Virtual Beacon Transmitters for Wireless Terminal Signal Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack the ability for wireless terminals to utilize information from beacon signals when they cannot receive actual beacon transmissions or lack the necessary receivers, and there is a need for methods to simulate beacon signal reception without deploying physical transmitters.
Innovation Solution
Implementing virtual beacon signals, where the location and transmission power of virtual beacon transmitters are indicated, allowing devices to determine signal strength and coverage based on location, and generate messages simulating actual beacon reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If actual beacon transmitters are deployed to provide beacon signals, then wireless terminals can receive beacon information, but physical transmitters cannot be placed in all desired locations and cause interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual beacon transmitters that generate simulated beacon signals without physical deployment. These virtual transmitters copy the essential characteristics of real beacons (signal strength, coverage area, identifier) and allow wireless terminals to receive and process beacon information as if from actual transmitters, eliminating the need for physical hardware in every location while avoiding interference issues
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a virtual beacon transmitter as an intermediary between the information provider and wireless terminals. This virtual transmitter acts as a mediator that provides beacon signal information to terminals without requiring actual physical transmission infrastructure, thereby solving the deployment and interference problems while maintaining reliable beacon reception functionality
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless terminals lack beacon receiving capability, then device complexity is reduced, but they cannot utilize beacon information services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical beacon receiving hardware with a virtual simulation approach. Wireless terminals without actual beacon receivers can still access beacon information services by receiving virtual beacon signals that are computationally generated, substituting physical reception capability with virtual signal processing
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual beacon transmitter system provides universal access to beacon information services for all wireless terminals regardless of their native beacon receiving capability. The system makes the beacon information service universally accessible by generating virtual signals that can be processed by any terminal with basic signal processing ability, not just those with dedicated beacon receivers
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 maybe considered to transmit virtual beacons. In some embodiments a set of beacon transmitter information for one or more beacons is supplied to devices in a communications system. The beacon transmitter information indicates transmission power and location of actual and virtual beacon transmitters as well as information to be communicated by virtual beacons. Devices with access to beacon information can determine based on the location of a wireless terminal whether the wireless terminal is within coverage area of a virtual beacon and report reception of the virtual beacon to the wireless terminal or a component of the wireless terminal which acts upon receiving an indication of beacon reception.