SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING FEATURES OF WIRELESS MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20160277560A1
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Published: 09/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comm-ence, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Comm-ence, Inc.
• Inventors: Gruberman, Randal, Hinton, James J., Carlton, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 9,787,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3221 Access to banking information through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/005 of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

An apparatus including a plurality of wireless beacons carried by a wireless portable device, a wireless transceiver of the portable device that monitors a predetermined wireless spectrum and detects a signal from another of the plurality of wireless beacons, a processor of the portable device that decodes the detected beacon for an identifier including a sequence of bits, a processor of the portable device that correlates a content of the identifier with one of a plurality of programs of the portable device by matching the one or more bits of an identifier sequence of the one program with a content and location of one or bits of the identifier of the detected beacon and a processor of the portable device that interacts with another device that is directly physically adjacent the portable device via the beacon carried by the portable device and via execution of the one program.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of wireless beacons at least one of which is carried by a wireless portable device;

a wireless transceiver of the portable device that monitors a predetermined wireless spectrum and detects a signal from another of the plurality of wireless beacons;

a processor of the portable device that decodes the detected beacon for an identifier including a sequence of bits;

a processor of the portable device that correlates a content of the identifier with one of a plurality of programs of the portable device by matching the one or more bits of an identifier sequence of the one program with a content and location of one or bits of the identifier of the detected beacon; and

a processor of the portable device that interacts with another device that is directly physically adjacent the portable device via the beacon carried by the portable device and via execution of the one program.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the other device is another wireless portable device that carries the other beacon.

3. The apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the other portable device is carried by an autonomous vehicle, taxi, Uber or Lyft driver.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising a processor of the other portable device of the autonomous vehicle, taxi, Uber or Lyft driver that detects an identity of a user of the portable device via the beacon carried by the portable device and by operation of the one program and that detects a pickup location and drop-off location of the user of an autonomous vehicle, taxi, Uber or Lyft service by correlating detection of the beacons of the portable and other device with geographic locations.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the other device further comprises a building control system wherein the other beacon is located directly adjacent an elevator, where upon detecting the other beacon, the one program of the portable device identifies a user of the portable device to the building control system and the building control system or elevator controller automatically selects a destination floor of the user.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the other device further comprises a building control system wherein the other beacon is located directly adjacent an entry door of a secured location, wherein upon detecting the other beacon, the one program of the portable device identifies a user of the portable device to the building control system and the building control system activates a lock allowing physical entry of the user into the secured area.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the other device further comprises a building control system wherein the other beacon identifies a predetermined location within a building of the building control system, wherein upon detecting the other beacon, the portable device transmits an identifier of the other beacon to the control system and the building control system displays an indicator of the location of the portable device superimposed on a map of the building.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising a processor of the building control system that activates or deactivates user devices based upon a presence or absence of the user within the building.

9. The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the activated and deactivated user devices further comprise one or more of lighting systems, mechanical systems, door locking systems, telephones, cabinet and drawer locks or computer and server systems.

10. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the other device further comprises a restaurant control system wherein the other beacon identifies a predetermined location within the restaurant, wherein upon detecting the other beacon, the one program of the portable device transmits an identifier of the other beacon to the restaurant control system and the restaurant control system determines a location of the portable device within the restaurant and establishes a control connection between the restaurant control system and portable device, the portable device performs one or more of presenting menus of the restaurant, receives orders for food, receives bills for the food and splits the received bill with users of other portable devices at the determined location wherein the control connection provides seamless checkout via Apple pay, Google wallet, Paypal or other EFT app services via mobile devices wherein the user is prompted to pay and does not have to take anything out of his/her pocket or purse in order to pay based upon operation of the control connection.

11. The apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising a processor of the portable device that performs beacon data tracking including one or more of user purchases, locations visited by proximity to beacons and programs executing on the processor and that provide data mining of anonymous or specific demographic data, behaviors, preferences and habits.

12. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the other device further comprises a home automation system wherein the other beacon identifies a predetermined location of a home, wherein upon detecting the other beacon, the one program of the portable device transmits an identifier of the portable device to the home automation system and the home automation system establishes a control connection between the home automation system and portable device where the control connection provides a services check-in for one or more of a dog walker, cleaning person or maintenance person and wherein a least one of the home automation system and one program keeps track of who entered or left a location of the home, duration of time at a particular location and provides temporary access to the home at scheduled times using automated door locks.

13. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the other device further comprises an interactive tourism control system wherein the other beacon identifies a predetermined location at a tourist site, wherein upon detecting the other beacon, the one program of the portable device transmits an identifier of the other beacon to the interactive tourism control system and the interactive tourism control system determines a location of the portable device within the tourist site and establishes a control connection between the interactive tourism control system and portable device wherein the control connection provides information about a display or place of interest when a user is proximate the other beacon including museum interactive rooms or individual pieces of art or history or places of interest and wherein each time the portable device approaches the other beacon within the museum or place of interest, it triggers an audible or visual call up or cue for a guided tour without annoying human guides.

14. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the beacon of the portable device and other device operates using at least one of Bluetooth, WiFi and NFC and wherein the beacon of the portable device is triggered by the one program or by the other beacon.

15. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the other device further comprises an entry control system of a public entertainment event wherein the other beacon identifies a predetermined geographic location of the public entertainment event, wherein upon detecting the other beacon, the one program of the portable device transmits an identifier of the other beacon to the entry control system, the entry control system determines a location of the portable device within the entertainment event and establishes a control connection between the entry control system and portable device wherein the portable device displays an entry ticket on a screen of the portable device at ticket taking locations including one or a stadium event, ballpark, a theater event an airport or any other place that requires a ticket and wherein an wayfinder control system helps a user locate an assigned seat at the event wherein a security portion of the event control system would know that the user were not in the assigned seat by reading other beacons in the area of the seat as well as beacons at multiple check points along a path to the seat.

16. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the other device further comprises a security bracelet worn by a person to generate Amber or Silver Alerts wherein upon detecting the other beacon, the one program of the portable device transmits an identifier and geographic location of the other beacon to at least one of a nursing home, private security service or public safety organization wherein the security bracelet turns nearby portable devices into a receiver that picks up and reports that person'"'"'s individual location.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of wireless beacons each of which is carried by a respective wireless portable device;

a wireless transceiver of one of the portable devices that monitors a predetermined wireless spectrum and detects a signal from another beacon of another of the portable devices;

a processor of the detecting portable device that decodes the detected beacon for an identifier including a sequence of bits;

a processor of the detecting portable device that detects an identity of a user of the other portable device via the detected beacon and that detects an initial geographic location and final geographic location of proximity between a pair of portable devices by correlating detection and loss of signal from the beacon with geographic locations.

18. The apparatus as in claim 17 wherein one of the detecting and other portable device further comprises an autonomous vehicle, taxi, Uber or Lyft driver.

19. The apparatus as in claim 18 further comprising a program of a user of the autonomous vehicle, taxi, Uber or Lyft service within one of the detecting and other portable device that automatically pays for travel services between the initial and final geographic locations.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless beacon carried by a person with disabilities;

a wireless transceiver of a portable device carried by a nearby human user that monitors a predetermined wireless spectrum and detects a signal from the wireless beacon;

a processor of the portable device that decodes the detected beacon for an identifier including a sequence of bits;

a processor of the portable device that correlates a content of the identifier with one of a plurality of programs of the portable device by matching the one or more bits of an identifier sequence of the one program with a content and location of one or bits of the identifier of the detected beacon; and

a processor of the portable device that reports a geographic location of the person with disabilities to a nursing home, private security service or public safety organization via execution of the one program.