Location Message Reducer for Mobile Device Tracking

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing location-based services face high network utilization and power consumption due to frequent messaging required for tracking the geographic location of mobile devices, especially when multiple devices are being tracked, leading to excessive messaging and increased costs and power consumption.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method in communication devices and mobile devices to automatically determine if location information is needed and reduce unnecessary messaging by transmitting messages only when the device moves a specified distance or when the location information is required, using a location message reducer to manage the transmission of location data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If location information is provided frequently to accurately track the geographic location of the mobile device, then location tracking accuracy is improved, but network utilization and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by establishing a communication device that receives location information at predetermined time intervals rather than continuously. The system sets up periodic communication cycles where location data is transmitted only at scheduled intervals, reducing the frequency of data exchange while maintaining sufficient tracking accuracy for the intended application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by allowing the communication device to adjust the reception frequency of location information based on current conditions. The system can modify parameters such as time intervals between location requests, adapting the sampling rate to balance between tracking accuracy and power consumption based on device state and operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If location information is provided frequently to accurately track the geographic location of the mobile device, then location tracking accuracy is improved, but network utilization increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking accuracyVSAvoidnetwork utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by establishing a communication device that receives location information at predetermined time intervals rather than continuously. The system sets up periodic communication cycles where location data is transmitted only at scheduled intervals, reducing the frequency of data exchange while maintaining sufficient tracking accuracy for the intended application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the necessary location information from continuous data streams. The communication device selectively requests and processes only the location updates that are actually needed for tracking purposes, filtering out redundant information and reducing the overall quantity of data transmitted across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If location information is provided frequently to accurately track the geographic location of the mobile device, then location tracking accuracy is improved, but the number of messages increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking accuracyVSAvoidnumber of messages

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by establishing a communication device that receives location information at predetermined time intervals rather than continuously. The system sets up periodic communication cycles where location data is transmitted only at scheduled intervals, reducing the frequency of data exchange while maintaining sufficient tracking accuracy for the intended application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple location information requests into a single coordinated communication cycle. Instead of handling location updates as separate discrete messages, the system combines them into integrated periodic data exchanges, reducing the overhead associated with individual message transmission and processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9237421B2Method and apparatus for reducing transmission of location information

Publication Date: 2016.01.12 MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LTD

AI summary

Provided is a method and apparatus for reducing transmission of location information when tracking the geographic location of one or more mobile devices. A mobile device generates location information using GPS technology and provides the location information to a communication device on an ongoing basis. In a first embodiment, if the location information of the mobile device is not needed, then the communication device transmits a message indicating that the location information of the mobile device is not needed. Upon receiving the message, the mobile device stops providing location information to the communication device on the ongoing basis. This can reduce the amount of information that gets transferred over the air between users sharing their location information.