IP Library Granted Patent US 12,614,211
Granted Patent B2
US 12,614,211 · App. 14/685,424 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Presence detection and targeted content

Inventors: Preston Smalley (Danville, CA); Tyler Kareeson (Menlo Park, CA); Francisco Niebres (San Francisco, CA); Scott Eklund (San Jose, CA); Josh Kennedy (Sunnyvale, CA)
Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
G06Q30/0261G06Q30/02G06Q30/0267G06Q30/0273H04W4/029
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,614,211
App. No.
14/685,424
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are methods and systems for detecting locations and positions of users to determine best options for consuming content. In one implementation, advertisements can be tailored and presented to the detected users. The methods and systems can also detect when a user is no longer in a position to consume content and can take other actions, such as presenting a default advertisement or tailoring advertisements for a different user.

Claims (57)

1 . A method, comprising:

toggling between transmitting, by a computing device, a first signal associated with a first range from a location at a first time interval and transmitting, by the computing device, a second signal associated with a second range from the location at a second time interval, wherein the first signal comprises a first beacon identifier and a first signal strength that is received by a user device within the first range, and wherein the second signal comprises a second beacon identifier and a second signal strength that is received by the user device within the second range;

receiving, from the user device, based on the user device receiving the first beacon identifier of the first signal during the first time interval and based on the user device receiving the second beacon identifier of the second signal during the second time interval, a first indication of a response to the first signal and a response to the second signal, wherein the first indication indicates that the user device is within the first range, wherein the user device attempts to receive communications from signals comprising the first beacon identifier;

causing, by the computing device, based on the first indication, output of first content;

receiving, from the user device based on the user device not receiving the first beacon identifier of the first signal during the first time interval and based on the user device receiving the second beacon identifier of the second signal during the second time interval, a second indication of a second response to the second signal, wherein the second indication indicates that the user device is within the second range, wherein the user device discontinues the attempts to receive the communications from the signals comprising the first beacon identifier based on receiving the second indication; and

causing, by the computing device, based on the second indication, output of second content.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the response to the first signal comprises a first identifier associated with the user device.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining a plurality of attributes associated with the first content; and

creating, based on the plurality of attributes and the first identifier associated with the user device, a profile.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining, based on the created profile, an advertisement to be presented in the first content.

5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving, from a second user device based on the second user device receiving at least one of the first beacon identifier of the first signal during the first time interval or the second beacon identifier of the second signal during the second time interval, a second identifier associated with the second user device.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

determining, based on at least one of the first identifier or the second identifier, a price associated with the first content.

7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

associating the first identifier with a first profile;

associating the second identifier with a second profile; and

determining, based on the first profile and the second profile, a first advertisement to be presented in the first content.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving, from the second user device based on the second user device receiving at least one of the first beacon identifier of the first signal during the first time interval or the second beacon identifier of the second signal during the second time interval, a third response to the second signal; and

determining, based on the second profile and the third response to the second signal, a second advertisement to be presented in the second content, wherein the second advertisement is not based on the first profile.

9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising determining an advertisement to be placed in the second content, wherein the advertisement is not based on the first profile.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second range comprises the first range.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first time interval is different from the second time interval.

12 . An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

toggle between transmitting, by the apparatus, a first signal associated with a first range from a location at a first time interval and transmitting, by the apparatus, a second signal associated with a second range from the location at a second time interval, wherein the first signal comprises a first beacon identifier and a first signal strength that is received by a user device within the first range, and wherein the second signal comprises a second beacon identifier and a second signal strength that is received by the user device within the second range;

receive, from the user device, based on the user device receiving the first beacon identifier of the first signal during the first time interval and based on the user device receiving the second beacon identifier of the second signal during the second time interval, a first indication of a response to the first signal and a response to the second signal, wherein the first indication indicates that the user device is within the first range, wherein the user device attempts to receive communications from signals comprising the first beacon identifier;

cause, based on the first indication, output of first content;

receive, from the user device based on the user device not receiving the first beacon identifier of the first signal during the first time interval and based on the user device receiving the second beacon identifier of the second signal during the second time interval, a second indication of a second response to the second signal, wherein the second indication indicates that the user device is within the second range, wherein the user device discontinues the attempts to receive the communications from the signals comprising the first beacon identifier based on receiving the second signal; and

cause, based on the second indication, output of second content.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the response to the first signal comprises a first identifier associated with the user device.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

determine a plurality of attributes associated with the first content; and

create, based on the plurality of attributes and the first identifier associated with the user device, a profile.

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

receive, from a second user device based on the second user device receiving at least one of the first beacon identifier of the first signal during the first time interval or the second beacon identifier of the second signal during the second time interval, a second identifier associated with the second user device.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

associate the first identifier with a first profile;

associate the second identifier with a second profile; and

determine, based on the first profile and the second profile, a first advertisement to be presented in the first content.

17 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first time interval is different from the second time interval.

18 . A method, comprising:

toggling between transmitting, by a computing device, a first signal associated with a first range from a location at a first time interval and transmitting, by the computing device, a second signal associated with a second range from the location at a second time interval, wherein the first signal comprises a first beacon identifier and a first signal strength that is received by a user device within the first range, and wherein the second signal comprises a second beacon identifier and a second signal strength that is received by the user device within the second range;

determining, based on a response to the first signal and a response to the second signal, a first indication that the user device is within the first range, wherein the user device sends the response to the first signal based on the user device receiving the first beacon identifier of the first signal during the first time interval, wherein the user device sends the response to the second signal based on the user device receiving the second beacon identifier of the second signal during the second time interval, wherein the user device attempts to receive communications from signals comprising the first beacon identifier;

causing, by the computing device, based on the first indication, output of first content;

determining, based on a second response to the second signal and no response to the first signal, a second indication that the user device has exited the first range, wherein the user device sends the second response to the second signal based on the user device receiving the second beacon identifier of the second signal during the second time interval, wherein the user device does not send a response to the first signal based on not receiving the first beacon identifier of the first signal during the first time interval, wherein the second indication indicates that the user device is within the second range, wherein the user device discontinues the attempts to receive the communications from the signals comprising the first beacon identifier based on receiving the second signal; and

causing, by the computing device, based on the second indication, output of second content.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the response to the first signal comprises an identifier associated with the user device.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

determining a plurality of attributes associated with the first content; and

creating, based on the plurality of attributes and the identifier associated with the user device, a profile.

21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising determining, based on the created profile, an advertisement to be presented in the first content.

22 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising determining an advertisement to be placed in the second content, wherein the advertisement is not based on the identifier associated with the user device.

23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first time interval is different from the second time interval.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2015
From: SMALLEY, PRESTON; KAREESON, THAYA; NIEBRES, FRANCISCO; EKLUND, SCOTT; KENNEDY, JOSH
To: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 035411/0307 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160300266A1 · Oct 13, 2016
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