as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication co) Pub. No.: US 2002/0132614 Al
`(43) Pub. Date: Sep. 19, 2002
`
`Vanluijt et al.
`
`US 20020132614A1
`
`(54) ARRANGEMENT WITH BEACON FOR
`PROVIDING INFORMATION SERVICE
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: Balthasar Antonius Gerardus
`Vanluijt, Lindhoven (NL); Paul John
`Rankin, Horley (GB); Christopher
`Brian Marshall, Haywards Heath (GB)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NORTH
`AMERICAN CORP
`580 WHITE PLAINS RD
`TARRYTOWN, NY 10591 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/099,369
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Mar. 14, 2002
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Mar. 19, 2001
`
`(GB) ws eeeescsscsenesssscecsecenseenee 0106681.0
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Wnt, C7 ecccceccssssesssssnssssneenesseenese H04M 11/00
`(52) US. Chcece 455/414; 455/403; 455/41
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A beacon (120) adapted for use in an arrangement (100) for
`providing an information service, comprising a storage
`(225) for storing data related to the information service,
`local communication means (220, 221, 222) for establishing
`a short range communication link (125) with a mobile
`device (130), and a processor (224) adapted for autono-
`mously performing the service based on the data in the
`storage (225) with the mobile device (130) using the short
`range communication link (125). The arrangement (100)
`preferably further comprises a server (101) arranged to
`reecive data to be uscd in the information service from a
`terminal (230) andto forward the received data to the beacon
`(120) over the long range communication link (127).
`
`100
`
`130
`
`127
`
`122
`
`s
`
`125
`
`ooo
`
`[ooo xooa
`
`126
`
`120
`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 19,2002 Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 2002/0132614 Al
`
`Ww
`N—
`
`120
`
`126
`
`ooo
`ood
`ood
`
`Qo
`—_—
`
`121 122
`
`FIG.1
`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 19,2002 Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 2002/0132614 Al
`
`(IO
`
`LI OO
`
`IIo CJ
`
`Oo
`oymo
`
`125
`
`FIG.2
`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 19,2002 Sheet 3 of 3
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`US 2002/0132614 Al
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`
`
`HG. 3
`
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`
`ARRANGEMENT WITH BEACON FOR
`PROVIDING INFORMATION SERVICE
`
`[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement for pro-
`viding an information service to a user of a mobile device,
`in which a beacon is used to communicate with the mobile
`device.
`
`[0002] Recent years have seen a great increase in sub-
`scribers world-wide to mobile telephone networks and,
`through advances in technology and the addition of func-
`tionalities, cellular
`telephones have become personal,
`trusted devices. A result of this is that a mobile information
`
`society is developing, with personalized and localized ser-
`vices becoming increasingly more important. Such “Con-
`text-Aware” (CA) mobile telephones communicate with low
`power, short range beaconsin places like shopping malls to
`provide location-specific information. This
`information
`might include local maps, information on nearby shops and
`restaurants and so on. The user’s CA terminal may be
`equipped to filter the information received according to
`pre-stored user preferences and the user is only alerted if an
`item of data of particular interest has been received.
`
`[0003] A suitable communication technologyforthis type
`of service is Bluetooth™, which is a short range commu-
`nication system, based on a global radio-frequency (RF)
`standard, which operates on the 2.4 GHz ISM band, pro-
`viding license-free operation in the United States, most of
`Europe and Japan. Using Bluetooth, the user’s terminal can
`quickly obtain information transmitted via the beacon. For
`more information on Bluetooth, see the Internet URL http://
`www.bluetooth.com/.
`
`[0004] There are many application scenarios where the
`typical information request will be highly dependent on the
`location and likely to be identical or similar for many
`requesters at that location. For example, a restaurant may
`want to announce its daily menu to every passer-by. ‘his has
`led to the proposal to add a broadcast mode to Bluetooth, so
`that a beacon at a certain location could communicate with
`
`potentially many mobile devices in its reach. The broadcast
`mode would solve someof the restrictions in the current
`definition of Bluetooth 1.1, and would enable fast connec-
`tions, many parallel users, low power use in the mobile
`device, and would preserve the anonymity of the mobile
`device in the first phases of the connection. This opens up
`manyinteresting new business opportunities.
