GPS Tracking Tag Activation Based on Mobile Proximity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional tracking devices face challenges with battery life due to high power consumption by components like wireless transmitters and GPS receivers, limiting their lifespan.
Innovation Solution
The tracking device is designed to conserve power by enabling the wireless transmitter and GPS receiver only when it is determined to be lost, using a set of predefined or user-defined conditions, and then disabling them when no longer needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wireless transmitter and GPS receiver are continuously enabled, then the tracking functionality is improved, but the battery life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by enabling the GPS receiver and wireless transmitter only at specific intervals or under specific conditions rather than continuously. The controller activates these components based on detected lost conditions, achieving periodic operation that maintains tracking reliability while significantly reducing power consumption and extending battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a set of lost conditions that are evaluated before enabling the power-consuming components. The controller proactively checks whether lost conditions are satisfied before activating the GPS receiver and wireless transmitter, ensuring they are enabled only when necessary for tracking functionality.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the wireless transmitter and GPS receiver are enabled only when lost conditions are satisfied, then the battery life is improved, but the tracking responsiveness may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining a comprehensive set of lost conditions that cover various scenarios indicating the device is lost. This preliminary configuration allows the controller to quickly determine whether activation is needed without complex real-time analysis, maintaining fast responsiveness while conserving battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring system state and lost conditions, then using this information to control the activation of tracking components. The controller receives feedback about whether lost conditions are satisfied and adjusts the operation of the GPS receiver and wireless transmitter accordingly, optimizing both battery life and tracking responsiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
Power can be preserved in a tracking device equipped with a GPS receiver and a transceiver by evaluating the proximity of the tracking device to a mobile device and enabling the GPS receiver and transceiver only in the event that the tracking device is out of the range of the mobile device. Once enabled, the location of the tracking device can be determined based on location information received from the GPS receiver. The determined location can be provided to a tracking system associated with the tracking device. The tracking system can then inform an owner of the tracking device of the determined location. Once the tracking device has been found, the GPS receiver and the transceiver can be disabled to save additional power.