Device Tracing Architecture Using BLE Service IDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tracing systems are inefficient, require manual effort, and may violate privacy guidelines, especially when trying to use existing devices with disparate operating systems for minimal human intervention.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for device-to-device communication, allowing Android and iOS devices to detect each other using specific service IDs and GATT client-server protocols, with a central server to record proximity data and identify contacts, while ensuring compatibility across different operating systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual barcode scanning is used at each checkpoint, then location tracking accuracy is improved, but manual effort and operation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables devices to automatically perform location tracking and data exchange without manual intervention. Mobile devices autonomously broadcast their locations via Bluetooth Low Energy and automatically report to the central server, eliminating the need for manual barcode scanning while maintaining tracking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical scanning operations with automated electronic communication. Instead of physically scanning barcodes with dedicated equipment, the system uses Bluetooth Low Energy wireless communication between mobile devices and a central server to automatically capture and transmit location data.
2Measurement precision
If GPS trackers are mounted on leased equipment, then location pinpointing accuracy is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses universal mobile devices that users already possess for location tracking purposes, rather than requiring specialized GPS trackers. These multi-functional devices serve both as communication tools and location sensors, eliminating the need for additional dedicated tracking hardware and reducing overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using expensive specialized GPS tracking hardware, the system leverages the existing location-capable mobile devices that users already carry. The functionality of dedicated GPS trackers is replicated through the Bluetooth Low Energy capabilities of common mobile phones and tablets.
3Measurement precision
If specific device locations are tracked, then tracing accuracy is improved, but privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The central server acts as an intermediary that processes and aggregates location data without requiring end users to directly share their precise locations with each other. The server mediates the tracing process by receiving anonymized location reports and performing the actual tracing analysis, thereby protecting user privacy while maintaining tracing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments location data processing into separate functions: mobile devices autonomously collect and report their own location data to the central server, which then performs centralized analysis. This segmentation allows accurate tracing to be performed on aggregated data without requiring direct access to or sharing of individual users' precise real-time locations.
4Extent of automation
If phone-to-phone communication is used for tracing, then human intervention is reduced, but compatibility across operating systems becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universal compatibility across different mobile operating systems by using Bluetooth Low Energy, a standardized wireless communication protocol that is natively supported by iOS, Android, and other platforms. This universal interface allows devices from different manufacturers and operating systems to communicate autonomously without requiring platform-specific implementations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a homogeneous communication approach by standardizing on Bluetooth Low Energy as the sole communication protocol for location data exchange. This homogenization of the communication layer abstracts away operating system differences, allowing diverse devices to interact through a common interface and enabling automated tracing across the entire device ecosystem.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods include reception, at a first device, of a wireless communication packet from a second device, determination, at the first device, of a received service identifier included in the wireless communication packet, determination, at the first device, of whether the received service identifier matches a first service identifier or a second service identifier, if the received service identifier matches the first service identifier or the second service identifier, establishment, at the first device, of a connection to a server of the second device using a device address included in the wireless communication packet, requesting, using the connection and at the first device, of a user identifier from the server of the second device, if the received service identifier matches the first service identifier, transmission, from the first device to a remote server, of a first indication of proximity of a user of the first device to a user associated with the user identifier and a second indication of proximity of the user associated with the user identifier to the user of the first device, and, if the received service identifier matches the second service identifier, transmission, from the first device to the remote server, of the first indication of proximity of the user of the first device to a user associated with the user identifier.