IP Library Granted Patent US 9,215,570
Granted Patent B2
US 9,215,570 · App. 14/137,642 · Granted Dec 15, 2015

Beacon content propagation

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,215,570
App. No.
14/137,642
Granted
Dec 15, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for transmitting beacon messages are described. A beacon message is transmitted from a first beacon device and broadcast to an area within a transmission range of the first beacon device. A mobile device receives and stores the message. When the mobile device is out of the range of the first beacon device and within the range of a second beacon device, the message is transmitted to the second beacon device and broadcast by the second beacon device.

Claims (28)

1. A system, comprising:

a first fixed-location beacon configured to transmit a beacon message to a first user mobile device at a first location within a first transmission range of the first fixed-location beacon at the first location; and

a second fixed-location beacon configured to receive the beacon message from the first user mobile device at a second location outside of the first transmission range of the first fixed-location beacon and transmit the beacon message to a second user mobile device at the second location within a second transmission range of the second fixed-location beacon at the second location.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the beacon message comprises an advertisement, coupon, promotion, or a combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the beacon message is transmitted by a short range radio frequency beacon.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first fixed-location beacon is further configured to generate the beacon message.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second transmission ranges are about 2 inches to about 160 feet.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information in the beacon message and range of the beacon message are controlled by an originator of the beacon message.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the originator of the beacon message comprises a merchant.

8. A method for transmitting beacon messages, comprising:

transmitting, by a first fixed-location beacon, a beacon message to a first user mobile device at a first location within a first transmission range of the first fixed-location beacon at the first location;

receiving, by a second fixed-location beacon, the beacon message from the first user mobile device at a second location outside of the first transmission range of the first fixed-location beacon; and

transmitting, by the second fixed-location beacon, the beacon message to a second user mobile device at the second location within a second transmission range of the second fixed-location beacon at the second location.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the beacon message comprises an advertisement, coupon, promotion, or a combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the beacon message is transmitted by a short range radio frequency beacon.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising generating the beacon message.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first and second transmission ranges are about 2 inches to about 160 feet.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein information in the beacon message and range of the beacon message are controlled by an originator of the beacon message.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the originator of the beacon message comprises a merchant.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a plurality of machine-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a beacon, are adapted to cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

transmitting, by a first fixed-location beacon, a beacon message to a first user mobile device at a first location within a first transmission range of the first fixed-location beacon at the first location;

receiving, by a second fixed-location beacon, the beacon message from the first user mobile device at a second location outside of the first transmission range of the first fixed-location beacon; and

transmitting, by the second fixed-location beacon, the beacon message to a second user mobile device at the second location within a second transmission range of the second fixed-location beacon at the second location.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the beacon message comprises an advertisement, coupon, promotion, or a combination thereof.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the beacon message is transmitted by a short range radio frequency beacon.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises generating the beacon message.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein information in the beacon message and range of the beacon message are controlled by an originator of the beacon message.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the originator of the beacon message comprises a merchant.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2015
From: EBAY INC.
To: PAYPAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 036171/0144 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2013
From: SCHULZ, EGAN; SERRANO, MICHELLE; SU, LIBO
To: EBAY INC.
Reel/Frame 031844/0072 →