Individualized Short-Range Radio Communication Method, System and Central Device for the Implementation Thereof

• US 20090186575A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobiquity Wireless SL
• Original Assignee: Wilico Wireless Networking Solutions SA
• Inventors: Monjo Florit, Pedro, Maso Mas, David, Gil Lozano, Jose Manuel, Dalmau Ballester, Marc, Cedo Perpinya, Josep
• Granted Patent: US 9,125,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

The present invention relates to an individualized short-range radio communication method applicable to communications which can include applications or programs and multimedia information, between:

• • a central device (1, 101) suitable for detecting radio-frequency signals of different technologies and protocols, and for setting up bidirectional short-range radio communications using said technologies and protocols,
  • surrounding devices (2, 102), suitable for bidirectionally communicating by means of a short-range technology and a protocol comprising:
  • a.1) polling by means of the central device (1, 101) a surrounding area thereof, using a detection module dedicated for each technology and protocol,
  • a.2) detecting and acquiring through the pick-up of at least one radio-frequency signal emitted by said surrounding devices (2, 102) a unique identifier of said surrounding devices (2, 102) and
  • a.3) setting up by means of the central device (1, 101) an individualized communication with said detected surrounding devices (2, 102) using a compatible technology and protocol.

Claims

1. An individualized short-range radio communication method, applicable to communications which may include applications, or programs, and multimedia information, between:

at least one first central device suitable for detecting radio-frequency signals of multiple technologies and protocols, and for setting up bidirectional short-range radio communications using said technologies and protocols,

a plurality of surrounding devices, each of them suitable for bidirectionally communicating by means of at least one short-range technology and at least one protocol,

said method comprising sequentially carrying out the following steps automatically;

a.1) polling by said first central device a surrounding area thereof by means of at least one of said multiple technologies and protocols, using at least one detection module dedicated for each of said multiple technologies and protocols for detecting possible radio-frequency signals coming from said surrounding devices with at least one of said multiple technologies and at least one of said protocols;

a.2) detecting and identifying, by said first central device, at least a first of said surrounding devices through the picking up of at least one of said radio-frequency signals emitted automatically by said first of said surrounding devices by means of one of said multiple technologies and one of said protocols, said emitted radio-frequency signal including at least one unique identifier of said first of said surrounding devices; and

a.3) setting up by means of the first central device an individualized communication with said first of said surrounding devices using at least the same technology and the same protocol with which said radio-frequency signal, response to the polling, has been emitted.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said first central device is a first access device located in a first specific place, and said surrounding devices are personal devices, used by users, suitable for carrying out said bidirectional short-range radio communication with at least said first access device when entering a coverage range thereof said first of said surrounding devices device being a first personal device detected and identified in said step a.2), and said method comprising automatically carrying out after at least said step a.3) the following step:

a.4) finding out if said first personal device is adapted for receiving binary data through said individualized communication set up with said first access device, said finding out being carried out in accordance with one of the group consisting of;

by means of processing, by the first access device, of said radio-frequency signal emitted by the first personal device picked up by the first access device, if such signal includes sufficient information so that the processing produces said finding out, and;

by means of sending, by the first access device, of a signal in the form of a question to the first personal device, a negative response to which, in the form of a negative corresponding signal, or an absence of a response after a certain period of time, is indicative that the first personal device is not suitable for receiving binary data, and an affirmative response, in the form of a positive corresponding signal, is indicative that it can receive binary data.

4. A method according to claim 2, characterized by comprising automatically carrying out, after at least one of said step a.2), said step a.3) and said step a.4), the following step:

a.5) consulting a data structure that can be accessed by the first access device relating identifier registrations of a plurality of the personal devices with a series of information including at least references to at least one of the applications, or programs for at least, to be sent from the first access device to the plurality of personal devices, thereby finding out if said identifier of the first personal device, which is an identifier registration, is recorded in said data structure and, if this is the case, if the first personal device has said application installed therein and which version thereof it is.

6. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that if said finding out of said step a.5) offers as a result that the first personal device does not have said application installed therein, or that it has a version thereof installed therein that is not the latest version, the method comprises automatically carrying out the following step:

a.6) finding out the characteristics or type of detected personal device, at least in reference to the brand and model thereof, or at least a percentage of probabilities that it is of a particular type, by means of an automatic interaction, or data exchange, between the first access device and the first personal device, and a corresponding analysis of said data, said data exchange being carried out invisibly for the user of the first personal device as only at least one communication modules thereof are used by the first personal device for said data exchange.

