Portable device interaction with beacons
First Claim
1. A communications system comprising first and second beacon devices and at least one portable device each capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said at least one portable device is arranged to broadcast an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, wherein said first beacon device is arranged to detect such an inquiry message and transmit a reply making available to one of said second beacon and said portable device an address or identifier for the other, and wherein said second beacon and portable device are configured to perform a service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, said reply comprising an inquiry response message, including said address for the said second beacon, sent from said first beacon to said portable device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system includes first and second beacon devices capable of wireless message transmission and at least one portable client device capable of receiving such message transmissions. The client device is arranged to broadcast an inquiry message according to a first communication protocol, such as Bluetooth. The first beacon detects such inquiry messages and replies with an inquiry response containing an identifier for the second beacon, enabling the second beacon and client device to perform a service interaction. In an alternative embodiment receipt of the inquiry message is notified to the second beacon which then sends the inquiry response to the client device.
108 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A communications system comprising first and second beacon devices and at least one portable device each capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said at least one portable device is arranged to broadcast an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, wherein said first beacon device is arranged to detect such an inquiry message and transmit a reply making available to one of said second beacon and said portable device an address or identifier for the other, and wherein said second beacon and portable device are configured to perform a service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, said reply comprising an inquiry response message, including said address for the said second beacon, sent from said first beacon to said portable device.
- 4. A communication system comprising first and second beacon devices and at least one portable device each capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said at least one portable device is arranged to broadcast an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, wherein said first beacon device is arranged to detect such an inquiry message and transmit a reply making available to one of said second beacon and said portable device an address or identifier for the other, and wherein said second beacon and portable device are configured to perform a service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, wherein said reply comprises firstly a notification message, including an identifier for said portable device, sent from said first beacon to said second beacon and, secondly, an inquiry response message, including said address for said second beacon, sent from said second beacon to said portable device.
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6. A communication system comprising first and second beacon devices and at least one portable device each capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said at least one portable device is arranged to broadcast an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, wherein said first beacon device is arranged to detect such an inquiry message and transmit a reply making available to one of said second beacon and said portable device an address or identifier for the other, and wherein said second beacon and portable device are configured to perform a service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, wherein said reply comprises firstly a further inquiry message of the first beacon to the portable device, secondly an inquiry response message including an identifier for the portable device and sent from the portable device to the first beacon, and thirdly a notification message, including said identifier for said portable device sent from said first beacon to said second beacon.
- 7. A communication system comprising first and second beacon devices and at least one portable device each capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said at least one portable device is arranged to broadcast an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, wherein said first beacon device is arranged to detect such an inquiry message and transmit a reply making available to one of said second beacon and said portable device an address or identifier for the other, and wherein said second beacon and portable device are configured to perform a service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, comprising a plurality of second beacon devices, wherein the first beacon is arranged to select one of said second beacons whose address is to be made available to the portable device.
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11. A communication system comprising first and second beacon devices and at least one portable device each capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said at least one portable device is arranged to broadcast an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, wherein said first beacon device is arranged to detect such an inquiry message and transmit a reply making available to one of said second beacon and said portable device an address or identifier for the other, and wherein said second beacon and portable device are configured to perform a service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, wherein the second beacon device maintains and periodically updates a list of identifiers for portable devices with which a service interaction is being performed.
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12. A communication system comprising first and second beacon devices and at least one portable device each capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said at least one portable device is arranged to broadcast an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, wherein said first beacon device is arranged to detect such an inquiry message and transmit a reply making available to one of said second beacon and said portable device an address or identifier for the other, and wherein said second beacon and portable device are configured to perform a service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, wherein the or each inquiry message is in the form of a plurality of data fields arranged according to said first communications protocol, wherein the portable device is further arranged to add to each inquiry message prior to transmission an additional data field, and wherein the first beacon device is arranged to receive the transmitted inquiry messages and read data from said additional data field.
