Patent Publication Number: US-10321271-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for providing service

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/136,413, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Apr. 22, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/584,542, which was filed in the USPTO on Dec. 29, 2014, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,338,593 on May 10, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/631,161, which was filed in the USPTO on Sep. 28, 2012, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,937,932 on Jan. 20, 2015, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0098937, filed on Sep. 29, 2011, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for providing a service, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing differentiated services to a terminal that has received a signal from a wireless transmitter/receiver. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In order to provide wireless communication services, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access point is installed. WLAN is a near field communication network within a predetermined distance from an installation location of an Access Point (AP), which is a wireless transmitter/receiver. One such commonly used technique is Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi). 
     As sales of mobile devices involving a lot of information traffic, such as smartphones, tablet Personal Computers (PCs), mobile PCs, etc., are increasing worldwide, production of Wi-Fi devices is rapidly increasing every year. In order to accommodate this trend, wireless APs (and/or another wireless transmitters/receivers) for sending wireless signals, (e.g., a beacon) are being installed in many locations. 
     Current wireless transmitters/receivers provide wireless transmitter/receiver services to mobile devices that are within a vicinity of the transmitters/receivers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing differentiated services to a terminal according to a signal intensity of a signal that is sent from a wireless transmitter/receiver and received by the terminal. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a mobile device is provided. The mobile includes communication circuitry configured to receive a signal transmitted from a wireless transmitter; and a processor configured to determine identification information of the wireless transmitter based on the received signal and signal intensity information based on an intensity of the received signal, and provide the identification information and the determined signal intensity information to an application executed in the mobile device in order to send, to a server, a request for information based on the identification information and the determined signal intensity information. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method performed by a mobile device for receiving a service from a server is provided. The method includes receiving a signal transmitted from a wireless transmitter; determining identification information of the wireless transmitter based on the received signal and signal intensity information based on an intensity of the received signal; providing the identification information and the determined signal intensity information to an application executed in the mobile device; and sending, through the executed application, to the server, a request for information based on the identification information and the determined signal intensity information. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a method performed by a mobile device is provided. The method includes receiving a signal transmitted from the wireless transmitter; determining identification information of the wireless transmitter based on the received signal and signal intensity information based on an intensity of the received signal; providing the identification information and the determined signal intensity information to an application executed in the mobile device; and sending, through the executed application, to the server, a request for information based on the identification information and the determined signal intensity information. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspect, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a location-based service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a service according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a table showing differentiated services stored in a content storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a scenario of a differentiated service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a service providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a detailed explanation of known related functions and constitutions may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a location-based service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the location-based service providing system includes a terminal  110  and a server  120 ; the terminal  110  includes a positioning module  111  and a mobile communication module  112 , and the server  120  includes a platform module  121  and an application module  122 . 
     The positioning module  111  checks a location of the terminal  110 , by using techniques such as cell IDentification (ID) determination, enhanced cell ID determination, triangulation such as Angle of Arrival (AoA), Time of Arrival (ToA), Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA), and/or technologies such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Assisted GPS (AGPS), Differentiated GPS (DGPS) or Wireless Fidelity (WiFi). However, these positioning examples are non-limiting, and other such techniques may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     The mobile communication module  112  performs communication between the terminal  110  and the server  120 . Mobile communication techniques used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include Code Division Multiple Access (CMDA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), and Personal Communication Service (PCS). Additional mobile communication techniques related to near field communication in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include WiFi and Bluetooth communications. However, these mobile communication techniques are non-limiting examples, and other such mobile communication techniques may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     The platform module  121  may include technologies such as server architecture, storage, indexing, open Application Programming Interface (API), and security technologies. The server architecture technology is a location-based processing technology based on location-based functions such as obtaining a location from a location obtaining server in response to a terminal-side location information request, management of location information and processing of personal or collective location information, tracing of movement paths, etc. Herein, storage technology refers to a technology for storing a large amount of information and managing the same. Indexing technology may refer to a technology for systemizing location information or its relevant information in optimized forms and configuring the same such that the information may be searched easily. Open API technology refers to a technology for connecting other service providers to provide location information and relevant information. Security technology refers to a technology for controlling access of users such as user profile management, authorization, or security. The structure of the platform module  121  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  is provided an example, and embodiments of the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     The application module  122  includes applications with which location-based services are provided to the terminal  110 . Examples of applications included within the application module  122  include map, navigation, information, commerce, health care, tracing, advertising, entertainment, and health and safety applications. However, other such applications may be included within the application module  122  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a service according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in step  210 , when a terminal enters a vicinity of a wireless transmitter/receiver, a service providing apparatus receives, from the terminal, information about the wireless transmitter/receiver. The vicinity of the wireless transmitter/receiver may be an area in which the wireless transmitter/receiver can communicate with a terminal. The terminal receives a signal including unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver broadcast by the wireless transmitter/receiver and address information of a server for services to the terminal. According to the present example according to embodiment of the present invention, the wireless transmitter/receiver may be a beacon or an AP. In the current embodiment, the unique information of a wireless transmitter/receiver may include at least one of a Media Access Control (MAC) address, a Service Set IDentifier (SSID), and a Basic Service Set IDentifier (BSSID). When receiving a signal from the wireless transmitter/receiver, the terminal detects a reception intensity of the received signal. Reception intensity may be in the form of a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI). 
