Virtual Punchcard Check-in System Using Carrier Geofencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current geofencing technologies are expensive due to the cost of continuously 'pinging' mobile devices to determine their location, which limits their effectiveness in business loyalty programs that rely on location-based updates for punchcard systems.
Innovation Solution
A punchcard check-in system that uses geofencing technology to notify the phone carrier only when a customer enters a business establishment, allowing the system to update the customer's virtual punchcard and send relevant offers, eliminating the need for continuous location checks and reducing carrier costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous location pinging is performed to track customer location for punchcard updates, then location accuracy and check-in reliability are improved, but carrier costs and system expense increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from continuous periodic pinging to event-triggered periodic action. Location checks are performed only at specific intervals when a customer is likely to check in (e.g., when approaching geofenced areas), rather than continuously. This reduces carrier costs while maintaining sufficient check-in reliability through strategic timing of location updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining geofenced areas and criteria for check-in before actual customer visits. When a customer enters a geofenced area, the system is already prepared to trigger a location check and initiate the punchcard update process, eliminating the need for continuous monitoring while ensuring reliable check-in detection.
2Measurement precision
If geofencing technology is used to notify phone carrier of customer entry, then check-in detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary layer (the service provider platform) that mediates between the phone carrier's location data and the punchcard update system. This intermediary processes geofencing notifications, validates customer identity, and manages punchcard logic, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high check-in detection accuracy through centralized intelligent processing.
3Productivity
If continuous location monitoring is implemented to update punchcard status in real-time, then customer engagement and service responsiveness are improved, but operational expenses and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service functionality where customers automatically receive punchcard updates and notifications without requiring continuous system intervention. Once geofencing triggers a location check, the system autonomously processes the check-in, updates the punchcard status, and sends notifications, reducing operational expenses while maintaining high service responsiveness through automated workflows.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for updating a virtual punchcard check-in system, including: accesses an input to a mobile device, wherein the input comprises a verification code that is displayed at a business establishment, wherein the verification code serves as a notification of an attempted check-in of a customer at the business establishment, wherein the customer is associated with the mobile device; based on comparing accessed mobile device identification information with a set of mobile device identification information, identifies the mobile device to achieve an identified mobile device; sends a request for a location check of the mobile device to a phone carrier; receives from the phone carrier a location identification of the location of the mobile device; and if the location identification matches a location of the business establishment, generates a message, wherein the message comprises a punchcard status for the business establishment as it relates to the customer.