`
`[0005] While the type of applications that becomepossible
`in this way is undisputedly attractive, it is not obvious how
`the evolution from today’s networks towards beacon-en-
`hanced solutions can take place. The overall system design
`of the network as currently envisaged is really a dual
`network structure. Parallel to the wireless network (c.g. the
`GSM network) there is a deployment of beacons, which are
`typically interconnected via a fixed IP network to the back-
`end services.
`
`[0006] Not only is there for this second, fixed network a
`classical chicken-and-egg problem, but also the mobile
`industry in which this should land is currently not very well
`conditioned to start large scale investment programs with
`unproven revenue models. The more advanced operators are
`highly leveraged because of investments in third-generation
`spectrum, as well as the necessary infrastructure cost of full
`national coverage for current and future networks.
`
`[0007] The dual network approachis at first glance a very
`logical one. The beacons are to be installed in a fixed
`location, so a permanent, fixed line IP network connection
`gives a low-cost, high bandwidth pipe to the mobile devices
`that are within the reach of the beacon. Some exploratory
`thoughts have been devoted to identifying infrastructures
`that are already in place, like the use of networks that link
`cash registers, or credit card terminals. This would give
`access to most points-of-payment, which may serve as a
`launching application for the new services.
`
`[0008] The complications in this are largely in the area of
`organizational complexity. Since there is not a single busi-
`ness entity that provides all the necessary interconnections
`to all of the access points, many contracts with different
`entities will need to be closed to provide even marginal
`coverage of the new service. Each of the contracts needs
`negotiation on initial investments, installation, revenue shar-
`ing, Quality of Service, maintenance and liability.
`
`is an object of the invention to reduce the
`It
`[0009]
`organizational complexity present in the deployment of an
`arrangementfor providing an information service.
`
`[0010] This object is achieved according to the invention
`in a beacon comprising a storage for storing data related to
`the information service,
`local communication means for
`establishing a short range communication link with a mobile
`device, and a processor adapted for autonomously perform-
`ing the service based on the data in the storage with the
`mobile device using the short range communication link.
`
`{0011] A lot of the deployment complexity disappears if
`the whole operation is in the hands of a single entity. By
`placing part of the functionality of the backend service
`provider
`in the beacon,
`the beacon is able to interact
`autonomously with the users. No fixed connection with a
`backend service is necessary to offer services, since the
`autonomous beacon canoffer them itself. Deploymentof the
`beacons then becomes as simple as sending a beacon to a
`shop or other point of interest and plugging it into a power
`outlet. The acceptance and rapid rollout of such an approach
`could be much better than really having to install a net-
`worked device in any other scenario.
`
`[0012] Traffic between beacon and the handhelds in its
`serving range is highly repetitive, and repetitive traffic can
`be handled by local intelligence and storage in the beacon
`itself. The ability to make beacons plug&play by just adding
`poweris great for non-permanentsituations, like e.g. a pop
`festival, or a weekly market.
`
`It is a key innovation and an advantage that the
`[0013]
`terminal’s cellular network and the beacon’s cellular net-
`work are the same, or at least run by the same operator. In
`this case the owner of the mobile device only has one
`relationship—with the cellular operator—andall traffic con-
`cerned with his communication flows overthe infrastructure
`provided by this operator. Hence increasing functionality
`and usefulness results in more traffic and revenue for the
`
`operator providing the mobile device and the beacon.
`
`In an embodiment the beacon further comprises
`[0014]
`long range communication meansfor establishing a wireless
`long range communication link to a server, the processor
`being arranged for exchanging data with the server over the
`long range communication link. Mobile networks are
`becoming packet-switched, always-on, using technologies
`
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`
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`
`such as GPRS or UMTS. A wireless long range communi-
`cation link with the server can thus be established over such
`
`communication link to the mobile device over the short
`range communication link. It may happen that plural mobile
`a mobile network, making it possible to exchange data with
`devices need to be provided with the same information, for
`
`the server without needing to connect the beacon toafixed example at an airport or train station all passengers want to
`line IP network of some kind.
