# US 2021/0279987 A1 · Dual-Mode Commercial Messaging Systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0279987 A1 - Document ID: US20210279987A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/327,684 - Filed: 2021-05-22 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-26 - Inventors: John C.S. Koo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210279987A1 ## CPC - G07C 9/21: having a variable access code - G01S 5/16: using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves - G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance - G06F 21/00: Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity - G06F 21/31: User authentication - G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints - G06Q 10/00: Administration; Management - G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising - G06Q 30/0281: {Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting} - G06Q 30/0641: {utilising user interfaces specially adapted for shopping} - G07C 9/00182: {operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks} - G07C 9/22: in combination with an identity check of the pass holder - G07C 9/257: {electronically (G07C9/26 takes precedence)} - G07C 9/28: the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence - H04B 10/1141: {One-way transmission} - H04B 10/1149: {Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information} - H04B 10/116: Visible light communication - H04B 10/66: Non-coherent receivers, e.g. using direct detection - H04B 10/676: {for all-optical demodulation of the input optical signal} - H04J 14/08: Time-division multiplex systems - H04L 63/10: {for controlling access to devices or network resources} - H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences - H04W 4/024: Guidance services - H04W 4/33: for indoor environments, e.g. buildings - G01S 3/783: using amplitude comparison of signals derived from static detectors or detector systems - G06Q 10/107: Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing] - G07C 9/26: using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass - G07C 2009/00253: {dynamically, e.g. variable code - rolling code} - H04W 12/08: Access security - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - 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 - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - 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 - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Provided is an in-store dual-mode communication system in which shelves are disposed within a commercial space. A server is coupled to the Internet and/or a wide-area network and is configured to send and receive communications. Also provided are light-based messaging units that are located on and/or attached to such shelves, each: 1) having a light source, 2) receiving a communication from the server, and 3) in response to receipt of such communication, turning the light source on and off so as to broadcast a digital message that was included within such communication, as a binary-encoded digital signal corresponding to on/off states of the light source. A user device: (i) receives, via its light sensor, and then decodes the binary-encoded digital signal from a light-based messaging unit in order to obtain the digital message that corresponds to it; and also (ii) communicates with the server via its wireless interface. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-18. (canceled) ### Claim 19 A messaging system, comprising: a plurality of messaging units disposed at different locations within a retail store, each of said messaging units including at least one light source; at least one messaging/modulation controller coupled to the light sources and configured to turn the light sources on and off so as to broadcast input digital messages; a central server coupled to the at least one messaging/modulation controller and configured to selectively provide messages to said at least one messaging/modulation controller for broadcast by different ones of said messaging units; and sensors coupled to the central server and configured to: (a) obtain information about individuals within the retail store and (b) provide said information to the central server, wherein the central server selects messages to be broadcast by individual ones of the messaging units based on the information received from said sensors. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A messaging system according to claim 19, further comprising at least one receiver that receives transmissions from user devices within the retail store. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A messaging system according to claim 20, wherein the central server selects messages to be broadcast by individual ones of the messaging units also based on said received transmissions. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) A messaging system according to claim 19, wherein each of a plurality of said sensors comprises a camera. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) A messaging system according to claim 19, wherein each of a plurality of said sensors is provided on a user device carried by one of said individuals. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) A messaging system according to claim 19, wherein the at least one light source in each of a plurality of said messaging units includes a light-emitting diode (LED). ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) A messaging system according to claim 19, wherein the central server selects said messages to be broadcast by individual ones of the messaging units also based on manually input information regarding said individuals within the retail store. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) A messaging system according to claim 19, wherein said sensors comprise plural different kinds of sensors. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A messaging system according to claim 26, wherein said sensors comprise a camera and at least one of a radio receiver and an infrared sensor. ### Claim 28 (depends on 19) A messaging system according to claim 19, further comprising a tracking system that tracks locations of a plurality of said individuals within the retail store and provides said location information to the central server. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A messaging system according to claim 28, wherein the tracking system inputs data from a plurality of said sensors and then combines said data to generate tracking information. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A messaging system according to claim 29, wherein said data from said plurality of said sensors is combined to generate said tracking information using at least one of triangulation or Kalman filtering. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) A messaging system according to claim 28, wherein the central server selects messages to be broadcast by individual ones of the messaging units also based on said location information. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) A messaging system according to claim 28, wherein the tracking system tracks the locations of said plurality of the individuals based on broadcasts from user devices carried by said plurality of the individuals. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) A messaging system according to claim 28, wherein the tracking system tracks said locations of both (a) registered users whose user devices are in bidirectional communication within said messaging system and (b) other individuals who are not registered users. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A messaging system according to claim 33, wherein said locations are displayed on a map of at least a portion of said retail store, and wherein said registered users are designated in a first manner on said map and said other individuals are designated in a second manner on said map, said first manner being different than said second manner. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) A messaging system according to claim 34, wherein said sensors comprise a radio receivers. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A messaging system according to claim 35, wherein said radio receivers are used to identify the locations of said other individuals.