Techniques For Wireless Communication Of Proximity Based Marketing

Abstract

A system and method for proximity based marketing is disclosed between a mobile computing device having a Short Range Communication (SRC) device and a Proximity Short Range Communication (PSRC) device associated with a product or service using near field magnetic induction. The SRC device and/or the PSRC device can include at least two substantially mutually orthogonal antennas to provide magnetic antenna diversity. The method comprises defining a proximity boundary with dimensions defined by at least one of a communication range of the SRC and PSRC devices and a receive sensitivity of at least one of the SRC and PSRC devices. A proximity signal is communicated in the proximity boundary between the SRC device and the PSRC device. An action is performed by at least one of the SRC and PSRC devices when the proximity signal is detected.

1 . A method for the wireless communication of proximity based marketing the method comprising:
 defining a proximity boundary with dimensions defined by at least one of a communication range of one of a Short Range Communication (SRC) device and a Proximity Short Range Communication (PSRC) device, and a receive sensitivity of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device, wherein:
 the SRC device and the PSRC device are configured to communicate using magnetic induction; 
 at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device include at least two substantially orthogonal antennas to provide magnetic induction antenna diversity; 
 the SRC device is coupled to a mobile computing device; and 
 the PSRC device is associated with at least one of a product and a service; 
   communicating a proximity signal in the proximity boundary from the at least one selected antenna between the SRC device and the PSRC device, and;   performing at least one action by at least one of the PSRC device and the mobile computing device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one action includes receiving a marketing communication at the mobile computing device for the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 setting at least one rule for a proximity based communication filter module, which is associated with the mobile computing device, regarding the at least one product or service, the at least one rule identifying one or more actions performed by at least one of the PSRC device and the mobile computing device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device and the PSRC device is associated with the at least one product or service.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising storing the at least one rule for the proximity based communication filter module on the mobile computing device to increase a user's privacy. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein no information is communicated from the SRC device to the PSRC device to increase a user's privacy. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising indicating with the at least one rule a desire to receive information at the mobile computing device for the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising limiting the information received at the mobile computing device based on a plurality of rules set in the proximity based communication filter module pertaining to the product or service associated with a plurality of PSRC devices. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising updating the at least one rule for the proximity based communication filter module for a selected product or service by placing the mobile computing device within a selected distance of the PSRC device associated with the selected product or service for a predetermined amount of time to allow the SRC device to communicate with the PSRC device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising querying a user for approval to update the at least one rule if the at least one rule is set to ignore the selected product or service associated with the PSRC device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing at least one action further comprises performing coupon scraping to search for coupons associated with the at least one product or service to provide to a user of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting, on at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device, at least one of the at least two substantially orthogonal antennas on which to transmit. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein selecting further comprises selecting a most efficient antenna on which to transmit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting, on at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device, at least one of the at least two substantially orthogonal antennas on which to receive. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein selecting further comprises selecting a most efficient antenna on which to receive. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting, on at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device, one of the at least two substantially orthogonal antennas on which to transmit and receive. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the proximity signal in the proximity boundary between the SRC device and the PSRC device further comprises communicating over the proximity signal within a range of the PSRC device, wherein the range of the PSRC device is a distance that is less than λ/2 pi meters from the SRC device, where λ is a wavelength of the proximity signal in meters. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one action includes receiving a marketing communication at the mobile computing device for the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising informing a user of the mobile computing device about at least one of the product and the service with the marketing communication. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the marketing communication is varied based on at least one of a season, a holiday, a time of day, an inventory level of the consumer product, and a weather forecast. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the marketing communication is received at the mobile computing device via at least one of the SRC device and a product media communication device coupled to the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one action includes determining whether to store the marketing communication at the mobile computing device based on the set rules for the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device in the proximity based communication filter module. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the receiving of the marketing communication at the mobile computing device comprises receiving the marketing communication at the mobile computing device through at least one of an email, a text message, an instant message, a social networking communication, a wired transmission, and a wireless transmission. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, when the marketing communication is transmitted, notifying a user of the mobile computing device about the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device by displaying an image on a display external from the mobile computing device that is associated with the PSRC device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the marketing communication includes at least one of an electronic coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising sending a notification to a user that the coupon will expire. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one action includes notifying a user of the mobile computing device that the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device is located within the proximity boundary. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the user of the mobile computing device is notified by emitting at least one of a sound and a vibration from the mobile computing device when the marketing communication is received. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the user of the mobile computing device is notified by displaying, at least one image of the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device and an image of a coupon for the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device, on the mobile computing device when the marketing communication is received. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the user of the mobile computing device is notified by displaying at least one of a video and a multimedia presentation of the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device on the mobile computing device when the marketing communication is received. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 tracking a location of the mobile computing device in a selected location based on identification information received during an interaction between the SRC device and each PSRC device.