Fare collection using wireless beacons

A method for processing a user through a paid entry gate using a mobile device, the method comprising:

• transmitting a first beacon packet from a first wireless beacon to the mobile device in a first area;
• receiving validation information from the mobile device after transmitting the first beacon packet and prior to transmitting a second beacon packet;
• validating an account based on the validation information;
• transmitting the second beacon packet from a second wireless beacon to the mobile device in a second area that is closer to the paid entry gate than the first area, the second beacon packet including a gate identifier that uniquely identifies the paid entry gate from a plurality of gates;
• and
• conducting a transaction after transmitting the second beacon packet, the transaction including debiting the account and granting passage through the paid entry gate.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, having instructions stored therein, which when executed cause a computer to perform a set of operations comprising:

• receiving a first beacon packet from a first wireless beacon;
• transmitting validation data to a computer server system in response to receiving the first beacon packet and prior to receiving a second beacon packet, the validation information including account information for an account;
• receiving the second beacon packet from a second wireless beacon, the second beacon packet including a gate identifier that uniquely identifies a paid entry gate from a plurality of gates;
• and
• transmitting the gate identifier to the computer server system in response to receiving the second beacon packet such that the account is debited and the user is granted passage through the paid entry gate.