Asset Tracking Device Sleep Mode Via Truck ELD Location Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Asset tracking devices, being battery-powered, face significant challenges in conserving battery power due to their prolonged deployment periods, necessitating frequent location determinations and data transmissions.

Innovation Solution

The asset tracking devices enter a sleep mode when in close proximity to a truck-mounted ELD, leveraging the ELD's continuous location data reporting to conserve battery life by reducing the need for frequent GNSS and cellular transceiver operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the asset tracking device periodically determines location using GNSS chip and powers cellular transceiver, then location tracking is maintained, but battery power is consumed rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking continuityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the asset tracking device with the ELD device into a single integrated unit. The ELD's existing GNSS chip and cellular transceiver are shared between the ELD's logging functions and the asset tracking functions, eliminating duplicate hardware and reducing overall power consumption while maintaining continuous location tracking capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated device performs multiple functions: it serves as both an electronic logging device for truck drivers and an asset tracking device for monitoring trailers. The single GNSS chip and cellular transceiver handle both ELD reporting requirements and asset location tracking, maximizing resource utilization and minimizing energy waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If the asset tracking device listens for cellular tower signals and WLAN signals to determine location, then location accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation determination accuracyVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages the ELD's continuous GNSS operation to provide location data for both ELD logging and asset tracking purposes. Instead of periodically activating separate GNSS receivers, the system continuously receives satellite signals through the shared GNSS chip, maintaining location accuracy while eliminating redundant power consumption from multiple independent tracking cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of information

If the asset tracking device transmits location reports frequently to central server, then location data availability is improved, but battery power is depleted faster

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation data availabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the asset tracking device's cellular communications with the ELD's cellular transceiver. Location reports are transmitted through the shared cellular connection, consolidating data transmission activities and reducing the total power consumption associated with maintaining cellular network connections and sending location updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12425973B2Battery power conservation for asset tracking devices

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 BLACKBERRY LTD

AI summary

Methods and systems for controlling an asset tracking device and, in particular, determining when an asset tracking device attached to a trailer is in close proximity to a truck. The device may enter a sleep mode when the trailer has been coupled to a truck with an electronic logging device (ELD). Thereafter, the device ceases obtaining a GPS location and transmitting the location to a central server. While the trailer and truck remain coupled, the device leverages the ELD by using it to send its GPS location to the central server and therefore, prolong its battery life.