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising storing a history of the location of the mobile computing device in the selected location. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 storing a history of purchases associated with the mobile computing device; and   analyzing the history of the location and the history of the purchases for data trends.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 tracking a location of the mobile computing device in a selected location based on identification information received during an interaction between the SRC device and each PSRC device;   storing a history of the location of the mobile computing device in the selected location; and   modifying the set rules in the proximity based communication filter module based on the history of the location of the mobile computing device in the selected location.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising updating the at least one rule to include a selected product or service when a user purchases the selected product or service a plurality of times. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing a history of purchases of a product wherein there was an interaction between the SRC device and a PSRC device associated with the product. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising providing at least one marketing communication on a computing device based on the history of purchases. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating proximity-related stored information on the mobile computing device to a second computing device to enable marketing communications on the second computing device based on the proximity-related stored information. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the second computing device is a Point Of Sale (POS) terminal. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the second computing device is a Point Of Sale (POS) terminal that is at a location different from a location at which at least a portion of the proximity-related stored information on the mobile computing device was obtained, 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the second computing device receives marketing communications associated with the proximity-related stored information via at least one of a database, an internet browser, a search engine, an email application, an on-line shopping website, and a social networking site. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving identification information at a selected location on the mobile computing device each time a proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and a PSRC device located within the selected location. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising providing the identification information to a party to determine purchasing decisions made by a user of the mobile computing devices at the selected location. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the electronic coupon is a third party coupon that is redeemable at a plurality of selected locations. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the electronic coupon includes a bar code that is displayed on a display of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of the electronic coupon is stored in a cloud storage facility associated with the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising a point of sale terminal configured to poll the mobile computing device for the electronic coupon when the at least one product or service is purchased at the point of sale terminal. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the point of sale terminal includes a close proximity communication device that is Near Field Communication (NFC) compliant. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the setting of the at least one rule for the proximity based communication filter module comprises setting product categories on which information on consumer products related to the product categories are desired to be received. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the setting of the at least one rule for the proximity based communication filter module comprises:
 learning the buying preferences of the user; and   adjusting the at least one rule for the proximity based communication filter module based on the learned buying preferences of the user.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device is one of a handheld computing device, a smart phone, a multimedia device, a tablet computing device, a laptop computer, and an embedded computing device. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communicating of the proximity signal in the proximity boundary between the SRC device and the PSRC device comprises transmitting the proximity signal from at least one of the SRC device to the PSRC device and from the PSRC device to the SRC device. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one action includes receiving proximity information from the PSRC device at the SRC device that is related to the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the PSRC device is a near field communication (NFC) compliant device. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SRC device is a Multi-Mode Magnetic Induction Communication (MMMIC) device having magnetic induction antenna diversity. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the MMMIC device includes a Near Field Communication (NFC) compliant mode to transmit and receive with an NFC compliant device within a distance of less than approximately 10 centimeters. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the MMMIC device includes a close proximity communication mode to transmit and receive with an close proximity communication device within a distance of less than approximately 30 centimeters. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the MMMIC device is configured to communicate simultaneously with at least two NFC compliant devices. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining that the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device is within the proximity boundary by limiting the proximity signal within a range of the PSRC device, wherein the range is a distance that is less than λ/2 pi meters from the short range communication device, where λ is a wavelength of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device signal in meters. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device is configured to transmit at least a portion of payment information to a point of sale terminal to complete a financial transaction for a purchase of the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the mobile computing device transmits the payment information using SRC device, which is a Multi-Mode Mode Magnetic Induction Communication (MMMIC) device configured to communicate with a Near Field Communication (NFC) compliant short range communication device at the point of sale terminal. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the short range communication device at the point of sale terminal transmits electronic promotions to the SRC device for electronic storage in the mobile computing device, wherein the electronic promotions are associated with the at least one product or service purchased at the point of sale terminal. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the SRC device is configured as a Multi-Mode Mode Magnetic Induction Communication (MMMIC) device and simultaneously communicates with a Near Field Communication (NFC) compliant device and a non NFC compliant device. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 59 , further comprising detecting the proximity signal at the SRC device that is transmitted by the PSRC device at a distance of greater than about 10 centimeters (cm). 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one action includes identifying the at least one product or service at the mobile computing device based on information in the proximity signal. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the at least one action includes receiving a marketing communication at the mobile computing device for the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the at least one action includes storing information related to the marketing communication at the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the marketing communication includes an electronic coupon. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising communicating information related to the electronic coupon from the mobile computing device to a point of sale terminal when the consumer product is purchased. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the marketing communication is received when the mobile computing device is within a range of about 2 meters from the PSRC device. 
     
