Bump button

• US 9,270,364 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• 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., Lieb, David F., Mintz, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): GONZALES, APRIL GUZMAN
• Application Number:
  US13/848,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20130217335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3
• 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 fixed device comprising:

an input sensor button configured to receive, from a nearby mobile device, an indication of an intention of the nearby mobile device to establish a connection to transfer information;

a beacon that, when triggered by the input sensor button, sends a short-range signal to the nearby mobile device, the short-range signal comprising a MAC address and identifying the fixed device,

wherein the fixed device is incapable of communication via the internet.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the short-range signal is a coded audio signal.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the short-range signal is a radio signal.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the short-range signal is an optical signal.