7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that said step a.6) comprises running an identification algorithm by the first access device, and in that said data exchange or automatic interaction, as well said analysis thereof occurs throughout running said identification algorithm.

8. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that running said identification algorithm comprises the following actions carried out sequentially and automatically:

sending a signal in the form of at least one question to said communication module of the first personal device requesting that it supplies at least part of an information contained in said communication module and established by the manufacturer as public and exportable information,

receiving, by the first access device, said requested information coming from the communication module of the first personal device, and

analyzing at least part of said received information for the purpose of finding therein a direct indication of the type of personal device, including brand and model, which sent it.

9. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that running said identification algorithm further comprises automatically:

processing said received information for obtaining a univocal indicator representative of said received information.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising carrying out an automatic learning process by means of running said identification algorithm for a plurality of the personal devices of a known type, at least in relation to the brand and model, and the association of each of a plurality of corresponding univocal indicators out of the plurality of obtained univocal indicators with the type of personal device for which it has been obtained, at least in relation to the brand and model, creating a reference data structure from the data obtained and associated to one another that can be accessed by the first access device.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising automatically comparing the univocal indicator obtained for the first personal device with at least said plurality of univocal indicators obtained in said learning process and included in said reference data structure, and if there is a match, assigning the characteristics of the personal device of a known type, and associated to said univocal indicator which caused said match, to the first personal device, at least in relation to the brand and model, said assignment being the result of said finding out of step a.6).

14. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that if said comparison does not offer as a result an exact match but offers a high percentage of similarity between the univocal indicator of the first personal device and one of the obtained in said learning process and included in said reference data structure, the method comprises automatically assigning the characteristics of the personal device of a known type, and associated to said univocal indicator which caused said high percentage of similarity, to the first personal device, at least in relation to the brand and model, said assignment being the result of said finding out of step a.6).

15. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that if said comparison does not offer as a result an exact match or a high percentage of similarity with any of the univocal indicators obtained in said learning process and included in said reference data structure, the method comprises automatically assigning basic characteristics to the first personal device, said assignment being the result of said finding out of step a.6).

16. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that if said comparison does not offer as a result an exact match with any of the univocal indicators obtained in said learning process and included in said reference data structure, the method comprises automatically processing said received public information by means of a heuristic process, for the purpose of carrying out an approximate finding out in relation to the brand and model of the first personal device and making, also automatically, based on said approximate finding out, a hypothesis that the first personal device is of a particular brand and of a particular model, or a hypothesis that it is of a particular generic brand and/or model, and assigning it the characteristics of the device of the brand and model assumed by the hypothesis made.

23. A method according to claim 13, further comprising carrying out after said step a.6) the following steps:

a.7) sending by said first access device a signal to at least the first personal device using the technology and protocol with which said communication has been set up in step

a.3), containing an invitation to the user of the first personal device to receive said application, or program, whether in response to a petition sent by said user by means of the first personal device or automatically, and

b) automatically sending to the first personal device of said user, if the latter has accepted said invitation, using the same technology and protocol used in step a.7), at least said application adapted to the characteristics or type of detected personal device, at least in relation to the brand and model, or at least a percentage of probabilities, found out in said step a.6), said adapted application including functionalities which the type of detected personal device is capable of managing, and

c) recording and installing at least part of said application, or program, in a memory of the first personal device, automatically or after confirmation from the user.

26. A method according to claim 23, further comprising said user running said application installed in the first personal device, said run causing at least a data exchange between the first personal device and the first access device, and by comprising complementing said finding out of said step a.6) by means of the analysis of at least part of said data exchanged upon running said application.

3. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

10-11. -11. (canceled)

17-22. -22. (canceled)

24-25. -25. (canceled)

27-49. -49. (canceled)

50. A system of individualized short-range radio communication, applicable to communications which can include applications, programs, and multimedia information, comprising:

a plurality of surrounding devices, each of the surrounding devices with at least one communication module suitable for bidirectionally communicating by means of at least one short-range technology and at least one protocol, and

at least one first central device suitable for detecting radio-frequency signals of multiple technologies and protocols, and for setting up bidirectional short-range radio communications using said technologies and protocols, comprising an electronic system with at least;

a first communication module (4, 104) with;

a series of first communication sub-modules (4a₁ . . . 4a_n, 104a₁ . . . 104a_n), each of the first communication sub-modules dedicated to automatically polling an environment of the first central device by means of each of said multiple technologies and protocols, for automatically detecting possible radio-frequency signals coming from said communication modules of said surrounding devices with at least one of said multiple technologies and at least one of said protocols, and for automatically acquiring identifier data in the form of at least one unique identifier, or identifier registration, of each of the surrounding devices, included in said radio-frequency signals,

a series of second communication sub-modules (4b₁ . . . 4b_n, 104b₁ . . . 104b_n), associated to said first communication sub-modules (4a₁ . . . 4a_n, 104a₁ . . . 104a_n) intended for automatically setting up an individualized communication with each of the detected surrounding devices using at least the technology and the protocol with which each one has emitted one of said radio-frequency signals, as a response to said polling, and

a control module, with at least one analysis and processing unit adapted for controlling at least said first communication module of the first central device.