     Thereafter, the information about the wireless transmitter/receiver including the unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver and reception intensity is transmitted to the service providing apparatus. Also, the terminal may transmit IDentification (ID) information of the terminal to the service providing apparatus, and when receiving the ID of the terminal, the service providing apparatus stores the same. If it is possible to calculate a distance from the terminal to the wireless transmitter/receiver according to signal intensity, the terminal may transmit information indicating the calculated distance. 
     In step  220 , the service providing apparatus determines differentiated services according to information about the wireless transmitter/receiver. The service providing apparatus determines differentiated services according to the unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver and/or signal intensity included in the information about the wireless transmitter/receiver. The signal intensity is reference information based on which a distance between the wireless transmitter/receiver and the terminal may be calculated. Accordingly, the service providing apparatus provides differentiated services to the terminal according to the distance between the wireless transmitter/receiver and the terminal. Therefore, the terminal may receive, not just a simple service, but differentiated services according the distance between the wireless transmitter/receiver and the terminal. Services may include information such as contents or service Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). Other such information and/or services may be provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a table  300  showing differentiated services stored in a content storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the table  300  includes an RSSI field  310 , which indicates signal intensity, and a service item field  320  showing services to be provided according to the signal intensity. For example, when a signal intensity of a signal received by the service providing apparatus is −80 [dBm], n is −120&lt;n≤−60 [dBm] (see  302 ), and therefore, a service to be provided in this case is ‘Contents A-1.’ If a signal intensity of a signal received by the service providing apparatus is −20 [dBm], n is −60&lt;n [dBm] (see  301 ), and therefore, a service to be provided in this case is ‘Contents A-0.’ 
     If the service providing apparatus receives distance information directly from the terminal, differentiated services may be provided to the terminal according to distance information. 
     In step  240 , the service providing apparatus provides the determined services, to the terminal. The service providing apparatus may provide a service directly to the terminal according to ID of the terminal, or the service providing apparatus may provide the service to the terminal via a wireless transmitter/receiver based on unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver. 
