System and method for remote device recognition at public hotspots

Abstract

Described are various embodiments of a system and method in which device-identifying data can be used to uniquely recognize and optionally track and report on device activity at one or more hotspot locations by way of the creation and management of a device profile uniquely associated with such devices and stored in a network accessible knowledge base.

1 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A method for recognizing a wireless device across multiple hotspot locations, the method comprising:
 detecting, using one or more hardware processors, at one of the multiple hotspot locations a wireless transmission sent by the wireless device;   extracting a unique device identifier of the detected device from said wireless transmission, said unique device identifier automatically embedded within said wireless transmission by the detected device without user input;   cross-referencing said extracted device identifier with a network accessible database of stored device profiles, each of said device profiles having a respective stored device identifier associated therewith; and   recognizing the detected device upon matching said extracted device identifier with one said stored device identifier; otherwise   automatically creating a new device profile in said database as a function of said extracted device identifier such that the device is recognized upon subsequent detection at any of said multiple hotspot locations.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising:
 tracking the device via said device profile to recognize returning devices at a same hotspot.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising:
 providing the device access to an available network connection at said one hotspot; and   accessing additional data distinct from said unique device identifier from said device upon said device accessing said available network;   associating said additional data with said device profile;   accessing said additional data upon subsequently recognizing said device at any of said multiple hotspots; and   tailoring user experience via the device as a function of said additional data.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising:
 identifying a location of said hotspot;   associating said location with said device profile; and   tracking at least one of usage location patterns of the device and usage by location for multiple devices via said device profiles.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , said device identifier comprising a value indicative of an inherent characteristic of the device. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , said inherent characteristic comprising a MAC address of the device. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said wireless transmission comprises a scanning transmission scanning for an available network connection at said one hotspot. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein said scanning transmission comprises a probe request automatically transmitted by the device in scanning for the available network connection, and wherein said extracting comprises extracting a MAC address of the device from said probe request. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising:
 compiling for a given hotspot location or for a designated group of said hotspot locations, and for a designated reporting time period, a number of recognized devices uniquely identified during said time period; and   outputting said at least one number or an indicia representative thereof.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising:
 compiling for a given hotspot location or for a designated group of said hotspot locations, and for a designated reporting time period, a number or a percentage of said recognized devices identified over said time period satisfying a preset loyalty threshold defined by a number of recognized device visits at said given hotspot location or at any one of said designated group of said hotspot locations over a preset time period; and   outputting said number, said percentage or an indicia representative thereof.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising
 wirelessly transmitting an engagement offer to the device, said engagement offer requiring user action on the device for implementation, said action resulting in enhanced communicative access to the device; and   upon subsequently detecting the device, using said enhanced communicative access to automatically engage a user of the device without user input.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , said action resulting in transmission of user contact information, the method further comprising:
 receiving and storing said transmitted user information in association with said device profile; and   upon subsequently detecting the device, automatically communicating a message to the device via said contact information.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising:
 detecting at said one of the multiple hotspot locations a sent wireless transmission sent to an other wireless device by a distinct hotspot location within range of said one of the multiple hotspot locations;   extracting an other unique device identifier of the detected other device from said sent wireless transmission, said other unique device identifier automatically embedded within said sent wireless transmission without user input;   cross-referencing said extracted other device identifier with said network accessible database of stored device profiles; and   recognizing said other detected device upon matching said extracted other device identifier with one said stored device identifier; otherwise   automatically creating a new device profile in said database as a function of said extracted other device identifier.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising:
 detecting at a passive Wi-Fi receiver location a wireless transmission sent by the device;   extracting said unique device identifier to recognize the device; and   logging a device visit at said receiver location in said device profile.   
     
     
         64 . A system for tracking wireless devices across multiple hotspot locations, the system comprising:
 a network accessible database having stored therein a plurality of device profiles each identifying a respective wireless device by a stored unique device identifier, each said stored unique device identifier indicative of an inherent characteristic of said respective device; and   a network access module, comprising one or more hardware processor, at each of said locations and configured to detect at a given location a wireless transmission sent from a given device and having embedded therein a transmitted unique device identifier inherent to said given device;   said network access module interfacing with said network accessible database to cross-reference said transmitted unique device identifier with said plurality of device profiles to identify a matching profile and thereby recognize said given device, and otherwise automatically create a new device profile based on said transmitted unique device identifier so to recognize said given device upon subsequent detection at any of said multiple hotspot locations.   
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein said network access module comprises a gateway configured to intercept said wireless transmission and redirect same to a network accessible processor programmed to extract said transmitted identifier and cross-reference same with said device profiles. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein said inherent characteristic comprises a MAC address. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein said wireless transmission comprises a probe request automatically transmitted by said given device in scanning for an available network connection and having embedded therein said inherent characteristic, said inherent characteristic being a MAC address of said given device. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 64 , further comprising a packet listener interfacing with said network access module and said database to extract said transmitted identifier for cross-referencing with said device profiles. 
     
     
         69 . A method for recognizing a wireless device across multiple Wi-Fi locations, the method comprising:
 detecting at one of the multiple Wi-Fi locations a wireless transmission sent by the wireless device;   extracting a unique device identifier of the detected device from said wireless transmission, said unique device identifier automatically embedded within said wireless transmission by the detected device without user input;   cross-referencing said extracted device identifier with a network accessible database of stored device profiles, each of said device profiles having a respective stored device identifier associated therewith;   recognizing the detected device upon matching said extracted device identifier with one said stored device identifier;   associating with said device profile of said recognized device said one of the multiple Wi-Fi locations; and   centrally compiling from said stored device profiles, visit data for each of said multiple Wi-Fi locations.