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13. A mobile communication device for use in a communication system, said communication system comprising first and second beacon devices and at least one portable device each capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said at least one portable device is arranged to broadcast an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, wherein said first beacon device is arranged to detect such an inquiry message and transmit a reply making available to one of said second beacon and said portable device an address or identifier for the other, and wherein said second beacon and portable device are configured to perform a service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier;
said mobile communication device comprising a transmitter operable to broadcast said inquiry message, data processing means controlling operation of the same, and a receiver capable of receiving at least a part of said reply, said data processing means supporting said service interaction via said transmitter and receiver, the receiver being capable of receiving a short-range wireless inquiry message, the data processing means being operable to process data contained within said message and compose a response message including an identifier for the device, and said transmitter being configured to wirelessly transmit said composed response message to the source of the inquiry message.
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14. A communications infrastructure for use in the communications system, said communication system comprising first and second beacon devices and at least one portable device each capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said at least one portable device is arranged to broadcast an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, wherein said first beacon device is arranged to detect such an inquiry message and transmit a reply making available to one of said second beacon and said portable device an address or identifier for the other, and wherein said second beacon and portable device are configured to perform a service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier;
the infrastructure comprising first and second beacon devices, said beacon devices being capable of wireless message transmission to, and reception from, said at least one portable device, wherein said first beacon is arranged to listen for broadcast of an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, on detection of such an inquiry message to transmit a reply making available to one of said beacon and said portable device an address or identifier for the other, and wherein said second beacon is configured to perform a service interaction with said portable device when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, wherein said reply comprises an inquiry response message, including said address for said second beacon, sent from said first beacon to said portable device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for enabling the user of a portable communications device to perform a service interaction with a beacon device in an environment containing at least first and second beacon devices capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said portable communications device broadcasts an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, the first beacon device detects such inquiry message and transmits a reply making available to one of the portable device and second beacon device an address or identifier for the other, and the second beacon and portable device perform said service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, wherein said reply comprises an inquiry response message, including said address for said second beacon, sent from said first beacon to said portable device.
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20. A method for enabling the user of a portable communications device to perform a service interaction with a beacon device in an environment containing at least first and second beacon devices capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said portable communications device broadcasts an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, the first beacon device detects such inquiry message and transmits a reply making available to one of the portable device and second beacon device an address or identifier for the other, and the second beacon and portable device perform said service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, wherein said reply comprises firstly a notification message, including an identifier for said portable device, sent from said first beacon to said second beacon and, secondly, an inquiry response message, including said address for said second beacon, sent from said second beacon to said portable device.
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21. A method for enabling the user of a portable communications device to perform a service interaction with a beacon device in an environment containing at least first and second beacon devices capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said portable communications device broadcasts an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, the first beacon device detects such inquiry message and transmits a reply making available to one of the portable device and second beacon device an address or identifier for the other, and the second beacon and portable device perform said service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, wherein said reply comprises firstly a further inquiry message of the first beacon to the portable device, secondly an inquiry response message including an identifier for the portable device and sent from the portable device to the first beacon, and thirdly a notification message, including a said identifier for said portable device sent from said first beacon to said second beacon.
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22. A method for enabling the user of a portable communications device to perform a service interaction with a beacon device in an environment containing at least first and second beacon devices capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said portable communications device broadcasts an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, the first beacon device detects such inquiry message and transmits a reply making available to one of the portable device and second beacon device an address or identifier for the other, and the second beacon and portable device perform said service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, wherein the second beacon device maintains and periodically updates a list of identifiers for portable devices with which a service interaction is being performed.
- 23. A method for enabling the user of a portable communications device to perform a service interaction with a beacon device in an environment containing at least first and second beacon devices capable of wireless message transmission and reception, wherein said portable communications device broadcasts an inquiry message according to a first communications protocol, the first beacon device detects such inquiry message and transmits a reply making available to one of the portable device and second beacon device an address or identifier for the other, and the second beacon and portable device perform said service interaction when triggered by the making available of said address or identifier, wherein said inquiry messages are each in the form of a plurality of predetermined data fields arranged according to said first communications protocol, wherein the portable communications device adds to each inquiry message prior to transmission an additional data field carrying broadcast message data, and wherein the first beacon device receives the transmitted inquiry messages and reads the broadcast data from said additional data field.
Specification