IP Library Granted Patent US 11,538,018
Granted Patent B2
US 11,538,018 · App. 17/320,915 · Granted Dec 27, 2022

Secure communication protocols for proximity-based validation in distributed multi-device frameworks

Inventors: Michael Chen (San Francisco, CA); Robert James Skillington (San Francisco, CA); Jay Walter Robinson (Palo Alto, CA); Tuomas Santeri Artman (San Francisco, CA); Cristian Matias Sepulveda (San Francisco, CA); Joshua Isaac Zloof (San Francisco, CA); Leslie Jean Chicoine (San Francisco, CA); Mahmudul Arefin Din (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: GROUPON, INC.
G06Q20/327G06Q20/202G06Q20/36G06Q20/40
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,538,018
App. No.
17/320,915
Granted
Dec 27, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various systems, apparatuses, and methods are described herein for enabling secure communication protocols for proximity-based validation in distributed multi-device frameworks. Distributed multi-device frameworks present unique challenges when it comes to ensuring that user communications between various devices and over variable-security communication mediums remain secure. To address the noted challenges, some embodiments of the present invention provide for an apparatus configured to establish secure communications with a central system using wallet identifying data that is configured to secure data transfers between the apparatus and the central system. In accordance with some embodiments, devices communicating on proposed networks are arranged in a manner and using a network architecture that is configured to optimize overall network security and system integrity.

Claims (53)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a user input device; and

circuitry configured to:

receive, from a central system, wallet identifying data that is configured to secure data transfers between the apparatus and the central system, wherein the wallet identifying data is generated based on one of a random code, a random token, or a random key;

transmit a validation request to the central system, wherein the validation request comprises the wallet identifying data;

receive, from the central system, a validation indication in response to the validation request;

in response to receiving the validation indication, transmit a session initiation request to the central system, wherein the session initiation request is generated based on an end-user session initiation indication received using the user input device, and wherein the central system is configured to initiate a transactional session based on the session initiation request;

receive, from the central system, a session initiation indication in response to the session initiation request;

subsequent to receiving the session initiation indication, at each polling iteration of a plurality of polling iterations, wirelessly receive a polling request from a personal area network that is established by one or more communication beacons installed within a location that is proximate to the apparatus, and

in response to receiving the polling request, provide an apparatus-present response to the personal area network, wherein the personal area network is configured to generate an apparatus proximity indicator based on the apparatus-present response and communicate the apparatus proximity indicator to the central system, and wherein the central system is configured to maintain the transaction session in response to receiving the apparatus proximity indicator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the central system is further configured to:

upon failure of at least one polling iteration of the plurality of polling iterations, wait for a predetermined time interval; and

subsequent to the predetermined time interval, determine a session termination conclusion based on preexisting approval data associated with a user profile of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

subsequent to receiving the validation indication, transmit the preexisting approval data to the central system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the session initiation request describes a provider identifier and an apparatus location, and

the session initiation indication is transmitted in response to determining that a proximity measure for the provider identifier and the apparatus location satisfies a proximity threshold.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the proximity threshold is determined based on a communication range of a direct wireless connection device associated with the provider identifier.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the validation request describes a provider identifier that is determined based on provider identification data received by the user input device; and

the central system is further configured to transmit a second session initiation request to a provider device associated with the provider identifier.

7. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, from a central system, wallet identifying data that is configured to secure data transfers between an apparatus and the central system, wherein the wallet identifying data is generated based on one of a random code, a random token, or a random key;

transmitting a validation request to the central system, wherein the validation request comprises the wallet identifying data;

receiving, from the central system, a validation indication in response to the validation request;

in response to receiving the validation indication, transmitting a session initiation request to the central system, wherein the session initiation request is generated based on an end-user session initiation indication received using the user input device, and wherein the central system is configured to initiate a transactional session based on the session initiation request;

receiving, from the central system, a session initiation indication in response to the session initiation request,

