Delivering content within a boundary with beacons

• US 8,738,024 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2010
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEXRF Corp.
• Original Assignee: NEXRF Corp.
• Inventors: Kerr, Michael A., Stewart, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): YEN, JASON TAHAI
• Application Number:
  US12/821,852
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/42, 463/43, 463/20, 342/127, 342457-458, 455/435.1, 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 705/14.45, 705/14.52, 705/14.64, 370/310
• US Class Current: 455/456
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02528 Simulating radio frequency fingerprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system and method for delivering content within a boundary is described. The system includes a plurality of beacons, a location positioning module, and a networked component. The beacons transmit a signal containing identifying information. The location positioning module receives the beacon signal data communication from a wireless device. The location positioning module receives measured reference points that include a measured beacon identifier and a measured signal strength. The location positioning module uses the measured reference points to generate calculated signal strength values for at least one detected beacon, wherein some of the calculated signal strength values are associated with a geographic boundary. The location positioning module determines the location of the wireless device by comparing the beacon signal data to the calculated signal strength values. The networked component transmits to the wireless device a content item associated with the geographic boundary when the wireless device is within the geographic boundary.

Claims

1. A system for delivering content within a boundary, comprising:

a plurality of beacons, each beacon among the plurality of beacons configured to transmit a signal containing identifying information;

a location positioning module configured to receive a beacon signal data communication from a wireless device, the beacon signal data including a beacon received signal strength and a beacon identification for each beacon signal received at the wireless device;

the location positioning module configured to receive a plurality of measured reference points that include a measured beacon identifier and a measured signal strength;

the location positioning module configured to use the measured reference points to generate a plurality of calculated signal strength values for at least one detected beacon, wherein some of the calculated signal strength values are associated with at least one geographic boundary;

the location positioning module further configured to determine the location of the wireless device by comparing the beacon signal data to the plurality of calculated signal strength values; and

a networked component configured to transmit to the wireless device at least one content item associated with the geographic boundary when the wireless device is within the geographic boundary.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the content item transmitted from the networked component to the wireless device is associated with at least one user attribute associated with the wireless device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the content item transmitted from the networked component to the wireless device is associated with at least one time frame, and the content item is transmitted within the time frame.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the content item is a link to another content item.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the content item is an application.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the boundary delineates all or part of a merchant premises.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the boundary delineates an area proximate to a merchant premises.

8. A system for delivering content within a boundary, comprising:

a plurality of beacons, each of the beacons configured to transmit a signal containing identifying information;

a location positioning module receiving a beacon signal data communication, wherein the beacon signal data including a beacon received signal strength and a beacon identification of each beacon signal received by a wireless device;

the location positioning module receiving a plurality of measured reference points that include a measured beacon identifier and a measured signal strength;

the location positioning module using the measured reference points to generate a plurality of calculated signal strength values for at least one detected beacon, wherein some of the calculated signal strength values are associated with at least one geographic boundary;

the location positioning module determining the location of the wireless device by comparing the beacon signal data to the plurality of calculated signal strength values; and

the location positioning module transmitting to the wireless device at least one content item associated with the geographic boundary when the wireless device is within the geographic boundary.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the content item transmitted to the wireless device is associated with at least one user attribute associated with the wireless device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the content item transmitted from the location positioning module to the wireless device is associated with at least one time frame, and the content item is transmitted within the time frame.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the content item is a link to another content item.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the content item is an application.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the boundary delineates all or part of a merchant premises.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the boundary delineates an area proximate to a merchant premises.

15. A method for delivering content within a boundary, comprising:

receiving at a location positioning module a beacon signal data communication from a wireless device, the beacon signal data including a beacon received signal strength and a beacon identification for each beacon signal received at the wireless device;

receiving at the location positioning module a plurality of measured reference points that include a measured beacon identifier and a measured signal strength;

enabling the location positioning module to use the measured reference points to generate a plurality of calculated signal strength values for at least one detected beacon, wherein some of the calculated signal strength values are associated with at least one geographic boundary;

determining with the location positioning module a location of the wireless device by comparing the beacon signal data to the plurality of calculated signal strength values; and

transmitting to the wireless device from a networked component at least one content item associated with the geographic boundary when the wireless device is within the geographic boundary.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting to the wireless device at least one content item associated with at least one user attribute associated with the wireless device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting to the wireless device at least one content item associated with a time frame, wherein the content item is transmitted within the time frame.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the content item is a link to another content item.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the content item is an application.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the boundary delineates all or part of a merchant premises.