`know departure times and gates, especially in the case of
`delays. Ordinarily, this requires a separate communication
`link between a transmitter and each of said mobile devices.
`However, with the beacon according to the invention it is
`possible to broadcast the information to each device.
`
`[0015] The only time traffic goes from a beacon to the
`backend service during actual operation, is when an infor-
`mation update is required or whena user-specific transaction
`needs to be performed. In the case of a congested network,
`the transaction can potentially be logged in the beacon, and
`transferred outside the peak hours. Even if the information
`in the beacon is updated in a busy period by a single cellular
`message, then this information can be passed on to large
`numbers of mobile devices without further use of the busy
`cellular channel.
`
`Ina further embodimentthe processor is arranged
`[0016]
`to record statistical data regarding the information service
`and to periodically report the recorded information to the
`server. Statistical data, such as data related to particular
`transactions performed with the mobile device, or statistics
`on the varying traffic-densily in the area in which the beacon
`1s installed, can be very useful to determine the success of
`the service. Also, user profiles for users of the service can be
`derived more easily, which is commercially attractive.
`
`[0017] Usage statistics and diagnostics can be handled
`over the long range communication link, whichis preferably
`a GPRS or UM'S cellular network. Information to be used
`
`for billing purposes can also be passed from the beacon over
`the cellular network back to the infrastructure.
`
`identifies
`least
`[0018] Preferably the statistical data at
`frequently requested data related to the informationservice,
`and the processor is further arranged to pre-fetch the fre-
`quently requested data from the server. For data traffic, the
`autonomous beacons could be seen as caches at the very
`edge of the network, so that pre-fetching data and storing
`frequently requested, popular (even non-localized) content
`could offload the spectrum needs for the cellular operator.
`
`Ina further embodiment the storage is arranged to
`{0019]
`be loaded with data received from the server over the long
`range communication link. This has the advantage that
`entities who wantto offer the information service need to
`contact the operator of the serverin orderto install data such
`as photos or menuson the beacon. The operator can charge
`a fee for this. This embodiment thus makes it technically
`possible to implement a new business model.
`
`[0020] The pre-loading of data in the storage of the beacon
`can be over the GPRS network, in off-peak hours, or as a
`low-priority background networktask. This takes care of the
`installation and initialization problem.
`
`In a further embodiment the remote communica-
`{0021]
`tion means are arranged to establish the long range com-
`munication link automatically after the short range commu-
`nication link has been established. This has the advantage
`that an initially short range-only transaction,e.g. offering the
`browsing of a menu, causes a long range transmission to be
`initiated. This generates revenue for
`the mobile phone
`network operator over which the long range transmission is
`initiated.
`
`Ina further embodimentthe processor is arranged
`[0022]
`to retransmit
`information received over the long range
`
`[0023] The information is transmitted once to the beacon
`and then once, in broadcast or multicast fashion to the plural
`mobile devices. The transmission to the mobile devices can
`even be done on an individual basis. Since this transmission
`
`is a short range transmission, no capacity in any cellular
`network is necessary to inform users. Only one (possibly
`periodic)
`transmission over the cellular network to the
`beacon is necessary to update the provided information.
`
`It is a further object of the invention to provide an
`[0024]
`arrangement for providing an information service, which
`can be deployed with lesser complexity than prior art
`alrangements.
`
`[0025] This object is achieved according to the invention
`in an arrangement comprising a beacon according to the
`invention, and a server arranged to receive data to be used
`in the information service from a terminal and to forward the
`
`received data to the beacon over the long range communi-
`cation link. ‘his has the advantage that entities who wantto
`offer the information service need to contact the operator of
`the server in orderto install data such as photos or menus on
`the beacon. The operator can charge a fee for this. This
`arrangementthus makesit technically possible to implement
`a new business model.
