Secure Cloud Broadcast Tracking Device Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional tracking devices face limitations in battery life due to power consumption for long-range tracking, are expensive, and have limited low-power options, restricting their usefulness, especially when the user is far away from the device.
Innovation Solution
A tracking device uses a one-way communication protocol to securely communicate with a secondary device, generating a hash value based on its identity and parameters, allowing location determination through a community of mobile devices, and activating location-detection functionality only upon movement detection to conserve power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If traditional long-range tracking technology is used, then tracking range is extended, but power consumption increases and battery life is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud server as an intermediary to handle the complex tracking coordination. The tracking device only needs to broadcast its location periodically, while the cloud server manages the network of secondary devices that detect and report these broadcasts, thereby extending tracking range without proportionally increasing the tracking device's power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking system is segmented into multiple independent components: the tracking device, multiple secondary devices, and a cloud server. Each component performs a specific function, distributing the computational and communication burden across the network rather than concentrating it in the battery-powered tracking device, enabling long-range tracking with minimal energy expenditure from the tracked device
2Length of stationary object
If traditional long-range tracking technology is used, then tracking range is extended, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Secondary devices (mobile phones, tablets, computers) serve multiple purposes: they act as both user communication devices and tracking detection nodes. By leveraging existing multi-functional devices in the user's ecosystem, the system extends tracking range without requiring specialized expensive hardware for each tracking node
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the existing computational resources, communication capabilities, and network infrastructure of secondary devices to perform tracking functions. These devices self-organize into a distributed detection network, eliminating the need for expensive dedicated tracking infrastructure and reducing overall system cost while maintaining extended tracking range
3Use of energy by moving object
If low-power tracking options are used, then power consumption is reduced, but tracking range is limited to nearby objects
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud server acts as a mediator that receives periodic low-power broadcasts from the tracking device and distributes detection requests to nearby secondary devices. This intermediary architecture allows the tracking device to maintain low power consumption while the network of secondary devices extends the effective tracking range far beyond the device's immediate communication radius
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a direct one-to-one tracking model to a many-to-many distributed detection model. By adding the dimension of multiple secondary devices operating in parallel across different locations, the system achieves extended tracking range while the tracked device maintains minimal power consumption for its broadcast function
4Measurement precision
If continuous location detection is activated, then location accuracy is maintained, but battery drain increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous operation, the tracking device activates location detection and GPS functionality periodically at predetermined intervals. This periodic action maintains sufficient location accuracy for tracking purposes while dramatically reducing battery drain compared to continuous monitoring, as the device can enter low-power states between measurement cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial action by having multiple secondary devices each perform partial detection tasks. Individually, each secondary device only needs to detect broadcasts in its local vicinity, but collectively they provide comprehensive coverage. This distributes the measurement burden and allows the primary tracking device to use minimal power while maintaining overall system accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A tracking device can securely communicate with a secondary device by generating a hash value based on the identity of the tracking device. If the secondary device cannot resolve the hash value, the hash value can be provided to a tracking server, such as a cloud server, for resolving the hash value. Upon resolving the hash value, the tracking server can store a location of the tracking device in association with the identity of the tracking device. To preserve power, the secondary device can activate location-detection functionality (such as a GPS receive) only in response to the detection of movement of the tracking device, can obtain location information, and can de-activate the location-detection functionality upon providing the location information to the tracking server. The tracking server can associate one or both of a previous location and the current location information based on movement of the tracking device.