Category-based fence
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by a mobile device, an application program, the application program being configured to activate upon entering a category-based fence, the category-based fence corresponding to a signal source group including a plurality of signal sources and being associated with an identifier of the signal source group, wherein the category-based fence is distributed in a plurality of discrete geographic locations, each discrete geographic location corresponding to one or more of the signal sources, each of the signal sources being configured to broadcast the identifier, and wherein the identifier of the signal source group includes a universally unique identifier (UUID) that is unique for the signal source group and uniform for each individual signal source in the group, the UUID being programmed to correspond to a category of organizations having a plurality of physical presences;
registering the identifier for monitoring by the mobile device;
detecting, by the mobile device, a signal from a signal source, the signal including a signal source identifier that matches the registered identifier;
determining, based on the match, that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations of the category-based fence; and
activating the application program upon the determining.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques of category-based fence are described. A category-based fence can correspond to a group of signal sources instead of a point location fixed to latitude and longitude coordinates. The group of signal sources can represent a category of entities, e.g., a particular business chain. The signal sources can be distributed to multiple discrete locations. A category-based fence associated with the group, accordingly, can correspond to multiple locations instead of a single point location and a radius. Each signal source in the group can be associated with a category identifier unique to the group and uniform among signal sources in the group. The category identifier can be programmed into each signal source. A mobile device can enter the category-based fence by entering any of the discrete locations when the mobile device detects the signal identifier. The mobile device can then execute an application program associated with the category-based fence.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a mobile device, an application program, the application program being configured to activate upon entering a category-based fence, the category-based fence corresponding to a signal source group including a plurality of signal sources and being associated with an identifier of the signal source group, wherein the category-based fence is distributed in a plurality of discrete geographic locations, each discrete geographic location corresponding to one or more of the signal sources, each of the signal sources being configured to broadcast the identifier, and wherein the identifier of the signal source group includes a universally unique identifier (UUID) that is unique for the signal source group and uniform for each individual signal source in the group, the UUID being programmed to correspond to a category of organizations having a plurality of physical presences; registering the identifier for monitoring by the mobile device; detecting, by the mobile device, a signal from a signal source, the signal including a signal source identifier that matches the registered identifier; determining, based on the match, that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations of the category-based fence; and activating the application program upon the determining. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method, comprising:
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associating, by a system comprising one or more processors, a unique identifier with an application program, the unique identifier representing a category-based fence, the application program configured to be activated on a mobile device when the mobile device enters the category-based fence, the category-based fence corresponding to a signal source group comprising a plurality of signal sources, wherein the unique identifier includes a universally unique identifier (UUID) that is unique for the signal source group and uniform for each individual signal source in the group, the UUID being programmed to correspond to a category of organizations having a plurality of physical presences; causing a representation of the unique identifier to be stored on the plurality of signal sources; defining the category-based fence using a plurality of discrete locations, including causing the signal sources to be distributed to the discrete locations, wherein a designated communication range of a first signal source located at a first location does not reach a second location where a second signal source is located; and causing the mobile device to activate the application program when the mobile device detects the unique identifier at any of the discrete locations. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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determining, by a mobile device, an estimated location of the mobile device, the estimated location comprising a geographic area; determining a point of interest database based on the geographic area and a category identifier, the category identifier being associated with a group of signal sources, each signal source having a signal source identifier and being placed at a discrete location within the geographic area, wherein the point of interest database stores the signal source identifiers of signal sources in the group, wherein the category identifier includes a universally unique identifier (UUID) that is unique for the group of signal sources and uniform for each individual signal source in the group, the UUID being programmed to correspond to a category of organizations having a plurality of physical presences; detecting a signal source identifier by scanning a plurality of communication channels; determining that at least a portion of the detected signal source identifier matches one of the signal source identifiers stored in the point-of-interest database; and activating an application program associated with the category identifier based on the match. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A system comprising:
