Dynamic range wireless communications access point

• US 8,787,832 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Herron, Jeffrey Andrew, DeJean, Gerald Reuben II, Kirovski, Darko, Abel, Miller Thomas, Brenner, Craig Scott, Blank, William Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US13/270,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20130090064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/41.2, 455/127.4, 455/176.1, 455/177.1, 455/200.1, 455/188.1, 455/412.1, 455/414.2
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides for systems and/or methods for a dynamic range wireless access point to initiate deliberate and/or selective communications with one or more wireless devices over a short range radio path. One embodiment of an access point system comprises a processor that transfers one or more wireless devices to a long range radio path once a transition condition has been met. In another embodiment, an access point system may affect transactions between user/customer'"'"'s smart devices and a commercial place of business where the access point system and the smart devices initiate communications when the smart devices are deliberately placed within the proximity of the access point antenna and/or the smart devices are brought within the vicinity of the access point antenna such as by passing through the entrance or exit to the place of business.

Claims

1. A wireless access point system, said wireless access point system deployed within a place of business capable of connecting and communicating with one or more wireless devices of customers for enabling point-of-sale transactions with said customers, said access point system comprising:

a first short range radio, said first short range radio having a first effective communication range, said first effective communication range comprising a first operating volume;

a second long range radio, said second long range radio having a second effective communication range greater than said first effective communication range;

a processor, said processor sending data and control signals to said first short range radio and to said second long range radio and further receiving data signals from said first short range radio and said second long range radio;

wherein said wireless access point system being capable of initiating selective and deliberate communications by alerting at least one wireless device of a customer and receiving a signal from said at least one wireless device, said signal representing a deliberate gesture from a customer to effect communications with said wireless access point system to engage in point-of-sale transactions via said first short range radio when said at least one wireless device is within the first operating volume of said first short range radio;

and wherein further said wireless access point system being capable of transferring communications with said at least one wireless device to said second long range radio when said processor detects a transition condition.

2. The access point system of claim 1 wherein said first operating volume comprises a proximity wherein initial communications between said one or more wireless devices and said first short range antenna are effected by said deliberate gesture by said customer, said deliberate gesture being one of a group, said group comprising:

activating a physical switch on the customer'"'"'s wireless device and activating a soft switch on the customer'"'"'s wireless device.

3. The access point system of claim 2 wherein said first operating volume of said first effective communication range comprises the dimensions of an entrance to an environment through which users of said one or more wireless devices pass.

4. The access point system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first short range antenna, said first short range antenna connected to said first short range radio; and

said first short range antenna further comprises a directional antenna.

5. The access point system of claim 1 wherein said transition condition comprising one of a group, said group comprising:

a device-out-of-range condition, a communications-initiation condition and a time-out condition.

6. The access point system of claim 1 wherein said first short range radio comprises a Bluetooth enabled radio.

7. The access point system of claim 6 further comprising:

computer readable storage, said computer readable storage connected to said processor; and

said computer readable storage stores a set of pre-defined MAC addresses, said set of pre-defined MAC addresses dedicated to said access point system.

8. The access point system of claim 1 wherein access point system further comprises an interface, said interface connected to said processor and further sending and receiving control and data signals from outside said access point system.

9. The access point system of claim 8 wherein said data and control signals are sent and received by one of a group, said group comprising:

a computer, POS devices, smart phones, local area network, broadband modem, WiFi system, ultra-wideband RF system and cellular radio system.

10. The access point system of claim 8 wherein said access point system is implemented in a store and said data and control signals are sent and received from said store'"'"'s back office system.

11. A method for enabling communications for point-of-sale transactions within a place of business between one or more customer wireless devices and a access point system deployed within said place of business, said access point system comprising a first short range radio, said first short range radio having an effective communication range comprising a first operating volume, a second long range radio having an effective communication range comprising a second operating volume, a processor connected to both said first short range radio and said second long range radio;

the steps of said methods comprising;

discovering one or more wireless devices within said first operating volume of said first short range radio;

alerting at least one wireless device of a customer as to the existence of said access point system to conduct point-of-sale transactions within said place of business;

receiving a signal from said at least one wireless device, said signal representing a deliberate gesture by a customer to effect communications with said access point system to engage in point-of-sale transactions within said place of business;

pairing said one or more wireless devices to said access point system; and

upon satisfying a transition condition, transferring one or more wireless devices to said second long range radio within said second operating volume of said second long range radio.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said method further comprises the step:

communicating with one or more wireless devices while said one or more wireless devices is within said second operating volume of said second long range radio.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said second operating volume of said second long range radio comprises a space occupied by users of said one or more wireless devices.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of discovering said one or more wireless devices within said first operating volume of said first short range radio further comprises the step:

receiving signals from one of said one or more wireless devices indicating that a user of one of said one or more wireless devices has activated a switch to deliberately engage in point-of-sale transactions with said access point system, said switch comprising one of a group, said group comprising;

actuating a physical switch and actuating a soft switch on said one or more wireless devices.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of discovering said one or more wireless devices within said first operating volume of said first short range radio further comprises the step:

upon receiving a pairing request from one of a plurality of devices with diverse MAC addresses, wherein said MAC addresses are not known in advance to the access point, and wherein the access point MAC address is one of a plurality of MAC addresses known in advance to the device initiating the pairing request, replying to said pairing request to accept the request and establish communications.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said transition condition comprises one of a group, said group comprising:

a device-out-of-range condition, a communications-initiation condition and a time-out condition.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said transition condition comprises a transition policy set in accordance with environment in which said access point system is implemented.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said first operating volume of said first short range radio comprises the entrance of a space through which users of said one or more wireless devices pass.

19. An access point system for enabling transactions between one or more wireless devices and a commercial place of business, said access point system comprising:

a radio subsystem, said radio subsystem capable of effecting short range wireless communication and long range wireless communications, said short range wireless communications defining a first operating volume, said first operating volume further comprising an entrance to said commercial place of business;

a processor connected to said radio subsystem and capable of sending data and control signals to said radio subsystem and receiving data and control signals from said radio subsystem;

an interface, said interface connected to said processor capable of transmitting transaction data and commands between said commercial place of business and said one or more wireless devices;

wherein said access point system being capable of initiating deliberate and selective communications by alerting at least one wireless device of a customer and receiving a signal from said at least one wireless device, said signal representing a deliberate gesture from a customer to effect communications with said wireless access point system to engage in point-of-sale transactions via said short range wireless communications; and

further wherein further said wireless access point system being capable of transferring communications with said one or more wireless devices to said second long range radio when said processor detects a transition condition.

20. The access point system of claim 19 wherein said radio subsystem is one of a group, said group comprising:

(1) a first short range radio and a second long range radio and (2) a single radio, said single radio capable of modulating its power to effect said short range wireless communication and said long range wireless communications.