Techniques for wireless communication of proximity based content

• US 9,400,985 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2011
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freelinc Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Radeum, Inc.
• Inventors: Dobyns, Douglas Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): TALUKDER, MD K
• Application Number:
  US13/291,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20120289153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/456.3, 455/426.1, 455/292, 455/418
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0404 the mobile station comprising multiple antennas, e.g. to provide uplink diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• 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 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

A system and method for communication of proximity based content is disclosed between a mobile computing device having a Short Range Communication (SRC) device and a Proximity Short Range Communication (PSRC) device associated with a location or object using near field magnetic induction. The SRC device and/or the PSRC device can include at least two antennas to provide magnetic induction diversity. The method comprises defining a proximity boundary with dimensions defined by a magnetic induction diversity communication range of at least one of the SRC and PSRC devices. A proximity signal is communicated in the proximity boundary between the SRC device and the PSRC device. At least one action is performed by the mobile computing device or the PSRC device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication of proximity based content, the method comprising:

defining a proximity boundary with dimensions defined by a selected magnetic induction diversity communication range of one of a Short Range Communication (SRC) device and a Proximity Short Range Communication (SRC) device, wherein;

the SRC device and the PSRC device are configured to communicate using magnetic induction;

at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device include at least two substantially orthogonal antennas to provide magnetic induction diversity;

the SRC device is coupled to a mobile computing device; and

the PSRC device is associated with at least one of a location and an object;

communicating a proximity signal in the proximity boundary between the SRC device and the PSRC device using the magnetic induction diversity to substantially reduce a variability of the dimensions of the proximity boundary defined by the selected magnetic induction diversity communication range;

performing at least one action by at least one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device; and

setting at least one rule for a proximity based communication filter module, which is associated with the mobile computing device, regarding the wireless communication of proximity based content, the at least one rule identifying the at least one action performed by the mobile computing device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device,

wherein the at least one action is performed by the mobile computing device based on the at least one rule when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting at least one rule for a proximity based communication filter module, which is associated with a proximity computing device that includes the PSRC device and is associated with at least one of the location and the object, regarding the wireless communication of proximity based content, the at least one rule identifying at least one action performed by the proximity computing device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device,

wherein the at least one action is performed by the proximity computing device based on the at least one rule when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing the at least one rule for the proximity based communication filter module on the mobile computing device to increase a user'"'"'s privacy.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein no information is communicated from the SRC device to the PSRC device to increase a user'"'"'s privacy.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating of the proximity signal in the proximity boundary between the SRC device and the PSRC device comprises one of transmitting the proximity signal from the PSRC device to the SRC device and transmitting the proximity signal from the SRC device to the PSRC device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the at least one action by one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device comprises communicating content to the mobile computing device related to the location or object associated with the PSRC device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the content related to the location or object associated with the PSRC device is communicated from the PSRC device to the mobile computing device via the SRC device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the content related to the location or object associated with the PSRC device is communicated to the mobile computing device using a media communication device that does not communicate using near field magnetic induction.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the performing of the at least one action by one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device further comprises storing the received content in a memory of the mobile computing device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the at least one action by one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device comprises communicating content to the PSRC device from the mobile computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the content is communicated from the mobile computing device to the PSRC device via the SRC device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the content is communicated from the mobile computing device to the PSRC device via a media communication device that does not communicate using near field magnetic induction.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the PSRC device is a Near Field Communication (NFC) compliant device, and:

wherein the SRC device is a Multi-Mode Magnetic Induction Communication (MMMIC) device having magnetic induction diversity.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the MMMIC device includes a Near Field Communication (NFC) compliant mode to transmit and receive with an NFC compliant device within a distance of less than approximately 10 centimeters.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the MMMIC device includes a close proximity communication mode to transmit and receive with a close proximity communication device within a distance of less than approximately 30 centimeters.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the MMMIC device is configured to communicate simultaneously with at least two NFC compliant devices.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising detecting the proximity signal at the SRC device that is transmitted by the PSRC device at a distance of greater than about 10 centimeters (cm).

18. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining that the at least one of the location and the object is located within a range corresponding to dimensions of the proximity boundary.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein a range of the proximity signal is a distance that is less than λ

/2pi meters between the SRC device and the PSRC device, where λ

is a wavelength of the proximity signal in meters.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity signal has a power less than a noise floor beyond a distance of about 12 feet from one of the SRC device and the PSRC device that transmitted the proximity signal.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting, on at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device, at least one of the at least two substantially orthogonal antennas on which to transmit.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein selecting further comprises selecting a most efficient antenna on which to transmit.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting components of at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device, wherein the selected components are configured to provide the selected magnetic induction diversity communication range of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device.

