CATEGORY-BASED FENCE

• US 20140364100A1
• Filed: 06/06/2013
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Marti, Lukas M., Ma, Shannon M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,191,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/00 Arrangements for software engineering testing or debugging G06F11/36; administrative, planning or organisation aspects of software project management G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• 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 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• 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: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Techniques of category-based fence are described. A category-based fence can correspond to a group of signal sources instead of a point location fixed to latitude and longitude coordinates. The group of signal sources can represent a category of entities, e.g., a particular business chain. The signal sources can be distributed to multiple discrete locations. A category-based fence associated with the group, accordingly, can correspond to multiple locations instead of a single point location and a radius. Each signal source in the group can be associated with a category identifier unique to the group and uniform among signal sources in the group. The category identifier can be programmed into each signal source. A mobile device can enter the category-based fence by entering any of the discrete locations when the mobile device detects the signal identifier. The mobile device can then execute an application program associated with the category-based fence.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a mobile device, an application program, the application program being configured to activate upon entering a category-based fence, the category-based fence corresponding to a signal source group including a plurality of signal sources and being associated with an identifier of the signal source group, wherein the category-based fence is distributed in a plurality of discrete geographic locations, each discrete geographic location corresponding to one or more of the signal sources, each of the signal sources being configured to broadcast the identifier;

registering the identifier for monitoring by the mobile device;

detecting, by the mobile device, a signal from a signal source, the signal including a signal source identifier that matches the registered identifier;

determining, based on the match, that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations of the category-based fence; and

activating the application program upon the determining.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each signal source of the signal source group is at least one of:

a low energy signal transmitter having a transmission power that is below a transmission power threshold, or

a wireless beacon based on IEEE 802.11u technical standard for mobile wireless communication.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each signal source is a Bluetooth™

low energy (BLE) device or a near field communication (NFC) device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier of the signal source group includes a universally unique identifier (UUID).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations is further based on determining that the mobile device has transitioned from an outdoor state to an indoor state.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising, after determining that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations:

scanning a plurality of communication channels for signal source broadcasts, including determining one or more signal source identifiers received in each scan;

determining that, for at least a threshold number of scans, none of the one or more signal source identifiers received in each scan matches the registered identifier;

determining that the mobile device has exited the category-based fence; and

then

exiting the application program.

7. A method, comprising:

associating, by a system comprising one or more processors, a unique identifier with an application program, the unique identifier representing a category-based fence, the application program configured to be activated on a mobile device when the mobile device enters the category-based fence;

causing a representation of the unique identifier to be stored on multiple signal sources;

defining the category-based fence using a plurality of discrete locations, including causing the signal sources to be distributed to the discrete locations, wherein a designated communication range of a first signal source located at a first location does not reach a second location where a second signal source is located; and

causing the mobile device to activate the application program when the mobile device detects the unique identifier at any of the discrete locations.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising expanding the category-based fence by adding a new discrete location, wherein adding the new discrete location comprises causing an additional signal source to be placed at the new discrete location, the additional signal source storing the representation of the unique identifier.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the category-based fence is defined independent of a latitude or longitude coordinate.

10. A method comprising:

determining, by a mobile device, an estimated location of the mobile device, the estimated location comprising a geographic area;

determining a point of interest database based on the geographic area and a category identifier, the category identifier being associated with a group of signal sources, each signal source having a signal source identifier and being placed at a discrete location within the geographic area, wherein the point of interest database stores the signal source identifiers of signal sources in the group;

detecting a signal source identifier by scanning a plurality of communication channels;

determining that at least a portion of the detected signal source identifier matches one of the signal source identifiers stored in the point-of-interest database; and

activating an application program associated with the category identifier based on the match.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

determining an exit fence, the exit fence corresponding to the geographic area; and

determining a new point-of-interest database upon determining an exit from the exit fence.

12. A system comprising:

a mobile device; and

a storage device coupled to the mobile device, the storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising;

receiving an application program, the application program being configured to activate upon entering a category-based fence, the category-based fence corresponding to a signal source group including a plurality of signal sources and being associated with an identifier of the signal source group, wherein the category-based fence is distributed in a plurality of discrete geographic locations, each discrete geographic location corresponding to one or more of the signal sources, each of the signal sources being configured to broadcast the identifier;

registering the identifier for monitoring;

detecting a signal from a signal source, the signal including a signal source identifier that matches the registered identifier;

determining, based on the match, that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations of the category-based fence; and

activating the application program upon the determining.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each signal source of the signal source group is at least one of:

a low energy signal transmitter having a transmission power that is below a transmission power threshold, or

a wireless beacon based on IEEE 802.11u technical standard for mobile wireless communication.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the identifier of the signal source group includes a universally unique identifier (UUID).

15. The system of claim 12, wherein determining that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations is further based on determining that the mobile device has transitioned from an outdoor state to an indoor state.