     Alternatively, if the ID of the terminal that has received a service according to the method of  FIG. 2  is stored in the service providing apparatus, differentiated services may also be provided by the service providing apparatus even when the terminal has not entered the vicinity of the wireless transmitter/receiver. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a scenario of a differentiated service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a first terminal  421 , a second terminal  422 , a third terminal  423 , and a fourth terminal  424  receive an SSID, a MAC address, and/or another address of a server  430 . The first terminal  421 , the second terminal  422 , the third terminal  423 , and the fourth terminal  424  measure the RSSI of signals received from an AP  410 . Signal intensities of the signals received by the first terminal  421 , the second terminal  422 , the third terminal  423 , and the fourth terminal  424  are −60 [dBm], −120 [dBm], −180 [dBm], and −200 [dBm], respectively. The first terminal  421 , the second terminal  422 , the third terminal  423  and the fourth terminal  424  transmit the SSID or MAC address received from AP  410 , the measured RSSI, and IDs of the first through fourth terminals  421  through  424  to the servicer  430  according to the received server address. After transmitting this information, the server  430  provides differentiated services, that is, Contents A-0, Contents A-1, Contents A-2, and Contents A-3 to the first terminal  421 , the second terminal  422 , the third terminal  423 , and the fourth terminal  424 . A fifth terminal  425 , which has previously received a service from the server  430 , may subsequently receive services from the server  430  even when the fifth terminal  425  is not in the vicinity of the AP  410 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a solid line arrow  401  denotes information being transmitted from a terminal to the server  430 , and a dotted line arrow  402  denotes a service provided from the server  430  to a terminal. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a service providing apparatus  530  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the service providing apparatus  530  includes a communication unit  532 , a control unit  534 , and a storage unit  536 . The service providing apparatus  530  is connected to a terminal  520  via a predetermined network. Also, the service providing apparatus  530  may be connected to a wireless transmitter/receiver  510  via a predetermined network. 
     The communication unit  532  receives, from the terminal  520 , information about the wireless transmitter/receiver  510  which the terminal entered the vicinity of the wireless transmitter/receiver  510 . The terminal  520  receives a signal including unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver  510  broadcast by the wireless transmitter/receiver  510  and address information of a server that is to provide a service, that is, of a service providing apparatus. According to the current example according to an embodiment of the present invention, the wireless transmitter/receiver  510  may be a beacon or an AP. In the current example, unique information of a wireless transmitter/receiver may include at least one of a MAC address, an SSID, and a BSSID. When receiving a signal from the wireless transmitter/receiver, the terminal  520  detects a reception intensity of the received signal. Reception intensity may be reported in the form of an RSSI. After the reception intensity is detected, the information about the wireless transmitter/receiver  510 , including the unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver  510  and reception intensity, is transmitted to the service providing apparatus  530 . The terminal  520  may also transmit ID of the terminal  520  to the service providing apparatus  530 , and when receiving the ID of the terminal  520 , the control unit  534  stores the received ID. If it is possible to calculate a distance from the terminal  520  to the wireless transmitter/receiver  510  according to signal intensity, the terminal  520  may transmit information indicating the calculated distance. 
     The control unit  534  determines differentiated services according to information about the wireless transmitter/receiver  510 . The control unit  534  determines differentiated services according to the unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver  510  and/or signal intensity included in the information about the wireless transmitter/receiver  510 . The signal intensity is reference information based on which a distance between the wireless transmitter/receiver  510  and the terminal  520  may be calculated. Accordingly, the service providing apparatus  530  provides differentiated services to the terminal  520  according to the distance between the wireless transmitter/receiver  510  and the terminal  520 . In the current example, the terminal  520  may receive, not just a simple service, but differentiated services according the distance between the wireless transmitter/receiver  510  and to the terminal  520 . Services may include contents and/or a service URL. However, these services are merely listed as examples, and other services may be provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     The services provided according to the distance may be provided according to the table  300  of  FIG. 3 , in a manner similar to that explained herein with reference to the operations corresponding to  FIG. 2 . 
     If the communication unit  532  receives distance information directly from the terminal  520 , the control unit  534  provides differentiated services to the terminal  520  according to distance information. 
     The control unit  534  may provide a service directly to the terminal  520  according to ID of the terminal  520  or provide a service to the terminal  520  via the wireless transmitter/receiver  510  based on the unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver  510 . 
     Alternatively, if the terminal  520  has previously received a service as described herein above, the ID of the terminal  520  is stored in the storage unit  536 , and the control unit  534  may provide differentiated services even when the terminal  520  is not within the vicinity of the wireless transmitter/receiver  510 . 
     The embodiments of the present invention may include computer readable codes on a computer readable recording medium. Such a computer readable recording medium may include any data storage device that can store data that can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of such a computer readable recording medium include Read-Only Memory (ROM), Random-Access Memory (RAM), Compact Disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, etc. Such a computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. Functional programs, codes, and/or code segments, which may be used in implementing embodiments of the present invention, can be easily construed by programmers of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. The embodiments should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.