Presence detection based on crowd surfing signal strength

Abstract

A method includes receiving wireless signals from consumer devices that are in communicable range of the merchant device. The wireless signals each include a unique identifier associated with one of the consumer devices. The method further comprises generating signal strength data that includes one signal strength value associated with the unique identifier of each of the wireless signals, storing the signal strength data in a data storage device, analyzing the signal strength data to determine how many of the consumer devices achieved various signal strength levels, determining a threshold signal strength value based on the analysis, determining a consumer device is present within a physical area when a subsequent wireless signal from a subsequent consumer device is greater than the threshold signal strength value.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for programmatically facilitating in-area services based on presence detection, the system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the system to:
 detect a plurality of consumer devices within communicable proximity of a merchant device based on receipt of one or more wireless signals from each of the consumer devices; 
 initiate a consumer device signal strength signature session for each consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices based on the detection of the respective consumer device within communicable proximity of the merchant device; 
 determine at least one signal strength value for each of the one or more wireless signals, storing each signal strength value in association with the corresponding consumer device signal strength signature session; 
 detect presence data associated with at least a first consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices; 
 correlate the detected presence data to the corresponding consumer device signal strength signature session of the first consumer device; 
 determine a presence threshold signal strength signature based on at least the consumer device signal strength signature session of the first consumer device; 
 determine a subsequent consumer device is present within a defined physical area of the merchant device based on the presence threshold signal strength signature; and 
 facilitate at least one in-area service associated with the subsequent consumer device. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the presence threshold signal strength signature defines one or more signal strength parameters or patterns. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein determining the subsequent consumer device is present within the defined physical area of the merchant device comprises receiving, from the subsequent consumer device, wireless signals satisfying at least one of the one or more signal strength parameters or patterns defined by the presence threshold signal strength signature. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless signals of the subsequent consumer device otherwise fail to satisfy a minimum signal strength parameter or pattern defined by a threshold signal strength signature. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the system to:
 determine a second subsequent consumer device is not present within the defined physical area of the merchant device based on the presence threshold signal strength signature.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one wireless signal from each of the consumer devices comprises a unique identifier, each unique identifier being respectively associated with a consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the presence data is independent of the signal strength values and indicates that the corresponding consumer device is within the defined physical area. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the presence data comprises data generated via near field communication or Bluetooth wireless technology between the merchant device and the first consumer device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the presence data comprises promotion redemption data indicating redemption of a promotion, coupon, discount offer, or any combination thereof within the defined physical area. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the presence data comprises global positioning information (GPS) data. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one in-area service comprises one or more of placing a consumer associated with the first consumer device on a wait list, assigning the consumer associated with the first consumer device to a table, transmitting a presence-based promotional offer to the first consumer device, or dispatching a merchant representative to a location of the first consumer device. 
     
     
         13 . A method for programmatically facilitating in-area services based on presence detection, the method comprising:
 detecting a plurality of consumer devices within communicable proximity of a merchant device based on receipt of one or more wireless signals from each of the consumer devices;   initiating a consumer device signal strength signature session for each consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices based on the detection of the respective consumer device within communicable proximity of the merchant device;   determining at least one signal strength value for each of the one or more wireless signals, storing each signal strength value in association with the corresponding consumer device signal strength signature session;   detecting presence data associated with at least a first consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices;   correlating the detected presence data to the corresponding consumer device signal strength signature session of the first consumer device;   determining a presence threshold signal strength signature based on at least the consumer device signal strength signature session of the first consumer device;   determining a subsequent consumer device is present within a defined physical area of the merchant device based on the presence threshold signal strength signature; and   facilitating at least one in-area service associated with the subsequent consumer device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the presence threshold signal strength signature defines one or more signal strength parameters or patterns. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein determining the subsequent consumer device is present within the defined physical area of the merchant device comprises receiving, from the subsequent consumer device, wireless signals satisfying at least one of the one or more signal strength parameters or patterns defined by the presence threshold signal strength signature. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless signals of the subsequent consumer device otherwise fail to satisfy a minimum signal strength parameter or pattern defined by a threshold signal strength signature. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the system to:
 determine a second subsequent consumer device is not present within the defined physical area of the merchant device based on the presence threshold signal strength signature.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one wireless signal from each of the consumer devices comprises a unique identifier, each unique identifier being respectively associated with a consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the presence data is independent of the signal strength values and indicates that the corresponding consumer device is within the defined physical area. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the presence data comprises data generated via near field communication or Bluetooth wireless technology between the merchant device and the first consumer device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the presence data comprises promotion redemption data indicating redemption of a promotion, coupon, discount offer, or any combination thereof within the defined physical area. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the presence data comprises global positioning information (GPS) data. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one in-area service comprises one or more of placing a consumer associated with the first consumer device on a wait list, assigning the consumer associated with the first consumer device to a table, transmitting a presence-based promotional offer to the first consumer device, or dispatching a merchant representative to a location of the first consumer device.