Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Robert L Blake

Robert J Davies

Paul M Fulton

A communications system includes first and second beacon devices capable of wireless message transmission and at least one portable device capable of receiving such message transmissions. The first beacon is arrange to broadcast a series of inquiry messages according to a first communications protocol, such as Bluetooth. The portable device detects such inquiry messages and replies with an identifier for the portable device. The first beacon then transmits the received identifier to the second beacon, with the second beacon and portable device configured to perform a service interaction when triggered by the second beacon receiving the portable device identifier.

Local data delivery through beacons

A data transmission system comprises a first ( ) and two or more second ( ) beacon devices interconnected ( ) as a cluster capable of wireless message transmission, and at least one mobile device ( ) capable of receiving such message transmissions. The first beacon ( ) is arranged to broadcast a series of inquiry messages (INQ) according to a first communications protocol, such as Bluetooth. The mobile device ( ) detects such inquiry messages and replies with an identifier for itself. The link (A) from the first beacon device is then re-established between a selected one ( ) of the second beacon devices. When a handover trigger event occurs, paging and page response messages are used to select a further second beacon device ( ) and transfer the communications link (C) thereto.

Message handover for networked beacons

A data transmission system comprises a large number of networked data beacons interconnected and grouped together in respective clusters. In the system, a first ( ) and two or more second ( ) beacon devices are interconnected ( ) as a cluster capable of wireless message transmission, and at least one mobile device ( ) capable of receiving such message transmissions. The first beacon ( ) is arranged to broadcast a series of inquiry messages (INQ) according to a first communications protocol, such as Bluetooth, but with the addition of an identifier for the cluster (CL). The mobile device ( ) detects such inquiry messages and replies with an identifier for itself, together with message reason data. The link (A) from the first beacon device is then re-established between a selected one ( ) of the second beacon devices, with interaction between the mobile device ( ) and selected second beacon device ( ) being controlled at least partly by the message reason data.

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Crewe, United Kingdom

Robert L Blake