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a mobile device; and a storage device coupled to the mobile device, the storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising; receiving an application program, the application program being configured to activate upon entering a category-based fence, the category-based fence corresponding to a signal source group including a plurality of signal sources and being associated with an identifier of the signal source group, wherein the category-based fence is distributed in a plurality of discrete geographic locations, each discrete geographic location corresponding to one or more of the signal sources, each of the signal sources being configured to broadcast the identifier, and wherein the identifier of the signal source group includes a universally unique identifier (UUID) that is unique for the signal source group and uniform for each individual signal source in the group, the UUID being programmed to correspond to a category of organizations having a plurality of physical presences; registering the identifier for monitoring; detecting a signal from a signal source, the signal including a signal source identifier that matches the registered identifier; determining, based on the match, that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations of the category-based fence; and activating the application program upon the determining. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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one or more processors; and a storage device coupled to the one or more processors, the storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising; associating a unique identifier with an application program, the unique identifier representing a category-based fence, the application program configured to be activated on a mobile device when the mobile device enters the category-based fence, the category-based fence corresponding to a signal source group comprising a plurality of signal sources, wherein the unique identifier includes a universally unique identifier (UUID) that is unique for the signal source group and uniform for each individual signal source in the group, the UUID being programmed to correspond to a category of organizations having a plurality of physical presences; causing a representation of the unique identifier to be stored on multiple signal sources; defining the category-based fence using a plurality of discrete locations, including causing the signal sources to be distributed to the discrete locations, wherein a designated communication range of a first signal source located at a first location does not reach a second location where a second signal source is located; and causing the mobile device to activate the application program when the mobile device detects the unique identifier at any of the discrete locations. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a mobile device; and a storage device coupled to the mobile device, the storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising; determining an estimated location of the mobile device, the estimated location comprising a geographic area; determining a point of interest database based on the geographic area and a category identifier, the category identifier being associated with a group of signal sources, each signal source having a signal source identifier and being placed at a discrete location within the geographic area, wherein the point of interest database stores the signal source identifiers of signal sources in the group, wherein the category identifier includes a universally unique identifier (UUID) that is unique for the group of signal sources and uniform for each individual signal source in the group, the UUID being programmed to correspond to a category of organizations having a plurality of physical presences; detecting a signal source identifier by scanning a plurality of communication channels; determining that at least a portion of the detected signal source identifier matches one of the signal source identifiers stored in the point-of-interest database; and activating an application program associated with the category identifier based on the match. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A non-transitory storage device coupled to a mobile device, the non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:
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receiving an application program, the application program being configured to activate upon entering a category-based fence, the category-based fence corresponding to a signal source group including a plurality of signal sources and being associated with an identifier of the signal source group, wherein the category-based fence is distributed in a plurality of discrete geographic locations, each discrete geographic location corresponding to one or more of the signal sources, each of the signal sources being configured to broadcast the identifier, and wherein the identifier of the signal source group includes a universally unique identifier (UUID) that is unique for the signal source group and uniform for each individual signal source in the group, the UUID being programmed to correspond to a category of organizations having a plurality of physical presences; registering the identifier for monitoring by the mobile device; detecting a signal from a signal source, the signal including a signal source identifier that matches the registered identifier; determining, based on the match, that the mobile device has entered one of the discrete geographic locations of the category-based fence; and activating the application program upon the determining. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A non-transitory storage device coupled to a system including one or more processors, the non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
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associating a unique identifier with an application program, the unique identifier representing a category-based fence, the application program configured to be activated on a mobile device when the mobile device enters the category-based fence, the category-based fence corresponding to a signal source group comprising a plurality of signal sources, wherein the unique identifier includes a universally unique identifier (UUID) that is unique for the signal source group and uniform for each individual signal source in the group, the UUID being programmed to correspond to a category of organizations having a plurality of physical presences; causing a representation of the unique identifier to be stored on multiple signal sources; defining the category-based fence using a plurality of discrete locations, including causing the signal sources to be distributed to the discrete locations, wherein a designated communication range of a first signal source located at a first location does not reach a second location where a second signal source is located; and causing the mobile device to activate the application program when the mobile device detects the unique identifier at any of the discrete locations. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A non-transitory storage device coupled to a mobile device, the non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:
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determining an estimated location of the mobile device, the estimated location comprising a geographic area; determining a point of interest database based on the geographic area and a category identifier, the category identifier being associated with a group of signal sources, each signal source having a signal source identifier and being placed at a discrete location within the geographic area, wherein the point of interest database stores the signal source identifiers of signal sources in the group, wherein the category identifier includes a universally unique identifier (UUID) that is unique for the group of signal sources and uniform for each individual signal source in the group, the UUID being programmed to correspond to a category of organizations having a plurality of physical presences; detecting a signal source identifier by scanning a plurality of communication channels; determining that at least a portion of the detected signal source identifier matches one of the signal source identifiers stored in the point-of-interest database; and activating an application program associated with the category identifier based on the match. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification