Beacon communication system and methods
US9374666B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 19, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jun 21, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W40/244
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for providing a communications link between an owner of a lost article and a person that finds the lost article. The method includes detecting at a communication device of the person that finds the lost article, a beaconing signal generated by an electronic beacon device when the communication device is in proximity of the communication device. The beaconing signal is associated with an owner of the electronic beacon device. The communication device may transmit, to a server, location information and identification information inherent within the beaconing signal. The server may return one or more communication options enabling a user of the communication device to contact the owner of the electronic beacon device. Such communication options may comprise, for example, voice communication, video communication or communication via text message. In one embodiment the communication options enable communication to occur while maintaining the anonymity of the owner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.