`
`In an embodimentpersonal data regarding a user of
`[0026]
`the information service is stored at the server and the server
`
`is arranged to supply at least a portion of the personal data
`regarding the user to a proprietor of the location where the
`information service is provided in response to receiving an
`identifier for the user from the beacon over the long range
`communication link.
`
`[0027] These and other aspects of the invention will be
`apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodi-
`ments shown in the drawings, in which:
`
`[0028] FIG. 1 schematically showsa first embodiment of
`an arrangement comprising a beacon and a mobile device
`according, to the invention;
`
`[0029] FIG. 2 schematically shows the beacon in more
`detail; and
`
`[0030] FIG. 3 schematically shows the mobile device in
`more detail.
`
`{0031] Throughout the figures, same reference numerals
`indicate similar or corresponding features. Some of the
`features indicated in the drawingsare typically implemented
`in software, and as such represent software entities, such as
`software modules or objects.
`
`[0032] FIG. 1 schematically shows an arrangement 100
`comprising a plurality of beacons 120, 121, 122 distributed
`over a series of locales. Each of the beacons 120, 121, 122
`broadcasts in a wireless fashion one or more short range
`signals, using a short range wireless communication proto-
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`
`the
`the technology for
`col. In a preferred embodiment
`wireless broadcasts is Bluetooth, on the grounds that it is
`expected to become a componentpart of a large numberof
`mobile devices. In other embodiments,the technology could
`be IEEE 802.11 or 802.11b Wireless LAN. The mobile
`
`device 130, which in a preferred embodiment is a mobile
`phone, has the capability to receive the short range wireless
`communication from the beacons 120, 121, 122 and so
`receives the broadcasted signal 125 and processes it, for
`example by displaying a message on a display screen, or
`retrieving an information unit whoseidentifier was provided
`in the broadcasted signal 125.
`
`[0033] The beacons 120, 121, 122 further comprise a
`wireless transmission module with which they can wire-
`lessly exchange data with a server 101. The server 101 can
`for example be connected to a network 110, such as the
`Internet, a phone network or a cable network. Also con-
`nected to the network 110 are base stations 111, 112. The
`beacon 120 transmits a wireless transmission 126 to the base
`station 112, which in turn transmits to the server 101 via the
`network 110. Similarly, the server 101 transmits to the base
`station 112 which in turn transmits wirelessly to the beacon
`120. Suitable technologies for the wireless transmissions are
`for example the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) or
`the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS).
`Of course, a heterogeneous solution,
`in which one base
`station uses one technology, and another base station uses
`another technology,is also feasible.
`
`[0034] The beacon 120 can makeuseof an existing mobile
`communication infrastructure, such as a GRPS or UMTS
`network for its wireless transmission 126, and it is not
`necessary to connect the beacon 120 to any landline net-
`work, or even to have a permanent network connection to
`the beacon 120 in place. This greatly simplifies the com-
`plexity of the arrangement 100. Using the wireless trans-
`mission 126, the beacon 120 can contact the server 101
`when necessary. Further, the mobile communication infra-
`structure incorporating the base stations 111, 112 typically
`already is in place and used for mobile telephony. The
`arrangement 100 can then simply be deployed byinstalling
`the beacons 120, 121, 122 in points of interest, without
`having to also set up a separate network connecting the
`beacons 120, 121, 122 to the network 110 or to the server
`101.
`
`[0035] The mobile device 130 is arranged for wireless
`mobile communication. For example, the user of the mobile
`device 130 can place a mobile phone call this way. The
`mobile device 130 then connects to the base station 112, and
`the communication link 127 is then established and handled
`as usual. The mobile device 130 here uses the same mobile
`communication infrastructure as the beacon 120, bul this is
`of course not necessary.
