IP Library Granted Patent US 11,948,174
Granted Patent B2
US 11,948,174 · App. 17/521,698 · Granted Apr 2, 2024

Systems and methods for physical-to-digital remarketing using beacons

Inventor: Jeffrey Kinsey (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Volta Charging LLC
G06Q30/0277H04W4/80
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,948,174
App. No.
17/521,698
Granted
Apr 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods for transmitting beacon signals that are associated with media content. A kiosk displays first media content on the electronic display. The kiosk transmits, at a radio frequency using a wireless transmitter of the kiosk, a first beacon signal that includes an identifier of the first media content. The kiosk replaces display of the first media content with display of second media content on the display. Upon replacing display of the first media content with the second media content, the kiosk transmits, at the radio frequency using the wireless transmitter, a second beacon signal that includes an identifier of the second media content, distinct from the identifier of the first media content.

Claims (46)

1. A method comprising:

at an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) that includes an electronic display and a wireless transmitter distinct from the electronic display:

displaying first media content on the electronic display;

transmitting, at a radio frequency using the wireless transmitter, a first beacon signal that includes an identifier of the first media content, wherein:

the first beacon signal is configured to be received at a client device distinct from the EVCS; and

after receiving the first beacon signal, the client device receives, without user input via a third-party application executing on the client device that is not associated with the EVCS, fourth media content that is related to the first media content associated with the first beacon signal;

detecting a change in status of the EVCS;

replacing display of the first media content with display of second media content that is selected based on the status of the EVCS on the electronic display; and

upon replacing display of the first media content with the second media content, transmitting, at the radio frequency using the wireless transmitter, a second beacon signal that includes an identifier of the second media content, distinct from the identifier of the first media content.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each respective beacon signal comprises a predefined number of bits that encodes the respective identifier of respective media content.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal include an identifier of the EVCS.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, receiving the first media content from a server system, and receiving, from the server system, the identifier of the first media content.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending the identifier of the first media content to a server system.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media content is associated with a first party and the second media content is associated with a second party.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

replacing display of the second media content with display of third media content, wherein the third media content is distinct from the first media content and from the second media content; and

upon replacing display of the second media content with the third media content, transmitting, at the radio frequency using the wireless transmitter, a third beacon signal that includes an identifier of the third media content.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

replacing display of the third media content with display of the first media content; and

upon replacing display of the third media content with the first media content, transmitting, at the radio frequency using the wireless transmitter, the first beacon signal that includes the identifier of the first media content.

9. The method of claim 1 , the EVCS does not receive a confirmation from the client device that the first beacon signal has been received by the client device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fourth media content is received at the client device after a predefined time period has passed since the client device received the first beacon signal.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the status of the EVCS indicates a type of vehicle that is located at the EVCS, and the second media content is selected based on the type of vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first beacon signal does not include a timestamp.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first beacon signal is a BLE beacon or a Wi-Fi beacon signal.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, at a server associated with the EVCS, receiving an identifier of a user that receives the first beacon signal.

15. An electric vehicle charging station (EVCS), comprising:

an electronic display;

a wireless transmitter distinct from the electronic display;

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors, the instructions including instructions for:

displaying first media content on the electronic display;

transmitting, at a radio frequency using the wireless transmitter, a first beacon signal that includes an identifier of the first media content, wherein:

the first beacon signal is configured to be received at a client device distinct from the EVCS; and

after receiving the first beacon signal, the client device receives, without user input via a third-party application executing on the client device that is not associated with the EVCS, fourth media content that is related to the first media content associated with the first beacon signal;

detecting a change in status of the EVCS;

replacing display of the first media content with display of second media content that is selected based on the status of the EVCS on the electronic display; and

upon replacing display of the first media content with the second media content, transmitting, at the radio frequency using the wireless transmitter, a second beacon signal that includes an identifier of the second media content, distinct from the identifier of the first media content.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs comprising instructions, executable by an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) including an electronic display, a wireless transmitter, and one or more processors, for:

displaying first media content on the electronic display;

transmitting, at a radio frequency using the wireless transmitter, a first beacon signal that includes an identifier of the first media content, wherein:

the first beacon signal is configured to be received at a client device distinct from the EVCS; and

after receiving the first beacon signal, the client device receives, without user input via a third-party application executing on the client device that is not associated with the EVCS, fourth media content that is related to the first media content associated with the first beacon signal;

detecting a change in status of the EVCS;

replacing display of the first media content with display of second media content that is selected based on the status of the EVCS on the electronic display; and

upon replacing display of the first media content with the second media content, transmitting, at the radio frequency using the wireless transmitter, a second beacon signal that includes an identifier of the second media content, distinct from the identifier of the first media content.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2025
From: VOLTA CHARGING, LLC
To: ZECO SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071034/0172 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2023
From: EQUILON ENTERPRISES LLC D/B/A SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US
To: VOLTA INC.; VOLTA CHARGING, LLC; VOLTA MEDIA LLC; VOLTA CHARGING SERVICES LLC; VOLTA CHARGING INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 063239/0742 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2023
From: EICF AGENT LLC AS AGENT
To: VOLTA CHARGING LLC
Reel/Frame 063239/0812 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2023
From: VOLTA INC.; VOLTA CHARGING, LLC; VOLTA MEDIA LLC; VOLTA CHARGING SERVICES LLC; VOLTA CHARGING INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: EQUILON ENTERPRISES LLC D/B/A SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US
Reel/Frame 062739/0662 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 5, 2022
From: VOLTA CHARGING, LLC
To: EICF AGENT LLC
Reel/Frame 061606/0053 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2022
From: KINSEY, JEFFREY
To: VOLTA CHARGING, LLC
Reel/Frame 058714/0584 →