Bump button

• US 9,065,532 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2010
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Huibers, Andrew G, Mintz, Jacob, Lieb, David F
• Primary Examiner(s): Hussain, Imad
• Application Number:
  US12/859,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20110191438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A fixed bump button may: (1) report its identification to a server connected to the internet when the button is bumped by a mobile device; and/or (2) emit a beacon signal identifying the button to a mobile device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a fixed device in a known location, the device comprising;

an input button that creates a signal when it is bumped by a mobile device;

an internet connection; and

, a processor in communication with the input button, the internet connection and a read-only memory;

wherein the processor, upon receiving the signal, retrieves a first message from the read-only memory and sends the first message via the internet connection; and

,

a server that communicates via internet;

wherein the server, upon receiving a position estimate, a time estimate and a bump request from a mobile device, and the first message from the fixed device, matches the mobile device with the known location of the fixed device and sends a second message to the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, the known location being at a cash register of a retail store, and the second message pertaining to electronic payments from a user of the mobile device to the retail store.

3. The system of claim 1, the known location being at a fan club booth, and the second message pertaining to a social network relationship between a user of the mobile device and a performer.

4. The system of claim 1, the known location being that of a beer vending machine, and the second message pertaining to encrypted identification of a user of the mobile device verifying the user as being old enough to buy beer.

5. The system of claim 1, the internet connection being a wireless internet connection.

6. The system of claim 1, the fixed device further emitting a short-range beacon signal to help the mobile device improve the position estimate.

7. The system of claim 6, the beacon signal being a coded audio signal.

8. The system of claim 7, the server further receiving a recording of the coded audio signal from the mobile device.

9. The system of claim 6, the beacon signal being a radio signal.

10. The system of claim 6, the beacon signal being an optical signal.