Abstract: In an embodiment, a power management system includes a detection unit configured to detect a power interruption to a power supply. The system further includes a communication interface configured to, in response to the detected power interruption, provide a message regarding the detected power interruption. In response to the detected power interruption, a computer network switch provides notifications to a plurality of servers connected to the switch to allow the plurality of servers to prepare for a loss in power.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving current session information associated with a first user from a beacon associated with a third-party content provider, wherein the current session information indicates that a first client system of the first user is in an active wireless communication session with the beacon, accessing session information associated with one or more second users, wherein each second user is within a threshold geographical distance of the beacon, selecting one or more of the one or more second users based on the accessed session information, wherein the accessed session information associated with each of the selected second users indicates that a second client system associated with the selected second user is not in a wireless communication session with the beacon, and sending a notification referencing the selected one or more second users to the first client system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first, a second, and a third sensing events within a same beacon message interval from a mobile device, each sensing event including a beacon device identifier associated with a beacon device and a timestamp associated with a respective beacon message, a location of the mobile device, and a power level associated with the respective beacon message, determining a first, a second, and a third distances between the mobile device and the beacon device based on the first, the second, and the third sensing events, and determining a position of the beacon device based on the first, the second, and the third distances.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from beacons of a third-party (e.g., a business), session information for a user of an online social network. A mobile device of the user may have been in at least one wireless communication session with at least one beacon, and during the session the mobile device was proximate to the at least one beacon. The session information may include an identifier for the user, which may be used to access social-networking information for the user. Session information and the social-networking information of the user may be sent back to the third-party. User-specified permissions may delimit which information may be sent.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a power management system includes a detection unit configured to detect a power interruption to a power supply. The system further includes a communication interface configured to, in response to the detected power interruption, provide a message regarding the detected power interruption. In response to the detected power interruption, a computer network switch provides notifications to a plurality of servers connected to the switch to allow the plurality of servers to prepare for a loss in power.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a power management system includes a detection unit configured to detect a power interruption to a power supply. The system further includes a communication interface configured to, in response to the detected power interruption, provide a message regarding the detected power interruption. In response to the detected power interruption, a computer network switch provides notifications to a plurality of servers connected to the switch to allow the plurality of servers to prepare for a loss in power.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving current session information associated with a first user from a beacon associated with a third-party content provider, wherein the current session information indicates that a first client system of the first user is in an active wireless communication session with the beacon, accessing session information associated with one or more second users, wherein each second user is within a threshold geographical distance of the beacon, selecting one or more of the one or more second users based on the accessed session information, wherein the accessed session information associated with each of the selected second users indicates that a second client system associated with the selected second user is not in a wireless communication session with the beacon, and sending a notification referencing the selected one or more second users to the first client system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a beacon associated with a third-party content provider (e.g., a business), a current session information of the first user of an online social network. The first user's mobile device is proximate to and in a wireless communication session with the beacon, which is located at the third-party content provider. One or more second users who are associated with geographic locations within a threshold distance of the location of the beacon are selected. A notification referencing the selected second users is sent to the first user's mobile device, indicating that the second users are nearby.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first, a second, and a third sensing events within a same beacon message interval from a mobile device, each sensing event including a beacon device identifier associated with a beacon device and a timestamp associated with a respective beacon message, a location of the mobile device, and a power level associated with the respective beacon message, determining a first, a second, and a third distances between the mobile device and the beacon device based on the first, the second, and the third sensing events, and determining a position of the beacon device based on the first, the second, and the third distances.

Abstract: Beacon devices transmit beacon messages to alert an application on a mobile user device of the Beacon device's proximity. A Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) field may indicate the power level at which the beacon message was received at the mobile device. Where the transmission power of the beacon device is standardized, the application can infer the distance between the mobile user device the beacon device based upon the RSSI field. By considering successive RSSI values over time while the mobile device is in motion, in conjunction with GPS information for the mobile device, the location of the beacon device relative to the mobile device may be inferred. Multiple mobile devices may be used together to infer the beacon device's position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes sending, to an online social network, session information between a third-party content provider and a first user of the online social network. The session information includes information referencing an established wireless communication session between a first client system of the first user and a beacon of the third-party content provider. The beacon is physically proximate to the first client system at the time of the wireless communication session, and the wireless communication session allows the online social network to send social-networking information of the first user to the beacon. In response to sending the session information, a first set of social-networking information of the first user is received from the online social network via the beacon. The first set of social-networking information allows the third-party content provider to send, via the beacon, customized third-party content for display on the first client system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a beacon associated with a third-party content provider (e.g., a business), a current session information of the first user of an online social network. The first user's mobile device is proximate to and in a wireless communication session with the beacon, which is located at the third-party content provider. One or more second users who are associated with geographic locations within a threshold distance of the location of the beacon are selected. A notification referencing the selected second users is sent to the first user's mobile device, indicating that the second users are nearby.

