System and method for remote device recognition at public hotspots

A method for recognizing a wireless device across multiple hotspot locations, the method comprising:

• detecting, using one or more hardware processors, at one of the multiple hotspot 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;
• tracking the device via said device profile, for a given hotspot location or for a designated group of said hotspot locations, to recognize returning devices satisfying a preset loyalty threshold defined by a number of recognized device visits at said given hotspot location or at any one of said designated group of said hotspot locations over a preset time period;
• automatically identifying users of said returning devices satisfying said preset loyalty threshold as frequent or loyal customers;
• automatically offering preferential services to said frequent or loyal customers via said returning devices;
• compiling for said given hotspot location or for said designated group of said hotspot locations, and for a designated reporting time period, a number or a percentage of said recognized devices identified over said reporting time period satisfying said preset loyalty threshold;
• and
• outputting said number, said percentage or an indicia representative thereof.

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 processors, 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;
• wherein the system tracks the device via said device profile to recognize, within a designated time period, returning devices at any of the multiple hotspot locations;
• automatically identifies users of said returning devices as frequent or loyal customers;
• automatically offers preferential services to said frequent or loyal customers via said returning devices;
• compiles a number or percentage of recognized devices multiply identified during said time period;
• and
• outputs said at least one number or an indicia representative thereof.

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

• detecting, using one or more hardware processors, 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;
• tracking the device via said device profile to recognize, within a designated time period, returning devices at any of the multiple Wi-Fi locations;
• automatically identifying users of said returning devices as frequent or loyal customers;
• automatically offering preferential services to said frequent or loyal customers via said returning devices;
• compiling a number or percentage of recognized devices multiply identified during said time period;
• and
• outputting said at least one number or an indicia representative thereof.