users to provide relevant and real-time information; b) a server for storing, processing and communicating user information and information programs; and c) plurality of mobile devices of users with at least a radio for short range connectivity. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification