PRESENCE DETECTION USING BLUETOOTH AND HYBRID-MODE TRANSMITTERS

1 . A method, comprising:

generating a secure identifier, wherein the secure identifier comprises a venue identifier; and

configuring a transmitter to broadcast the secure identifier using Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE);

wherein the secure identifier broadcast by the transmitter is captured by a handset and decoded to infer presence of the handset at a venue identified by the venue identifier.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the venue identifier comprises one or both of a store identifier and a department identifier.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the secure identifier includes a nonce.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the secure identifier comprises computing a hash, wherein the hash includes at least one of a nonce value and a secret key.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring the transmitter to broadcast the secure identifier via an audio channel comprising ultrasonic frequencies.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring the transmitter to update either or both of the secure identifier and the transmitter firmware based on a directive received via the handset.

7 . A method, comprising:

configuring a handset to scan via Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) to detect a prescribed service identifier and a corresponding service parameter;

decoding the service parameter, wherein decoding the service parameter includes extracting a venue identifier; and

inferring presence at a venue corresponding to the venue identifier.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the service identifier comprises a constant universally unique identifier (UUID).

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the service parameter comprises a secure identifier generated by computing a hash including at least one of a nonce value and a secret key.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the venue identifier comprises one or both of a store identifier and a department identifier.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the handset is configured to actively scan Bluetooth advertisements.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the handset is configured to passively scan via BTLE.

13 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising configuring the handset to receive a secure identifier comprising the venue identifier via an ultrasonic audio channel.

14 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising authenticating the service parameter.

15 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving a reward in response to presence at the venue.

16 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising configuring the handset to update a transmitter that broadcasts the prescribed service identifier and corresponding service parameter.

17 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising configuring the handset to use BTLE detection to trigger audio-based detection.

18 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising configuring the handset as a relay to transmit the service identifier and service parameter via BTLE.

19 . A system, comprising:

a transceiver configured to scan via Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) to detect a prescribed service identifier and a corresponding service parameter; and

a processor configured to decode the service parameter by extracting a venue identifier and infer presence at a venue corresponding to the venue identifier.

20 . A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

configuring a handset to scan via Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) to detect a prescribed service identifier and a corresponding service parameter;

decoding the service parameter, wherein decoding the service parameter includes extracting a venue identifier; and

inferring presence at a venue corresponding to the venue identifier.