PEER DEVICE SUPPORTED LOCATION-BASED SERVICE PROVIDER CHECK-IN

• US 20130045758A1
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gupta, Rajarshi, Khorashadi, Behrooz, Das, Saumitra Mohan
• Granted Patent: US 8,929,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses and articles of manufacture are provided for use in checking-in a mobile device with a location based service provider at a venue location. A candidate device check-in profile for a candidate device and one or more check-in validation schemes may, for example, be provided, directly or indirectly, to a computing device via the candidate device and/or one or more peer devices. The candidate device may, for example, be checked-in with the location based service provider in response to a determination that the candidate device check-in profile is valid.

Claims

1. A method comprising, with a computing device:

receiving one or more electrical signals representing a candidate device check-in profile for a first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of a location based service provider, wherein at least a portion of said candidate device check-in profile is received via a second mobile device that is identified as being checked-in with said location based service provider at a venue location; and

in response to a determination that said candidate device check-in profile is valid, identifying said first mobile device as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said candidate device check-in profile is based, at least in part, on one or more messages transmitted between said first mobile device and said second mobile device using a first wireless interface, and wherein said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile is received from said second mobile device using a second wireless interface that is different from said first wireless interface.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said second mobile device is previously checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location using a different check-in validation scheme.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising, with said computing device:

determining whether said candidate device check-in profile is valid based, at least in part, on a comparison of said candidate device check-in profile to at least one of;

a validation criteria;

or a historical record.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said candidate device check-in profile comprises a signal measurement for a wireless signal received by said first mobile device from a wireless transmitting device, and wherein said wireless transmitting device selectively varies a signal transmission strength of said wireless signal.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising:

selecting said check-in validation scheme from a plurality of check-in validation schemes.

7. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a candidate device check-in profile for a first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of a location based service provider, wherein at least a portion of said candidate device check-in profile is received via a second mobile device that is identified as being checked-in with said location based service provider at a venue location;

means for determining whether said candidate device check-in profile is valid; and

means for identifying said first mobile device as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location, in response to a determination that said candidate device check-in profile is valid.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said candidate device check-in profile is based, at least in part, on one or more messages transmitted between said first mobile device and said second mobile device using a first wireless interface, and wherein said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile is received from said second mobile device using a second wireless interface that is different from said first wireless interface.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for determining whether said candidate device check-in profile is valid comprises:

means for comparing said candidate device check-in profile to at least one of;

a validation criteria;

or a historical record.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said candidate device check-in profile comprises a signal measurement for a wireless signal received by said first mobile device from a wireless transmitting device, and wherein said wireless transmitting device selectively varies a signal transmission strength of said wireless signal.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, and further comprising:

means for selecting said check-in validation scheme from a plurality of check-in validation schemes.

12. A computing device comprising:

a wireless network interface;

a processing unit to;

obtain a candidate device check-in profile for a first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of a location based service provider, wherein at least a portion of said candidate device check-in profile is received via a second mobile device that is identified as being checked-in with said location based service provider at a venue location;

determine whether said candidate device check-in profile is valid; and

identify said first mobile device as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location, in response to a determination that said candidate device check-in profile is valid.

13. The computing device as recited in claim 12, wherein said candidate device check-in profile is based, at least in part, on one or more messages transmitted between said first mobile device and said second mobile device using a first wireless interface, and wherein said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile is received from said second mobile device using a second wireless interface that is different from said first wireless interface.

14. The computing device as recited in claim 12, said processing unit to further:

determine whether said candidate device check-in profile is valid based, at least in part, on a comparison of said candidate device check-in profile to at least one of;

a validation criteria;

or a historical record.

15. The computing device as recited in claim 12, wherein said candidate device check-in profile comprises a signal measurement for a wireless signal received by said first mobile device from a wireless transmitting device, and wherein said wireless transmitting device selectively varies a signal transmission strength of said wireless signal.