`
`[0036] The arrangement 100 provides an implementation
`of an infrastructure for use in points of interest such as, for
`example, department stores, shopping malls, theme parks,
`airports, stadiums, etc. Since the beacons 120, 121, 122
`communicate in a wireless fashion, installation in the point
`of interest can be as simple as plugging in a power cord and
`turoing on the beacon. The arrangement 100 may be used to
`provide location-specific information such as local maps,
`information on nearby shops and restaurants and so on, with
`
`the beacon 120, 121, 122 downloading information to the
`mobile device 130, preferably in the form of information
`keys.
`
`{0037] An information key is a small data object that
`provides a reference to a source offull information,andit is
`in the form of a number of predetermined fields, one of
`which may contain a short piece of descriptive text pre-
`sented to a user. Another field may be a pointer or address
`of some form, for example a URL or telephone number.
`Other supplementary fields may control howthe data is
`presented to a user and how the address may be exploited.
`The beacon will generally broadcast cyclically a number of
`these keys, each typically relating to a different service.
`
`[0038] The beacon 120, 121, 122 can provide information
`and services to anyone within its range. Since the range is
`limited, depending on the technology used, it is possible to
`offer localized information and services. For instance, a
`Bluetooth-enabled beacon can transmit with a range of up to
`ten meters, which is sufficient for e.g. a store that wants to
`reach passcrs-by outside.
`
`[0039] FIG. 2 schematically shows the beacon 120 in
`more detail. The beacon 120 comprises an aerial 220
`coupled to a short range transceiver 221 for the transmission
`and reception of data. A short range communication module
`222 broadcasts information and communicates with devices
`
`in the vicinity via the short range transceiver 221 and the
`aerial 220 using a short range wireless communication
`technology such as Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 or 802.11b
`Wireless LAN. A wireless transmission module 223 com-
`municates with the base station 111, 112 and the beacon 120
`via a second aerial 227 coupled to a cellular transceiver 226
`using a communication technology such as GPRS or UMTS.
`In due course, with multimode designs,it is to be expected
`that one could have a combined transceiver
`that was
`
`switched to operate either as a cellular radio as a short range
`radio, depending on the desired functionality at the time.
`
`[0040] The beacon 120 is further equipped with a local
`processor 224 and local storage 225 such as a hard disk or
`solid state memory. Using the local processor 224 and the
`local storage 225, the beacon 120 can interact autonomously
`with any device that can pick up the broadcasted transmis-
`sion 125 and this way autonomously provide an information
`service.
`
`[0041] As anillustrative embodiment, consider the situa-
`tion in which the beacon 120 is installed in a restaurant,
`whosc owner wants to uscit to entice passers-by to enter the
`restaurant. The local storage 225 in the beacon is loaded
`once with the logo of the restaurant, photographs of the
`interior, some music that suggests the style of experience a
`visitor would cnjoy, the standard menu card, once every day
`with “today’s specials”, and once every few minutes infor-
`mation on the seating availability or how long the wait
`would be is updated. From that moment on, the beacon 120
`is able to have an autonomousinteraction with people that
`pass the restaurant.
`
`[0042] The short range communication module 222 broad-
`casts data retrieved from local storage 225 via the short
`range transceiver 221. The mobile device 130 picks up the
`broadcasted transmission 125 and presents the picture,
`music, menu and available seating to the user. This infor-
`mation may be provided in stages, with initial information
`
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`broadcast, and further details such as pictures, menu, or seat
`availability, provided to the user on request. Then,if the user
`is interested and wants to make a reservation, he can have
`the mobile device make the call
`to the restaurant. The
`number to call has of course been included in the broad-
`casted transmission 125.
`
`the beacon 120 reports
`[0043] At the end of the day,
`statistics on any communication exchanges 125 that it has
`undertaken,particularly any requests for further information
`to which the beacon has responded. The operator of the
`arrangement 100 can charge a fee to the restaurant, accord-
`ing to the advertising information provided.
