In-store self-serve and zoning using geo-fencing

• US 9,990,659 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Shanmugam, Sankar, Olachery, Shan, Mitra, Arindam, Rivera, Daniel M., Reeves, Matthew Farley, Lam, Lapfan
• Primary Examiner(s): Thein, M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kringen, Michelle T
• Application Number:
  US14/288,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20150348146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261, 705 267, 705 271
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A geo-fencing system includes a plurality of beacons defining zones within a venue. The system receives a first beacon identifier from a mobile device and registers the mobile device in a first zone corresponding to the first beacon. The system causes a first menu to be displayed on the mobile device, indicating options for the first zone. In response to selection of one of the options, the system registers the mobile device as being active in the first zone. The system then receives a second beacon identifier and registers the mobile device as being in the second zone. The system also suspends the activity of the mobile device in the first zone and causes options to be displayed to continue or terminate the activity in the first zone.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a server, coupled to a wireless network, comprising;

a server application;

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor to execute the instructions to;

receive, from a mobile device via the wireless network, a first beacon identifier of a plurality of unique beacon identifiers and information identifying the mobile device,

the mobile device comprising a mobile application to interact with the server application;

register the mobile device as being in a first zone defined by the first beacon identifier;

send, via the wireless network, a first message to the mobile device that causes the mobile device, via the mobile application, to display a set of options related to the first zone;

receive, via the wireless network, a first signal from the mobile device indicating a selection, via the mobile application, of one of the set of options;

cause, based on receiving the first signal, activity of the mobile device related to the first zone;

receive, from the mobile device and via the wireless network, a second beacon identifier of the plurality of unique beacon identifiers and information identifying the mobile device,

the second beacon identifier being associated with a strongest beacon signal received at the mobile device, and

the second beacon identifier defining a second zone different from the first zone;

register the mobile device as being in the second zone;

suspend, based on registering the mobile device with the second zone, the activity of the mobile device related to the first zone;

send, via the wireless network, a second message to the mobile device causing the mobile device to provide for display;

a first option for continuing the activity of the mobile device related to the first zone, and

a second option for information regarding the second zone;

receive a second signal from the mobile device indicating selection of the first option to continue the activity of the mobile device related to the first zone; and

resume the activity of the mobile device related to the first zone.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further to:

receive a third signal from the mobile device indicating selection of the second option;

terminate the activity of the mobile device related to the first zone; and

send a third message to the mobile device that causes the mobile device to display a further set of options for the second zone.

3. The system of claim 1, further including a point-of-sale (POS) terminal located in a venue and coupled to the server via a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a wireless network, and

wherein the processor is further to:

send information about a user and a zone in which the user is registered to the POS terminal via the WLAN.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first zone is an entrance zone and the activity of the mobile device related to the first zone includes an appointment with personnel associated with a venue that was scheduled by a user before entering the venue and, responsive to registering the mobile device in the first zone, and

wherein the processor is further to:

send a reminder message about the appointment to the mobile device and to send a message to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal announcing presence of the user to the personnel associated with the venue.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor, when sending the first message, is to:

send information describing an item available for purchase,

the first message being configured to cause a purchase option to be displayed on the mobile device; and

wherein the processor is further to;

receive from the mobile device a third signal indicating selection of the purchase option to purchase the item;

send, to the mobile device, a request for payment information and an encryption key;

receive, from the mobile device, the payment information encrypted with the encryption key;

decrypt the encrypted payment information to provide decrypted payment information;

transmit the decrypted payment information to a payment processing server;

receive a message from the payment processing server indicating that payment is accepted; and

send a receipt to the mobile device and to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the first message includes an indication to charge the item to a wireless account of a user;

the request for payment information includes a request to sign-in to the wireless account of the user; and

the decrypted payment information includes a username and password for the wireless account of the user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first option includes an option to display a catalog of items available for purchase in the first zone.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions, that when executed by a processor of a mobile communication device, cause the processor to;

receive a first unique beacon identifier associated with a first zone;

transmit, via a wireless network, the first unique beacon identifier and information identifying the mobile communications device to a server running a server portion of a geo-fencing application,

the server portion to interact with a mobile portion of the geo-fencing application on the mobile communication device;

receive, from the server via the wireless network, a first message,

the first message causing the mobile communication device to provide, for display, a set of options related to the first zone;

receive a signal indicating a selection, via the mobile portion, of one of the set of options;

transmit, via the wireless network, the signal indicating the selection to the server;

receive, via the wireless network and from the server, information associated with the first zone;

receive a second unique beacon identifier associated with a second zone,

the second unique beacon identifier being associated with a strongest beacon signal received at the mobile communication device;

transmit, via the wireless network, the second unique beacon identifier to the server;