16. The computing device as recited in claim 12, said processing unit to further:

select said check-in validation scheme from a plurality of check-in validation schemes.

17. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein computer implementable instructions executable by a processing unit in a computing device to;

obtain a candidate device check-in profile for a first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of a location based service provider, wherein at least a portion of said candidate device check-in profile is received via a second mobile device that is identified as being checked-in with said location based service provider at a venue location; and

in response to a determination that said candidate device check-in profile is valid, identify said first mobile device as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location.

18. The article as recited in claim 17, said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to:

determine whether said candidate device check-in profile is valid based, at least in part, on a comparison of said candidate device check-in profile to at least one of;

a validation criteria;

or a historical record.

19. The article as recited in claim 17, wherein said candidate device check-in profile comprises a signal measurement for a wireless signal received by said first mobile device from a wireless transmitting device, and wherein said wireless transmitting device selectively varies a signal transmission strength of said wireless signal.

20. The article as recited in claim 17, said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to:

select said check-in validation scheme from a plurality of check-in validation schemes.

21. A method comprising, with a first mobile device:

associating an estimated location of said first mobile device with a venue location from which a location based service provider permits a check-in;

initiating transmission of one or more electrical signals representing at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile for said first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of said location based service provider, to a second mobile device that is identified as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location; and

receiving one or more electrical signals representing an indication that said first mobile device has been successfully checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location, said indication being based, at least in part, on a determination that said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in portion is valid as determined, at least in part, by a computing device that received said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile from said second device.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said second mobile device is previously checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location using a different check-in validation scheme.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said candidate device check-in profile comprises a signal measurement for a wireless signal received by said first mobile device from a wireless transmitting device, and wherein said wireless transmitting device selectively varies a signal transmission strength of said wireless signal.

24. The method as recited in claim 21, and further comprising, with said first mobile device:

selecting said check-in validation scheme from a plurality of check-in validation schemes.

25. The method as recited in claim 21, and further comprising, with said first mobile device:

associating said estimated location of said first mobile device with said venue location based, at least in part, on a selection weighting factor.

26. The method as recited in claim 21, and further comprising, with said first mobile device:

in response to a determination that a plurality of venue locations are at or near by an initial estimated location of said first mobile device, performing an enhanced location estimation operation to determine said estimated location of said first mobile device, wherein said estimated location is more accurate than said initial estimated location.

27. An apparatus for use in a first mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

means for associating an estimated location of a first mobile device with a venue location from which a location based service provider permits a check-in;

means for transmitting at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile for said first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of said location based service provider, to a second mobile device that is identified as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location; and

means for receiving an indication that said first mobile device has been successfully checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location, said indication being based, at least in part, on a determination that said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in portion is valid as determined, at least in part, by a computing device that received said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile from said second device.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 27, and further comprising:

means for selecting said check-in validation scheme from a plurality of check-in validation schemes.

29. The apparatus as recited in claim 27, and further comprising:

means for associating said estimated location of said first mobile device with said venue location based, at least in part, on a selection weighting factor.

30. The apparatus as recited in claim 27, and further comprising:

means for performing an enhanced location estimation operation to determine said estimated location of said first mobile device in response to a determination that a plurality of venue locations are at or near by an initial estimated location of said first mobile device, wherein said estimated location is more accurate than said initial estimated location.

31. A first mobile device comprising:

a wireless network interface; and

a processing unit to;

associate an estimated location of a first mobile device with a venue location from which a location based service provider permits a check-in;

initiate transmission of at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile for said first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of said location based service provider, to a second mobile device that is identified as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location; and

obtain an indication that said first mobile device has been successfully checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location, said indication being based, at least in part, on a determination that said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in portion is valid as determined, at least in part, by a computing device that received said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile from said second device.

32. The first mobile device as recited in claim 31, wherein said candidate device check-in profile comprises a signal measurement for a wireless signal received via said network interface from a wireless transmitting device, and wherein said wireless transmitting device selectively varies a signal transmission strength of said wireless signal.

