SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RETAIL SALES USING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK

• US 20140108149A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IP Investment Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: E3, LLC
• Inventors: Jabara, Gary B., Linder, Lloyd Frederick, Simon, David Brett
• Granted Patent: US 10,387,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.64
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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

Abstract

A wireless network is established by direct communication between a user equipment (UE) and wireless access points within a shopping venue. After initial registration, the UE may be automatically authenticated upon entry into the shopping venue. In the venue, the UE sends a periodic signal that includes information from which the UE location within the venue may be determined. The system can develop a shopper profile based on the amount of time spent within the shopping venue, user purchases, and user-provided profile data even under circumstances where the specific identity of the user is not known. The customer analysis and profile generation can be used to produce individualized ads and offers for the UE. In addition, the analysis can develop a retail DNA rating for the user based on various factors, including responsiveness to advertising. A high retail DNA rating may result in even better advertising offers to the user.

Claims

1. A method for the use of a wireless communication device in a shopping venue wherein the wireless communication device comprises a short-range transceiver, the method comprising:

using the short-range transceiver to automatically search for an access point associated with the shopping venue;

automatically transmitting an authentication request to a detected access point, the authentication request including identification data associated with the wireless communication device;

upon authentication of the wireless communication device, automatically establishing a communication link with the access point;

as long as the short-range transceiver is within range of the access point associated with the shopping venue, transmitting a periodic signal using the communication link to permit a location of the wireless communication device within the shopping venue to be determined; and

receiving data from the shopping venue via the communication link with the access point.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the periodically transmitted signal transmitted from the wireless communication device to the access point using the communication link comprises data indicative of a current location of the wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the periodically transmitted signal transmitted from the wireless communication device to the access point using the communication link comprises data indicative of the signal strength of a signal received from ones of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the first venue.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the wireless communication device transceiver is further configured to receive location data from the access point using the communication link, the location data being derived from the signal strength data provided by the wireless communication device in the periodically transmitted signal.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the wireless communication device transceiver is further configured to receive navigation data from the access point using the communication link, the navigation data being derived from the signal strength data provided by the wireless communication device in the periodically transmitted signal to thereby provide guidance in navigating throughout the venue.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting personal data related to a user of the wireless communication device automatically upon establishing the communication link with the access point.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein transmitting personal data comprises transmitting personal preference data of the user of the wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving data from the shopping venue via the communication link comprises receiving advertising data, the method further comprising the wireless communication device automatically receiving and processing the advertising data independent of a user request and displaying the advertising data on a display of the wireless communication device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the wireless communication device is configured to display a portion of the advertising data on a touch-sensitive display of the wireless communication device, the method further comprising:

sensing user activation of a portion of the touch-sensitive display to request coupon data related to the advertising data;

transmitting the request for coupon data to the access point via the communication link;

receiving the requested coupon data from the access point via the communication link; and

storing the received coupon data in a storage area of the wireless communication device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving data from the shopping venue via the communication link comprises receiving advertising data based on a location of the wireless communication device within the venue, the method further comprising the wireless communication device automatically receiving and processing the advertising data independent of a user request and displaying the advertising data on a display of the wireless communication device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing user activation of a portion of the touch-sensitive display to advertising data;

transmitting the request for advertising data to the access point via the communication link;

receiving advertising data from the access point via the communication link in response to the transmitted request; and

displaying the received advertising data on a display of the wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing user activation of a portion of the touch-sensitive display to advertising data;

transmitting the request for advertising data, based on the determined location of the wireless communication device within the venue, to the access point via the communication link;

receiving advertising data from the access point via the communication link in response to the transmitted request; and

displaying the received advertising data on a display of the wireless communication device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving data from the access point via the communication link comprises receiving web link data, the method further comprising processing the web link data and displaying the web link data on a display of the wireless communication device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the wireless communication device is configured to display a portion of the web link data on a touch-sensitive display of the wireless communication device, the method further comprising:

sensing user activation of a portion of the touch-sensitive display to request connection to a web site associated with the web link data;

transmitting the request for connection to the web site associated with the web link data to the access point via the short-range communication link;

receiving the data from requested web site from the access point via the short-range communication link; and

displaying the web site data on the display of the wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the wireless communication device is configured to use a resident web browser in the wireless communication device to control interactions with the web site.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of wireless access points are associated with the shopping venue and using the short-range transceiver to detect the wireless access point associated with the shopping venue comprises using the short-range transceiver to detect any of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the shopping venue.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein establishing the communication link with the access point comprises establishing a communication link with multiple ones of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the first venue, the method further comprising measuring a signal strength of a signal received from each of the multiple ones of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the first venue.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the periodically transmitted signal transmitted from the wireless communication device to the access point using the communication link comprises data indicative of the signal strength of the signal received from each of the multiple ones of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the first venue.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein establishing the communication link with the access point comprises establishing a communication link with any of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the first venue and receiving data therefrom.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein establishing the communication link with the access point comprises establishing a communication link with a first of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the shopping venue and receiving data therefrom, the method further comprising maintaining the communication link with others of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the shopping venue as the wireless communication device moves out of range of the first of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the shopping venue.

