Dynamic Virtual Beacons Without Physical Transmitters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in utilizing beacon signals without physical transmitters, as deploying and maintaining physical beacons can be costly and difficult, and changing their power or characteristics is cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
Implementing virtual beacon transmitters that simulate beacon signals by dynamically altering their location, transmission power, and characteristics based on schedules, device locations, and group movements, allowing devices to process and use beacon information without physical transmitters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical beacon transmitters are deployed to transmit beacon signals, then beacon signal transmission and reception can be achieved, but deployment and maintenance costs increase and flexibility to change transmitter characteristics decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of physical beacon transmitters by storing transmitter information (location, power level, characteristics) in a database. These virtual beacons replicate the functionality of physical transmitters without requiring actual hardware deployment, thereby eliminating deployment and maintenance costs while maintaining reliable beacon signal transmission through simulated signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical beacon transmitter system with an information-based virtual system. Instead of using actual radio frequency transmitters requiring physical deployment, the system uses stored transmitter information and location data to generate virtual beacon signals, substituting physical infrastructure with data processing.
2Reliability
If physical beacon transmitters are used, then beacon signals can be transmitted, but changing transmit power and physical characteristics becomes difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic virtual beacon transmitters whose characteristics (location, power level, transmitter type) can be changed in real-time by updating stored transmitter information in the database. This allows the system to adapt to changing conditions, move beacons dynamically, and modify characteristics without any physical changes, providing complete flexibility while maintaining reliable signal transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables easy modification of beacon characteristics by changing parameters stored in the database (transmitter location, power level, frequency, other characteristics). These parameter changes instantly update the virtual beacon behavior without requiring physical transmitter modification, providing full adaptability while maintaining transmission reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices are equipped with beacon receiving capability, then they can process beacon signal information, but devices lacking wireless receivers cannot utilize beacon signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server or network component as an intermediary that generates virtual beacon signals and delivers them to devices. This intermediary handles the complexity of beacon signal generation and transmission, allowing devices without wireless receivers to receive beacon information through alternative channels (e.g., cellular data connection), thereby extending beacon capability to all devices regardless of their receiver hardware.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus relating to use of actual and/or virtual beacons are described. Virtual beacons are virtual in that an actual beacon need not be transmitted but a rather a virtual beacon transmitter at a desired location may be considered to transmit virtual beacons. Beacon transmitter information indicates transmission power and location of actual and virtual beacon transmitters as well as information to be communicated by virtual beacons and is dynamically updated based on device movement, a schedule and/or the locations of devices in a group. Virtual personal beacons, virtual group beacons and virtual scheduled beacons are supported. A virtual personal beacon transmitter location is updated as the location of a device corresponding to the person moves. Reception of a virtual beacon is reported in a message sent to a wireless terminal or a component of the wireless terminal which acts upon receiving an indication of beacon reception.