51. A system according to claim 50, wherein said first central device is a first access device located in a first specific place and said surrounding devices are personal devices, used by users, each respective with the communication modules suitable for carrying out said bidirectional short-range radio communication with at least said first access device when entering in a coverage range thereof, a first of said surrounding devices being a first personal device susceptible of being detected and identified by said first communication module of the first access device, said control module of the first access device being adapted for automatically finding out if said first personal device is adapted for receiving binary data.

52. A system according to claim 51, characterized in that said first communication module is also intended for sending to said first personal device through said communication set up by means of at least said second sub-module (4b₁ . . . 4b_n), a signal in the form of an invitation to receive an application, or program, and in that said electronic system of the first access device also comprises:

a second communication module suitable for bidirectionally communicating with at least said first personal device if the latter is within its respective short-range radio coverage range, for sending to it at least said application, or program, from a storage means, and receiving signals therefrom in the form of a petition and/or acceptance of being sent said application to it, and if the first personal device already has an application installed, setting up an interactive communication derived from a functionality of the application, if needed, and

a control and storage module including at least one non-volatile memory comprising said storage means where at least said application, or program, is recorded, and where said identifier data of said first personal device and of other similar ones are recorded, if they have been previously acquired, and said control module with at least said analysis and processing unit, for also controlling, in addition to at least said first communication module, said second communication module for the purpose of setting up also an individualized communication with said first personal device using said second communication module, for sending said application, or program, said control module being adapted for managing said interactive communication derived from the functionality of the application, if needed, according to the analysis and processing of said petition and/or

53. A system according to claim 52, wherein said control module comprises or has access to a data structure relating identifier registrations of several personal devices with a series of information including at least references to at least said application, or program, for at least one version, to be sent from the first access device to the personal device, the control module being adapted for automatically consulting said data structure for the purpose of finding out if said identifier registration of the first personal device is recorded in said data structure and, if this is the case, if the first personal device has said application installed and which version thereof it is.

54. A system according to claim 53, wherein said control module is adapted for controlling said first communication module for carrying out an automatic data exchange with the communication module of the first personal device, and for carrying out a corresponding analysis and processing of said data for the purpose of finding out the characteristics or type of detected personal device, at least in reference to a brand and a model thereof, or at least a percentage of probabilities that it is of a particular type, said first communication module being adapted so that said data exchange is carried out invisibly for the user of the first personal device.

55. A system according to claim 54, wherein the control module is adapted for controlling said second communication module for automatically sending to the first personal device at least said application adapted to the characteristics or type of detected personal device, at least in relation to the brand and the model, said adapted application including functionalities that the type of detected personal device is capable of managing.

56-71. -71. (canceled)

72. A central device applicable to individualized short-range radio communications which can include applications or programs and multimedia information, said central device being suitable for detecting radio-frequency signals of multiple technologies and protocols, and for setting up bidirectional short-range radio communications using said technologies and protocols, and comprising an electronic system with at least:

a first communication module with;

a series of first communication sub-modules (4a₁ . . . 4a_n, 104a₁ . . . 104a_n), each of them dedicated to automatically polling an environment of the first central device by means of each of said multiple technologies and protocols for automatically detecting possible radio-frequency signals coming from communication modules of a plurality of surrounding devices with at least one of said multiple technologies and at least one of said protocols, and for acquiring identifier data in the form of at least one unique identifier, or identifier registration, of each of the surrounding devices, included in said radio-frequency signals,

a series of second communication sub-modules (4b₁ . . . 4b_n, 104b₁ . . . 104b_n) associated to said first communication sub-modules (4a₁ . . . 4b_n, 104a₁ . . . 104a_n), intended for automatically setting up individualized communication with each of said detected surrounding device using at least the technology and the protocol with which each one has emitted one of said radio-frequency signals as a response to said polling, and

a control module, with at least one analysis and processing unit adapted for controlling at least said first communication module of the first central device.

73-93. -93. (canceled)