33. The first mobile device as recited in claim 31, said processing unit to further:

select said check-in validation scheme from a plurality of check-in validation schemes.

34. The first mobile device as recited in claim 31, said processing unit to further:

said estimated location of said first mobile device with said venue location based, at least in part, on a selection weighting factor.

35. The first mobile device as recited in claim 31, said processing unit to further:

in response to a determination that a plurality of venue locations are at or near by an initial estimated location of said first mobile device, initiate an enhanced location estimation operation to determine said estimated location of said first mobile device, wherein said estimated location is more accurate than said initial estimated location.

36. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein computer implementable instructions executable by a processing unit in a first mobile device to;

associate an estimated location of a first mobile device with a venue location from which a location based service provider permits a check-in;

initiate transmission of at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile for said first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of said location based service provider, to a second mobile device that is identified as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location; and

obtain an indication that said first mobile device has been successfully checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location, said indication being based, at least in part, on a determination that said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in portion is valid as determined, at least in part, by a computing device that received said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile from said second device.

37. The article as recited in claim 36, wherein said candidate device check-in profile comprises a signal measurement for a wireless signal received by said first mobile device from a wireless transmitting device, and wherein said wireless transmitting device selectively varies a signal transmission strength of said wireless signal.

38. The article as recited in claim 36, said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to:

select said check-in validation scheme from a plurality of check-in validation schemes.

39. The article as recited in claim 36, said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to:

associate said estimated location of said first mobile device with said venue location based, at least in part, on a selection weighting factor.

40. The article as recited in claim 36, said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to:

in response to a determination that a plurality of venue locations are at or near by an initial estimated location of said first mobile device, initiate an enhanced location estimation operation to determine said estimated location of said first mobile device, wherein said estimated location is more accurate than said initial estimated location.

41. A method comprising, with a first mobile device:

associating an estimated location of said first mobile device with a venue location from which a location based service provider permits a check-in;

initiating transmission of one or more electrical signals representing a candidate device check-in profile for said first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of said location based service provider, to a computing device, wherein at least a portion of said candidate device check-in profile is based, at least in part, on a signal received from a second mobile device that is identified as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location; and

receiving one or more electrical signals representing an indication that said first mobile device has been successfully checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location, said indication being based, at least in part, on a determination that said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile that is based, at least in part, on said signal received from said second mobile device is valid as determined, at least in part, by said computing device.

42. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein said signal is received from said second mobile device using a first wireless interface, and wherein said candidate device check-in profile is transmitted by said first mobile device using a second wireless interface that is different from said first wireless interface.

43. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein said candidate device check-in profile comprises a signal measurement for a wireless signal received by said first mobile device from a wireless transmitting device, and wherein said wireless transmitting device selectively varies a signal transmission strength of said wireless signal.

44. The method as recited in claim 41, and further comprising:

selecting said check-in validation scheme from a plurality of check-in validation schemes.

45. The method as recited in claim 41, and further comprising:

associating said estimated location of said first mobile device with said venue location based, at least in part, on a selection weighting factor.

46. The method as recited in claim 41, and further comprising:

in response to a determination that a plurality of venue locations are at or near by an initial estimated location of said first mobile device, performing an enhanced location estimation operation to determine said estimated location of said first mobile device, wherein said estimated location is more accurate than said initial estimated location.

47. An apparatus for use in a first mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

means for associating an estimated location of a first mobile device with a venue location from which a location based service provider permits a check-in;

means for transmitting a candidate device check-in profile for said first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of said location based service provider, to a computing device, wherein at least a portion of said candidate device check-in profile is based, at least in part, on a signal received from a second mobile device that is identified as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location; and

means for receiving an indication that said first mobile device has been successfully checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location, said indication being based, at least in part, on a determination that said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile that is based, at least in part, on said signal received from said second mobile device is valid as determined, at least in part, by said computing device.

