Close proximity notification system

• US 8,831,642 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2012
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ConnectQuest, LLC
• Original Assignee: ConnectQuest, LLC
• Inventors: Tocco, Joseph A., Moldavsky, David
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/586,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20130210461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 4554561-457, 4554141-4143, 455 411- 412, 705/14.2, 705/14.4, 705/14.26, 705/14.27, 705/14.31, 705/14.41, 705/14.49, 705/14.67, 705/26.1, 705/26.7
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/23 for mobile advertising
• 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 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing information to a user of a mobile device when the user is located in close proximity to a point of interest. For example, as a user of a mobile device travels past a retail store, coupons are displayed on the user'"'"'s mobile phone. The information to be displayed is identified though use of a unique identifier provided by a short-range wireless transmitter deployed by the retail store and provided to a remote server by the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for providing information to a user of a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from a geographic location that is positioned within a space defined by an effective reception range of a short-range wireless communication transmitter, wherein the signal is received from the short-range wireless communication transmitter, the signal includes an identification code, and the receiving is by a mobile device of a user located within the space;

processing the signal on the mobile device, the processing including;

determining whether information associated with the signal is stored on the mobile device; and

identifying a retrieval location of the information based on the determining and on the signal,

wherein the processing the signal is performed exclusively by a software application located on the mobile device and independently of any networks;

based on the processing, retrieving the information from the retrieval location using the mobile device; and

displaying the information on the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the space has a radius of less than about 50 meters.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the space has a radius of less than about 30 meters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is displayed on the mobile device with or without a user-implemented prompt.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the software application manages the information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a service provided to the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a function of the software application includes instructions that allow the user to search for a desired service.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the desired service is searched by shopping preferences of the user.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the desired service is searched by position preferences of the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a coupon.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is availability of commercial goods.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is time-sensitive.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device further comprises a means for the user to take an action based on the information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the action is to prepay for the service.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the retrieved information prior to the displaying, the filtering based on at least one of the identification code and criteria associated with the user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the criteria includes at least one of shopping preferences and position preferences.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the filtering is defined by the user.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the filtering is defined based on past actions of the user.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the filtering is defined based on at least one of user attributes obtained from a social network profile of the user and past interactions of the user with previously provided information.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the filtering is performed by the application software located on the mobile device and independently of any networks.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieval location is on the mobile device.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieval location is on a data server and the retrieving is via a network.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification code identifies a real estate property and the information includes data describing the real estate property.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification code identifies the geographic location, the geographic location is in a large venue and the information includes promotional material.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the identification code identifies a checkpoint;

the information includes a time of the receiving;

the processing further comprises storing a log entry that includes the identification code and a time of the receiving; and

the method further comprises repeating the receiving and processing for a time period to generate a plurality of log entries.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location is a mobile location.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the identification code identifies a business, the information includes promotional material, and the retrieval location is on the mobile device.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification code identifies a business, the information includes promotional material, the retrieval location is on a data server, and the retrieving is via a network.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the business is a store that sells commercial goods.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further includes notifying the user that the signal has been received.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the processing further includes presenting the user with an option to display information related to the signal, wherein the displaying is further based on the user selecting the option to display information.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions, which instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a signal from a geographic location that is positioned within a space defined by an effective reception range of a short-range wireless communication transmitter, wherein the signal is received from the short-range wireless communication transmitter, the signal includes an identification code, and the receiving is by a mobile device of a user located within the space;

processing the signal on the mobile device, the processing including;

determining whether information associated with the signal is stored on the mobile device; and

identifying a retrieval location of the information based on the determining and on the signal,

wherein the processing the signal is performed exclusively by a software application located on the mobile device and independently of any networks;

based on the processing, retrieving the information from the retrieval location using the mobile device; and

displaying the information on a display of the mobile device.

33. A mobile device comprising:

a processing device; and

a memory device in communication with the processing device, the memory device storing instructions that when executed by the processing device result in;

receiving a signal from a geographic location that is positioned within a space defined by an effective reception range of a short-range wireless communication transmitter, wherein the signal is received from the short-range wireless communication transmitter, the signal includes an identification code, and the receiving is by the mobile device located within the space;

processing the signal on the mobile device, the processing including;

determining whether information associated with the signal is stored on the mobile device; and

identifying a retrieval location of the information based on the determining and on the signal,

wherein the processing the signal is performed exclusively by a software application located on the mobile device and independently of any networks;

based on the processing, retrieving the information from the retrieval location using the mobile device; and

displaying the information on a display of the mobile device.