Distributed data in a close proximity notification system

• US 9,219,981 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ConnectQuest, LLC
• Original Assignee: ConnectQuest, LLC
• Inventors: Moldavsky, David, Tocco, Joseph A
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US14/546,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20150080032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/414.3, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• 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

Abstract

An aspect includes providing distributed data in a close proximity notification system using a transceiver that includes an antenna and a processing device. The processing device includes a memory for storing instructions that when executed by the processing device result in the transceiver: discovering wireless mobile devices within a proximity range of the transceiver; initiating communication between the transceiver and one or more of the wireless mobile devices; exchanging data with the one or more of the wireless mobile devices, the exchanging including receiving a request for information from one of the one or more of the wireless mobile devices; based on receiving the request for information, identifying a retrieval location of at least a subset of the requested information; and transmitting the at least subset of the information or an identifier of the retrieval location to the wireless mobile device.

Claims

1. A transceiver comprising:

an antenna; and

a processing device that includes a memory configured for storing instructions that when executed by the processing device result in;

discovery of wireless mobile devices within a proximity range of the transceiver;

initiating communication between the transceiver and one or more of the wireless mobile devices;

exchanging data with the one or more of the wireless mobile devices, the exchanging including receiving a request for information from one of the one or more of the wireless mobile devices;

based on receiving the request for information, identifying a retrieval location of at least a subset of the requested information; and

transmitting the at least a subset of the information or an identifier of the retrieval location to the wireless mobile device.

2. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed by the processing device further result in retrieving the information from the retrieval location.

3. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the retrieval location is located on the transceiver.

4. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the retrieval location is located on a data server that is accessible to the transceiver via a network.

5. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the wireless mobile devices conform to one or more specified communication protocols.

6. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the wireless mobile devices are included in one or more specified device classes.

7. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the discovery is performed periodically.

8. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein identifiers of the one or more of the wireless mobile devices are stored in the memory device for a specified time period.

9. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the exchanging data further includes receiving data from at least one of the one or more of the wireless mobile devices, the data including an identifier of the at least one of the one or more of the wireless mobile devices.

10. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the exchanging data further includes transmitting data to at least one of the one or more of the wireless mobile devices, the data including a unique identifier associated with the transceiver.

11. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the discovery and initiating are transparent to users of the one or more of the wireless mobile devices.

12. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the exchanging data is transparent to the users of the one or more of the wireless mobile devices.

13. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the proximity range is between about 10 and 150 meters.

14. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the proximity range is less than about 50 meters.

15. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the proximity range is less than about 30 meters.

16. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the proximity range is adjustable.

17. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is mobile.

18. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is stationary.

19. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a coupon.

20. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the information includes availability of commercial goods.

21. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the information is time-sensitive.

22. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the information includes data describing a real estate property or a retrieval location.

23. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the information includes promotional material related to a geographic location that is in a large venue.

24. The transceiver of claim 1, wherein the information includes promotional material related to a business.

25. The transceiver of claim 24, wherein the business is a store that sells commercial goods.

26. A method for data exchange at a transceiver, the method comprising:

discovery of wireless mobile devices within a proximity range of the transceiver, the discovery performed using the transceiver,

initiating communication between the transceiver and one or more of the wireless mobile devices, the initiating performed using the transceiver;

exchanging data with the one or more of the wireless mobile devices, the exchanging including receiving a request for information from one of the one or more of the wireless mobile devices;

based on receiving the request for information, identifying, by the transceiver, a retrieval location of at least a subset of the requested information; and

transmitting, from the transceiver, the at least a subset of the information or an identifier of the retrieval location to the wireless mobile device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

retrieving, by the transceiver, the information from the retrieval location.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the retrieval location is located on the transceiver.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the retrieval location is located on a data server that is accessible to the transceiver via a network.

30. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions, which instructions, when executed by a processing device located in a transceiver, cause the transceiver to perform operations comprising:

discovery of wireless mobile devices within a proximity range of the transceiver;

initiating communication between the transceiver and one or more of the wireless mobile devices;

exchanging data with the one or more of the wireless mobile devices, the exchanging including receiving a request for information from one of the one or more of the wireless mobile devices;

based on receiving the request for information, identifying a retrieval location of at least a subset of the requested information; and

transmitting the at least a subset of the information or an identifier of the retrieval location to the wireless mobile device.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the operations performed by the transceiver further comprise retrieving the information from the retrieval location.

32. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the retrieval location is located on the transceiver.

33. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the retrieval location is located on a data server that is accessible to the transceiver via a network.