IP Library Patent Application 14038477
Patent Application
App. No. 14/038,477

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING LOCATION-RELEVANT COMMUNICATION

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
14/038,477
Abstract

Various methods are described for tracking the location of a customer possessing a mobile device and facilitating location-relevant communication between the mobile device and an establishment device. One example method may comprise detecting the presence of the customer within a first distance of an establishment. The method may further comprise receiving establishment information from the establishment entity for displaying to the customer to entice a visit to the establishment. Additionally, the method may comprise detecting the presence of the customer within a second distance of a location point within the establishment. Another example method may further comprise determining location information relevant to the location point; and providing for display of the location information to the customer. Similar and related methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are also provided.

Claims (41)

1 . A method for tracking the location of a customer possessing a mobile device comprising:

detecting the presence of the customer within a first distance of an establishment;

receiving establishment information from the establishment entity for displaying to the customer to entice a visit to the establishment; and

detecting the presence of the customer within a second distance of a location point within the establishment.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining location information relevant to the location point; and

providing for display of the location information to the customer.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the location point is associated with a product, and wherein the location information comprises an offer associated with the product.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the location point is associated with a point-of-sale terminal, and wherein the location information comprises an indication of the wait time for the point-of-sale terminal.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the establishment information is selected from the group consisting of operating hours, inventory, pricing, offers, or promotions.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the presence of the customer within the first and second distances comprises the use of location services.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the location services for detecting the presence of the customer within the first distance are selected from the group consisting of global positioning system (GPS), radio frequency identification (RFID), and Wi-Fi triangulation.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the location services for detecting the presence of the customer within the second distance are selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi triangulation, and Near Field Communication (NFC).

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second distance is proportionately smaller than the first distance.

10 . A mobile device for tracking the location of a customer possessing the mobile device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

detect that a customer associated with the mobile device has entered a geofence associated with an establishment;

provide for display of information associated with the establishment to the customer; and

detect that the customer associated with the mobile device has entered a microfence associated with a location point of the establishment after the customer has entered the establishment.

11 . The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the information associated with the establishment is selected from the group consisting of operating hours, inventory, pricing, offers, or promotions.

12 . The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the mobile device to:

determine location information relevant to the location point; and

provide for display of the location information to the customer.

13 . The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the mobile device to:

establish a connection to a point-of-sale device associated with the establishment; and

receive the information associated with the establishment from the point-of-sale device.

14 . The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein detecting the presence of the customer within the first and second distances comprises the use of location services.

15 . The mobile device of claim 14 , wherein the location services for detecting that the customer associated with the mobile device has entered a microfence are selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi triangulation, and Near Field Communication (NFC).

16 . The mobile device of claim 15 , wherein the diameter of the geofence is greater than one hundred feet, and wherein the diameter of the microfence is less than fifty feet.

17 . A method for facilitating location-relevant communication between a mobile device of a customer and an establishment device comprising:

detecting the presence of the customer within a microfence associated with a location point of the establishment;

determining location information relevant to the location point; and

providing for display of the location information to the customer.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the location point is associated with a product, and wherein the location information comprises an offer associated with the product.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the location point is associated with a point-of-sale terminal, and wherein the location information comprises an indication of the wait time for the point-of-sale terminal.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein detecting the presence of the customer within the microfence comprises the use of location services.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the location services for detecting the presence of the customer within the microfence are selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi triangulation, and Near Field Communication (NFC).

22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

tracking the position of the customer within the microfence; and

determining an amount of time that the customer remains within the microfence.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2023
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: NCR VOYIX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065346/0531 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 18, 2016
From: NCR CORPORATION; NCR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 038646/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 15, 2014
From: NCR CORPORATION; NCR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 032034/0010 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2013
From: FINLEY, MICHAEL CAIN; SMITH, ANDREW; MOSHER, BEN; RIETA, ED BRIAN; HUGHES, JEFFREY D.
To: NCR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031652/0193 →