Ultrasonic near-field communication
Systems and methods for near-field communications with a mobile device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for near-field communication may comprise: detecting, by a source device located at a point-of-sale, the proximity of a receiving device; encoding purchase data on an audio signal with one or more ultrasonic frequencies; and transmitting the encoded purchase data to the receiving device, wherein the encoded purchase data is transmitted using a speaker of the source device.
1. A computer-implemented method for implementing a merchant loyalty program, comprising:
detecting, by a source device located at a point-of-sale, the proximity of a receiving device; wherein the receiving device is associated with a specific customer;
generating, by the source device, a key identification (ID);
encoding, by the source device, qualifying purchase data on an audio signal with one or more ultrasonic frequencies;
transmitting, by the source device, the encoded purchase data with the key ID to the receiving device using a speaker of the source device in response to detecting the receiving device; and
tracking, by the source device, the purchase data of the specific customer through a program stored on the receiving device or a server coupled to the source device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a reward from the server when the qualifying purchase data associated with the specific customer has reached a predefined value.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program is an iPhone© application or an Android© application.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to track and verify the qualifying purchase data, and send a reward to the receiving device when the purchase data associated with the specific customer has reached to a predefined value.
5. A system for implementing a merchant loyalty program, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:
detect, by a source device located at a point-of-sale, the proximity of a receiving device; wherein the receiving device is associated with a specific customer;
generate, by the source device, a key identification (ID);
encode, by the source device, qualifying purchase data on an audio signal with one or more ultrasonic frequencies;
transmit, by the source device, the encoded purchase data with the key ID to the receiving device using a speaker of the source device in response to detecting the receiving device; and
track, by the source device, the purchase data of the specific customer through a program stored on the receiving device or a server coupled to the source device.
6. A computer-implemented method for implementing a merchant loyalty program, comprising:
providing, by a receiving device located at a point-of-sale, a store value card to a source device, wherein the store value card is associated with a specific customer;
detecting, by the receiving device, the proximity of the source device;
receiving, by the receiving device, from a speaker of the source device, an audio signal with one or more ultrasonic frequencies, wherein:
the identity of the store value card and a key identification (ID) is encoded in the received audio signal; and
the audio signal is received in response to the receiving device detecting the source device; and
deducting, by the receiving device, a purchase price from the store value card or charging the purchase price to a credit account or a bank account associated with the specific customer.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising downloading a reward from the server when the qualifying purchase data associated with the specific customer has reached a predefined value.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the server is configured to track and verify the qualifying purchase data, and send a reward to the receiving device when the purchase data associated with the specific customer has reached to a predefined value.
9. The method of claim 6 , decrypting the identity of the store value card from the audio signal using the key ID.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising encrypting the purchase data using the key ID.
11. The system of claim 5 , wherein the processors are further operable to download a reward from the server when the qualifying purchase data associated with the specific customer has reached a predefined value.
12. The system of claim 5 , wherein the server is configured to track and verify the qualifying purchase data, and send a reward to the receiving device when the purchase data associated with the specific customer has reached to a predefined value.
13. The system of claim 5 , wherein the processors are further operable to encrypt the purchase data using the key ID.