Wireless Analytics in Physical Spaces

• US 20140195380A1
• Filed: 01/09/2013
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RetailNext, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nearbuy Systems, Inc (RetailNext, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jamtgaard, Mark, Mueller, Nathan, Sanford, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,882,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.61
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A wireless analytics system and method are disclosed that take shoppers through an initial registration process, after which they can access the Internet quickly and easily every time they visit any of the retailer'"'"'s stores. During future visits to any of the retailer'"'"'s store locations the shopper'"'"'s device is automatically granted network access as soon as it is within wireless range. Once on the network, a shopper can access websites, social networks, and shopping resources from across the mobile web. The system collects information about these access events, including the location and timestamp of each access event. The retailer may be notified when a shopper enters their store. This information may automate the check-in process for processes within the retail store or within a mobile application.

Claims

1. A method for connecting to a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving a first request from a wireless device to access a wireless network at a first time;

collecting information from the wireless device;

granting the wireless device network access;

receiving a second request from the wireless device to access the wireless network at a second time subsequent to the first time; and

granting the wireless device access to the wireless network based on at least some of the collected information when the wireless device is within communication range of a wireless access point of the wireless network,

where the method is performed by one or more hardware processors.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification when the wireless network has accessed the wireless network; and

responsive to receiving the notification, automating a process within a mobile application running on the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting information about the access, including a time and location of the access; and

generating a report based on the access information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a user of the wireless mobile device has previously reviewed or accepted a first version of rules associated with the wireless network; and

providing the wireless mobile device with a second version of the rules, where the second version of the rules is different from the first version of the rules.

5. A method comprising:

receiving a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request from a wireless device; and

analyzing the HTTP request to monitor web traffic,

where the method is performed by one or more hardware processors.

6. The method of claim 5, where analyzing the HTTP request comprises:

parsing the HTTP message to extract a Web address, a product identifier and price for a product and information indicating whether the user of the wireless device is browsing or purchasing the product.

7. The method of claim 5, where analyzing the HTTP request comprises:

analyzing historical webpage requests to discover a webpage a user of the wireless device intended to visit.

8. The method of claim 7, where analyzing historical webpage requests comprises:

analyzing historical HTTP referrer fields.

9. The method of claim 5, where analyzing the HTTP request further comprises:

analyzing canonical Web addresses to extract search terms and website actions.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a notification when the wireless network has accessed the wireless network; and

responsive to receiving the notification, automating a process within a mobile application running on the wireless device.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

collecting information about the access, including a time and location of the access; and

generating a report based on the access information.

12. A method comprising:

receiving network traffic from a wireless mobile device through one or more channels of an omnichannel retail environment;

analyzing network traffic to determine network activities performed by a user of the wireless mobile device;

determining the location of the wireless mobile device in the omnichannel retail environment; and

initiating an action based on the analyzed network traffic and the determined location,

where the method is performed by one or more hardware processors.

13. The method of claim 12, where analyzing network traffic comprises:

analyzing products and prices related to the network activities.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

correlating the network activities with the determined location; and

initiating an action based on results of the correlating.

15. The method of claim 14, where correlating the network activities with the determined location further comprises:

determining proximity of the wireless mobile device to a product in the omnichannel retail environment; and

initiating an action based on results of the correlating.

16. The method of claim 15, where initiating an action based on results of the correlating comprises:

determining that a purchase associated with the wireless mobile device was not made after a period of time; and

sending a communication related to the product to the wireless mobile device.

17. The method of claim 12, where initiating an action based on the analyzed network traffic and the determined location comprises:

determining a status of the user; and

sending a notification that the wireless mobile device has entered the omnichannel retail environment and the status of the user.

18. The method of claim 17, where the status is related to a purchase history of the user.

19. The method of claim 12, where initiating an action based on the analyzed network traffic and the determined location comprises:

adding or updating records associated with the user or the wireless mobile device in a database.

20. A system for connecting to a wireless network, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors and configured to store instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first request from a wireless device to access a wireless network at a first time;

collecting information from the wireless device;

granting the wireless device network access;

receiving a second request from the wireless device to access the wireless network at a second time subsequent to the first time; and

granting the wireless device access to the wireless network based on at least some of the collected information when the wireless device is within communication range of a wireless access point of the wireless network.

21. The system of claim 20, where the memory stores instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a notification when the wireless network has accessed the wireless network; and

responsive to receiving the notification, automating a process within a mobile application running on the wireless device.

22. The system of claim 20, where the memory stores instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

collecting information about the access, including a time and location of the access; and

generating a report based on the access information.

23. The system of claim 20, where the memory stores instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

determining that a user of the wireless mobile device has previously reviewed or accepted a first version of rules associated with the wireless network; and

providing the wireless mobile device with a second version of the rules, where the second version of the rules is different from the first version of the rules.

24. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors and configured to store instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request from a wireless device; and

analyzing the HTTP request to monitor web traffic.

25. The system of claim 24, where analyzing the HTTP request comprises:

parsing the HTTP message to extract a Web address, a product identifier and price for a product and information indicating whether the user of the wireless device is browsing or purchasing the product.

26. The system of claim 24, where analyzing the HTTP request comprises:

analyzing historical webpage requests to discover a webpage a user of the wireless device intended to visit.

27. The system of claim 26, where analyzing historical webpage requests comprises:

analyzing historical HTTP referrer fields.

28. The system of claim 24, where analyzing the HTTP request further comprises:

analyzing canonical Web addresses to extract search terms and website actions.

29. The system of claim 24, where the memory stores instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a notification when the wireless network has accessed the wireless network; and

responsive to receiving the notification, automating a process within a mobile application running on the wireless device.

30. The system of claim 24, where the memory stores instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

collecting information about the access, including a time and location of the access; and

generating a report based on the access information.

31. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors and configured to store instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving network traffic from a wireless mobile device through one or more channels of an omnichannel retail environment;

analyzing network traffic to determine network activities performed by a user of the wireless mobile device;

determining the location of the wireless mobile device in the omnichannel retail environment; and

initiating an action based on the analyzed network traffic and the determined location.

32. The system of claim 31, where analyzing network traffic comprises:

analyzing products and prices related to the network activities.

33. The system of claim 31, where the memory stores instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

correlating the network activities with the determined location; and

initiating an action based on results of the correlating.

34. The system of claim 33, where correlating the network activities with the determined location further comprises:

determining proximity of the wireless mobile device to a product in the omnichannel retail environment; and

initiating an action based on results of the correlating.

35. The system of claim 34, where initiating an action based on results of the correlating comprises:

determining that a purchase associated with the wireless mobile device was not made after a period of time; and

sending a communication related to the product to the wireless mobile device.

36. The system of claim 31, where initiating an action based on the analyzed network traffic and the determined location comprises:

determining a status of the user; and

sending a notification that the wireless mobile device has entered the omnichannel retail environment and the status of the user.

37. The system of claim 36, where the status is related to a purchase history of the user.

38. The system of claim 31, where initiating an action based on the analyzed network traffic and the determined location comprises:

adding or updating records associated with the user or the wireless mobile device in a database.