Patent ID: 7003283
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of wireless communication in a local environment, comprising the steps of: positioning an information beacon in a certain location, said information beacon having a memory and a wireless short-range transceiver and being capable of transmitting messages in a local operating region associated with said beacon; receiving, by said beacon, a public message from a sender device when the sender device or an intermediate device capable of communicating with the sender device is within the local operating range of said beacon, wherein the public message is addressed to be accessible by any wireless communication device present within the local operating region of said beacon; storing, by said beacon, the received public message; detecting, by said beacon, a presence of a wireless communication device when the wireless communication device enters the operating region of said beacon, without said beacon communicating with any remotely located device; and wirelessly transmitting, by said beacon, a message including at least an indication of the availability of the stored public message to the wireless communication device when the presence of the wireless communication device has been detected.