Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon Messaging for Physical Retail
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing online advertising methods fail to effectively engage customers with physical retail shops, leading to a disconnect between merchants and potential customers.
Innovation Solution
A messaging system utilizing local beacon devices to transmit product messages to user devices based on merchant and user profiles, enabling real-time, location-based advertisements through Bluetooth Low Energy communication, with a comparison server selecting relevant product messages based on user interests and merchant offerings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If online targeted advertisements are provided to users, then advertising reach is improved, but engagement with physical retail shops deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces beacon devices as intermediaries between online advertising systems and physical retail environments. These beacons transmit signals that trigger personalized advertisements on user devices when they are physically near a shop, thereby bridging the gap between online and offline retail experiences and improving engagement with physical stores without sacrificing online advertising reach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to online advertising by using location-based beacon technology. Advertisements are no longer delivered solely based on user data profiles but are triggered by the user's physical proximity to retail locations, creating a new dimension of context-aware advertising that enhances physical shop engagement
2Productivity
If personalized product messages are delivered in real-time based on user profiles, then customer engagement is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring beacon devices with merchant profile information and pre-establishing user profiles with product interests before the user arrives at a physical location. When the user enters the vicinity, the system automatically matches and delivers relevant advertisements without requiring complex real-time processing, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining high engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing users to have their profiles automatically updated based on their online searching activities through the user tracker. This automated profile maintenance reduces the need for manual intervention and complex system management, lowering operational complexity while enabling personalized advertising
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
Enhances customer engagement and improves sales by delivering personalized product messages in real-time when users are near physical retail locations, bridging the gap between online and offline shopping experiences.
Implementation Method 1
receive, via a local wireless channel, a beacon ID from a local beacon device when within a communication distance of the local beacon device
Data Source
AI summary
A messaging system comprising: a user device to: receive a beacon ID from a local beacon device when within a communication distance of the local beacon device; communicate information enabling a merchant database to identify a merchant profile associated with the local beacon device in response to receiving the beacon ID; and receive product message(s) for presentation via a user interface of the user device, the merchant database comprising merchant profile(s), each merchant profile comprising data entries associated with product(s), a user database comprising user profile(s), and a comparison server to: receive from the merchant database a merchant profile associated with a beacon ID obtained by the user device and a user profile associated with the user device from the user database; identify, based on the received merchant profile and user profile, product message(s) for communication to the user device; and communicate the product message(s) to the user device.