21. A method for the control of a plurality of wireless communication devices in a shopping venue using a short-range wireless communication network wherein each of the plurality of wireless communication devices includes a short-range transceiver, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal from a plurality of access points for detection by any of the plurality of wireless communications devices;

at a first of the plurality of access points, receiving an authentication request transmitted from any of the plurality of wireless communications devices that detects the transmitted signal, each authentication request including identification data associated with the wireless communication device that is transmitting the authentication request;

providing the authentication request and identification data to an authentication server to determine if the identification data matches a previously registered user;

if the authentication server determines that the identification data matches a previously registered user, then authenticating the wireless communication device associated with that user;

upon authentication of the wireless communication device, establishing a communication link between the first of the plurality of access points and the authenticated wireless communication device and transmitting data thereto;

as long as the short-range transceiver is within range of any of the plurality of access points, receiving a periodic signal transmitted from the authenticated wireless communication device using the communication link; and

determining a location of the wireless communication device within the shopping venue based on the periodically received signal.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising associating a user account with the registered user and using the user account to make purchases in the shopping venue.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising using the wireless communication device associated with the user account to make purchases in the shopping venue.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the authentication server is associated with the shopping venue.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of access points are associated with different shopping venues and receiving the authentication request comprises:

receiving the authentication request at any of a first portion of the plurality of access points associated with a first shopping venue from any of the plurality of wireless communication devices that detected the transmitted signal from any of the plurality of access points associated with the first venue; and

receiving the authentication request at any of a second portion of the plurality of access points associated with a second venue from any of the plurality of wireless communication devices that detected the transmitted signal from any of the plurality of access points associated with the second venue.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the authentication server is configured to process authentication requests for the first and second venues, and providing the authentication request and identification data to the authentication server comprises providing the authentication request and identification data from the access points associated with the first venue to the authentication server and providing the authentication request and identification data from the access points associated with the second venue to the authentication server.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising associating a user account with the registered user and using the user account to make purchases in the first and second venues.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising using the wireless communication device associated with the user account to make purchases in the first and second venues.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising establishing a user profile based on the location of the wireless communication within the shopping venue.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising transmitting advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link with the access point, the advertising data being based on the user profile.

31. The method of claim 21, further comprising establishing a user profile based on an amount of time of the wireless communication within the shopping venue.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising transmitting advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link with the access point, the advertising data being based on the user profile.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising establishing a user profile based on a purchase made by the user of the wireless communication within the shopping venue.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising transmitting advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link with the access point, the advertising data being based on the user profile.

35. The method of claim 21, further comprising establishing a user profile based on information provided by the user of the wireless communication.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising transmitting advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link with the access point, the advertising data being based on the user profile.

37. The method of claim 21, further comprising establishing a user profile based on one user factor selected from a group of factors comprising the location of the wireless communication within the shopping venue, an amount of time of the wireless communication within the shopping venue, information provided by the user of the wireless communication, and a purchase made by the user of the wireless communication within the shopping venue.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising transmitting advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link with the access point, the advertising data being based on the user profile.

39. The method of claim 21, further comprising establishing a user profile based on a plurality of user factors selected from a group of factors comprising the location of the wireless communication within the shopping venue, an amount of time of the wireless communication within the shopping venue, information provided by the user of the wireless communication, and a purchase made by the user of the wireless communication within the shopping venue.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising transmitting advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link with the access point, the advertising data being based on the user profile.

41. The method of claim 21, further comprising establishing a retail DNA rating for a user based on user activity with the venue and sending advertising data to the wireless communication device based on the retail DNA rating.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the retail DNA rating is established based on a plurality of user factors selected from a group of factors comprising, an amount of time of the wireless communication within the shopping venue, purchases made in response to advertising data sent to the wireless communication device, and a monetary amount spent in the venue.

43. The method of claim 21 wherein transmitting data from the shopping venue via the communication link comprises transmitting advertising data to the authenticated wireless communication device for display on a display of the wireless communication device.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein transmitting the advertising data from the shopping venue via the communication link is in response to a request for the advertising data received from the authenticated wireless communication device.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein transmitting the advertising data from the shopping venue via the communication link independent of any request for the advertising data received from the authenticated wireless communication device.

46. The method of claim 21 wherein transmitting data to the wireless communication device via the communication link comprises transmitting web link data, the method further comprising receiving a connection request from the wireless communication device to connect to a web site associated with the web link data.