48. The apparatus as recited in claim 47, wherein said candidate device check-in profile comprises a signal measurement for a wireless signal received by said first mobile device from a wireless transmitting device, and wherein said wireless transmitting device selectively varies a signal transmission strength of said wireless signal.

49. The apparatus as recited in claim 47, and further comprising:

means for selecting said check-in validation scheme from a plurality of check-in validation schemes.

50. The apparatus as recited in claim 47, and further comprising:

means for associating said estimated location of said first mobile device with said venue location based, at least in part, on a selection weighting factor.

51. The apparatus as recited in claim 47, and further comprising:

means for performing an enhanced location estimation operation to determine said estimated location of said first mobile device, in response to a determination that a plurality of venue locations are at or near by said initial estimated location of said first mobile device, wherein said estimated location is more accurate than an initial estimated location.

52. A first mobile device comprising:

a wireless network interface; and

a processing unit to;

associate an estimated location of said first mobile device with a venue location from which a location based service provider permits a check-in;

initiate transmission of a candidate device check-in profile for said first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of said location based service provider, to a computing device, wherein at least a portion of said candidate device check-in profile is based, at least in part, on a signal received from a second mobile device that is identified as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location; and

obtain an indication that said first mobile device has been successfully checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location, said indication being based, at least in part, on a determination that said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile that is based, at least in part, on said signal received from said second mobile device is valid as determined, at least in part, by said computing device.

53. The first mobile device as recited in claim 52, wherein said candidate device check-in profile comprises a signal measurement for a wireless signal received by said first mobile device from a wireless transmitting device, and wherein said wireless transmitting device selectively varies a signal transmission strength of said wireless signal.

54. The first mobile device as recited in claim 52, said processing unit to further:

select said check-in validation scheme from a plurality of check-in validation schemes.

55. The first mobile device as recited in claim 52, said processing unit to further:

associating said estimated location of said first mobile device with said venue location based, at least in part, on a selection weighting factor.

56. The first mobile device as recited in claim 52, said processing unit to further:

in response to a determination that a plurality of venue locations are at or near by an initial estimated location of said first mobile device, initiate an enhanced location estimation operation to determine said estimated location of said first mobile device, wherein said estimated location is more accurate than said initial estimated location.

57. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein computer implementable instructions executable by a processing unit in a first mobile device to;

associate an estimated location of said first mobile device with a venue location from which a location based service provider permits a check-in;

initiate transmission of a candidate device check-in profile for said first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of said location based service provider, to a computing device, wherein at least a portion of said candidate device check-in profile is based, at least in part, on a signal received from a second mobile device that is identified as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location; and

obtain an indication that said first mobile device has been successfully checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue location, said indication being based, at least in part, on a determination that said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile that is based, at least in part, on said signal received from said second mobile device is valid as determined, at least in part, by said computing device.

58. The article as recited in claim 57, wherein said candidate device check-in profile comprises a signal measurement for a wireless signal received by said first mobile device from a wireless transmitting device, and wherein said wireless transmitting device selectively varies a signal transmission strength of said wireless signal.

59. The article as recited in claim 57, said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to:

select said check-in validation scheme from a plurality of check-in validation schemes.

60. The article as recited in claim 57, said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to:

associate said estimated location of said first mobile device with said venue location based, at least in part, on a selection weighting factor.

61. The article as recited in claim 57, said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to:

an enhanced location estimation operation to determine said estimated location of said first mobile device, in response to a determination that a plurality of venue locations are at or near by said initial estimated location of said first mobile device, wherein said estimated location is more accurate than an initial estimated location.

62. A method comprising, with a mobile device:

performing a check-in with a location based service provider at a venue location from which said location based service provider permits a separate check-in from a first mobile device;

receiving one or more electrical signals representing at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile for said first mobile device from said first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of said location based service provider; and

transmitting said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile to a computing device capable of determining whether said candidate device check-in profile is valid.

