Mobile Customer Presence Detection via Local Registry Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current geo-fencing technologies lack efficient methods to detect and manage customer presence within specific geographic locations, such as retail stores, for personalized marketing and sales associate tools, especially in environments with limited network availability.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using direct device communication between client devices, updating local registries, and retrieving customer information from servers to display real-time customer presence and data, leveraging Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons and GPS for geo-fencing, enabling sales associates to view customer information and update lists dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct device communication is used for real-time customer presence detection, then detection speed and reliability are improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server device as an intermediary that coordinates communication between client devices. The server manages the registry of customer identifiers and facilitates communication protocols, reducing the complexity burden on individual client devices while maintaining reliable direct device communication for presence detection
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing communication channels and pre-loading customer information from the server. Client devices maintain local registries updated in advance through synchronization protocols, enabling rapid presence detection without real-time complex computations during actual detection events
2Productivity
If local registry updates are performed continuously, then real-time customer presence information is improved, but energy consumption and data processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic registry updates rather than continuous updates. Client devices synchronize with the server at predetermined intervals or triggered by specific events (such as customer entry/exiting geo-fence areas), maintaining real-time capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing client devices to autonomously manage their local registries. Devices automatically detect customer presence, update their own registries without constant server intervention, and handle error conditions independently, reducing processing load on both devices and server
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive customer information is retrieved and displayed, then marketing effectiveness is improved, but information processing time and network dependency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments customer information into two categories: critical real-time presence data stored locally in client device registries, and comprehensive profile data maintained on the server. This segmentation enables immediate local responses for basic marketing actions while comprehensive information is retrieved on-demand, reducing overall response time and network dependency
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-storing essential customer presence information and basic profile data in local registries on client devices. This preliminary data availability enables immediate marketing responses without requiring real-time server communication for all information needs, reducing latency and network dependency
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
Enables real-time customer presence detection and data retrieval, enhancing personalized marketing and sales associate tools, even in areas with low network availability, by updating local registries and displaying customer information through graphical user interfaces.
Implementation Method 1
Geo-fencing is a feature in a software program that uses the global positioning system (GPS) or radio frequency identification (RFID) to define geographical boundaries
Implementation Method 2
Geo-fencing is a feature in a software program that uses the global positioning system (GPS) or radio frequency identification (RFID) to define geographical boundaries
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method, including detecting, by a first client device, a presence of a mobile customer in a particular geographic location, with detecting being through a direct device communication between the first client device and a second client device that is associated with the mobile customer; in response to the mobile customer presence detection, updating a local registry of the first client device with a customer identifier of the mobile customer; and retrieving, from a server device, customer information about the mobile customer; generating, based on contents of the local registry, a list of customers who are presently located in the particular geographic location; and rendering on a display device of the first client device at least one of the list of customers or the retrieved customer information.