Integrated Active Tag for Mobile Device Location Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices lose the ability to transmit location signals when their batteries are completely discharged, making it impossible to track their location.

Innovation Solution

An integrated active tag within the mobile device that broadcasts location beacons using its own power supply, activating when the battery capacity falls below a predetermined threshold, allowing location data to be transmitted even after the main battery has discharged.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mobile device uses its main battery to transmit location signals, then the location tracking is reliable and accurate, but the tracking stops when the battery is discharged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking reliabilityVSAvoidtracking duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by integrating an active tag with its own power supply into the mobile device before the main battery is discharged. This tag is prepared in advance to take over location signal transmission when the main battery runs out, ensuring continuous tracking without interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the power source parameter from relying solely on the main battery to using an alternative power supply through the active tag when battery capacity falls below a threshold. This parameter change enables the system to maintain location transmission capability under different power conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If the mobile device continuously transmits location signals, then the location data is always available, but the battery power is consumed rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation information availabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the location signal transmission dynamic - switching between the main battery and active tag power sources based on battery capacity thresholds. The system adapts its power source selection in real-time, using the main battery when sufficient capacity remains and switching to the active tag when capacity falls below the threshold.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by providing an active tag with its own power supply as a backup resource. This cushioning ensures that location tracking can continue even when the main battery is depleted, preventing total loss of location information availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Duration of action of moving object

If an integrated active tag with separate power supply is added, then location tracking continues after battery discharge, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking durationVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by integrating the active tag and its power supply into the mobile device as a unified system. Rather than using separate external devices, the tag is combined with the mobile device structure, sharing physical space and coordination logic, which reduces overall system complexity compared to using separate independent systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8135415B2Integrated active tags in mobile devices

Publication Date: 2012.03.13 SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

Described are integrated active tags in a mobile device. The mobile device may include (a) a transceiver broadcasting a first location beacon when a capacity of a battery of the mobile device is above a predetermined threshold; and (b) a tag broadcasting a second location beacon when the capacity of the battery of the mobile device is below the predetermined threshold.