Ad-Hoc Mesh Geotargeting via Mobile Device Relaying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content distribution systems face challenges in delivering geotargeted content to users in areas with limited or no wireless connectivity, such as within building structures that block wireless signals, leading to impaired content delivery and revenue loss for merchants.
Innovation Solution
A peer-to-peer geotargeting system using ad-hoc mesh networks, where mobile devices cache and share geolocated content, allowing direct wireless transmissions between devices to provide relevant offers and content even without traditional wireless connectivity, leveraging beacon signals and caching mechanisms to ensure content availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beacon transmitters are installed to provide geotargeted content in areas with limited wireless connectivity, then content delivery reliability is improved, but installation and maintenance cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mobile devices to copy and relay beacon signals and content to other devices in areas with limited connectivity. Instead of installing physical beacon transmitters everywhere, the system creates virtual copies of beacon functionality using existing mobile devices, thereby maintaining content delivery reliability without increasing physical infrastructure complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces mobile devices as intermediary nodes that receive content from beacons and relay it to other devices via ad-hoc mesh networks. This intermediary approach allows content to reach devices in areas with limited wireless connectivity without requiring direct beacon installation at every location, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability
2Ease of operation
If traditional wireless networks are used to deliver geotargeted content, then content delivery is simple, but connectivity is blocked in areas with limited wireless access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional centralized wireless network delivery to a decentralized ad-hoc mesh network approach. By adding the dimension of peer-to-peer device-to-device communication, the system bypasses blocked traditional wireless signals and delivers content through alternative pathways, maintaining ease of operation while improving connectivity reliability in challenging environments
3Area of stationary object
If beacon transmitters are deployed for large geographic areas, then geotargeting coverage is improved, but the number of transmitters needed increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes mobile devices universal nodes that can simultaneously serve multiple functions: acting as beacons, relays, and content receivers. Each mobile device can participate in multiple ad-hoc network connections and serve different geographic areas at different times, thereby achieving broad geotargeting coverage without requiring a proportional increase in dedicated transmitter infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a process, including: obtaining, in memory of a first mobile computing device, a plurality of content items, at least some of the content items pertaining to respective different geographic areas; receiving, with the first mobile computing device, data indicating a user interaction with a given content item among the plurality of the content items; and in response to receiving the data indicative of the user interaction, transmitting a wireless signal from the first mobile computing device directly to a second mobile computing device that is different from the first mobile computing device, the wireless signal being indicative of the given content item and indicating that the given content item pertains to a given geographic area within range of the wireless signal transmission.