Techniques for Wireless Communication of Proximity Based Marketing

Abstract

A system and method for wireless communication of proximity based marketing is provided. The method includes determining whether a proximity device and a mobile computing device are within a first proximity to each other, wherein the proximity device is associated with at least one of a product and a service, and communicating information indicating that the proximity device and the mobile computing device are within the first proximity to each other, when it is determined that the proximity device and the mobile computing device are within the first proximity to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus of a Short Range Communication (SRC) device configured to communicate proximity based marketing, the apparatus configured to:
 define a proximity boundary with dimensions defined by a selected magnetic induction diversity communication range of the SRC device, wherein
 the SRC device is configured to communicate using magnetic induction; 
 the SRC device includes at least two substantially orthogonal antennas to provide magnetic induction diversity, and using the magnetic induction diversity to substantially reduce a variability of the dimensions of the proximity boundary defined by the selected magnetic induction diversity communication range; and 
 the SRC device is coupled to a mobile computing device; 
   determine whether the proximity device is within the proximity boundary by forming a short range wireless communication link between the SRC device and the proximity device when the proximity device is within the proximity boundary;   set at least one rule regarding at least one of a product and a service for a proximity based communication filter module, which is associated with the mobile computing device, the at least one rule identifying one or more actions performed by the mobile computing device when a proximity device is within the proximity boundary; and   perform at least one action by the mobile computing device based on the at least one rule set in the proximity based communication module when the proximity device is within the proximity boundary.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one action includes receiving a marketing communication at the mobile computing device for the at least one of the product and the service associated with the proximity device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising informing a user of the mobile computing device about the at least one of the product and the service with the marketing communication. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus 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, a weather forecast, a history of sales of the at least one of the product and the service, and a history of purchases of the at least one of the product and the service. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the marketing communication is received at the mobile computing device at least one of directly from the proximity device and through a mobile communications network. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus 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. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising, when the marketing communication is transmitted, notifying a user of the mobile computing device about the at least one of the product and the service associated with the proximity device by displaying at least one of an image and a video on a display external from the mobile computing device that is associated with the proximity device. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one action includes determining whether to store the marketing communication at the mobile computing device based on the at least one rule set in the proximity based communication filter module. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the marketing communication includes at least one of an electronic coupon and a rebate, and one or more of:
 the electronic coupon is a third party coupon that is redeemable at a plurality of selected locations;   the electronic coupon includes a bar code that is displayed on a display of the mobile computing device;   at least a portion of the electronic coupon is stored in a cloud storage facility associated with the mobile computing device;   when the at least one of the product and service is purchased at a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, the POS terminal polls the mobile computing device for the electronic coupon; and   a Point of Sale (POS) terminal includes a close proximity communication device.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 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; or   wherein no information is communicated from the mobile device to the proximity device to increase a user's privacy.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising indicating with the at least one rule a desire to receive information at the mobile computing device for the at least one of the product and the service associated with the proximity device. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising limiting the information, received at the mobile computing device based on the at least one rule set in the proximity based communication filter, module pertaining to the at least one of the product and the service associated with the proximity device. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising updating the at least one rule regarding the at least one of the product and the service for the proximity based communication filter module by placing the proximity device within a second proximity boundary to the mobile computing device for a predefined amount of time, wherein the second proximity boundary is smaller than the proximity boundary. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising querying a user of the mobile computing device for approval to update the at least one rule if the at least one rule is set to ignore the at least one of the product and the service associated with the proximity device. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus of a proximity short range communication (PSRC) device configured to communicate proximity based marketing, the apparatus configured to:
 define a proximity boundary with dimensions defined by a selected magnetic induction diversity communication range of the PSRC device, wherein
 the PSRC device is configured to communicate using magnetic induction; 
 the PSRC device includes at least two substantially orthogonal antennas to provide magnetic induction diversity, and using the magnetic induction diversity to substantially reduce a variability of the dimensions of the proximity boundary defined by the selected magnetic induction diversity communication range; 
 the PSRC device is associated with at least one of a location and object; and 
 the PSRC device is coupled to a microprocessor to form a proximity device; 
   determine whether a mobile computing device coupled to a Short Range Communication (SRC) device is within the proximity boundary by forming a short range wireless communication link between the mobile computing device and the proximity device when the mobile computing device is within the proximity boundary;   set at least one rule regarding at least one of a product and a service for a proximity based communication filter module, which is associated with the proximity device, the at least one rule identifying one or more actions performed by the proximity device when the mobile computing device is within the proximity boundary; and   perform at least one action by the proximity device based on the at least one rule set in the proximity based communication module when the mobile computing device is within the proximity boundary.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one action includes sending a marketing communication to the mobile computing device for the at least one of the product and the service associated with the proximity device. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising informing a user of the mobile computing device about the at least one of the product and the service with the marketing communication. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , 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, a weather forecast, a history of sales of the at least one of the product and the service, and a history of purchases of the at least one of the product and the service. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the marketing communication is sent to the mobile computing device at least one of directly from the proximity device and through a mobile communications network. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the sending of the marketing communication to the mobile computing device comprises sending the marketing communication to 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.