     
         70 . A system for proximity based marketing, the system comprising:
 a Short Range Communication (SRC) device that is configured to communicate using near field magnetic induction with a Proximity SRC (PSRC) device that is associated with a product or service, and the PSRC device is configured to communicate with the SRC device using near field magnetic induction,   wherein a proximity signal is communicated in a proximity boundary between the SRC device and the PSRC device, the proximity boundary having dimensions defined by at least one of a communication range of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device and a receive sensitivity of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device,   wherein at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device include at least two substantially mutually perpendicular antennas to provide magnetic induction antenna diversity, and   wherein at least one action is performed by one of the mobile computing device and the PSRC device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device.   
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 70 , further comprising:
 a proximity based communication filter module that is associated with the mobile computing device and is configured to have set at least one rule regarding a at least one product or service, the at least one rule identifying one or more actions performed by at least one of the PSRC device and the mobile computing device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device and the PSRC device is associated with the at least one product or service.   
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the proximity based communication filter module is configured to update the at least one rule for a selected product or service when the mobile computing device is placed within a selected distance of the PSRC device associated with the selected product or service for a predetermined amount of time to allow the SRC device to communicate with the PSRC device. 
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the at least one action is performed by the mobile computing device based on the at least one rule when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device and the at least one rule indicates a desire to receive information at the mobile computing device for the at least one product or service associated with the PSRC device. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the proximity based communication filter module is stored on at least one of the mobile computing device and a cloud computing location. 
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device is configured to transmit information on the proximity signal using near field magnetic induction (NFMI) to be received by an other of the SRC device and the PSRC device. 
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the SRC device is configured to not transmit user identifiable information to the PSRC device to increase a user's privacy. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 70 , further comprising:
 a proximity based communication filter module that is associated with the PSRC device, and is configured to have set at least one rule regarding a product or service, the at least one rule identifying one or more actions performed by at least one of the PSRC device and the mobile computing device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device and the PSRC device is associated with the product or service.   
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 70 , further comprising a proximity location module configured to assist a consumer to locate the product or service associated with the PSRC device. 
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 66 , wherein the SRC device is configured to receive selected identification information from each PSRC device with which the SRC device communicates at a certain location. 
     
     
         80 . The system of  79 , wherein a user receives a financial incentive to allow the selected identification information for the certain location to be shared. 
     
     
         81 . The system of  claim 79 , wherein the selected identification information is used to determine a path of a user through the certain location. 
     
     
         82 . The system of  claim 79 , wherein the selected identification information is used to determine a number of users that traveled past an advertising display located at the certain location. 
     
     
         83 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the mobile computing device further comprises:
 a media communication device that is configured to receive an marketing communication from a proximity media communication device associated with the PSRC device.   
     
     
         84 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the media communication device and the proximity media communication device are configured to communicate via a wireless standard selected from the group consisting of IEEE 802.11, 802.16, 3GPP, 3GPP LTE, Bluetooth®, Zigbee®, GSM, CDMA, UHF, VHF, and UWB. 
     
     
         85 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the proximity boundary has a maximum dimension that is less than about 6 feet. 
     
     
         86 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the proximity signal has a power level less than a noise floor beyond a distance of about λ/2 pi meters from the PSRC device, where λ is a wavelength of the signal in meters. 
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the mobile computing device is selected from the group consisting of a handheld computing device, a smart phone, a multimedia device, a tablet computing device, a laptop computer, and an embedded computing device. 
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the SRC device is configured to transmit the proximity signal to the PSRC device and receive proximity information from the PSRC device that is related to the product or service associated with the PSRC device when the mobile computing device is within the proximity boundary. 
     
     
         89 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device is a Multi-Mode Magnetic Induction Communication (MMMIC) device. 
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device has three antennas which are positioned to be substantially mutually orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
         91 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device is configured to communicate to a distance that is approximately equal to the proximity boundary. 
     
     
         92 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device is configured to not communicate to a distance that is approximately greater than the proximity boundary. 
     
     
         93 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device is configured to select at least one of the substantially mutually orthogonal antennas that are most sensitive to the proximity signal to transmit or receive the proximity signal. 
     