16. The system of claim 12, the operations comprising, after determining that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations:

scanning a plurality of communication channels for signal source broadcasts, including determining one or more signal source identifiers received in each scan;

determining that, for at least a threshold number of scans, none of the one or more signal source identifiers received in each scan matches the registered identifier;

determining that the mobile device has exited the category-based fence; and

then

exiting the application program.

17. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a storage device coupled to the one or more processors, the storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

associating a unique identifier with an application program, the unique identifier representing a category-based fence, the application program configured to be activated on a mobile device when the mobile device enters the category-based fence;

causing a representation of the unique identifier to be stored on multiple signal sources;

defining the category-based fence using a plurality of discrete locations, including causing the signal sources to be distributed to the discrete locations, wherein a designated communication range of a first signal source located at a first location does not reach a second location where a second signal source is located; and

causing the mobile device to activate the application program when the mobile device detects the unique identifier at any of the discrete locations.

18. The system of claim 17, the operations comprising expanding the category-based fence by adding a new discrete location, wherein adding the new discrete location comprises causing an additional signal source to be placed at the new discrete location, the additional signal source storing the representation of the unique identifier.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the category-based fence is defined independent of a latitude or longitude coordinate.

20. A system comprising:

a mobile device; and

a storage device coupled to the mobile device, the storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising;

determining an estimated location of the mobile device, the estimated location comprising a geographic area;

determining a point of interest database based on the geographic area and a category identifier, the category identifier being associated with a group of signal sources, each signal source having a signal source identifier and being placed at a discrete location within the geographic area, wherein the point of interest database stores the signal source identifiers of signal sources in the group;

detecting a signal source identifier by scanning a plurality of communication channels;

determining that at least a portion of the detected signal source identifier matches one of the signal source identifiers stored in the point-of-interest database; and

activating an application program associated with the category identifier based on the match.

21. The system of claim 20, the operations comprising:

determining an exit fence, the exit fence corresponding to the geographic area; and

determining a new point-of-interest database upon determining an exit from the exit fence.

22. A non-transitory storage device coupled to a mobile device, the non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:

receiving an application program, the application program being configured to activate upon entering a category-based fence, the category-based fence corresponding to a signal source group including a plurality of signal sources and being associated with an identifier of the signal source group, wherein the category-based fence is distributed in a plurality of discrete geographic locations, each discrete geographic location corresponding to one or more of the signal sources, each of the signal sources being configured to broadcast the identifier;

registering the identifier for monitoring by the mobile device;

detecting a signal from a signal source, the signal including a signal source identifier that matches the registered identifier;

determining, based on the match, that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations of the category-based fence; and

activating the application program upon the determining.

23. The non-transitory storage device of claim 22, wherein each signal source of the signal source group is at least one of:

a low energy signal transmitter having a transmission power that is below a transmission power threshold, or

a wireless beacon based on IEEE 802.11u technical standard for mobile wireless communication.

24. The non-transitory storage device of claim 22, wherein determining that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations is further based on determining that the mobile device has transitioned from an outdoor state to an indoor state.

25. The non-transitory storage device of claim 22, the operations comprising, after determining that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations:

scanning a plurality of communication channels for signal source broadcasts, including determining one or more signal source identifiers received in each scan;

determining that, for at least a threshold number of scans, none of the one or more signal source identifiers received in each scan matches the registered identifier;

determining that the mobile device has exited the category-based fence; and

then

exiting the application program.

26. A non-transitory storage device coupled to a system including one or more processors, the non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the system to perform operations comprising:

associating a unique identifier with an application program, the unique identifier representing a category-based fence, the application program configured to be activated on a mobile device when the mobile device enters the category-based fence;

causing a representation of the unique identifier to be stored on multiple signal sources;

defining the category-based fence using a plurality of discrete locations, including causing the signal sources to be distributed to the discrete locations, wherein a designated communication range of a first signal source located at a first location does not reach a second location where a second signal source is located; and

causing the mobile device to activate the application program when the mobile device detects the unique identifier at any of the discrete locations.

27. The non-transitory storage device of claim 26, the operations comprising expanding the category-based fence by adding a new discrete location, wherein adding the new discrete location comprises causing an additional signal source to be placed at the new discrete location, the additional signal source storing the representation of the unique identifier.

28. The non-transitory storage device of claim 26, wherein the category-based fence is defined independent of a latitude or longitude coordinate.

29. A non-transitory storage device coupled to a mobile device, the non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:

determining an estimated location of the mobile device, the estimated location comprising a geographic area;

determining a point of interest database based on the geographic area and a category identifier, the category identifier being associated with a group of signal sources, each signal source having a signal source identifier and being placed at a discrete location within the geographic area, wherein the point of interest database stores the signal source identifiers of signal sources in the group;

detecting a signal source identifier by scanning a plurality of communication channels;

determining that at least a portion of the detected signal source identifier matches one of the signal source identifiers stored in the point-of-interest database; and

activating an application program associated with the category identifier based on the match.

30. The non-transitory storage device of claim 29, the operations comprising:

determining an exit fence, the exit fence corresponding to the geographic area; and

determining a new point-of-interest database upon determining an exit from the exit fence.