Proximity Beacon Prescription Notification System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing notification systems for medical prescriptions rely on GPS-based location tracking, which consumes power and raises privacy concerns, and often use device-specific identifiers rather than user-entered information.
Innovation Solution
A proximity beacon system that exchanges information with a mobile device to provide in-store notifications, allowing a server to retrieve and display prescription status updates, such as readiness for pickup or refill, without relying on GPS or device identifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS-based location tracking is used to notify customers of prescription status, then notification accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases and privacy concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces proximity beacons as intermediary devices placed at pharmacies that emit signals detectable by mobile devices. Instead of continuously tracking GPS location, the system uses these beacons as intermediate points to trigger notifications when customers are near the pharmacy, reducing the need for constant high-precision location monitoring and thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining notification effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from continuous GPS location tracking to periodic proximity detection based on beacon signals. The mobile device only needs to detect beacons when physically present near pharmacies rather than continuously reporting GPS coordinates, implementing a periodic rather than continuous monitoring approach that significantly reduces energy consumption
2Measurement precision
If GPS-based location tracking is used to notify customers of prescription status, then notification accuracy is improved, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Proximity beacons serve as intermediaries that enable location-based notifications without requiring the system to continuously track or store user GPS coordinates. The beacons provide a way to determine when users are near pharmacies through local signal detection rather than centralized location tracking, reducing privacy exposure while maintaining notification functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the location detection function from centralized GPS tracking and distributes it to local proximity beacons. Instead of one system continuously monitoring user location, individual beacons at pharmacies independently detect nearby devices, removing the need for continuous centralized location tracking and thereby reducing privacy concerns
3Device complexity
If device identifiers like MAC address are used for notification, then system implementation is simplified, but user control over information sharing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows users to voluntarily enter their own information and control what they share with the pharmacy system. Rather than the system automatically using device identifiers, users actively participate in providing their information, giving them control over their personal data while still enabling the notification functionality
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device and a server exchange information in response to the mobile device detecting a proximity beacon. Upon detecting the proximity beacon, the mobile device initiates a web service call to the server. A mobile device user will indicate a choice whether to opt-in upon registration. If the user has opted in, the server will retrieve additional information about the user including prescription information. The server will transmit prescription information and other marketing information to the mobile device. The server may be configured to receive additional information from the mobile device, for example, a request for a prescription to be refilled.