Abstract: Beacon devices transmit beacon messages that may be used to alert an application on a user device, e.g., a mobile phone, of the beacon device's proximity. Some embodiments contemplate a beacon device configured to transmit a pattern of successive beacon messages and/or Bluetooth Low Energy broadcast messages at one or more different power levels. The pattern of power levels may securely identify the beacon device. For example, the mobile phone application may confirm with a network server that the pattern agrees with the beacon device's identity. The pattern may also serve a calibration function. Where the mobile device application has knowledge of the expected power levels in the pattern, the application can infer from weaker transmissions that the beacon device is further from the mobile device. The weaker power levels may also indicate the character of the transmission environment.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from beacons of a third-party (e.g., a business), session information for a user of an online social network. A mobile device of the user may have been in at least one wireless communication session with at least one beacon, and during the session the mobile device was proximate to the at least one beacon. The session information may include an identifier for the user, which may be used to access social-networking information for the user. Session information and the social-networking information of the user may be sent back to the third-party. User-specified permissions may delimit which information may be sent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a beacon associated with a third-party content provider (e.g., a business), session information of the first user of an online social network. The first user's mobile device may be proximate to and in a wireless communication session with the beacon, which may be located at the third-party content provider. One or more second users, who are each connected to the first user in a social graph, may be selected. A communication session is not active between the beacon and the mobile devices of the second users. The selection may be based on selected second users being located within a predefined distance of the beacon (e.g., in the same neighborhood). A notification referencing selected second users (e.g., a prompt to invite the selected second users to the beacon location) may be sent to the first user's mobile device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes sending, via a beacon of a third-party content provider (e.g., a business), a request to associate with a user's mobile device. The request may be sent when the mobile device is proximate to the beacon, which may be located within a place of business. The request may include an attribute of the business (e.g., the type of business). A wireless communication session may be established between the beacon and the mobile device, and, in response, social-networking information of the user may be received, via the beacon. The particular information sent may be tailored to the business based on the received attribute, and a set of user-specified permissions may delimit what information is sent and to whom the information is sent. Third-party content may be customized based on the received social-networking information and sent to the mobile device for display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from beacons of a third-party content provider (e.g., a business), session information for users of an online social network. A mobile device of each user may have been in at least one wireless communication session with at least one beacon, and during the session the mobile device was proximate to the at least one beacon. The session information may include an identifier for each of the users, which may be used to access social-networking information for each user. A report of business insights may be generated based on aggregated social-networking information (e.g., demographics) and aggregated session information (e.g., average duration of sessions) of the users. For example, the report may include statistics regarding the business' clientele. User-specified permissions may delimit which information may be included in the report. The report may be sent to a third-party system for display.

Abstract: Beacon devices may transmit beacon messages to alert an application on a mobile phone of the beacon device's proximity. An encrypted authorization may be used to prevent malicious attacks. Unfortunately, some operating systems, e.g., the iOS™ operating system, strip data fields in service Universally Unique Identifiers (UUIDs) from a received beacon message before the message is passed to the application. Various embodiments provide a protocol wherein the beacon device successively transmits a first beacon message (e.g., an iBeacon™ message) and a second Bluetooth® Low Energy broadcast message. The first beacon message alerts the application of the beacon device's proximity and identity while the second message contains the encrypted authorization and possibly any additional information relevant to the application.

Abstract: Beacon devices transmit beacon messages that may be used to alert an application on a user device, e.g., a mobile phone, of the beacon device's proximity. Some embodiments contemplate a beacon device configured to transmit a pattern of successive beacon messages and/or Bluetooth Low Energy broadcast messages at one or more different power levels. The pattern of power levels may securely identify the beacon device. For example, the mobile phone application may confirm with a network server that the pattern agrees with the beacon device's identity. The pattern may also serve a calibration function. Where the mobile device application has knowledge of the expected power levels in the pattern, the application can infer from weaker transmissions that the beacon device is further from the mobile device. The weaker power levels may also indicate the character of the transmission environment.

Abstract: Beacon devices transmit beacon messages that may be used to alert an application on a user device, e.g., a mobile phone, of the beacon device's proximity. Some embodiments contemplate a beacon device configured to transmit a pattern of successive beacon messages and/or Bluetooth Low Energy broadcast messages at one or more different power levels. The pattern of power levels may securely identify the beacon device. For example, the mobile phone application may confirm with a network server that the pattern agrees with the beacon device's identity. The pattern may also serve a calibration function. Where the mobile device application has knowledge of the expected power levels in the pattern, the application can infer from weaker transmissions that the beacon device is further from the mobile device. The weaker power levels may also indicate the character of the transmission environment.