# US 2014/0155059 A1 · Very far-field communication

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0155059 A1
- Document ID: US20140155059A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/690,675
- Filed: 2012-11-30
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Assignees: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
- Applicants: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
- Inventors: Tracy J. Smith; Donna L. Polehn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155059A1

## CPC

- H04W 4/06: Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
- H04L 69/14: Multichannel or multilink protocols
- H04W 4/24: Accounting or billing
- H04W 48/12: using downlink control channel
- H04L 41/0803: Configuration setting
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04W 48/14: using user query {or user detection}
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A network device receives, from a user device, an inquiry for a selected very-far field communication (VFC) tag and selects, from a group of available base stations, one or more particular base stations of a wireless access network from which to broadcast a tag query for the selected VFC tag. The network device inserts the tag query into a broadcast signal of each of the one or more particular base stations. The VFC tag receives the tag query and transmits a local response signal over a local wireless network. A mobile device within range of the local response signal processes the local response signal and forwards the local response signal to the network device as a tag response. The network device receives the tag response and sends an indication of the tag response to the user device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
selecting, by a network device and from a group of available base stations, one or more particular base stations of a wireless access network from which to broadcast a tag query for a selected very-far field communication (VFC) tag;
inserting, into a broadcast signal of each of the one or more particular base stations, the tag query;
receiving, by the network device and from a mobile device within range of a local wireless network signal of the selected VFC tag, a tag response that is prompted by a local signal from the selected VFC tag; and
sending, by the network device and to a user device, an indication of the tag response.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
detecting, by the selected VFC tag, the tag query; and
broadcasting, by the selected VFC tag, the local signal via the local wireless network that is different than the wireless access network.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
receiving, by the mobile device, the local signal via the local wireless network; and
sending, by the mobile device, the tag response to the network device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the VFC tag response and the indication of the tag response include:
an identifier for the selected VFC tag, and
a location indication of the mobile device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
identifying expiration of a waiting period for receiving a response to the tag query;
selecting, from the group of available base stations, one or more other particular base stations of a wireless access network from which to re-broadcast the tag query; and
inserting, into a broadcast signal of each of the one or more other particular base stations, the tag query.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the tag query includes inserting a tag query symbol into a control channel of the wireless access network.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, from the user device, an inquiry for the selected VFC tag.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
storing, in a database, a record of the tag response, wherein the record includes the location information and time information.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forwarding, to one of a billing system, a payment system, or a third-party system, an indication of the tag response.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein sending the indication of the tag response includes:
providing the tag response via a short messaging service (SMS) message or an email message.

### Claim 11

A system, comprising:
a very-far field communication (VFC) tag including:
a receiver to listen for a tag query provided via a wireless access network, and
a transmitter to provide a local signal, in response to the tag query, over a local wireless network that is different than the wireless access network;
a mobile device configured to:
receive the local signal from the VFC tag, and
send a tag response, based on the local signal, to a network device; and
the network device configured to:
select from a group of available base stations, a particular base station of the wireless access network from which to broadcast a tag query for the VFC tag,
cause insertion of the tag query into a broadcast signal associated with the particular base station,
receive the tag response from the mobile device, and
send, to a user device, an indication of the tag response.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the VFC tag further comprises:
a power source, and
a controller to manage time intervals for listening by the receiver.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile device includes one of:
a smart phone,
a radiotelephone,
a personal communications system (PCS) terminal,
a personal digital assistant (PDA),
a wireless device,
a computer,
a global positioning system (GPS) device, or
a gaming device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the network device is further configured to:
receive, from the user device, registration information for the VFC tag, wherein the registration information includes contact information for the user device to receive the indication of the tag response.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein tag response includes:
an identifier for the selected VFC tag, and
a location indication of the mobile device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless access network is a cellular band network,
and wherein the local wireless network is one of:
a WiFi protocol network, or
a Bluetooth protocol network

### Claim 17

A method, comprising:
receiving, by a mobile device and via a local wireless signal, a response message from a very-far field communication (VFC) tag, wherein the response message includes a unique identifier for the VFC tag;
adding, by the mobile device and to the response message, location information associated with the mobile device to create a tag response; and
sending, by the mobile device and to a network device beyond the range of the local wireless signal, the tag response.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the location information includes one of:
Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates,
cell-tower triangulation data, or
identification information of a fixed device with which the mobile device is in local communication.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising:
receiving, from the network device, an application that includes a user interface to restrict sending of tag response to those relating to particular VFC tags; and
determining, by the mobile device, that the unique identifier in the response message is from one of the particular VFC tags.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving, adding, and sending are performed by the mobile device without additional input from a user of the mobile device.

### Claim 21

An electronic tag device, comprising:
a receiver to listen for a tag query provided via a wireless access network;
a transmitter to provide a local signal over a local wireless network that is different than the wireless access network;
a power source for the receiver and the transmitter; and
a controller to:
manage time intervals for listening by the receiver,
detect the tag query, and
cause the transmitter to provide the local signal when the tag query is detected.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The electronic tag device of claim 21, wherein the wireless access network includes a cellular band network.