IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,254,992
Granted Patent B2
US 12,254,992 · App. 17/356,796 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Contact tracing utilizing device signatures captured during transactions

Inventors: Richard C. Johnson (Selkirk, NY); Alex Richard Hubbard (Rensselaer, NY); Cody J. Murray (Burnt Hills, NY); Vinay Pai (Albany, NY); Nikhil Jain (Albany, NY)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G16H50/80G06Q20/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,254,992
App. No.
17/356,796
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an approach, a processor receives device identification information corresponding to at least one device local to a location of a transaction. A processor receives notification of an infected user. A processor determines that the infected user is associated with the transaction. A processor identifies a second user from the device identification information. A processor sends a notification to the second user.

Claims (50)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, point-of-sale (POS) purchase data from a cash register that includes a radio wave signal device, wherein:

the POS purchase data comprises: (i) details of a POS purchase by a first user, including a location of the first user, and (ii) a media access control (MAC) address corresponding to a first device of a second user which: (i) is not a device used to perform the POS purchase and (ii) is not associated with the first user; and

the MAC address of the first device is captured by the radio wave signal device of the cash register utilizing wireless communication to scan for devices within a threshold distance of the cash register within a threshold period of time of the POS purchase;

storing, by one or more processors, the POS purchase data to a repository on a server;

receiving, by one or more processors, notification that the first user is an infected user;

determining, by one or more processors, that the first user made the POS purchase;

retrieving, by one or more processors, the POS purchase data from the repository;

identifying, by one or more processors, the first device from the retrieved POS purchase data;

determining, by one or more processors, the second user based on comparing the MAC address of the first device to stored information which identifies the first device as belonging to the second user; and

sending, by one or more processors, a notification to the second user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication is of a type selected from the group consisting of: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, and near-field communication (NFC).

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first user made the POS purchase comprises identifying, by one or more processors, a device of the infected user from the MAC address of the POS purchase data.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the received notification of the infected user further includes a time period, further comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, that the POS purchase was processed within the time period.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the first device from the POS purchase data comprises identifying that the MAC address corresponding to the first device is associated with an account of the second user.

6. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to receive point-of-sale (POS) purchase data from a cash register that includes a radio wave signal device, wherein:

the POS purchase data comprises: (i) details of a POS purchase by a first user, including a location of the first user, and (ii) a media access control (MAC) address corresponding to a first device of a second user which: (i) is not a device used to perform the POS purchase and (ii) is not associated with the first user; and

the MAC address of the first device is captured by the radio wave signal device of the cash register utilizing wireless communication to scan for devices within a threshold distance of the cash register within a threshold period of a time of the POS purchase;

program instructions to store the POS purchase data to a repository on a server;

program instructions to receive notification that the first user is an infected user;

program instructions to determine that the first user made the POS purchase;

program instructions to retrieve the POS purchase data from the repository;

program instructions to identify the first device from the POS purchase data;

program instructions to determine the second user based on comparing the MAC address of the first address of the first device to stored information which identifies the first device as belonging to the second user; and

program instructions to send a notification to the second user.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein the wireless communication is of a type selected from the group consisting of: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, and near-field communication (NFC).

8. The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein determining that the first user made the POS purchase comprises program instructions to identify a device of the infected user from the MAC address of the POS purchase data.

9. The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein the received notification of the infected user further includes a time period, further comprising:

program instructions, collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to determine that the POS purchase was processed within the time period.

10. The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein program instructions to identify the first device from the POS purchase data comprise program instructions to identify that the MAC address corresponding to the first device is associated with an account of the second user.

11. A computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors, one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to receive point-of-sale (POS) purchase data from a cash register that includes a radio wave signal device, wherein:

the POS purchase data comprises: (i) details of a POS purchase by a first user, including a location of the first user, and (ii) a media access control (MAC) address corresponding to a first device of a second user which: (i) is not a device used to perform the POS purchase and (ii) is not associated with the first user; and

the MAC address of the first device is captured by the radio wave signal device of the cash register utilizing wireless communication to scan for devices within a threshold distance of the cash register within a threshold period of a time of the POS purchase;

program instructions to store the POS purchase data to a repository on a server;

program instructions to receive notification that the first user is an infected user;

program instructions to determine that the first user made the POS purchase;

program instructions to retrieve the POS purchase data from the repository;

program instructions to identify the first device from the POS purchase data;

program instructions to determine the second user based on comparing the MAC address of the first address of the first device to stored information which identifies the first device as belonging to the second user; and

program instructions to send a notification to the second user.

12. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the wireless communication is of a type selected from the group consisting of: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, and near-field communication (NFC).

13. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein determining that the first user made the POS purchase comprises program instructions to identify a device of the infected user from the MAC address of the POS purchase data.

14. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the received notification of the infected user further includes a time period, further comprising:

program instructions, collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to determine that the POS purchase was processed within the time period.

15. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein program instructions to identify the first device from the POS purchase data comprise program instructions to identify that the MAC address corresponding to the first device is associated with an account of the second user.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2021
From: JOHNSON, RICHARD C.; HUBBARD, ALEX RICHARD; MURRAY, CODY J.; PAI, VINAY; JAIN, NIKHIL
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056653/0932 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220415523A1 · Dec 29, 2022
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