     
         94 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device is configured to select at least one of the at least one substantially mutually orthogonal antenna that is not the most sensitive to the proximity signal to transmit or receive the proximity signal. 
     
     
         95 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein the MMMIC device comprises:
 a device configured to communicate using NFMI and having magnetic induction antenna diversity with at least two substantially mutually orthogonal antennas, and configured to detect a signal transmitted by a Close Proximity Communication (CPC) device at a distance of greater than about 30 centimeters (cm);   an identification module configured to determine a type of device that the CPC device is, based on the signal transmitted;   a communication module configured to communicate through magnetic induction antenna diversity using NFMI with the CPC device at one of a first distance of greater than about 20 cm and a second distance of less than about 20 cm from the CPC device based on the type of device that is determined by the identification module; and   a magnetic induction antenna diversity module configured to select a magnetic induction antenna diversity scheme for the MMMIC device to communicate with the CPC device based on the first or second distance selected over which to communicate.   
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the MMMIC device has three antennas which are positioned to be substantially mutually orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the selected antenna is configured to communicate the first distance of greater than about 10 cm and less than about 340 cm. 
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the MMMIC device is configured to select one of the at least two substantially mutually orthogonal antennas that are most sensitive to the signal transmitted by the CPC device when the CPC device is at the first distance of greater than about 10 cm. 
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the MMMIC device is configured to select one of the at least two substantially mutually orthogonal antennas that is not the most sensitive to the signal transmitted by the CPC device when the CPC device is at the distance of less than about 10 cm. 
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the MMMIC device is configured to select one of the at least two substantially mutually orthogonal antennas that is least sensitive to the signal transmitted by the CPC device when the CPC device is at the second distance of less than about 10 cm. 
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the CPC device is a Near Field Communication (NFC) compliant device. 
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 101 , wherein the MMMIC device is configured to communicate with the NFC compliant device at the second distance of less than about 10 cm when the NFC compliant device is identified as a point of sale terminal. 
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 101 , wherein the MMMIC device is configured to communicate with the NFC compliant device at the distance of greater than 10 cm when the NFC compliant device is identified as an advertising terminal. 
     
     
         104 . The system of  claim 101 , wherein the MMMIC device is configured to communicate with the NFC compliant device at the distance of greater than 10 cm when the NFC compliant device is identified as not being a point of sale terminal. 
     
     
         105 . The system of  claim 101 , wherein the MMMIC device operates in compliance with the NFC specification when the NFMI device is communicating with the NFC compliant device at the distance of less than 10 cm. 
     
     
         106 . The system of  claim 101 , wherein one of the at least two substantially mutually orthogonal antennas are selected to communicate with the NFC compliant device at the distance of less than 10 cm, wherein the antenna selected is a most inefficient antenna of the at least two antennas. 
     
     
         107 . The system of  claim 101 , wherein one of the at least two substantially mutually orthogonal antennas are selected to communicate with the NFC compliant device at the distance of less than 10 cm, wherein the antenna selected is not a most efficient antenna of the at least two antennas. 
     
     
         108 . The system of  claim 101 , wherein the MMMIC device is configured to communicate with the NFC compliant device based on the type of device that is identified at the distance of greater than 10 cm and at a distance that is less than λ/2 pi meters, where λ is a wavelength of the NFC signal in meters. 
     
     
         109 . The system of  claim 101 , wherein the mobile computing device is configured to be placed in an “NFC plus sniff” mode wherein the MMMIC device is set to receive a signal from an NFC compliant device within a range of the NFC compliant device and sniff for a signal occurring at a distance greater than the range of the NFC compliant device at a periodic interval. 
     
     
         110 . The system of  claim 101 , wherein an operational mode of the mobile computing device is location dependent. 
     
     
         111 . A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for the wireless communication of proximity based marketing, comprising:
 identifying a product or service using a proximity based communication filter module configured to enable a user to set at least one rule regarding the product or service;   communicating the at least one set rule to a personal mobile computing device having a short range communication (SRC) device configured to communicate using near field magnetic induction;   communicating a proximity signal in a proximity boundary between the SRC device and a Proximity Short Range Communication (PSRC) device associated with a product or service and configured to communicate with the SRC device using near field magnetic induction,   wherein the proximity boundary has a maximum dimension defined by at least one of a communication range of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device and a receive sensitivity of one of the SRC device and the PSRC device, and   wherein at least one of the SRC device and the PSRC device include at least two non-parallel antennas to provide magnetic induction antenna diversity; and   performing a selected action at the personal mobile computing device when the proximity signal is communicated for the selected product or service and the set permissions indicate a desire to receive information for the selected product at the mobile computing device.