`
`[0044] As a further illustrative embodiment, consider the
`situation in which the beacon 120is installed in an airport,
`where the airline wishes to use it to keep its travelers up to
`date about flight changes and boarding arrangements. The
`local storage 225 in the beacon is updated every nowand
`again using the cellular transceiver 226 as events such as
`gate changes or boarding opening occur. Meanwhile the
`beacon 120 is able to have an autonomousinteraction with
`
`passengers andstaff in the airport, repeatedly broadcasting
`the status of the flight departures and arrivals. The short
`range communication module 222 broadcasts data retrieved
`from local storage 225 via the short range transceiver 221 as
`broadcasted transmission 125. The mobile device 130 picks
`up the broadcasted transmission 125 and presents the flight
`status to the user. With further software on the mobile device
`130 the user can be alerted if there are any important
`changes.
`
`[0045] The local storage 225 in the beacon 120is prefer-
`ably loaded by a transmission from the server 101 via the
`base station 112 to the beacon 120. This has the advantage
`that entities such as the restaurant ownerin the illustrative
`
`embodiment above need to contact the operator of the server
`101 in order to install data such as photos or menus on the
`beacon 120. The operator can charge a fee for this. To this
`end, a terminal 230 can be equipped for communication with
`the server 101. Alternatively,
`the terminal 230 can be
`equipped with a wireless uploading module, for example a
`GPRStransmitter, that allows direct uploading of data to the
`beacon 120. The cellular transceiver 226 receives the trans-
`
`mitted data fromeither the server 101 wirelessly via the base
`station 112, or the terminal 230 and passes it on to the
`wireless transmission module 223, which decodes the data
`and stores it in the local storage 225.
`
`[0046] The terminal 230 enables a service provider, i.e.,
`the user of beacon 120, to author or edit allocated service
`slots in the form of added data piggy backed on inquiry
`facilitation signals transmitted by the beacon 120. A service
`provider may lease a beacon or one of the service slots in a
`beacon from the infrastructure provider. To this end, in a
`preferred embodiment the server 01 provides simple HTML
`templates or WAP cards for filling out by the user via the
`terminals 230,
`
`securely. Server 101 then creates the appropriate additional
`data package for appending to the inquiry signal of the
`beacon 120 based on the information submitted with the
`
`template. The arrangement 100 may further comprise an
`application serverto assist in carrying out various functions,
`as will be readily understood by the skilled reader.
`
`[0048] The additional data package is then transmitted to
`the base station 112 via the network 110, since the beacon
`120 is within range of the base station 112. The base station
`112 then transmits the additional data package wirelessly to
`the beacon 120. Using the aerial 227 and the cellular
`transceiver 226,
`the wireless transmission module 223
`receives the data package and updates the data in the local
`storage 225. Updating data stored in the local storage 225
`preferably takes place during off-peak hours to minimize the
`load and/or transmission costs for the wireless communica-
`tion channel between the base station 112 and the beacon
`120.
`
`[0049] The local processor 224 autonomously performs
`interactive services with the mobile device 130.
`In the
`
`range communication
`the short
`illustrative embodiment
`module 222 broadcasts a global overview of the menu
`offered in the restaurant. The user of the mobile device 130
`can indicate his preference for an item in the overview,e.g.
`pizzas or pastas. The short range communication module
`222 receives this indication and passes it on to the local
`processor 224. The processor 224 then selects an overview
`of dishes matching the indicated preference, which overview
`is then transmitted to the mobile device 130. This way, the
`user can interactively browse the menu.
`
`[0050] More complex services can also be handled by a
`central server such asthe server 101. The mobile device 130
`then establishes a wireless connection to the server 101.
`
`Using this conncction, the user of the mobile device 130 can
`e.g. make a reservation in the restaurant, which requires that
`his personal data is provided to the restaurant owner. This
`personal data can be stored at the server 101 and can be
`supplied upon his request. This way, an initially short
`range-only transaction,e.g. offering the browsing of a menu,
`causes a long range transmission to be initiated. This gen-
`erates revenue for the mobile phone network operator over
`whichthe long range transmissionis initiated. This operator
`may then provide a commissionto the entity which operates
`the beacon 120.
