Auto-configuring radio beacons

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by a computing device, a beacon device has been physically connected to the computing device;

upon detection of the physical connection to the beacon device, automatically:

retrieving, by the computing device, beacon identifying data from the beacon device;

querying, by the computing device, a backend system based on the beacon identifying data to determine whether the beacon identifying data has been previously configured in the backend system;

when the beacon device has been previously configured in the backend system, issuing, by the computing device, a command to the backend system to remove the previous configuration of the beacon device; and

generating and issuing, by the computing device, a data write command to the backend system to configure the beacon device in the backend system in association with the computing device and according to a beacon device configuration setting specific to the computing device; and

wherein:

the beacon device is to remain physically connected to the computing device;

the computing device is a point of sale (POS) terminal; and

the beacon device configuration setting specific to the computing device is specific to the POS terminal and includes a strength of signal setting, related to a distance from the beacon device to a mobile device, the strength of signal setting defining a minimal signal strength to allow an action to be triggered from the mobile device when receiving a radio signal broadcast by the beacon device, the action to be triggered from the mobile device is a payment action that can be triggered from a mobile device to cause a payment to be made from an account associated with a mobile device user account that is processed at least in part by the backend system, upon success of which causes a payment confirmation message to be sent to the POS terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

querying the beacon device to obtain version data of firmware and other firmware configuration data present on the beacon device;

determining whether the version data of the firmware and other firmware configuration data present on the beacon device is current; and

when the firmware is not the current, retrieving firmware update data and writing the firmware update data to the beacon device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the beacon device is a radio transceiver device that broadcasts identifying data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating and issuing the data write command to the backend system to configure the beacon device in the backend system in association with the computing device relies upon a standard configuration for beacon devices configured in the backend system.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating and issuing the data write command to the backend system to configure the beacon device in the backend system in association with the computing device includes invoking a web service offered by the backend system.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a confirmation from the backend system that the data write con mand was successful; and

outputting an instruction via a user interface of the computing device indicating the beacon device may be uncoupled from the computing device.

7. A system comprising:

at least one processor, at least one memory device, a device connector to connect to ancillary devices, and at least one network interface device;

an instruction set, stored in memory and executable by the at least one processor to perform data processing activities, the data processing activities comprising:

detecting a beacon device has been connected to the device connector;

upon detection of the physical connection to the beacon device, automatically:

retrieving beacon identifying data from the beacon device;

querying, via the at least one network interface device, the backend system based on the beacon identifying data and system identifying data to determine whether the beacon identifying data and system identifying data has been previously configured in the backend system;

when either of the beacon device and the system has been previously configured in the backend system, issuing a command to the backend system to remove the previous configuration;

generating and issuing, via the at least one network interface device to a backend system, a data write command to configure the beacon device in the backend system in association with the system and according to a beacon device configuration setting specific to the computing device; and

wherein;

the beacon device is to remain physically connected to the computing device;

the system is a point of sale (POS) terminal;

generating and issuing the data write command to the backend system to configure the beacon device in the backend system in association with the system includes generating the data write command according to a beacon device configuration setting specific to the POS terminal and includes a strength of signal setting, related to a distance from the beacon device to a mobile device, the strength of signal setting defining a minimal signal strength to allow an action to be triggered from the mobile device when receiving a radio signal broadcast by the beacon device, the action to be triggered from the mobile device is a payment action that can be triggered from a mobile device to cause a payment to be made from an account associated with a mobile device user account that is processed at least in part by the backend system, upon success of which causes a payment confirmation message to be sent to the POS terminal.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the data processing activities further comprise:

query the beacon device to obtain version data of firmware present on the beacon device;

determining whether the version data of the firmware present on the beacon device is a current firmware version; and

when the firmware version is not the current firmware version, retrieving firmware update data and writing the firmware update data to the beacon device.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the beacon device is a radio transceiver device that broadcasts beacon identifying data.