Portable memory module with wireless emitter to facilitate the provision of location-dependent services
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- communicating with an electronic device to determine that a connection-based association indicative of close physical proximity has been formed between a portable module and the electronic device;
determining a location of the portable module based on receipt of a wireless beacon emitted by the portable module;
correlating the location of the portable module with the association between the portable module and the electronic device to establish that the electronic device has a location in close physical proximity to the location of the portable module; and
causing the location of the portable module to be recorded in memory in association with the electronic device;
wherein communicating with the electronic device comprises communicating over a backbone communications network.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable memory module, which comprises an interface allowing the module to be connected to and disconnected from an electronic device by a user of the module such that the electronic device is in close physical proximity to the module when connected thereto; memory storing an identifier of the module; an emitter; and a processing entity configured to encode the identifier of the module into a signal that is transmitted via the emitter as a wireless beacon. The memory contains information that allows the module to be identified by an entity connected to the electronic device. The wireless beacon is configured to enable a location of the module to be determined by a detection sub-system. When the module is connected to the electronic device and the identity of the module is transmitted to a network entity via the electronic device, the location of the module can be used by the network entity to establish the location of the electronic device.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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communicating with an electronic device to determine that a connection-based association indicative of close physical proximity has been formed between a portable module and the electronic device; determining a location of the portable module based on receipt of a wireless beacon emitted by the portable module; correlating the location of the portable module with the association between the portable module and the electronic device to establish that the electronic device has a location in close physical proximity to the location of the portable module; and causing the location of the portable module to be recorded in memory in association with the electronic device; wherein communicating with the electronic device comprises communicating over a backbone communications network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6)
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4. A method, comprising:
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communicating with an electronic device to determine that a connection-based association indicative of close physical proximity has been formed between a portable module and the electronic device; determining a location of the portable module based on receipt of a wireless beacon emitted by the portable module; correlating the location of the portable module with the association between the portable module and the electronic device to establish that the electronic device has a location in close physical proximity to the location of the portable module; and causing the location of the portable module to be recorded in memory in association with the electronic device; wherein determining that the connection-based association indicative of close physical proximity has been formed comprises receiving from the electronic device an identifier of the portable module. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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communicating with an electronic device to determine that a connection-based association indicative of close physical proximity has been formed between a portable module and the electronic device; determining a location of the portable module based on receipt of a wireless beacon emitted by the portable module; correlating the location of the portable module with the association between the portable module and the electronic device to establish that the electronic device has a location in close physical proximity to the location of the portable module; causing the location of the portable module to be recorded in memory in association with the electronic device; and delivering a service to the electronic device in a manner dependent on the location of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method, comprising:
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communicating with an electronic device to determine that a connection-based association indicative of close physical proximity has been formed between a portable module and the electronic device; determining a location of the portable module based on receipt of a wireless beacon emitted by the portable module; correlating the location of the portable module with the association between the portable module and the electronic device to establish that the electronic device has a location in close physical proximity to the location of the portable module; causing the location of the portable module to be recorded in memory in association with the electronic device; receiving from the electronic device (i) a device identifier previously collected by the portable module from an other electronic device and (ii) data indicative of a past time at which the device identifier was collected; consulting historical data regarding the portable module to establish a location of the portable module at said past time; establishing that said other electronic device was located in close physical proximity to the location of the portable module at said past time; and causing the location of the portable module at said past time to be recorded in memory in association with said other electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for execution by a computing device, wherein execution of the set of instructions by the computing device causes the computing device to execute a method that includes:
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communicating with an electronic device to determine that a connection-based association indicative of close physical proximity has been formed between a portable module and the electronic device; determining a location of the portable module based on receipt of a wireless beacon emitted by the portable module; correlating the location of the portable module with the association between the portable module and the electronic device to establish that the electronic device has a location in close physical proximity to the location of the portable module; and causing the location of the portable module to be recorded in memory in association with the electronic device, wherein communicating with the electronic device comprises communicating over a backbone communications network.
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26. A computing device, comprising:
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communication circuitry, configured for communicating with at least an electronic device; and processing hardware coupled to the communication circuitry, wherein the processing hardware and the communication circuitry are configured to operate together to; communicate with an electronic device to determine that a connection-based association indicative of close physical proximity has been formed between a portable module and the electronic device; determine a location of the portable module based on receipt of a wireless beacon emitted by the portable module; correlate the location of the portable module with the association between the portable module and the electronic device to establish that the electronic device has a location in close physical proximity to the location of the portable module; and cause the location of the portable module to be recorded in memory in association with the electronic device; wherein determining that the connection-based association indicative of close physical proximity has been formed comprises receiving from the electronic device an identifier of the portable module.
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27. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for execution by a computing device, wherein execution of the set of instructions by the computing device causes the computing device to execute a method that includes:
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communicating with an electronic device to determine that a connection-based association indicative of close physical proximity has been formed between a portable module and the electronic device; determining a location of the portable module based on receipt of a wireless beacon emitted by the portable module; correlating the location of the portable module with the association between the portable module and the electronic device to establish that the electronic device has a location in close physical proximity to the location of the portable module; and causing the location of the portable module to be recorded in memory in association with the electronic device; delivering a service to the electronic device in a manner dependent on the location of the electronic device.
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28. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for execution by a computing device, wherein execution of the set of instructions by the computing device causes the computing device to execute a method that includes:
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communicating with an electronic device to determine that a connection-based association indicative of close physical proximity has been formed between a portable module and the electronic device; determining a location of the portable module based on receipt of a wireless beacon emitted by the portable module; correlating the location of the portable module with the association between the portable module and the electronic device to establish that the electronic device has a location in close physical proximity to the location of the portable module; and causing the location of the portable module to be recorded in memory in association with the electronic device; receiving from the electronic device (i) a device identifier previously collected by the portable module from an other electronic device and (ii) data indicative of a past time at which the device identifier was collected; consulting historical data regarding the portable module to establish a location of the portable module at said past time; establishing that said other electronic device was located in close physical proximity to the location of the portable module at said past time; and causing the location of the portable module at said past time to be recorded in memory in association with said other electronic device.
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Specification