Hybrid Tracking Device Power Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tracking devices for assets consume significant power due to the use of wide area network (WAN) transceivers and location sensors, such as GPS, which limits their efficiency and battery life, especially in applications requiring continuous location tracking and monitoring.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of hybrid tracking devices that utilize both WAN and personal area network (PAN) transceivers, allowing devices to operate in modes that prioritize low-power PAN communication when possible, reducing the need for continuous WAN transmission and sensor activation, thereby conserving power and extending battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If WAN transceiver and GPS sensor are continuously activated for tracking, then location tracking accuracy and reliability are improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes: master mode where the device actively transmits location data via WAN, and slave mode where the device conserves power by communicating only through PAN. The controller selectively activates or deactivates the WAN transceiver and GPS sensor based on current operational requirements, transforming a static high-power design into a dynamic adaptive system that optimizes power consumption while maintaining tracking reliability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The PAN transceiver serves as an intermediary communication channel between slave devices and the master device. Instead of each device directly communicating with the server via WAN, slave devices transmit data to the master through PAN, which then relays information to the server. This intermediary approach allows slave devices to remain in low-power state while still contributing to the tracking system.
2Reliability
If WAN transceiver is used for continuous communication, then data transmission reliability is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic communication cycles where devices alternate between active transmission periods (master mode) and dormant periods (slave mode). During slave mode, the WAN transceiver and GPS sensor are deactivated to conserve battery, while the device maintains PAN communication capability for periodic data exchange with the master. This periodic activation pattern extends battery life while ensuring data transmission reliability is maintained during active periods.
3Area of stationary object
If all devices operate independently with full functionality, then tracking coverage is improved, but system power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges communication resources by designating one device as master that handles all WAN communications with the server, while other devices operate as slaves using only PAN communication. This consolidation of WAN transceiver usage across the network reduces the total number of active high-power transceivers, lowering overall system power consumption while maintaining comprehensive tracking coverage through the distributed sensor network.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments device functionality into master and slave roles. Master devices possess full functionality including WAN transceiver and active GPS, while slave devices have reduced functionality with PAN-only communication and deactivated GPS. This segmentation allows the system to achieve wide tracking coverage through multiple devices while minimizing total power consumption by having only necessary components active in each device.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for tracking various assets. The apparatus includes a hybrid tracking device (HTD) for tracking an associated asset. The HTD includes a personal area network (PAN) transceiver to couple the HTD to a gateway, proxy or slave HTDs. The HTD may include a sensor to generate sensor information. Alternatively, the sensor information is generated remotely. The sensor information includes a determined location and/or information characteristic of an HTD or its environment. Sensor information from one sensor is used to represent HTDs separated by the PAN. The HTD may also include a wide area network (WAN) transceiver to communicate with an asset tracking server.