BLE Beacon Authentication for Parking Transaction Delays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle parking and mass transport systems rely heavily on cellular or Wi-Fi communication networks, which can lead to delays and coverage issues, especially when users need to authenticate or authorize transactions quickly.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle parking and mass transport beacon system that uses a source beacon and a user smart device to establish a wireless communication link, allowing users to authenticate and authorize transactions independently of cellular or Wi-Fi networks through Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) technology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cellular or Wi-Fi communication networks are used for authentication and transaction processing, then infrastructure coverage is provided, but delays and coverage issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons as an intermediary communication mechanism between the user's mobile device and the parking/mass transit system. These beacons enable direct device-to-infrastructure communication without requiring cellular or Wi-Fi network connectivity, thereby eliminating network-dependent delays and coverage issues while maintaining reliable authentication and transaction processing.
2Ease of operation
If cellular or Wi-Fi networks are relied upon for transaction processing, then communication infrastructure is available, but coverage issues and delays arise
Solution Approach 1:
BLE beacons serve as local intermediaries that enable direct communication between user devices and the parking/mass transit infrastructure. This eliminates dependency on cellular or Wi-Fi networks for critical authentication and transaction operations, ensuring system availability and reliability even when network coverage is poor or unavailable, while maintaining ease of operation through automatic beacon detection and interaction.
3Reliability
If BLE beacon technology is used for authentication, then network independence is achieved, but false positives may occur without explicit user action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the mobile application monitors BLE beacon proximity and provides push notifications to the user. The system tracks when users enter and exit facilities based on beacon detection, and requires explicit user confirmation through the application interface to start or end transaction sessions. This feedback loop allows the system to distinguish between intentional facility use and incidental beacon proximity, reducing false positives while maintaining authentication accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables seamless and efficient transaction processing by eliminating reliance on cellular or Wi-Fi networks, reducing delays and coverage issues, and enhancing the overall user experience in vehicle parking and mass transport services.
Implementation Method 1
the source beacon uses Bluetooth Low-Energy Generic Attribute (BTLE GATT) Profile advertisement data to announce its presence to a customer or user. A user smart device with Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) wireless capability then discovers the source beacon within a range of 70 m by monitoring for a specific Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) in the Bluetooth Low-Energy advertisement data.
Implementation Method 2
Once a user smart device identifies a source beacon and is within a predetermined range (e.g., distance of 1.5 m), the user beacon starts an authentication process, which includes establishing a wireless communication link between the source beacon and the user smart device.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2A
AI summary
A vehicle parking and mass transport beacon system (60) implemented with a beacon device (10) configured as a wireless identifier and authentication mechanism offers a user a capability of bypassing infrastructures of commercial parking lots and facilities, mass transit systems, and taxi services when using them. The beacon system includes a source beacon and a user beacon, the latter of which implemented in a user smart device (36) such as a smartphone. The use of a source beacon and user smart device enables elimination of reliance on a cellular communication connection from the time of the user's grant of permission for action to the time of separation of the user smart device and the beacon by a distance outside the range of connectivity between them. Such elimination of reliance on cellular communication connection avoids delay and communication coverage issues stemming from use of a cellular communication network.