`
`{0051] The local processor 224 may further collect data
`related to transactions performed with mobile devices,
`which the wireless transmission module 223 periodically
`transmits to the server LOL or another party. This way the
`entity which installed the beacon 120 can be charged in
`accordance with the actual use of the beacon 120. Further,
`this data can be correlated with data related to calls initiated
`
`by the mobile device 130, in order to find out which of these
`calls were the result of a short
`range communication
`between the mobile device 130 and the beacon 120.
`
`[0047] Havingfilled out the template with, for example, a
`description of the service and other information for the data
`to be carried via the beacon broadcast,
`the template is
`returned to server 101, preferably via a secure link using,
`e.g., Secure HTTP (S-HTTP) or Secure Sockets Layer
`(SSL). SSL creates a secure link between a client and a
`server, over which any amount of data can be sent securely.
`S-HTTP is designed to transmit
`individual messages
`
`[0052] The short range communication link 125 between
`the mobile device 130 and the beacon 120 can also be used
`
`while the long range communication link 127 between the
`mobile device 130 and the server 101 is being established,
`to hide to the user of the mobile device 130 the delay
`involved in setting up the long range communication link
`127. The user can browse the information made available by
`the beacon 120 using the short range communication link
`
`APPLE
`APPLE
`EXHIBIT 1006 - PAGE 0008
`EXHIBIT 1006 - PAGE 0008
`
`

`

`US 2002/0132614 Al
`
`Sep. 19, 2002
`
`125, and then seamlessly move to more complex interactive
`applications with the server 101 once the long range com-
`munication link 127 has been established. This may require
`that the beacon 120 transfers information regardingthe state
`of the short range communicationlink 125 to the server 101.
`
`It may happenthat plural mobile devices need to be
`[0053]
`provided with the same information, for example at an
`airportor train station all passengers want to know departure
`times and gates, especially in the case of delays. Ordinarily,
`this requires a separate communication link between a
`transmitter and each of said mobile devices. However, with
`the beacon 120 it is possible to broadcast the information to
`each device. The information is transmitted once to the
`beacon 120 and then once, in broadcast or multicast fashion
`to the plural mobile devices. The transmission to the mobile
`devices can even be done on an individual basis. Since this
`
`transmission is a short range transmission, no capacity in
`any cellular network is necessary to inform users. Only one
`periodic transmission over the cellular network to the bea-
`con 120 is necessary to update the provided information.
`
`[0054] The beacon 120 can also report to the server 101 on
`the varying traffic-density and types of Bluetooth devices
`that interacted with the beacon 120, as this measure of local
`activity might be a commercially useful statistic about the
`locale. The beacon 120 also has the possibility of reporting
`back in a batch data mode the precise Bluetooth device
`identifiers BT_ADDRsdiscovered at different times of the
`day. Note that any mobile device response to Bluetooth v1.1
`inquiry scans also discloses the broad category (phone etc)
`and functional abilities of the mobile device, which could be
`useful statistics as well.
`
`[0055] Device IDs can be correlated with the owner of the
`mobile device, so the geographical habits of individually
`named uscrs and certainly the repeated visits of an uniden-
`tified user to a place can be easily noted for personal
`targeting. Like other user-profiling data, this knowledge is
`commercially valuable. For example, habit profiles vs.
`device IDs might be assembled centrally and fed back to a
`beacon overnight for individual customized addressing of
`those users if they appear at that beacon the next day.
`
`[0056] FIG.3 schematically shows the mobile device 130
`in more detail. The mobile device 130 comprises an aerial
`316 coupled with a transceiver 318 for the reception and
`transmission of messages. Outgoing messages result from
`user input to the telephone, either audio input via a micro-
`phone and an A/D converteror other data input via a keypad
`or other input means. These inputs are processed to message
`data format by signal and data processing stage 326 and
`converted to transmission format by encoder 328 before
`being supplied to the transceiver 318. The mobile device 130
`may comprise separate aerials and transceiver modules for
`the reception of data broadcasted by the beacon 120 and for
`the transmission and reception of data