63. The method as recited in claim 62, wherein said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile is received from said first mobile device over a first wireless interface, and wherein said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile is transmitted to said computing device by said mobile device using a second wireless interface that is different from said first wireless interface.

64. The method as recited in claim 62, wherein said check-in with said location based service provider at said venue location is performed using a different check-in validation scheme.

65. The method as recited in claim 62, wherein said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile comprises a signal measurement for a wireless signal received by said first mobile device from a wireless transmitting device, and wherein said wireless transmitting device selectively varies a signal transmission strength of said wireless signal.

66. An apparatus for use in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

means for performing a check-in with a location based service provider at a venue location from which said location based service provider permits a separate check-in from a first mobile device;

means for receiving at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile for said first mobile device from said first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of said location based service provider; and

means for transmitting said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile to a computing device capable of determining whether said candidate device check-in profile is valid.

67. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless network interface; and

a processing unit to;

initiate a check-in with a location based service provider at a venue location from which said location based service provider permits a separate check-in from a first mobile device;

receive at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile for said first mobile device from said first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of said location based service provider; and

initiate transmission of said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile to a computing device capable of determining whether said candidate device check-in profile is valid.

68. The mobile device as recited in claim 67, wherein said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile is received from said first mobile device over a first wireless interface, and wherein said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile is transmitted to said computing device by said mobile device using a second wireless interface that is different from said first wireless interface.

69. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein computer implementable instructions executable by a processing unit in a second mobile device to;

initiate a check-in with a location based service provider at a venue location from which said location based service provider permits a separate check-in from a first mobile device;

receive at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile for said first mobile device from said first mobile device, said candidate device check-in profile being for use in a check-in validation scheme of said location based service provider; and

initiate transmission of said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile to a computing device capable of determining whether said candidate device check-in profile is valid.

70. The article as recited in claim 69, wherein said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile is received from said first mobile device over a first wireless interface, and wherein said at least said portion of said candidate device check-in profile is transmitted to said computing device by said mobile device using a second wireless interface that is different from said first wireless interface.

71. A method comprising, with a mobile device:

performing a check-in with a location based service provider at a venue location from which said location based service provider permits a separate check-in from a first mobile device; and

in response to receiving a signal from said first mobile device, transmitting one or more electrical signals representing at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile for use in said separate check-in to said first mobile device.

72. An apparatus for use in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

means for initiating a check-in with a location based service provider at a venue location from which said location based service provider permits a separate check-in from a first mobile device;

means for receiving a signal from said first mobile device; and

means for transmitting at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile for use in said separate check-in to said first mobile device.

73. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless network interface; and

a processing unit to;

initiate a check-in, via said wireless network interface, with a location based service provider at a venue location from which said location based service provider permits a separate check-in from a first mobile device; and

in response to receiving a signal from said first mobile device, initiate transmission of at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile for use in said separate check-in to said first mobile device.

74. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein computer implementable instructions executable by a processing unit in a mobile device to;

initiate a check-in with a location based service provider at a venue location from which said location based service provider permits a separate check-in from a first mobile device; and

in response to receiving a signal from said first mobile device, initiate transmission of at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile for use in said separate check-in to said first mobile device.

75. A method comprising:

receiving at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile of a first mobile device from a second mobile device, said second mobile device having been checked-in with a location based service provider at a venue; and

identifying said first mobile device as being checked-in with said location based service provider at said venue in response to a determination that said candidate device check-in profile is valid.

76. A method comprising, with a first mobile device:

transmitting at least a portion of a candidate device check-in profile to a second mobile device identified as being checked-in with a location based service provider at a venue, said venue including an estimated location of the first mobile device;

receiving an indication that the first mobile device has been successfully checked in with the service provider at the venue location responsive to a determination at a computing device that said transmitted portion of said candidate device check-in profile is valid.