Access Point Tracking Alerts for Faster Left-Behind Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tracking devices require coupling to a mobile device for location determination, which can be unreliable and time-consuming, especially when the mobile device is out of range, leading to delays in detecting a left-behind device.
Innovation Solution
A tracking system that utilizes access points within a geographic boundary to detect and communicate with a tracking device, allowing for rapid notification of the device's location and enabling community mobile devices to assist in locating the device when it is out of range of the user's mobile device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile device is used to determine the tracking device location, then the location can be determined using GPS, but the process takes several minutes and may be unreliable when the mobile device is out of range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces access points as intermediary devices that can detect and communicate with the tracking device. When the user's mobile device is out of range, the system queries nearby access points to check if they have detected the tracking device, enabling location determination without direct mobile device-tracker communication
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring and updating the tracking device's location through access points before the user needs to check the location. This allows the system to have the location information ready when the user queries it, reducing the perceived waiting time
2Measurement precision
If the mobile device scans for tracking device signals, then the location can be determined, but the scanning process takes several minutes during which the user may move further away
Solution Approach 1:
Access points serve as mediators that can detect the tracking device's signals and report its location to the server. This eliminates the need for the user's mobile device to continuously scan, as the access points perform the detection function instead
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking device itself continuously transmits its location information to the server, and access points query this information. The system provides self-service by automatically updating location data without requiring active scanning by the user's mobile device
3Loss of time
If access points are queried to detect the tracking device, then the detection time is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access points in the system serve multiple functions: they provide wireless internet access to users and simultaneously act as location detection nodes for tracking devices. This multi-functionality allows the system to leverage existing infrastructure without adding dedicated detection devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing access points that are already deployed in the environment. These access points independently perform location detection and report to the server without requiring additional control infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A tracking system determines a location of a tracking device associated with a user using one or more access points at the location. Each access point at the location is configured to detect and couple with the tracking device when the tracking device is within a communicative range of the access point. An access point provides updates on the tracking device's presence, as well as the tracking device's arrival to and departure from the communicative range of the access point, to a tracking server. The tracking server determines, from these updates, whether the tracking device is at the location. The user may be notified, via a mobile device, of the tracking device's location.