24. A method for wireless communication of proximity based content, the method comprising:

providing a Proximity Short Range Communication (PSRC) device that is associated with one of a location and an object and is configured to communicate using near field magnetic induction with a Short Range Communication (SRC) device that is coupled to a mobile computing device and is configured to communicate using near field magnetic induction;

defining a proximity boundary with dimensions defined by at least one of a selected communication range of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device and a selected receive sensitivity of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device;

communicating a proximity signal in the proximity boundary between the SRC device and the PSRC device, wherein at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device include at least two substantially mutually orthogonal antennas used to provide magnetic induction diversity and the magnetic induction diversity is used to substantially reduce a variability of an edge the defined proximity boundary; and

performing at least one action by one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device; and

setting at least one rule for a proximity based communication filter module, which is associated with one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device, regarding the wireless communication of proximity based content, the at least one rule identifying the at least one action performed by one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device to enable one of the PSRC device and the mobile computing device to perform the action based on the at least one rule when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device.

25. A system for wireless communication of proximity based content, the system comprising:

a Short Range Communication (SRC) device that is configured to communicate using near field magnetic induction with a Proximity SRC (PSRC) device that is associated with one of a location and an object;

wherein at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device include at least two substantially mutually orthogonal antennas to provide magnetic induction diversity,

wherein a proximity signal is communicated using the magnetic induction diversity in a proximity boundary between the SRC device and the PSRC device, the proximity boundary having dimensions defined by at least one of a selected communication range of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device and a selected receive sensitivity of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device,

wherein the magnetic induction diversity is used to substantially reduce a variability of an edge of the defined proximity boundary, and

wherein at least one action is performed by one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device; and

a proximity based communication filter module that is associated with the mobile computing device, and is configured to have set at least one rule regarding the wireless communication of proximity based content, the at least one rule identifying at least one action performed by the mobile computing device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device, to enable the mobile computing device to perform the at least one action based on the at least one rule when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a proximity computing device that includes the PSRC device; and

a proximity based communication filter module that is associated with the proximity computing device, and is configured to have set at least one rule regarding the wireless communication of proximity based content, the at least one rule identifying at least one action performed by the proximity computing device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device,

wherein the at least one action is performed by the proximity computing device based on the at least one rule when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the communicating of the proximity signal in the proximity boundary between the SRC device and the PSRC device comprises one of transmitting the proximity signal from the PSRC device to the SRC device and transmitting the proximity signal from the SRC device to the PSRC device.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the performing of the at least one action by one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device comprises communicating content to the mobile computing device related to the location or object associated with the PSRC device.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the content related to the location or object associated with the PSRC device is communicated from the PSRC device to the mobile computing device via the SRC device.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the content related to the location or object associated with the PSRC device is communicated to the mobile computing device using a media communication device that does not communicate using near field magnetic induction.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the mobile computing device includes:

a memory, and

wherein the performing of the at least one action by one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device further comprises storing the received content in the memory.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the performing of the at least one action by one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device comprises communicating content to the PSRC device from the mobile computing device.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the content is communicated from the mobile computing device to the PSRC device via the SRC device.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the content is communicated from the mobile computing device to the PSRC device via a media communication device that does not communicate using near field magnetic induction.

35. The system of claim 25, wherein the PSRC device is a Near Field Communication (NFC) compliant device, and

wherein the SRC device is a Multi-Mode Magnetic Induction Communication (MMMIC) device having magnetic induction diversity.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the proximity signal is transmitted by the PSRC device and detected at the SRC device at a distance of greater than about 10 centimeters (cm).

37. The system of claim 25, wherein the mobile computing device determines that the at least one of the location and the object is located within a range corresponding to dimensions of the proximity boundary.

38. The system of claim 25, wherein a range of the proximity signal is a distance that is less than λ

/2pi meters between the SRC device and the PSRC device, where λ

is a wavelength of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device signal in meters.

39. The system of claim 25, wherein the proximity signal has a power less than a noise floor beyond a distance of about 12 feet from one of the SRC device and the PSRC device that transmitted the proximity signal.

40. The system of claim 25, wherein the PSRC device is configured to communicate identification information to the SRC device each time the mobile computing device is within the proximity boundary.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the identification information is used to determine which PSRC devices a user of the mobile computing device passed at a selected location.

42. A system for wireless communication of proximity based content, the system comprising:

a Proximity Short Range Communication (PSRC) device that is associated with one of a location and an object, and is configured to communicate using near field magnetic induction with a Short Range Communication (SRC) device that is configured to communicate using the near field magnetic induction and is coupled to a mobile computing device,

wherein a proximity signal is communicated using near field magnetic induction in a proximity boundary between the SRC device and the PSRC device, the proximity boundary having dimensions defined by at least one of a selected communication range of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device and a selected receive sensitivity of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device,

wherein at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device include at least two substantially mutually orthogonal antennas to provide magnetic induction diversity,

wherein the magnetic induction diversity is used to substantially reduce a variability of the dimensions of the proximity boundary defined by at least one of the selected communication range of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device and the selected receive sensitivity of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device, and

wherein at least one action is performed by one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device; and

a proximity based communication filter module that is associated with the mobile computing device, and is configured to set at least one rule regarding the wireless communication of proximity based content, the at least one rule identifying at least one action performed by the mobile computing device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device, to enable the mobile computing device to perform the at least one action based on the at least one rule when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device.