receive, via the wireless network, a second message from the server,

the second message causing receipt of the information associated with the first zone to be suspended and causing the mobile communication device to provide for display;

a first option to continue to receive the information associated with the first zone, and

a second option for information regarding the second zone;

receive a first selection of the first option to continue to receive the information associated with the first zone or a second selection of the second option for the information regarding the second zone; and

selectively;

resume receiving the information associated with the first zone based on receiving the first selection, or

receive the information regarding the second zone based on receiving the second selection.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first zone is an entrance zone and the set of options includes an option for signing in to at least one of:

an appointment,

a workshop, or

an in-store pickup arrangement.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the one or more instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

receive identifying information about an object from a sensor of the mobile communications device;

transmit the identifying information to the server;

receive, from the server, information concerning the object;

receive a request to purchase the object;

transmit the request to purchase the object to the server;

receive, from the server, a request to provide payment information;

transmit the payment information to the server; and

receive a receipt from the server confirming purchase of the object.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the one or more instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

transmit payment information to the server to charge a purchase to a mobile communications account associated with the mobile communications device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the signal is a first signal;

and

wherein the one or more instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to;

transmit, based on receiving the first selection, a second signal to the server via the wireless network; and

receive, from the server and based on transmitting the second signal, additional information associated with the first zone.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the signal is a first signal;

and

wherein the one or more instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to;

transmit, based on receiving the second selection, a second signal to the server via the wireless network; and

receive, based on transmitting the second signal and from the server, a third message,

the third message causing display of a set of options for the second zone.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, by a mobile communications device, a first unique beacon identifier associated with a first zone of a venue,

the mobile communications device comprising a mobile application;

transmitting, by the mobile communications device and via a wireless network, the first unique beacon identifier and information concerning the mobile communications device to a server,

the server comprising a server application to interact with the mobile application;

receiving, by the mobile communications device from the server via the wireless network, a first message,

the first message causing the mobile communications device to provide, for display, a set of options related to the first zone;

receiving, by the mobile communications device, an input indicating a selection, via the mobile application, of one of the set of options;

transmitting, by the mobile communications device and via the wireless network, a signal indicating the selection to the server;

receiving, by the mobile communications device from the server via the wireless network, information associated with the first zone;

receiving, by the mobile communications device, a second unique beacon identifier associated with a second zone,

the second unique beacon identifier being associated with a strongest beacon signal;

transmitting, by the mobile communications device and via the wireless network, the second unique beacon identifier to the server;

receiving, by the mobile communications device and via the wireless network, a second message from the server,

the second message causing receipt of the information associated with the first zone to be suspended and causing the mobile communications device to provide for display;

a first option to continue to receive the information associated with the first zone, and

a second option for information regarding the second zone;

receiving, by the mobile communications device, a first selection of the first option to continue to receive the information associated with the first zone or a second selection of the second option for the information regarding the second zone; and

selectively;

resuming, by the mobile communications device, receipt of the information associated with the first zone based on receiving the first selection, or

receiving, by the mobile communications device, the information regarding the second zone based on receiving the second selection.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a touch-screen overlays a display of the mobile communications device, and

wherein the method further comprises:

defining a plurality of soft-keys representing a set of options,

the set of options including the first option and the second option;

receiving, via the touch-screen, an indication that one of the soft-keys has been activated;

sending, via the wireless network, a message to the server indicating that the one of the soft-keys has been activated to indicate a selection of an option of the set of options; and

receiving a message from the server indicating that personnel associated with the venue have been notified of an interaction represented by the one of the soft-keys.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the venue is a retail store and the soft-keys include a scan-and-purchase soft-button, and

wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, via the touch-screen, an indication that the scan-and-purchase soft button has been pressed;

processing data captured by sensors of the mobile communication device identifying a product based on receiving the indication;

transmitting the data to the server;

receiving, from the server, information about the product;

providing, for display, the information and a purchase soft-button to request purchase of an item;

receiving, via the touch screen, an indication that the purchase soft button has been activated;

transmitting a purchase request to the server;

receiving, from the server, a request for payment information;

sending the payment information to the server; and

receiving a receipt from the server.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the request for payment information includes an encryption key;

wherein the method further comprises;

encrypting the payment information; and

wherein sending the payment information to the server comprises;

sending the encrypted payment information to the server.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the request for payment information includes a request for log-in information for a wireless network payment server;

wherein the method further comprises;

encrypting the log-in information using an encryption key; and

wherein sending the payment information to the server comprises;

sending the encrypted log-in information to the server.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the request for payment information a request for credit card information;

wherein the method further comprises;

encrypting a credit card number; and

wherein sending the payment information to the server comprises;

sending the encrypted credit card number to the server.