System and method for remote device recognition at public hotspots

A system for tracking wireless devices across multiple hotspot locations, the system comprising:

• a network accessible database having stored therein a plurality of device profiles each identifying a respective wireless device by a stored unique device identifier, each said stored unique device identifier indicative of an inherent characteristic of said respective device;
• and
• a network access module, comprising one or more hardware processor, at each of said locations and configured to detect at a given location a wireless transmission sent from a given device and having embedded therein a transmitted unique device identifier inherent to said given device;
• said network access module interfacing with said network accessible database to cross-reference said transmitted unique device identifier with said plurality of device profiles to identify a matching profile and thereby recognize said given device, and otherwise automatically create a new device profile based on said transmitted unique device identifier so to recognize said given device upon subsequent detection at any of said multiple hotspot locations;
• said network access module further detecting and recognizing one or more subsequent wireless transmissions sent by the wireless device while at said one hotspot location;
• wherein the system automatically characterizes a visit profile of the device as a function of said subsequent wireless transmissions, said visit profile at least characterized by or as a function of a duration value defined by a time period between a first recognized transmission and a last recognized transmission;
• associates said visit profile with said device profile in said network accessible database;
• classifies said duration in accordance with two or more preset visit duration classifications;
• compiles for a given hotspot location or for a designated group of said hotspot locations, and for a designated reporting time period, a number or a percentage of said recognized devices classified in accordance with at least one of said classifications over said time period;
• and
• outputs said number, said percentage or an indicia representative thereof.

A method for automatically characterizing a device visit at a Wi-Fi location, comprising:

• detecting a first wireless transmission sent by a wireless device;
• extracting a unique device identifier of the detected device from said wireless transmission, said unique device identifier automatically embedded within said wireless transmission by the detected device without user input;
• creating a device visit profile and associating said extracted unique device identifier therewith;
• recording a timestamp of said first wireless transmission in said device visit profile;
• automatically identifying one or more subsequent wireless transmissions sent by said wireless device while at the Wi-Fi location by way of identifying data associated with each of said subsequent transmissions;
• recording a timestamp of each of said subsequent transmissions in said device visit profile;
• and
• characterizing said device visit profile at least as a function of a duration value defined by said recorded timestamp of said first transmission and a recorded timestamp of a last of said subsequent transmissions;
• classifying said duration in accordance with two or more preset visit duration classifications;
• compiling for a designated reporting time period a number or a percentage of said visit profiles classified in accordance with at least one of said classifications over said time period;
• and
• outputting said number, said percentage or an indicia representative thereof.

A method for recognizing a wireless device across multiple Wi-Fi locations, the method comprising:

• detecting at one of the multiple Wi-Fi locations a wireless transmission sent by the wireless device;
• extracting a unique device identifier of the detected device from said wireless transmission, said unique device identifier automatically embedded within said wireless transmission by the detected device without user input;
• cross-referencing said extracted device identifier with a network accessible database of stored device profiles, each of said device profiles having a respective stored device identifier associated therewith;
• recognizing the detected device upon matching said extracted device identifier with one said stored device identifier;
• associating with said device profile of said recognized device said one of the multiple Wi-Fi locations;
• centrally compiling from said stored device profiles, visit data for each of said multiple Wi-Fi locations;
• detecting one or more subsequent wireless transmissions sent by said wireless device while at the one of the multiple Wi-Fi locations;
• creating a visit profile for said recognised device at said one of multiple locations, said visit profile at least characterized by or as a function of a duration value defined by a time period between a first recognized transmission and a last recognized transmission;
• classifying said duration in accordance with two or more preset visit duration classifications;
• compiling for a given Wi-Fi location or for a designated group of the multiple Wi-Fi locations, and for a designated reporting time period, a number or a percentage of said recognized devices classified in accordance with at least one of said classifications over said time period;
• and
• outputting said number, said percentage or an indicia representative thereof.