Systems and methods for targeted assistance on user check-in

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10600098-B2
Application number	US-201615384169-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2016
Priority date	Dec 23, 2013
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

There are provided systems and method for targeted assistance on user check-in. A service location may provide beacons at or near the location to determine if a user approaching or at the service location has any experience with the service location. For example, a merchant may place a beacon at the entrance to a store to determine if a user has shopped at the store. Thus, when a user is in proximity to the beacon, a user device of the user and the beacon may establish a check-in. Through a user identifier communicated to the beacon, the service provider at the location may determine a user history, such as a number of visits by the user to the service location. The service location may then provide targeted assistance, such as information, personal help, item searches, etc., based on the user's history with the merchant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
broadcasting, by a wireless beacon, a short range wireless signal at a location and comprising a beacon identifier for the wireless beacon and a wake-up process for an application on a mobile device that causes the application to activate and communicate with the wireless beacon, wherein the beacon identifier comprises a digital token stored on the mobile device;
in response determining the application has been activated without user input from a user of the mobile device based on receiving the beacon identifier, increasing a power state of the wireless beacon, wherein the power state of the wireless beacon is increased to facilitate and maintain wireless communications with the mobile device through a short range wireless communication channel;
transmitting a request to establish the short range wireless communication channel with the mobile device, wherein the request displays check-in request data on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile device;
in response to receiving an identifier from the mobile device, connecting, by the wireless beacon, to the mobile device through the short range wireless communication channel;
automatically processing, based on the identifier, a check-in at the location for the mobile device with a server of a service provider without requiring the mobile device to connect with the server, wherein the automatically processing the check-in comprises:
retrieving user data for the user from the mobile device, wherein the user data comprises a number of previous check-ins for the mobile device and an experience level setting for the user at one or more of the location or another location associated with the location;
transmitting the user data and the identifier with the beacon identifier to the server of the service provider;
receiving a plurality of targeted assistance options for the user at the location associated with the experience level for the user at the location based on the user data and the location;
displaying the plurality of targeted assistance options and an option to change the experience level through the GUI of the mobile device; and

requesting a targeted assistance option for the user from the server based on a selection from the plurality of targeted assistance options and/or the option to change the experience level;
receiving, by the wireless beacon from the server, information for the targeted assistance option for the user; and
updating the GUI with the information for the targeted assistance option.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an acceptance of the targeted assistance option from the mobile device; and
communicating the acceptance to one of the service provider or a local device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the targeted assistance option is associated with user assistance preferences identified using the identifier.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the beacon identifier identifies the location for the wireless beacon to the service provider.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a request for the targeted assistance option from the mobile device;
detecting a merchant employee device within a communication range of the wireless beacon; and
communicating the request to the merchant employee device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
establishing, through the wireless beacon, a communication channel with the server of the service provider; and
passing, through the wireless beacon, additional information between the mobile device and the server of the service provider, wherein the additional information comprises at least one of an assistance request, an assistance preference, transaction information, payment information, or identification information.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request alerts the user of the check-in.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless beacon and the mobile device connect using one of near field communication, radio communication, infrared communication, Bluetooth communication, or Bluetooth low energy communication.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user data further comprises one of a location of origin of the user or the mobile device, a location of use of a user account associated with the user or the mobile device, a nationality of the user, a language of the user, or assistance information for disability assistance for the user.

10. A wireless beacon system comprising:
a non-transitory memory; and
one or more hardware processors coupled to the non-transitory memory and configured to read instructions from the non-transitory memory to cause the wireless beacon system to perform operations comprising:
broadcasting, by the wireless beacon system, a short range wireless signal at a location and comprising a beacon identifier for the wireless beacon system and a wake-up process for an application on a mobile device that causes the application to activate and communicate with the wireless beacon system, wherein the beacon identifier comprises a digital token stored on the mobile device;
in response to determining the application has been activated without user input from a user of the mobile device based on receiving the beacon identifier, increasing a power state of the wireless beacon system, wherein the power state of the wireless beacon system is increased to facilitate and maintain wireless communications with the mobile device through a short range wireless communication channel;
transmitting a request to establish the short range wireless communication channel with the mobile device, wherein the request causes check-in request data to be displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile device;
in response to receiving an identifier from the mobile device, connecting, by the wireless beacon system, to the mobile device through the short range wireless communication channel;
automatically processing, based on the identifier, a check-in at the location for the mobile device with a server of a service provider without requiring the mobile device to connect with the server, wherein the automatically processing the check-in comprises:
retrieving user data for the user from the mobile device, wherein the user data comprises a number of previous check-ins for the mobile device and an experience level setting for the user at one or more of the location or another location associated with the location;
transmitting the user data and the identifier with the beacon identifier to the server of the service provider;
receiving a plurality of targeted assistance options for the user at the location associated with the experience level for the user at the location based on the user data and the location;
displaying the plurality of targeted assistance options and an option to change the experience level through the GUI of the mobile device; and
requesting a targeted assistance option for the user from the server based on a selection from the plurality of targeted assistance options and/or the option to change the experience level;

receiving, by the wireless beacon system from the server, information for the targeted assistance option for the user; and
updating the GUI with the information for the targeted assistance option.

11. The wireless beacon system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving an acceptance of the targeted assistance option from the mobile device; and
communicating the acceptance to one of the service provider or a local device.

12. The wireless beacon system of claim 10 , wherein the targeted assistance option is associated with user assistance preferences identified using the

Assignees

• Paypal Inc

Inventors

• Schulz Egan
• Serrano Michelle
• Su Libo

Classifications

• G06Q30/0613 Primary

  using intermediate agents · CPC title

• H04W4/02

  Services making use of location information · CPC title

• H04W8/005

  Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals · CPC title

• G06Q10/06315

  Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title