EXCHANGING IDENTIFIERS BETWEEN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TO DETERMINE FURTHER INFORMATION TO BE EXCHANGED OR FURTHER SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED

• US 20100063867A1
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Secure Communication Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Proxicom Wireless LLC
• Inventors: Proctor, James Arthur JR., Proctor, James Arthur III
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/386 using messaging services or messaging apps using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS G06Q20/3255
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4016 involving fraud or risk level assessment in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 : Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 : Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 : Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 : for social networking applications
• 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 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Techniques for facilitating the exchange of information and transactions between two entities associated with two wireless devices when the devices are in close proximity to each other. A first device uses a first short range wireless capability to detect an identifier transmitted from a second device in proximity, ideally using existing radio capabilities such as Bluetooth (IEEE802.15.1-2002) or Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11). The detected identifier, being associated with the device, is also associated with an entity. Rather than directly exchanging application data flow between the two devices using the short range wireless capability, a second wireless capability allows for one or more of the devices to communicate with a central server via the internet, and perform the exchange of application data flow. By using a central server to draw on stored information and content associated with the entities the server can broker the exchange of information between the entities and the devices.

Claims

1. A method for a central server to exchange information between one or more wireless devices executing applications, the central server performing the steps of:

receiving identifier information, as collected by a first wireless device from a second wireless device via a local wireless link between the first and second wireless devices;

wherein the identifier information is associated with one or more of an identity or related information concerning an entity or object located in proximity to the second wireless device; and

storing identifier information and one of identity information or other related information of the entity or object in proximity to the second device; and

subsequent to the step of receiving the identifier from the first device, taking further action by the server to deliver information or a service to the first wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information or service delivered to the first wireless device is associated with the entity or object that is located in proximity to the second wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the information delivered from the server to the first wireless device includes at least one of

advertising information;

information relating to products or services; and

/or

information related to e-coupons.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein content of the e-coupons is customized based on at least one of:

an identity of the requesting first device or associated account holder;

other information accessible to the server related to the account holder; and

/or

past purchasing practices or previous requests of an account holder.

5. The method of claim 1 additionally wherein

the first wireless device, upon detecting proximity of a second wireless device, further performs the steps of:

reporting an identifier of the second wireless device to the server over a second wireless link, the second wireless link being a wide area wireless link, and

retrieving current content from the server associated with that device; and

optionally;

displaying content to the user on their device;

or

executing instructions associated with the information retrieved from the server.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a service is associated with the second wireless device and the server further performs the steps of:

receiving an identifier associated with the service;

determining that the detected second wireless device identifier is associated with a service, and further associated with an account for that service; and

retrieving content associated with an account for the service provider and providing that content to the application on the first mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the content may one or more of a list of items for sale, services for sale, a opinion poll, food menu, or other content which allows for user selection of items.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving information indicating a user selection of one or more of the items,

confirming that a user wishes to purchase said items; and

/or

initiating delivery of a good or service at or near a location proximate to the second wireless device.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

facilitating the purchase of the goods or services from a merchant account associated with the second wireless device and a customer account associated with the first wireless device;

providing confirmation to each account; and

/or

receiving customer confirmation of receipt of a good or service via the first wireless device, thereby completing a transaction.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

detecting an identifier at a customer wireless device and reporting the same to the server, the detecting step used to confirm that a service provider'"'"'s delivery person was present;

a further detecting step, carried out at a delivery persons wireless device, such that an identifier is detected by the delivery person'"'"'s wireless device; and

reporting to the server, also carried out at the deliver persons wireless device, confirming the delivery person was in a correct area for delivery.

11. The method of claim 10 additionally comprising:

confirming the delivery of the good or service to the customer via user input on a wireless device; and

reporting that confirmation to the central server.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving confirmation at the first wireless device;

sending a message to the second wireless device to thereby provide access to an entity or object located in proximity to the second wireless device.

13. A method as in claim 1 wherein a wireless device has time synchronization information derived from a network time or other reference, and that information is used to synchronize time periods and, optionally, one or more of the steps of:

coordinating the timing information utilizing a network time and a time from the central server made available commonly to the first and second wireless devices;

transmitting of identifiers or searching for identifiers using parameters obtained for the server;

or

coordinating identifier updates to this same timing source.

14. A central server to exchange information between one or more wireless devices executing applications, the central server comprising:

a receiver, for receiving identifier information, as collected by a first wireless device from a second wireless device via a local wireless link between the first and second wireless devices, wherein the identifier information is associated with one or more of an identity or related information concerning an entity or object located in proximity to the second wireless device;

a storage device, for storing identifier information and one of identity information or other related information of the entity or object in proximity to the second device; and

a transmitter, for subsequent to the step of receiving the identifier from the first device, to deliver information or a service to the first wireless device.

15. The server of claim 14 wherein the information or service delivered to the first wireless device is associated with the entity or object that is located in proximity to the second wireless device.

16. The server of claim 14 wherein the information delivered from the server to the first wireless device includes at least one of

advertising information;

information relating to products or services; and

/or

information related to e-coupons.

17. The server of claim 16 wherein content of the e-coupons is customized based on at least one of:

an identity of the requesting first device or associated account holder;

other information accessible to the server related to the account holder; and

/or

past purchasing practices or previous requests of an account holder.

18. The server of claim 14 additionally wherein

the first wireless device comprises a transmitter for, upon detecting proximity of a second wireless device, reporting an identifier of the second wireless device to the server over a second wireless link, the second wireless link being a wide area wireless link, and

receiving current content from the server associated with that device;

and

a processor, for, optionally;

displaying content to the user on their device;

or

executing instructions associated with the information retrieved from the server.

19. The server of claim 14 wherein a service is associated with the second wireless device additionally comprising:

a receiver, for receiving an identifier associated with the service; and

a processor,

for determining that the detected second wireless device identifier is associated with a service, and further associated with an account for that service; and

retrieving content associated with an account for the service provider and forwarding that content to the application on the first mobile device.

20. The server of claim 19 wherein the content may one or more of a list of items for sale, services for sale, a opinion poll, food menu, or other content which allows for user selection of items.

21. The server of claim 20 further wherein:

the receiver receives information indicating a user selection of one or more of the items,

the processor further

confirms that a user wishes to purchase said items; and

/or

initiates delivery of a good or service at or near a location proximate to the second wireless device.

22. The server of claim 14 further comprising:

a processor,

for facilitating the purchase of the goods or services from a merchant account associated with the second wireless device and a customer account associated with the first wireless device;

providing confirmation to each account; and

/or

receiving customer confirmation of receipt of a good or service via the first wireless device, thereby completing a transaction.

23. The server of claim 22 wherein the processor further:

detects an identifier at a customer wireless device and reporting the same to the server, to confirm that a service provider'"'"'s delivery person was present;

receiving an identifier from a delivery persons wireless device; and

confirming the delivery person was in a correct area for delivery.

24. The server of claim 23 wherein the processor additionally:

confirms the delivery of the good or service to the customer via user input on a wireless device; and

reports that confirmation to the central server.

25. The server of claim 14 wherein the processor further:

receives confirmation at the first wireless device;

sends a message to the second wireless device to thereby provide access to an entity or object located in proximity to the second wireless device.

26. The server of claim 14 wherein a wireless device has time synchronization information derived from a network time or other reference, and that information is used by a processor to synchronize time periods and, optionally:

coordinate the timing information utilizing a network time and a time from the central server made available commonly to the first and second wireless devices;

transmit identifiers or searching for identifiers using parameters obtained for the server;

or

coordinate identifier updates to this same timing source.