BLE Beacon Proximity Detection for Merchant Customer Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current e-commerce systems fail to accurately notify merchants when customers are present at their locations, due to the inaccuracy and signal dependency of GPS location services.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons at merchant locations to transmit identifiers to customer devices within proximity, allowing the system to identify and communicate with customers based on their transaction history and proximity, enabling targeted communication and offers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS location services are used to find customer location, then customer location can be obtained, but the location accuracy is poor and it depends on signal availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces BLE beacons as intermediary devices deployed at merchant locations. These beacons act as local reference points that customer devices can detect to determine proximity. The beacon system mediates between the customer device and the merchant, providing reliable location detection without depending on GPS satellite signals. The beacon transmits its identifier and the customer device's ability to detect it within a predetermined distance provides accurate proximity information.
2Ease of operation
If GPS location services are used, then customer location can be determined, but the system complexity increases due to signal dependency
Solution Approach 1:
The customer device itself performs the location determination by detecting the BLE beacon signal. The device uses its built-in BLE capability to scan for and detect beacons within range. The system leverages the customer device's own resources (BLE radio, processor) to determine proximity without requiring complex external signal processing or multiple device components. The merchant side simply needs to deploy beacons and receive notifications.
3Measurement precision
If BLE beacon is used for proximity detection, then location accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The customer device performs BLE beacon detection periodically rather than continuously. The device scans for beacons at intervals, allowing the radio to remain in low-power state between scans. This periodic detection approach maintains the ability to detect when a customer enters or exits a merchant location while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring. The system triggers notifications based on these periodic detection events.
Data Source
AI summary
The system may transmit a signal originating from a BLUETOOTH low energy (“BLE”) beacon at a merchant location. The signal may include a first identifier associated with the merchant location and a merchant device. A customer device may receive the signal within a predetermined distance of the BLE beacon. The system may receive a transmission sent by the customer device in response to the signal from the BLE beacon. The transmission may include a second identifier associated with the user. The system may identify the user associated with the customer device based on the second identifier. The user may be at the merchant location.