# US 2018/0027423 A1 · Beacon placement and distribution > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0027423 A1 - Document ID: US20180027423A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/214,788 - Filed: 2016-07-20 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Jeremy A. Greenberger; Jana H. Jenkins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180027423A1 ## CPC - H04W 40/244: {using a network of reference devices, e.g. beaconing} - H04L 67/10: in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) - H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences - H04W 16/20: for indoor coverage or short range network deployment - H04W 16/22: Traffic simulation tools or models - H04W 64/003: {locating network equipment} - 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 computer-implemented method includes receiving, by a computing device, information defining a beacon coverage area in which beacon signals transmitted by one or more beacons traverse the beacon coverage area; determining, by the computing device, the beacon coverage area based on the information defining the beacon coverage area; determining, by the computing device, beacon distribution based on the determined beacon coverage area; generating, by the computing device, a report identifying information regarding the beacon distribution; and storing or outputting, by the computing device, the report identifying information regarding the beacon distribution. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by a computing device, information defining a beacon coverage area in which beacon signals transmitted by one or more beacons traverse the beacon coverage area; determining, by the computing device, the beacon coverage area based on the information defining the beacon coverage area; determining, by the computing device, beacon distribution based on the determined beacon coverage area; generating, by the computing device, a report identifying information regarding the beacon distribution; and storing or outputting, by the computing device, the report identifying information regarding the beacon distribution. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information defining the beacon coverage area includes user traffic history or an administrator-defined beacon coverage area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the beacon distribution is further based on beacon transmission range information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the beacon transmission range information includes battery level information for the one or more beacons or historical beacon transmission performance at various locations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining beacon placement based on the determined beacon coverage area, wherein the storing or outputting further includes storing or outputting information regarding the beacon placement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein determining the beacon placement further includes executing a simulation by superimposing boundaries corresponding to beacon transmission ranges on to a floor plan or map that defines the beacon coverage area. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the storing or outputting the report identifying information regarding the beacon distribution includes providing a map or floor plan identifying beacon placement locations. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the storing or outputting the report identifying information regarding the beacon distribution includes providing information includes providing a narrative identifying the relocation of a particular beacon from one location to a different location. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a user device receives content based on receiving the beacon signals when located within the beacon coverage area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a service provider at least one of creates, maintains, deploys and supports the computing device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein steps of claim 1 are provided by a service provider on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device includes software provided as a service in a cloud environment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising deploying a system for distributing and placing beacons in a facility to provide beacon coverage within the beacon coverage area, comprising providing a computer infrastructure operable to perform the steps of claim 1. ### Claim 14 A computer program product for distributing and placing beacons in a facility to provide beacon coverage within a beacon coverage area, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to: receive information for defining the beacon coverage area in which beacon signals transmitted by one or more beacons traverse the beacon coverage area; determine the beacon coverage area based on the information for defining the beacon coverage area; determine beacon placement based on the determined beacon coverage area; generate a report identifying information regarding the beacon placement; and store or output the report identifying information regarding the beacon placement. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the information defining the beacon coverage area includes user traffic history or an administrator-defined beacon coverage area. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14, wherein determining the beacon placement is further based on beacon transmission range information, wherein determining the beacon placement further includes executing a simulation by superimposing boundaries corresponding to beacon transmission ranges on to a floor plan or map that defines the beacon coverage area. ### Claim 17 A system comprising: a CPU, a computer readable memory and a computer readable storage medium associated with a computing device; program instructions to receive information for defining a beacon coverage area in which beacon signals transmitted by one or more beacons traverse the beacon coverage area, wherein the beacon coverage area corresponds to a targeted area for providing content associated with an ad campaign; program instructions to determine the beacon coverage area based on the information for defining the beacon coverage area; program instructions to determine beacon distribution based on the determined beacon coverage area; program instructions to generate a report identifying information regarding the beacon placement; and program instructions to store or output the report information regarding the beacon placement, wherein the program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage medium for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the targeted area is a section of a merchant facility. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the defined beacon coverage area is set to expire and revert to a default beacon coverage area, the system further comprising program instructions to determine beacon distribution based on the default beacon coverage area. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the defined beacon coverage area is changed, the system further comprising program instructions to determine updated beacon distribution based on the changed beacon coverage area.