subsequent to receiving the session initiation indication, at each polling iteration of a plurality of polling iterations, wirelessly receiving a polling request from a personal area network that is established by one or more communication beacons installed within a location that is proximate to an apparatus; and

in response to receiving the polling request, providing an apparatus-present response to the personal area network, wherein the personal area network is configured to generate an apparatus proximity indicator based on the apparatus-present response and communicate the apparatus proximity indicator to the central system, and wherein the central system is configured to maintain the transaction session in response to receiving the apparatus proximity indicator.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the central system is further configured to:

upon failure of at least one polling iteration of the plurality of polling iterations, wait for a predetermined time interval; and

subsequent to the predetermined time interval, determine a session termination conclusion based on preexisting approval data associated with a user profile of the apparatus.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

subsequent to receiving the validation indication, transmit the preexisting approval data to the central system.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein:

the session initiation request describes a provider identifier and an apparatus location, and

the session initiation indication is transmitted in response to determining that a proximity measure for the provider identifier and the apparatus location satisfies a proximity threshold.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the proximity threshold is determined based on a communication range of a direct wireless connection device associated with the provider identifier.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein:

the validation request describes a provider identifier that is determined based on provider identification data received by the user input device; and

the central system is further configured to transmit a second session initiation request to a provider device associated with the provider identifier.

13. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions configured to:

receiving, from a central system, wallet identifying data that is configured to secure data transfers between the apparatus and the central system, wherein the wallet identifying data is generated based on one of a random code, a random token, or a random key;

transmitting a validation request to the central system, wherein the validation request comprises the wallet identifying data;

receiving, from the central system, a validation indication in response to the validation request;

in response to receiving the validation indication, transmitting a session initiation request to the central system, wherein the session initiation request is generated based on an end-user session initiation indication received using the user input device, and wherein the central system is configured to initiate a transactional session based on the session initiation request;

receiving, from the central system, a session initiation indication in response to the session initiation request;

subsequent to receiving the session initiation indication, at each polling iteration of a plurality of polling iterations, wirelessly receive a polling request from a personal area network that is established by one or more communication beacons installed within a location that is proximate to the apparatus; and

in response to receiving the polling request, provide an apparatus-present response to the personal area network, wherein the personal area network is configured to generate an apparatus proximity indicator based on the apparatus-present response and communicate the apparatus proximity indicator to the central system, and wherein the central system is configured to maintain the transaction session in response to receiving the apparatus proximity indicator.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the central system is further configured to:

upon failure of at least one polling iteration of the plurality of polling iterations, wait for a predetermined time interval; and

subsequent to the predetermined time interval, determine a session termination conclusion based on preexisting approval data associated with a user profile of the apparatus.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2024
From: GROUPON, INC.
To: BYTEDANCE INC.
Reel/Frame 068833/0811 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: GROUPON, INC.; LIVINGSOCIAL, LLC (F/K/A LIVINGSOCIAL, INC.)
Reel/Frame 066676/0085 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS Recorded Feb 26, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: GROUPON, INC.; LIVINGSOCIAL, LLC (F/K/A LIVINGSOCIAL, INC.)
Reel/Frame 066677/0077 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2023
From: GROUPON, INC.; LIVINGSOCIAL, LLC
To: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063119/0673 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2021
From: ZLOOF, JOSHUA ISAAC
To: GROUPON, INC.
Reel/Frame 056599/0040 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2021
From: CHICOINE, LESLIE JEAN
To: GROUPON, INC.
Reel/Frame 056630/0805 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2021
From: DIN, MAHMUDUL AREFIN
To: GROUPON, INC.
Reel/Frame 056599/0369 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2021
From: CHEN, MICHAEL; SKILLINGTON, ROBERT JAMES; ROBINSON, JAY WALTER; ARTMAN, TUOMAS SANTERI; SEPULVEDA, CRISTIAN MATIAS
To: GROUPON, INC.
Reel/Frame 056599/0238 →