# US 11,126,904 B2 · Dynamic ad-hoc challenge-coin device networking with secure proximity-based pseudo-random connectivity, methods of treatment using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,126,904 B2 - Document ID: US11126904B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/670,609 - Filed: 2019-10-31 - Published: 2020-05-07 - Granted: 2021-09-21 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-31 - Assignees: Lito, Corp. - Applicants: Lito, Corp. - Inventors: Lito Villanueva; William D. Davis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11126904B2 ## CPC - G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs} - G06K 19/07762: {the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet (record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00)} - G06K 19/047: {the record carrier being shaped as a coin or a gambling token} - G06K 19/0705: {the battery being connected to a power saving arrangement} - G06K 19/07705: {the visual interface being a single light or small number of lights capable of being switched on or off, e.g. a series of LEDs} - G06K 19/07715: {the interface being used to indicate that the record carrier is active, e.g. a blinking light to indicate that the record carrier is busy communicating with a secondary device or busy computing} - G01S 19/14: specially adapted for specific applications - G06Q 50/265: {Personal security, identity or safety} - G08B 25/016: {Personal emergency signalling and security systems (emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12)} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract An apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical housing, a power source, a processor, a communications interface, and an indicator. During operation, a functionalized coin is detected, by the apparatus, as being within a predefined distance of the apparatus. In response to detecting the presence of the functionalized coin within the predefined distance, the apparatus can cause the indicator to exhibit an indication such as vibration and/or light emission. The indicator can include a vibration motor, or a light-emitting diode (LED). The apparatus is sized to fit within a palm of a hand of a human user. The apparatus can also transmit, via the communications interface, a radio frequency beacon signal, and receive, via the communications interface, a reply to the beacon signal and, in turn, transmit a confirmation of receipt of the reply to the beacon signal, to establish a communications connection between the apparatus and the functionalized coin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a substantially cylindrical housing including a rotatable portion; a power source disposed within the housing; a processor disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the power source; a communications interface disposed one of within or on an exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the power source; and an indicator disposed at least partially within the housing, the processor configured, during operation, to execute instructions to: detect the presence of a functionalized coin within a predefined distance of the apparatus; and in response to detecting the presence of the functionalized coin within the predefined distance, causing a supply of power from the power source to the indicator to cause the indicator to exhibit an indication, the apparatus configured to control the supply of power from the power source in response to a rotation of the rotatable portion; and the apparatus having a thickness of less than 7 millimeters and sized to fit within a palm of a human user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes at least one of a piezoelectric motor or a haptic motor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the haptic motor includes an internal vibrating disc. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the indication is a physical vibration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes at least one light-emitting diode (LED). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the indication is an emission of light. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory storing the instructions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications interface includes at least one antenna. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote compute device, via the at least one antenna. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions are retrieved from the remote compute device via wireless communication between the apparatus and the remote compute device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured, during operation, to execute instructions to: transmit, via the communications interface, a radio frequency beacon signal; and receive, via the communications interface, a reply to the beacon signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured, during operation, to execute instructions to: transmit, via the communications interface, a confirmation of receipt of the reply to the beacon signal in response to receiving the reply to the beacon signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured, during operation, to execute instructions to establish network communications based on an election mechanism. ### Claim 14 A method, comprising: transmitting, from a first handheld coin-shaped apparatus, a radio frequency beacon signal, the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus including a processor, a communications interface, a power supply, and a rotatable portion, each of the processor and the communications interface electrically coupled to the power supply, the rotatable portion configured to control a supply of power from the power supply, the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus having a thickness of less than 7 millimeters; receiving, at the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus and from a second handheld coin-shaped apparatus, a reply to the beacon signal; and transmitting, from the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus and to the second handheld coin-shaped apparatus, and in response to receiving the reply to the beacon signal, a signal representing a confirmation of receipt of the reply to the beacon signal, thereby establishing a communications connection between the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus and the second handheld coin-shaped apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: transmitting a keepalive signal from the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus to the second handheld coin-shaped apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting the keepalive signal is performed periodically, at predetermined time intervals. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: terminating the communications connection between the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus and the second handheld coin-shaped apparatus if a reply to the keepalive signal is not received within a predefined time period of the transmission of the keepalive signal. ### Claim 18 A method, comprising: monitoring, at a first handheld coin-shaped apparatus, a port of the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus for an incoming signal, the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus including a processor, a communications interface, a power supply, and a rotatable portion, each of the processor and the communications interface electrically coupled to the power supply, the rotatable portion configured to control a supply of power from the power supply, the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus having a thickness of less than 7 millimeters; receiving, at the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus and from a second handheld coin-shaped apparatus, a beacon signal; transmitting, from the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus and to the second handheld coin-shaped apparatus, an acknowledgment message in response to receiving the beacon signal; and receiving, at the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus and from the second handheld coin-shaped apparatus, a signal representing a confirmation of receipt of the acknowledgment message, thereby establishing a communications connection between the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus and the second handheld coin-shaped apparatus. ### Claim 19 A system, comprising: a first handheld coin-shaped apparatus including an antenna, a processor, a memory, a power supply, a proximity sensor that utilizes a wireless communication frequency, and a housing including a rotatable portion to control a supply of power from the power supply, the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus having a thickness of less than 7 millimeters; and a second handheld coin-shaped apparatus including an antenna, a processor, a memory, a power supply, a proximity sensor that utilizes a wireless communication frequency, and a housing, the second handheld coin-shaped apparatus having a thickness of less than 7 millimeters, the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus configured to respond to the second handheld coin-shaped apparatus when the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus and the second handheld coin-shaped apparatus are within a predetermined range of each other, each handheld coin-shaped apparatus having its own network function capability such that the underlying network connectivity between the first handheld coin-shaped apparatus and the second handheld coin-shaped apparatus does not rely on internet peering, mobile data, or cellular service connection.