IP Library Granted Patent US 10,853,775
Granted Patent B1
US 10,853,775 · App. 15/394,465 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Computing systems for proximity-based fees

Inventor: Chris Kalaboukis (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
G06Q20/102G06Q30/0283H04W4/023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,853,775
App. No.
15/394,465
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

In an example, a method includes determining, by a computing device, a proximity of a user to a point of interest. The method also includes determining, by the computing device, a fee to the user based on the proximity of the user to the point of interest, where the fee varies based on the proximity of the user to the point of interest. The method also includes initiating, by the computing device, an electronic transaction based on the fee.

Claims (45)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

monitoring, by a computing device communicatively coupled to a plurality of wireless beacons positioned around an environment, a distance of a user device within the environment to a point of interest at two or more points in time within the environment based on a triangulation of signal data received from the user device by the wireless beacons and a location of the point of interest;

monitoring, by the computing device, an angle of a head or eyes of a user of the user device with respect to the point of interest based on position sensor data specifying an orientation of the head of the user received from the user device;

determining, by the computing device, first characteristics of the user device comprising a first distance of the user device to the point of interest, a first angle of the head or eyes of the user, and a first duration of time that the first distance is maintained while the user is viewing the point of interest;

determining, by the computing device, second characteristics of the user device comprising a second distance of the user device to the point of interest, different than the first distance, a second angle of the head or eyes of the user, and a second duration of time that the second distance is maintained while the user is viewing the point of interest;

determining, by the computing device, an accumulated fee including a first fee based on the first characteristics and a second fee based on the second characteristics, the second fee being different than the first fee; and

initiating, by the computing device, an electronic transaction to settle the accumulated fee.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the wireless beacons is positioned at the point of interest.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein monitoring the distance comprises determining the distance based on wireless communication between the user device and the wireless beacon positioned at the point of interest at the two or more points in time.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the accumulated fee comprises preventing further increasing of the accumulated fee based on one of the first or second distances exceeding a distance threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the computing device, third characteristics of the user device comprising a third distance of the user device to the point of interest and a third duration of time that the third distance is maintained;

wherein determining, by the computing device, the accumulated fee includes adding the first fee, the second fee, and a third fee based on the third characteristics.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating an electronic message that indicates the accumulated fee; and

transmitting the electronic message that indicates the accumulated fee to the user device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

generating a second electronic message that indicates a change to the accumulated fee;

transmitting the electronic message that indicates the change to the accumulated fee to the user device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after initiating the electronic transaction, generating an electronic message that indicates the electronic transaction; and

transmitting the electronic message to the user device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environment is a venue, the method further comprising determining that the user device has exited the venue, and wherein initiating the electronic transaction comprises automatically initiating the electronic transaction based on the determination that the user device has exited the venue.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an indication of a user-defined fee limit;

wherein initiating the electronic transaction comprises automatically initiating the electronic transaction based on the accumulated fee being equal to the user-defined fee limit.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environment is a venue, and wherein determining the first fee and the second fee further comprises determining the first fee and the second fee based on a number of people present at the venue.

12. A system comprising:

a memory configured to store a user profile for a user; and

one or more processors configured to:

monitor a distance of a user device within an environment to a point of interest within the environment based on a triangulation of signal data received from the user device by wireless beacons positioned around the environment and a location of the point of interest at two or more points in time;

determine an angle of a head or eyes of a user of the user device with respect to the point of interest based on position sensor data specifying an orientation of a head received from the user device;

determine first characteristics comprising a first distance of the user device to the point of interest, a first angle of the head or eyes of the user, and a first duration of time that the first distance is maintained while the user is viewing the point of interest;

determine second characteristics comprising a second distance of the user device to the point of interest, different than the first distance, a second angle of the head or eyes of the user, and a second duration of time that the second distance is maintained while the user is viewing the point of interest;

determine an accumulated fee including a first fee based on the first characteristics and a second fee based on the second characteristics, the second fee being different than the first fee; and

initiate an electronic transaction to settle the accumulated fee and according to the user profile.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein to determine the accumulated fee, the one or more processors are configured to prevent further increasing of the accumulated fee based on one of the first or second distances exceeding a distance threshold.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the environment is a venue, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine that the user device has exited the venue, and wherein to initiate the electronic transaction, the one or more processors are configured to automatically initiate the electronic transaction based on the determination that the user device has exited the venue.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the environment is a venue, and wherein to determine the first fee and the second fee, the one or more processors are further configured to determine the first fee and the second fee based on a number of people present at the venue.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

monitor a distance of a user device within an environment to a point of interest within the environment based on a triangulation of signal data received from the user device by wireless beacons positioned around the environment and a location of the point of interest at two or more points in time;

determine an angle of a head or eyes of a user of the user device with respect to the point of interest based on position sensor data specifying an orientation of the head received from the user device;

determine first characteristics comprising a first distance of the user device to the point of interest, a first angle of the head or eyes of the user, and a first duration of time that the first distance is maintained while the user is viewing the point of interest;

determine second characteristics comprising a second distance of the user device to the point of interest, different than the first distance, a second angle of the head or eyes of the user, and a second duration of time that the second distance is maintained while the user is viewing the point of interest;

determine an accumulated fee including a first fee based on the first characteristics and a second fee based on the second characteristics, the second fee being different than the first fee; and

initiate an electronic transaction to settle the accumulated fee and according to the user profile.

Assignments (3)
REQUEST FOR ADDRESS CHANGE Recorded Apr 16, 2026
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 075424/0021 →
REQUEST FOR ADDRESS CHANGE Recorded Dec 4, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 074387/0936 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2017
From: KALABOUKIS, CHRIS
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 040982/0814 →