Grouped Asset Tracking via Master-Slave Device Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing asset tracking systems face network congestion and unnecessary battery consumption due to multiple tracking devices transmitting location data simultaneously, leading to latency and inefficient battery usage.

Innovation Solution

A method where a server designates a master device within a group of tracking devices associated with a multi-unit vehicle to transmit location data while other slave devices enter a sleep mode to conserve battery life and reduce network congestion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple tracking devices transmit location data simultaneously, then location tracking coverage is improved, but network congestion and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking coverageVSAvoidnetwork latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the location data transmission functions of multiple tracking devices into a single master device. Slave devices forward their location data to the master device, which consolidates and transmits the data to the server. This merging approach maintains comprehensive location tracking coverage while eliminating simultaneous transmissions that cause network congestion and latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The master device acts as an intermediary between slave devices and the server. Slave devices transmit location data to the master device, which then transmits consolidated data to the server. This intermediary structure reduces network traffic and latency while maintaining tracking coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple tracking devices transmit location data simultaneously, then location tracking coverage is improved, but battery life consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking coverageVSAvoidbattery life consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the transmission functions of multiple tracking devices into a single master device. Slave devices enter a low-power sleep mode after forwarding their location data to the master device, significantly reducing overall battery consumption while maintaining comprehensive location tracking coverage through the master device's continuous transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Slave devices transmit location data periodically to the master device rather than continuously to the server. This periodic action reduces energy consumption for slave devices while the master device maintains continuous coverage through its periodic transmissions to the server.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If multiple tracking devices transmit location data simultaneously, then location tracking coverage is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking coverageVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges location data from multiple slave devices into a single consolidated transmission by the master device. This reduces the total network bandwidth consumption compared to simultaneous transmissions from multiple devices, while maintaining comprehensive location tracking coverage through the master device's representative transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Measurement precision

If all tracking devices transmit location data, then tracking accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments tracking devices into master and slave roles. Slave devices have simplified functionality, entering sleep mode after data forwarding, while the master device handles consolidation and transmission. This segmentation reduces individual device complexity and overall system management complexity while maintaining tracking accuracy through the coordinated master-slave structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20260032405A1Systems and methods for asset tracking with grouped associated tracking devices

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 BLACKBERRY LTD

AI summary

Methods and system for tracking assets. A server receives, via wireless communication, from each of a plurality of tracking devices, adjacent device data for that tracking device regarding one or more detected nearby tracking devices and an estimated distance measurement to each detected nearby tracking device. The server determines from the adjacent device data that a subset of the plurality of tracking devices are in a group associated with a multi-unit vehicle. The server selects at least one of the tracking devices in the subset as a master device. The other tracking devices in the subset are slave devices. The master device is to send location data to the server via its wireless data connection. The slave devices are to forego sending communications to the server via their respective wireless data connections.