Patent ID: 8027667
Filing Date: 2011-09-27
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A retail coupon system for use with a wireless cellular communication device using a communication protocol for wide-area wireless networks and operating on frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks, the system comprising: a retail facility open to consumers; a transmitter associated with the retail facility and located proximate the retail facility, the transmitter configured to function as a wireless network base station having a limited transmission range on the licensed frequencies and to transmit data communications to the wireless cellular communication device; a receiver associated with the retail facility to receive data communications from the wireless cellular communication device; an antenna operatively coupled to the transmitter and the receiver; and a controller operatively coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, the controller being configured to detect when the wireless cellular communication device is within range of the transmitter, and upon detection that the wireless cellular communication device is within range of the transmitter, the controller being configured to automatically perform a base station registration process with the detected wireless cellular communication device using the communication protocol used by the wireless cellular communication device on the frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks, and, upon completion of the registration process, to cause the transmitter to transmit a coupon message from the retail facility to the wireless cellular communication device using the communication protocol used by the wireless cellular communication device to thereby permit direct communication between the retail facility and the wireless cellular communication device on the frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks.