Methods and apparatus for generating, transmitting and/or using beacons
Methods and apparatus for using beacon signals are described. One or more sectorized base stations are used in some embodiments to transmit beacon signals into zones, e.g., each zone being at least partially covered by one or more beacon signals. Use of sectorized base stations allows a single base station, e.g., a Bluetooth or other base station capable of transmitting beacon signals, to cover a number of different zones avoiding the need for multiple different beacon transmitters at different locations to establish different beacon coverage areas. Sectorization of a Bluetooth base station and the ability to remotely or locally configure the base station allows for great flexibility to use beacon signals in stores or other locations without the need for numerous individual battery powered beacon transmitters at floor or display level.
1. A method comprising:
transmitting, by a configuration server and for receipt by a first access point, first configuration information for the first access point to transmit a first set of beacons into a first coverage area and further indicating a first time period of transmission of the first set of beacons; and
transmitting, by the configuration server and for receipt by a second access point, second configuration information for the second access point to transmit a second set of beacons into a second coverage area and further indicating a second time period of transmission of the second set of beacons,
the first and second sets of beacons configured to cause a user device to display information corresponding to a third coverage area, wherein the third coverage area corresponds to an intersection of the first and second coverage areas, and wherein the first and second sets of beacons are configured to cause the user device to display information corresponding to the third coverage area when the user device is located in the third coverage area and receives the first and second sets of beacons.
2. The method of claim 1 , the first configuration information further including first antenna pattern configuration information indicating at least two antenna elements of the first access point to be used to transmit the first set of beacons.
3. The method of claim 2 , the second configuration information further including second antenna pattern configuration information indicating at least two antenna elements of the second access point to be used to transmit the second set of beacons.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information corresponding to the third coverage area includes information about one or more products for sale in the third coverage area.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
based on receipt of a report from the user device that the first and second sets of beacons were received, determining that that the user device is in the third coverage area.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
based on determining that that the user device is in the third coverage area, transmitting, for display on the user device, the information corresponding to the third coverage area.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
based on receipt of a report from the user device that the first and second sets of beacons were received, transmitting, for display on the user device and based on a first beacon identifier corresponding to the first set of beacons and a second beacon identifier corresponding to the second set of beacons, the information corresponding to the third coverage area.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
based on receipt of accelerometer information from the user device, predicting a fourth coverage area in which the user device will be located at a future time; and
transmitting, for display on the user device, information corresponding to the fourth coverage area.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information corresponding to the third coverage area includes a wait time corresponding to the third coverage area.
10. A system for communicating information, the system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memories storing instructions that when executed configure the one or more processors to:
transmit, for receipt by a first access point, first configuration information for the first access point to transmit a first set of beacons into a first coverage area and further indicating a first time period of transmission of the first set of beacons; and
transmit, for receipt by a second access point, second configuration information for the second access point to transmit a second set of beacons into a second coverage area and further indicating a second time period of transmission of the second set of beacons,
the first and second sets of beacons configured to cause a user device to display information corresponding to a third coverage area, wherein the third coverage area corresponds to an intersection of the first and second coverage areas, and wherein the first and second sets of beacons are configured to cause the user device to display information corresponding to the third coverage area when the user device is located in the third coverage area and receives the first and second sets of beacons.
11. The system of claim 10 , the first configuration information further including first antenna pattern configuration information indicating at least two antenna elements of the first access point to be used to transmit the first set of beacons.
12. The system of claim 11 , the second configuration information further including second antenna pattern configuration information indicating at least two antenna elements of the second access point to be used to transmit the second set of beacons.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the information corresponding to the third coverage area includes information about one or more products for sale in the third coverage area.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more memories further store instruction that when executed configure the one or more processors to:
based on receipt of a report from the user device that the first and second sets of beacons were received, determine that that the user device is in the third coverage area.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further configure the one or more processors to:
based on determining that the user device is in the third coverage area, transmit, for display on the user device, the information corresponding to the third coverage area.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further configure the one or more processors to:
based on receipt of a report from the user device that the first and second sets of beacons were received, transmit, for display on the user device and based on a first beacon identifier corresponding to the first set of beacons and a second beacon identifier corresponding to the second set of beacons, the information corresponding to the third coverage area.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further configure the one or more processors to:
based on receipt of accelerometer information from the user device, predict a fourth coverage area in which the user device will be located at a future time; and
transmit, for display on the user device, information corresponding to the fourth coverage area.
18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the information corresponding to the third coverage area includes a wait time corresponding to the third coverage area.
19. Non-transitory computer readable storage media comprising instructions that, when executed, configure processing circuitry to:
transmit, for receipt by a first access point, first configuration information for the first access point to transmit a first set of beacons into a first coverage area and further indicating a first time period of transmission of the first set of beacons; and
transmit, for receipt by a second access point, second configuration information for the second access point to transmit a second set of beacons into a second coverage area and further indicating a second time period of transmission of the second set of beacons,
the first and second sets of beacons configured to cause a user device to display information corresponding to a third coverage area, wherein the third coverage area corresponds to an intersection of the first and second coverage areas, and wherein the first and second sets of beacons are configured to cause the user device to display information corresponding to the third coverage area when the user device is located in the third coverage area and receives the first and second sets of beacons.
20. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 19 , the first configuration information further including first antenna pattern configuration information indicating at least two antenna elements of the first access point to be used to transmit the first set of beacons, and the second configuration information further including second antenna pattern configuration information indicating at least two antenna elements of the second access point to be used to transmit the second set of beacons.