Patent ID: 6763224
Filing Date: 2004-07-13
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method for enabling the user of a mobile data processing device to perform a service interaction with a networked arrangement of beacons, said arrangement being subdivided into respective clusters of beacons, with a cluster of beacon devices containing a first and plural second beacon devices capable of wireless message transmission, wherein:a first beacon of a cluster broadcasts a series of inquiry messages according to a first communications protocol, and including respective identifiers for the beacon and cluster; the users mobile device, on detecting such inquiry messages, replies with an identifier for the mobile device, together with message reason data; the first beacon device transmits a received identifier and message reason data to a selected second beacon device; and the selected second beacon and mobile device perform a service interaction based at least partly on the message reason data, including establishing a communications link for performance of said service interaction when indicated by the message reason data.