47. The method of claim 21 wherein the plurality of wireless access points are associated with the shopping venue and using the short-range transceiver to detect the wireless access point associated with the shopping venue comprises using the short-range transceiver to detect any of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the shopping venue.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein establishing the communication link with the access point comprises establishing a communication link with any of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the shopping venue and receiving data therefrom.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein establishing the communication link with the access point comprises establishing the communication link between the wireless communication device and the first of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the shopping venue and transmitting data thereto, the method further comprising maintaining the communication link between the wireless communication device and others of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the shopping venue as the wireless communication device moves out of range of the first of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the shopping venue.

50. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving signal strength data from the wireless communication device indicative of a signal strength of signals received by the wireless communication device from ones of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the first venue.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising determining a location of the wireless communication device within the venue based on the received signal strength data.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein determining the location of the wireless communication device within the venue based on the received signal strength data comprises using a data storage structure having predetermined signal strength values corresponding to predetermined locations within the venue.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising transmitting navigational direction data to the wireless communication device signal based on the determined location of the wireless communication device to thereby provide guidance in navigating throughout the venue.

54. A system for use with a wireless communication device having a network transceiver configured for communication with a wireless service provider network and a short-range transceiver configured for communication with other than the wireless service provider network, the system comprising:

an authentication server configured to receive an authentication request from a wireless communication device and, in response to the authentication request, to verify an identity of the wireless communication device based on authentication data contained in the authentication request;

a plurality of wireless access points associated with a shopping venue, and distributed throughout the shopping venue, the plurality of wireless access points being configured to receive the authentication request from the short-range transceiver in the wireless communication device, a first of the plurality of wireless access points that detects the authentication request from the wireless communication device being configured to communicate with the authentication server and to provide the authentication data to the authentication server, and, if the identity is verified such that the wireless communication device is authenticated, to establish a communication link between the wireless communication device and one or more of the plurality of wireless access points such that the communication link is maintained so long as the wireless communication device is within range of at least one of the plurality of wireless access points associated with the shopping venue;

a server coupled to the plurality of wireless access points and configured to receive periodic data transmissions from the wireless communication device via at least one of the plurality of wireless access points, the data transmissions containing information from which a location of the wireless communication device within the shopping venue can be derived; and

a data analysis module configured to receive location data indicative of the location of the wireless communication device and to establish a user profile for the user of the wireless communication device based at least in part on the location data.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein the data analysis module is further configured to establish a user profile based on the location of the wireless communication within the shopping venue.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless access points are configured to transmit advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link, the advertising data being based on the user profile.

57. The system of claim 54 wherein the data analysis module is further configured to establish a user profile based on an amount of time of the wireless communication within the shopping venue.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless access points are configured to transmit advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link, the advertising data being based on the user profile.

59. The system of claim 54 wherein the data analysis module is further configured to establish a user profile based on a purchase made by the user of the wireless communication within the shopping venue.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless access points are configured to transmit advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link, the advertising data being based on the user profile.

61. The system of claim 54 wherein the data analysis module is further configured to establish a user profile based on information provided by the user of the wireless communication.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless access points are configured to transmit advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link, the advertising data being based on the user profile.

63. The system of claim 54 wherein the data analysis module is further configured to establish a user profile based on one user factor selected from a group of factors comprising the location of the wireless communication within the shopping venue, an amount of time of the wireless communication within the shopping venue, information provided by the user of the wireless communication, and a purchase made by the user of the wireless communication within the shopping venue.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless access points are configured to transmit advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link, the advertising data being based on the user profile.

65. The system of claim 54 wherein the data analysis module is further configured to establish a user profile based on a plurality of user factors selected from a group of factors comprising the location of the wireless communication within the shopping venue, an amount of time of the wireless communication within the shopping venue, information provided by the user of the wireless communication, and a purchase made by the user of the wireless communication within the shopping venue.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless access points are configured to transmit advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link, the advertising data being based on the user profile.

67. The system of claim 54 wherein the data analysis module is further configured to establish a retail DNA rating for a user based on user activity with the venue and to cause one or more of the plurality of wireless access points to transmit advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link, the advertising data being based on the retail DNA rating.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein analysis module is configured to establish the retail DNA rating based on a plurality of user factors selected from a group of factors comprising, an amount of time of the wireless communication within the shopping venue, purchases made in response to advertising data sent to the wireless communication device, and a monetary amount spent in the venue.

69. The system of claim 54 wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless access points are configured to transmit advertising data from the shopping venue to the authenticated wireless communication device via the communication link for display on a display of the wireless communication device.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless access points are configured to transmit the advertising data in response to a request for the advertising data received from the authenticated wireless communication device.

71. The system of claim 69 wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless access points are configured to transmit the advertising data independent of any request for the advertising data received from the authenticated wireless communication device.