Enforcing policies in wireless communication using exchanged identities

• US 8,370,955 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2011
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Secure Communication Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Proxicom Wireless LLC
• Inventors: Proctor, III, James Arthur, Proctor, Jr., James Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Popham, Jeffrey D
• Application Number:
  US13/015,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20110119733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 726/28, 705/1.1
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/386 using messaging services or messaging apps using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS G06Q20/3255
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4016 involving fraud or risk level assessment in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 : Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 : Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 : Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 : for social networking applications
• 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: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Techniques for facilitating the exchange of information and transactions between two entities associated with two wireless devices when the devices are in close proximity to each other. A first device uses a first short range wireless capability to detect an identifier transmitted from a second device in proximity, ideally using existing radio capabilities such as Bluetooth (IEEE802.15.1-2002) or Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11). The detected identifier, being associated with the device, is also associated with an entity. Rather than directly exchanging application data flow between the two devices using the short range wireless capability, a second wireless capability allows for one or more of the devices to communicate with a central server via the internet, and perform the exchange of application data flow. By using a central server to draw on stored information and content associated with the entities the server can broker the exchange of information between the entities and the devices.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating an exchange of information between first and second wireless devices or entities, the method utilizing a server performing the steps of:

receiving a first unique identifier communicated over a wide area link from the first wireless device;

receiving a message from the first wireless device indicating the desire to search for merchants;

receiving a second unique identifier associated with the second wireless device or information derived from a second unique identifier associated with the second wireless device, the second unique identifier associated with the second wireless device being communicated to the first wireless device over a local wireless link, said second unique identifier or information derived from said second unique identifier sent from the first wireless device to the server over the wide area link;

comparing a disclosure policy associated with an entity associated with the second unique identifier or associated with information derived from the second unique identifier with the first unique identifier from the first wireless device or with an identifier or other data derived from the first unique identifier, wherein the disclosure policy specifies data representing one or more rules for privacy of information concerning the second wireless device or privacy of information concerning said entity;

communicating further information to the first wireless device as permitted by a result of comparing the disclosure policy, and wherein said further information is based, at least in part, upon a stored state utilizing said server between the entities associated with the first and second unique identifiers, and wherein said further information additionally comprises content relating to a current step of a multiple step electronic commerce transaction, wherein said current step is related to said stored state, wherein said further information comprises content identifying one or more merchants associated with the second unique identifier or information derived from the second unique identifier;

receiving a message from the first wireless device indicating a user selection of one of said one or more merchants;

receiving a message from the first wireless device indicating selection of input on the first wireless device to engage or further engage in a transaction with said selected merchant;

sending an image of an entity associated with the first unique identifier or with an identifier or other data derived from the first unique identifier to a device associated with the selected merchant; and

receiving a message from said device associated with the selected merchant indicating a confirmation that the image matches the entity associated with the first unique identifier, and performing further steps of said multistep electronic commerce transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless device is located at said selected merchant'"'"'s location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said server performs a step of sending information to the first wireless device indicating a reward for the completion of said transaction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said further steps of said multistep electronic commerce transaction include adjusting a value of a transaction amount associated with said multistep commerce transaction based upon participation in a loyalty reward program by the entity depicted in said image.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said further steps of said multiple step electronic commerce transaction comprise utilizing a credit card number stored at said server for completing said transaction.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said credit card number is one of multiple payment credentials stored in an account associated with the entity associated with the first unique identifier, wherein said credit card number has been previously selected as a preferred payment credential.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said multiple payment credentials includes at least one username associated with a payment service.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said multiple payment credentials includes at least one username and password as an account identification associated with a payment service.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said multiple payment credentials includes at least one mobile phone number as an account identification associated with a payment service.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of sending an image of an entity associated with the first unique identifier or with an identifier or other data derived from the first unique identifier to a device associated with the selected merchant may be configured to be performed automatically based upon the location of the first wireless device.

11. A server apparatus for facilitating an exchange of information between first and second wireless devices or entities, the server comprising:

a physical receiver, for receiving

a) a first unique identifier communicated over a wide area link from the first wireless device,

b) a message from the first wireless device indicating the desire to search for merchants, and

c) a second unique identifier associated with the second wireless device or information derived from a second unique identifier associated with the second wireless device, the second unique identifier associated with the second wireless device being communicated to the first wireless device over a local wireless link, said second unique identifier or information derived from said second unique identifier sent from the first wireless device to the server over a wide area link;

a processor, for comparing a disclosure policy associated with an entity associated with the second unique identifier or associated with information derived from the second unique identifier with the first unique identifier from the first wireless device or with an identifier or other data derived from the first identifier, wherein the disclosure policy specifies data representing one or more rules for privacy of information concerning the second wireless device or privacy of information concerning said entity; and

a physical transmitter, for communicating further information to the first wireless device as permitted by a result of comparing the disclosure policy, and

wherein said further information is based, at least in part, upon a stored state utilizing said server between the entities associated with the first and second unique identifiers, and wherein said further information additionally comprises content relating to a current step of a multiple step electronic commerce transaction, wherein said current step is related to said stored state, wherein said further information comprises content identifying one or more merchants associated with the second unique identifier or information derived from the second unique identifier;

wherein the receiver receives a message from the first wireless device indicating a user selection of one of said one or more merchants;

wherein the receiver receives a message from the first wireless device indicating selection of input on the first wireless device to engage or further engage in a transaction with said selected merchant;

wherein the transmitter sends an image of an entity associated with the first unique identifier or with an identifier or other data derived from the first unique identifier to a device associated with the selected merchant; and

wherein the receiver receives a message from said device associated with the selected merchant indicating a confirmation that the image matches the entity associated with the first unique identifier, and performing further steps of said multistep electronic commerce transaction.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second wireless device is located at said selected merchant'"'"'s location.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said server further sends information to the first wireless device indicating a reward for the completion of said transaction.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said further steps of said multistep electronic commerce transaction include adjusting a value of a transaction amount associated with said multistep electronic commerce transaction based upon participation in a loyalty reward program by the entity depicted in said image.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said further steps of said multiple step electronic commerce transaction comprise utilizing a credit card number stored at said server for completing said transaction.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said credit card number is one of multiple payment credentials stored in an account associated with the entity associated with the first unique identifier, wherein said credit card number has been previously selected as a preferred payment credential.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said multiple payment credentials includes at least one username associated with a payment service.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said multiple payment credentials includes at least one username and password as an account identification associated with a payment service.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said multiple payment credentials includes at least one mobile phone number as an account identification associated with a payment service.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said sending an image of an entity associated with the first unique identifier or with an identifier or other data derived from the first unique identifier to a device associated with the selected merchant may be configured to be performed automatically based upon the location of the first wireless device.