Beacon communication system and methods
First Claim
1. A method for beacon-based communication, comprising:
- detecting, at a communication device, a beaconing signal generated by an electronic beacon device when the electronic beacon device is in proximity of the communication device, wherein the beaconing signal is associated with an entity affiliated with the electronic beacon device;
transmitting, from the communication device, identification information inherent within the beaconing signal and location information;
receiving, at the communication device, one or more communication options through which the entity may be contacted wherein the communication options do not identify the entity, thereby enabling the entity to remain anonymous to a user of the communication device;
receiving, through a user interface of the communication device, user input provided by the user of the communication device wherein the user input is in accordance with at least one of the communication options; and
transmitting, from the communication device, message information for the entity wherein the message information is based upon the user input.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing a communications link between an owner of a lost article and a person that finds the lost article. The method includes detecting at a communication device of the person that finds the lost article, a beaconing signal generated by an electronic beacon device when the communication device is in proximity of the communication device. The beaconing signal is associated with an owner of the electronic beacon device. The communication device may transmit, to a server, location information and identification information inherent within the beaconing signal. The server may return one or more communication options enabling a user of the communication device to contact the owner of the electronic beacon device. Such communication options may comprise, for example, voice communication, video communication or communication via text message. In one embodiment the communication options enable communication to occur while maintaining the anonymity of the owner.
15 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for beacon-based communication, comprising:
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detecting, at a communication device, a beaconing signal generated by an electronic beacon device when the electronic beacon device is in proximity of the communication device, wherein the beaconing signal is associated with an entity affiliated with the electronic beacon device; transmitting, from the communication device, identification information inherent within the beaconing signal and location information; receiving, at the communication device, one or more communication options through which the entity may be contacted wherein the communication options do not identify the entity, thereby enabling the entity to remain anonymous to a user of the communication device; receiving, through a user interface of the communication device, user input provided by the user of the communication device wherein the user input is in accordance with at least one of the communication options; and transmitting, from the communication device, message information for the entity wherein the message information is based upon the user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication device for facilitating beacon-based communication, the communication device comprising:
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a processor; a user interface; a communication interface in communication with the processor; memory coupled to the processor, the memory including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; detect a beaconing signal generated by the electronic beacon device when the electronic beacon device is in proximity of the communication device, wherein the beaconing signal is associated with an entity affiliated with the electronic beacon device; transmit identification information inherent within the beaconing signal and location information; receive one or more communication options through which the entity may be contacted wherein the communication options do not identify the entity, thereby enabling the entity to remain anonymous to a user of the communication device; receive, through the user interface configured to present at least one of the one or more communication options, user input provided by the user of the communication device wherein the user input is in accordance with the at least one of the of the one or more communication options; and transmit message information for the entity wherein the message information is based upon the user input. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for facilitating beacon-based communication, the system comprising:
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a processor; a network interface in communication with the processor; memory coupled to the processor, the memory including an application module and status information relating to an electronic beacon device, wherein when executed by the processor the application module causes the processor to; receive, from a communication device which has detected a beaconing signal transmitted by an electronic device in proximity of the communication device, location information and identification information inherent within the beaconing signal wherein the beaconing signal is associated with an entity affiliated with the electronic beacon device; transmit, to the communication device, the status information relating to the electronic beacon device and one or more communication options through which the entity may be contacted; receive, from the communication device, message information comporting with at least one of the one or more communication options wherein the message information is based upon user input provided by a user of the communication device; and send the message information to another communication device associated with the entity. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification