Mobile Device Beacon Functionality Without Dedicated Hardware
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-powered Bluetooth beacon devices face challenges in locations without electricity, requiring frequent recharging and leading to unreliable performance and customer frustration, especially when deployed in settings like dining tables where power outlets are scarce.
Innovation Solution
Mobile devices with transceivers can operate as beacon devices, receiving and relaying unique identifiers from other mobile devices' Bluetooth transceivers to associate customer accounts with transactions, enabling mobile payments and location-based functions even without traditional beacon device deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If battery-powered beacon devices are deployed in locations without electricity, then beacon device coverage is improved, but maintenance effort and reliability deteriorate due to frequent recharging
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows mobile devices to autonomously function as beacon devices without requiring external power infrastructure or manual recharging. The mobile device's existing battery and transceiver components enable it to self-serve as a beacon, eliminating the maintenance burden associated with dedicated battery-powered beacon devices while maintaining coverage in locations without electricity.
Solution Approach 2:
Mobile devices are utilized for multiple purposes: they serve both as customer communication interfaces and as beacon devices. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated beacon hardware, allowing the same device to provide both messaging capabilities and location-based beacon functionality, thereby improving reliability while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If battery-powered beacon devices are deployed in locations without electricity, then beacon device coverage is improved, but operational complexity increases due to recharging requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Mobile devices autonomously function as beacons using their existing power and communication capabilities. No manual recharging or maintenance is required since the device already contains its own power source and transceiver, eliminating the operational complexity associated with maintaining dedicated beacon devices in remote locations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of deploying physical beacon devices that require maintenance, the system creates a functional copy of beacon functionality within mobile devices. The mobile device replicates beacon operations using its existing components, eliminating the need for separate maintenance procedures while maintaining coverage capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional beacon devices are deployed, then location-based functionality is provided, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device serves dual purposes as both a customer interface and a beacon device. By integrating beacon functionality into the mobile device, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated beacon hardware, thereby reducing device complexity and deployment requirements while maintaining location-based functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replicates beacon functionality within the mobile device's existing transceiver and processing capabilities. This functional copying eliminates the need for specialized beacon hardware, reducing complexity while preserving location-based services.
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
This solution allows for seamless mobile payments and location-based services in areas without traditional beacon device power sources, enhancing system reliability and user experience by leveraging existing mobile device capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
receiving a radio signal via a transceiver of the mobile device. The radio signal in such embodiments includes an identifier encoded therein
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments each include at least one of systems, methods, devices, and software for operating mobile devices as beacon devices. One embodiment in the form of a method includes retrieving data, from a backend system by a mobile device app that executes on a first mobile device, of an open bill associated in the backend system with a first customer account. This method further includes receiving a radio signal via a transceiver of the mobile device. The radio signal in such embodiments includes an identifier encoded therein. The method also includes transmitting the identifier encoded in the received radio signal to the backend system to associate a second customer account with the open bill in the backend system, the second customer account associated with the identifier.