System and method for tracking individuals via remote transmitters attached to personal items

• US 8,028,905 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jordan R. Holberg
• Original Assignee: Jordan R. Holberg
• Inventors: Holberg, Jordan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Seung H
• Application Number:
  US12/152,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20080302867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/382, 235/383, 235/385, 23547201-47203, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, a system and method for verifying presence at a vendor location is defined. Preferably, an identification tag is coupled to a device, and the identification tag is operable to transmit a unique user identifier representing the user in possession of the device. The identification tag preferably includes a low frequency RFID device. Further, an identification tag reader is provided that is operable to receive from the identification tag the user identifier. The identification tag reader is preferably placed at a location of a vendor. Further, a computing device is provided that is operable to receive the user identifier from the identification tag reader. The computing device is further operable to receive from the identification tag reader a vendor identifier representing the vendor location, and is still further operable to receive a time identifier representing a time when the identification tag reader received the user identifier from the identification tag. Preferably, a database is also provided that stores the user identifier, the vendor identifier and the time identifiers with a plurality of other user identifiers, other vendor identifiers and other time identifiers. The computing device determines the name of the user and the name of the vendor as a function of the user identifier and the vendor identifier.

Claims

1. A system for verifying presence at a vendor location, the method comprising:

an identification tag coupled to a device, wherein the identification tag is operable to transmit a unique user identifier representing a user in possession of the device;

an identification tag reader operable to receive from the identification tag the user identifier, wherein the identification tag reader is placed at a location of a vendor;

a computing device, operable to receive the user identifier from the identification tag reader, and further operable to receive from the identification tag reader a vendor identifier representing the vendor location, and still further operable to receive a time identifier representing a time when the identification tag reader received the user identifier from the identification tag; and

a database that stores the user identifier, the vendor identifier and the time identifiers with a plurality of other user identifiers, other vendor identifiers and other time identifiers,

wherein the computing device determines the name of the user and the name of the vendor as a function of the user identifier and the vendor identifier.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a promotion that is provided to the user from the vendor as a function of the identification tag reader receiving the user identifier.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the promotion includes an advertisement transmitted to the device.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the promotion includes a price discount on a good or service provided by the vendor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a vendor avatar representing the vendor is displayed on an internet web site or a user avatar representing the user is displayed on the internet web site.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an advertisement campaign that is transmitted to a plurality of users as a function of user identifiers and time identifiers.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification tag includes a low frequency RFID device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the user provides an alias name.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computing device posts at least one of the name of the user or the alias name, the name of the vendor and the time identifier on an internet web site.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the computing device provides access to at least one of the name of the user or the alias name, the name of the vendor, and the time identifier to visitors of the internet web site pursuant to privacy settings defined by the user.

11. A method for verifying presence at a vendor establishment, the method comprising:

coupling an identification tag to a device, wherein the identification tag is operable to transmit a unique user identifier representing a user in possession of the device;

placing an identification tag reader at the vendor establishment;

receiving by the identification tag reader the user identifier from the identification tag;

receiving by a computing device the user identifier, a vendor identifier representing the vendor establishment and a time identifier representing a time when the identification tag reader received the user identifier from the identification tag from the identification tag reader;

storing in a database the user identifier, the vendor identifier and the time identifiers with a plurality of other user identifiers, other vendor identifiers and other time identifiers; and

determining by the computing device the name of the user and the name of the vendor as a function of the user identifier and the vendor identifier.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising content to the user from the vendor as a function of the identification tag reader receiving the user identifier.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the content includes a promotion or an advertisement transmitted to the device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the promotion includes a price discount on a good or service offered to the user and provided by the vendor.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing by the user an alias name.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising posting the name of the user or the alias name, the name of the vendor and the time identifier on an internet web site for a plurality of visitors of the web site to view pursuant to privacy settings defined by the user.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting an advertisement provided by the vendor to a plurality of users as a function of at least one of user identifiers, vendor identifiers and time identifiers.

18. The method of claim 11, selecting by the vendor a vendor avatar representing the vendor or selecting by the user a user avatar representing the user.

19. A method for verifying a person'"'"'s presence at a particular location, the method comprising:

storing in a database user information of people, wherein each of the people has a respective identification tag;

receiving, by a tag reader, data from one of the respective identification tags;

transmitting the data from the tag reader to a computing device;

determining from the data an event ID representing an event where the tag reader received the data;

determining from the data a user ID representing a user of the one respective identification tag, and assigning a new user ID in case the user ID cannot be determined from the data;

determining from the data a time stamp when the tag reader received the data;

matching the user ID with information in the database; and

storing the event ID, the user ID and the time stamp to be published on an internet web site in case the matched data indicates that the user associated with the user ID has authorized the publishing.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the publishing promotes a virtual social network that is based upon real-world social interaction.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising an application program interfaces enabling access to the matched data.