Area Tracking Sensors Polling Non-Discoverable Bluetooth Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing area tracking systems face challenges in detecting electronic devices in non-discoverable Bluetooth mode, particularly in complex radio environments, due to security and privacy concerns, which limits the accuracy and reliability of device location tracking.

Innovation Solution

A distributed network of short-range sensors connected to a server that poll electronic devices using identification packets, maintaining lists of device addresses, and sequentially transmitting these to determine device presence within a specified time frame, allowing for accurate tracking even when devices are not in discoverable mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If devices are set to non-discoverable mode for security and privacy, then security and privacy are improved, but device detectability and tracking accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity and privacyVSAvoiddevice detectability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of devices broadcasting their presence (discovery mode), the system inverts the approach by having sensors actively query devices using their known Bluetooth addresses. Devices respond to these queries without needing to be in discoverable mode, thus maintaining security while enabling detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces sensors as intermediaries between the tracking system and Bluetooth devices. These sensors act as mediators that can poll devices for presence information without requiring the devices to be in discoverable mode, thus resolving the contradiction between security and detectability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If devices are set to discoverable mode for easy detection, then device detectability is improved, but security and privacy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice detectabilityVSAvoidsecurity and privacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system inverts the traditional discovery approach by having sensors initiate queries to devices rather than devices broadcasting their presence. This allows detection without requiring discoverable mode, thus improving security while maintaining detectability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Measurement precision

If sensors poll devices frequently to improve tracking accuracy, then location accuracy is improved, but energy consumption and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic polling of Bluetooth devices by sensors at configured intervals. This allows the system to balance tracking accuracy with energy consumption by adjusting the polling frequency, ensuring devices are detected when needed without continuous energy expenditure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system polls only specific devices that are known or suspected to be in the tracking area, rather than continuously scanning all possible devices. This partial action approach reduces energy consumption while maintaining adequate tracking accuracy for target devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2664121B1Area tracking systems and methods of tracking electronic devices

Publication Date: 2019.06.05 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

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AI summary

Area tracking systems (100) including a plurality of short range sensors (150) that are communicatively connected to a server (110) and methods of tracking electronic devices (160). The electronic devices (160) are tracked by polling for the electronic devices (S500, S600), the polling including transmission of electronic addresses corresponding to the electronic devices and determining whether a reply to the poling is received (S510, S610). The electronic addresses are each stored on one of a plurality of lists. Each of the lists may be polled at a different frequency and may include a different number of electronic device addresses.