Method and system for wireless device communication

• US 9,247,391 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Hopkins, John C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brandon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hammonds, Marcus
• Application Number:
  US13/746,711
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141-4144, 4554561-457, 455/466, 705 1449- 1467
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for wireless device communication. A wireless device may be engaged in a wireless data communication session within a local geographic region. The wireless device may be tracked within the local geographic region. The targeted information may be provided to the wireless device regarding the local geographic region based on the tracking of the wireless device.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions cause a processor to:

automatically notify a wireless device of availability of a wireless data communication session when the wireless device is detected in a retail establishment;

initiate the wireless data communication session with the wireless device in the retail establishment wherein the wireless data communication session is established between the wireless device and a transceiver device deployed within the retail establishment;

track the wireless device in the retail establishment to obtain tracking information;

identify a movement pattern of the wireless device in the retail establishment based on the tracking information;

access a user profile associated with a user of the wireless device, the user profile including a user criterion for an item type and a body image of the user;

provide targeted information to the wireless device regarding a plurality of items based on the identified pattern;

determine that at least one item of the plurality of items matches the user criterion; and

in response to a determination that the at least one item matches the user criterion, provide a notification including a photo of the at least one item appearing on the body image of the user.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions for causing a processor to receive a request to engage in a wireless data communication session with the wireless device.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein tracking the wireless device in the retail establishment includes tracking a duration that the wireless device is in the retail establishment.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein tracking the wireless device in the retail establishment includes tracking a plurality of locations of the wireless device in the retail establishment.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

receive a request for information regarding a product in the retail establishment; and

provide targeted information to the wireless device regarding the product based on the identified pattern of the wireless device in response to receiving the request.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to

provide a response to the targeted information.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions for causing a processor to:

delete the targeted information on the wireless device when the wireless device is no longer in the retail establishment.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the product information associated with the one or more of the plurality of items is received from another transceiver of a network of transceivers deployed within the retail establishment.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the tracking information is provided by a network of transceivers deployed within the retail establishment.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the identified pattern comprises a series of waypoints within the retail establishment.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the targeted information includes at least one of:

an electronically redeemable coupon related to an item in the subset of the plurality of items, and information about a deal on an item in the subset of the plurality of items.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the product information associated with a particular item is obtained via a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip associated with the particular item.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the user criterion for the item type includes at least one of a size of an item, a color of an item, a price of an item, dimensions of an item, or membership in an organization.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, the instructions causing a processor to:

automatically receive, at a wireless device, notification of availability of a wireless data communication session when the wireless device enters a retail establishment;

automatically engage in the wireless data communication session in the retail establishment with a transceiver deployed within the retail establishment;

provide tracking information related to the wireless device while the wireless device is in the retail establishment;

provide a user profile associated with a user of the wireless device, the user profile including a user criterion for an item type and a body image of the user;

receive targeted information, at the wireless device, the targeted information pertaining to product information associated with a plurality of items being sold at the retail establishment, the targeted information being based on a pattern of movement of the wireless device identified using the tracking information;

receive a notification indicating that at least one item of the plurality of items matches the user criterion, the notification including a photo of the at least one item appearing on the body image of the user.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to preprogram the wireless device to engage in the wireless data communication session in the retail establishment.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

receive related information to the targeted information; and

display the targeted information and the related information on the wireless device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

provide a response to the targeted information.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for causing a processor to:

provide the targeted information to a central server to receive a value regarding the targeted information from the central server.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the targeted information describes a relationship between two or more commodities.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the user criterion for the item type includes at least one of a size of an item, a color of an item, a price of an item, dimensions of an item, or membership in an organization.

21. A method comprising:

automatically notifying a wireless device of availability of a wireless data communication session with a transceiver device deployed in a retail establishment, when the wireless device is detected in the retail establishment;

receiving approval to initiate the wireless data communication session between the transceiver device and the wireless device;

tracking the wireless device in the retail establishment to obtain tracking information;

identifying a pattern of movement of the wireless device in the retail establishment based on the tracking information;

access a user profile associated with a user of the wireless device, the user profile including a user criterion for an item type and a body image of the user;

providing targeted information to the wireless device regarding a plurality of items based on the identified pattern

causing a display of the targeted information on the wireless device;

determining that at least one item of the plurality of items matches the user criterion; and

in response to a determination that the at least one item matches the user criterion, providing a notification including a photo of the at least one item appearing on the body image of the user.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising accessing information from the user profile regarding a user of the wireless device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the information from the user profile includes a user criterion for an item type.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user criterion for the item type includes at least one of a color of an item, a size of an item, a price of an item, and dimensions of an item.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the targeted information includes a number of comparable products.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the targeted information includes a location where at least one of the comparable products may be purchased.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the targeted information includes information regarding a provider of at least one of the comparable products.