Identification of make and model of communication devices over Bluetooth protocol

• US 8,131,217 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peppermint Hills LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Telibrahma Convergent Communications Private Limited
• Inventors: Srinivasa, Shreyas B, Manjunath, Mahesh, Ramarao, Ravi Bangalore
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Houston, Adam
• Application Number:
  US12/415,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20100248627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 340 132- 1336
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Embodiments herein provide methods and systems for identifying make and model, and other features of a communication device using the MAC ID, profile name and services offered on the communication device. Also, disclosed herein is a method of building a database where a range of MAC IDs is mapped to a particular make and model, and other features of communication devices. On obtaining the MAC ID of a communication device, the make and model, and other features of the device can be identified. Such information may be used to tailor content according to the capabilities of a communication device.

Claims

1. A method for identifying make and model of a communication device using Bluetooth, wherein a plurality of communication devices are connected to a Bluetooth network, said Bluetooth network comprising of a plurality of Bluetooth terminals and a server, said method comprising:

said plurality of Bluetooth terminals collecting information from said plurality of communication devices;

said server building one or more tables, wherein said tables map a range of MAC IDs based on a signature of a plurality of features and information collected of said plurality of communication devices to at least a make and model of said plurality of communication devices;

said server identifying make and model of a communication device using MAC ID of said communication device and said table; and

said server delivering content to said communication device using Bluetooth, wherein said content is customized according to at least a make and model of said communication device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information collected by said Bluetooth terminals comprises:

MAC IDs of said plurality of communication devices;

profile names of said plurality of communication devices; and

services running on said plurality of communication devices.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said server is configured to update said table, on receiving a MAC ID of a communication device, when there is a change in information relating to the communication device.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tables comprise at least one of data process information, screen dimension of said identified communication device, information on services that can be run on said identified communication device, information on processing capability of said identified communication device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein upon identification of the make and model of said communication device said content is customized according to capabilities and services present on said communication device.

3. A method for identifying a make and model of a communication device using Bluetooth, wherein a plurality of communication devices are connected to a Bluetooth network, said Bluetooth network comprising a plurality of Bluetooth terminals and a server, said method comprising:

said plurality of Bluetooth terminals collecting information from said plurality of communication devices;

said server building one or more tables, wherein said tables map a range of MAC IDs based on signature of plurality of features and information collected of said plurality of communication devices to make and model of said plurality of communication devices;

said server identifying make and model of a communication device related to said communication device using MAC ID of said communication device and said table; and

said server delivering content to said communication device using Bluetooth, wherein said content is customized according to make and model of said communication device,

wherein said server updates said table, on receiving a MAC ID not present in said table.

9. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tables comprise at least one of data process information, screen dimension of said identified communication device, information on services that can be run on said identified communication device, information on processing capability of said identified communication device.

11. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein upon identification of the make and model of said communication device said content is customized according to capabilities and services present on said communication device.

5. A server apparatus, said server apparatus connected to a plurality of Bluetooth terminals and said Bluetooth terminals connected to a plurality of communication devices using Bluetooth, said server apparatus comprising:

receiving means to receive information about said plurality of communication devices from said plurality of Bluetooth terminals;

creation means for creating a table, wherein said table maps a range of MAC IDs based on a signature of a plurality of features and information collected of said plurality of communication devices to at least a make and model of said communication devices;

identification means for identifying make and model of said communication device using MAC ID of said communication device and said table; and

delivery means for delivering content to said communication device using Bluetooth, wherein said content is customized according to at least a make and model of said communication device.

12. The server apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein upon identification of the make and model of said communication device said content is customized according to capabilities and services present on said communication device.

6. A server apparatus, said server apparatus connected to a plurality of Bluetooth terminals and said Bluetooth terminals connected to a plurality of communication devices using Bluetooth, said server apparatus comprising:

receiving means to receive information about said plurality of communication devices from said plurality of Bluetooth terminals;

creation means for creating a table, wherein said table maps a range of MAC IDs based on a signature of a plurality of features and information collected of said plurality of communication devices to at least a make and model of said communication devices;

identification means for identifying make and model of said communication device using MAC ID of said communication device and said table; and

delivery means for delivering content to said communication device using Bluetooth, wherein said content is customized according to at least make and model of said communication device,

wherein said server apparatus further comprises means for updating said table, on receiving a MAC ID not present in said table.

13. The server apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein upon identification of the make and model of said communication device said content is customized according to capabilities and services present on said communication device.

14. The server apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said information about said plurality of communication devices from said plurality of Bluetooth terminals comprises:

MAC IDs of said plurality of communication devices;

profile names of said plurality of communication devices; and

services running on said plurality of communication devices.

15. The server apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for updating said table, on receiving a MAC ID not present in said table comprises:

a sniffer configured to check for presence of the MAC ID of a communication device in a device database;

a signature module and a services module configured to provide information about said communication device to said sniffer, upon absence of the MAC ID of said communication device;

an indexer configured to receive the information about said communication device;

an internal database configured to store the information about said communication device; and

a device identification engine configured to collect the information about said communication device stored in the internal database of the indexer at regular intervals, the device identification engine configured to identify make and model of said communication device based on the MAC ID of said communication device, and the device identification engine configured to update the identified make and model of said communication device in said table stored in the device database present in the server apparatus.

7. A terminal, said terminal connected to a server and a plurality of communication devices using Bluetooth, said terminal comprising of a means adapted to collect information from a plurality of communication devices, said information comprising:

MAC IDs of said plurality of communication devices;

profile names of said plurality of communication devices; and

services running on said plurality of communication devices.