Principal-Agent Mobile Commerce Proximity Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless and locationing technologies do not effectively facilitate the integration of agency relationships in electronic commerce, particularly in determining proximity-based interactions between users and agents for business purposes, such as product demonstrations or transactions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize wireless digital identifiers and location-based criteria to determine proximity between user and agent equipment, allowing for conditional sharing of digital information and triggering notifications for potential business interactions, with a data structure managed by a principal to control offers and conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireless digital identifiers and location-based criteria are used to determine proximity between users and agents, then targeted marketing and sales opportunities are enhanced, but system complexity and data management requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that manages the complexity of processing location data, wireless digital identifiers, and agency relationships. The server acts as a mediator between user equipment and agent equipment, handling the data matching and notification logic centrally, which reduces the computational burden and complexity on individual mobile devices while enabling sophisticated proximity-based marketing capabilities.
2Loss of information
If location-based proximity detection is implemented, then relevant offers can be presented to users, but data processing and notification management become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex data processing and notification management functions from the mobile devices and centralizes them on a server. The server is responsible for receiving location data, matching users with relevant offers based on proximity criteria, and managing notifications. This extraction of complexity allows mobile devices to remain relatively simple while still providing highly relevant, location-based information to users.
3Reliability
If agency relationships are formalized with data structures managed by principals, then transaction reliability is improved, but setup and management overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by requiring principals to pre-configure data structures that define agency relationships, authorization levels, and transaction parameters before actual transactions occur. These data structures are established in advance and stored on the server, enabling automated validation and execution of transactions without requiring time-consuming manual setup during the actual trading process. This preliminary configuration ensures transaction reliability while reducing operational overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a principal/agent method for mobile commerce is presented wherein mobile users receive indicia that agent equipment is in proximity wherein said indication is conditional to preferences and settings contained in a data structure determined, at least in part, by a principal.