PROXIMITY MARKETING SERVER APPARATUS

• US 20100087211A1
• Filed: 10/02/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel Hurd
• Original Assignee: Daniel Hurd
• Inventors: Hurd, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/244,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20100087211A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks

Abstract

Prepared content assessable by a server is transmitted to a mobile communication device having wireless communication capability. A proximity broadcast node coupled to the server by a network detects if a mobile communication device within a data communication range of the node. The node then attempts to establish a peer-to-peer connection with the mobile device. When a connection is established, the node delivers the prepared content to the mobile device. If the user of the mobile device ignores the connection or does not respond to a connection attempt; future attempts to transmit the prepared content to the mobile device are prohibited.

Claims

1. A method for delivering content to at least one mobile device comprising the steps of:

accessing discrete prepared content;

transmitting the prepared content to a proximity broadcast node;

storing the prepared content in the proximity broadcast node;

detecting the proximity broadcast node if a mobile communication device with wireless communication capability is within a data communication range of the proximity broadcast node;

attempting to establish a peer-to-peer connection with the detected mobile communication device within the data communication range; and

when a peer-to-peer connection is established, delivering by the proximity broadcast node the prepared content to the mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of attempting to establish a connection comprises the steps of:

retrying the attempt if a prior attempt is ignored by the user of the mobile communication device; and

discontinuing the attempt to establish a connection.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

when the user of a mobile communication device declines a connection attempt prohibiting future attempts to establish a connection with the user of the mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the prohibiting step further comprises the step of:

storing an identification of the mobile communication device on a future attempt prohibition list.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

removing the prohibition when the prepared content is or replaced by new content.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

checking for prohibitions before the step of attempting to establish a connection with a mobile communication device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

when an attempt to establish communication is accepted by the user of mobile communication devices;

identifying the mobile communication device as a preferred mobile communication device for future communication attempts.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

using a server for accessing the prepared content and for transmitting the prepared content to a proximity broadcast node; and

storing by the server a list of mobile communication devices with which attempts to establish a connection are either prohibited or allowed.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

uploading an identification associated with a detected mobile communication device to the server.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

connecting the server and the node by a communication network.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of:

using the Internet as the communication network.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of detecting if a mobile communication device is within the data communication range of the node further comprises the step of using a short range communication protocol for detecting.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting and attempting steps further comprise the step of:

determining if a plurality of mobile communication devices are within the data communication range of the node; and

attempting to establish a peer-to-peer connection with each of the mobile communication devices detected within the data communication range.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

assigning the node to a zone.

15. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

establishing a zone by the server; and

assigning at lease one node to the zone by the server.

16. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

selecting the prepared content by the server;

selecting a broadcast schedule for the node by the server;

updating the zone with new prepared content; and

transmitting the new prepared content to each zone.

17. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

updating the number of node attempts to establish communication with any mobile communication devices to the server.

18. A method for delivering content to at least one mobile device comprising the steps of:

means for accessing discrete prepared content;

means for transmitting the prepared content to a proximity broadcast node;

means for storing the prepared content in the proximity broadcast node;

means for detecting the proximity broadcast node if a mobile communication device with wireless communication capability is within a data communication range of the proximity broadcast node;

means for attempting to establish a peer-to-peer connection with the detected mobile communication device within the data communication range when a peer-to-peer connection is established;

means for delivering by the proximity broadcast node the prepared content to the mobile communication device.

19. An apparatus for delivering content to at least one mobile communication device comprising:

a server;

a proximity broadcast node;

the server and the node connected in data communication by a network;

an application coupled to the node, the application configured for;

detecting if a mobile communication device with wireless communication capability is within a data communication range of the proximity broadcast node;

attempting to establish a peer-to-peer connection with the detected mobile communication device within the data communication range; and

when a peer-to-peer connection is established, delivering the prepared content to the mobile communication device by the proximity broadcast node.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the application:

retries the attempt if a prior attempt is ignored by the user of the mobile communication device; and

discontinues the attempt to establish a connection.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the application further comprises:

when the user of a mobile communication device ignores a connection attempt by the proximity broadcast node, the application prohibiting future attempts to establish a connection with the user of the mobile communication device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the application:

stores an identification of the mobile communication device on a future attempt prohibition list.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the application further comprises:

removing the prohibition when the prepared content is replaced by new content.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:

the application checks for prohibition before the step of attempting to establish a connection with a mobile communication device.

25. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the application further comprises:

an attempt to establish communication as accepted by the user of a mobile communication device;

identifying the mobile communication device as a preferred mobile communication device for future communication attempts.

26. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

a server accessing the prepared content and transmitting the prepared content to a proximity broadcast node; and

the server storing a list of mobile communication devices with which attempts to establish a connection are either prohibited or allowed.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising:

the application uploading an identification associated with a mobile communication device to the server.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising:

the server and the node coupled by a communication network.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein:

the communication network is the Internet.

30. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein application detects a mobile communication device within the data communication range of the node further by using a short range communication protocol.

31. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the application:

detects if a plurality of mobile communication devices are within the data communication range of the node; and

attempts to establish a peer-to-peer connection with each of the mobile communication devices detected within the data communication range.

32. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

the server assigning the node to a zone.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 further comprising of:

the server establishing a zone; and

the server assigning at least one node to the zone.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 further comprising the server:

selecting prepared content filed;

selecting a broadcast schedule for the node;

updating the zone with new content; and

transmitting the new content to each zone.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 further comprising:

the node updating to the server the number of node attempts to establish communication with any mobile communication devices.