Exchanging identifiers between wireless communication to determine further information to be exchanged or further services to be provided

A method for the exchange of information between at least one central server and a mobile wireless device via another wireless device, and utilizing a first short range wireless protocol and a second wireless protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

• at the at least one central server, receiving initial identification information or information derived from the initial information from a first wireless device, said initial identification information having been collected by the first wireless device from the mobile wireless device via a short range wireless protocol between the mobile and first wireless devices, wherein the initial identification information or information derived from the initial information is associated with an identity of a user or entity associated with the mobile wireless device, and wherein the initial identification information or information derived from the initial information is received via a wide area network link from the first wireless device and wherein said at least one central server provides first responsive information for delivery to said first wireless device in response to receiving said initial identification information or information derived from the initial information and wherein the first responsive information is based upon the at least one central server considering the initial identification information or the information derived from the initial information to be current or valid as determined by one or more stored states, said one or more stored states being modified based upon a pre-determined event;
• at the mobile wireless device, receiving additional identification information from said at least one central server over a second wireless protocol, the additional identification information being usable to determine a modified identification information for use in one or more future transmissions over the direct, short range local wireless protocol, such that the modified identification information is able to be associated at the central server with said identity of the user or entity associated with the second device;
• and
• wherein, associated with the predetermined event, the one or more stored states at said server are modified such that said initial identification information at the server is no longer considered current or valid, having prior to the pre-determined event been considered current or valid, and wherein the modified information is considered current or valid only after the pre-determined event, having not been considered current or valid prior to the pre-determined event;
• at the at least one central server, receiving the modified identification information or information derived from the modified information from a second wireless device, said modified identification information having been collected by the second wireless device from the mobile wireless device via a short range wireless protocol between the mobile and second wireless devices, wherein the modified identification information or information derived from the modified information is associated at the at least one central server with the identity of the user or entity associated with the mobile wireless device, and wherein the modified identification information or information derived from the modified information is received via a wide area network link from the second wireless device and wherein said at least one central server provides second responsive information for delivery to said second wireless device in response to receiving said modified identification information or information derived from the modified information and wherein the second responsive information is based upon the at least one central server considering the modified identification information or the information derived from the modified information to be current or valid as determined by the one or more stored states, said one or more stored states being modified based upon the pre-determined event;
• and
• wherein said first responsive information and said second responsive information is related, at least in part, to one or more of the following:
• approval to proceed with a step of a then current electronic commerce transaction;
• or
• information related to a loyalty program;
• or
• information related to past purchasing behavior of the entity associated with the second wireless device.

A mobile device for wirelessly sending transferred information to nearby devices in proximity utilizing multiple wireless protocols and facilitated by detection of proximity based wireless identifiers and by interaction with at least one central server, the mobile device comprising:

• a first radio, for communicating with the at least one central server for obtaining a list of contact information and for sending or causing the sending of said transferred information to an entity associated with a proximal device of said nearby devices;
• a second radio, utilizing a Bluetooth protocol, for transmitting a signal to cause the proximal device of said nearby devices to transmit an associated proximity based wireless identifier and further for receiving the associated proximity based wireless identifier;
• a mobile device data processor for comparing the associated proximity based wireless identifier or information derived from the proximity based wireless identifier with the list of contact information or information derived from the list of contact information to determine if there is a match;
• wherein if the mobile device data processor determines there is a match, for causing the display of a picture associated with the entity associated with the proximal device on a display of the mobile device;
• and
• wherein the mobile device data processor reacts to input by a user of the mobile device designating the entity associated with the proximal device as a selected user based upon said displayed picture, by causing the sending of the transmitted information by utilizing the first radio.