Low-Power BLE Asset Tracking with Encrypted Broadcast Anonymization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-powered object tracking devices face limitations in determining and reporting locations frequently due to high power consumption by GPS and cellular operations, leading to a trade-off between battery life and information frequency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where asset tracking devices operate in peripheral mode, utilizing low-power Bluetooth communication with vehicle gateways that act as centrals, allowing for more frequent location updates by suppressing GPS and cellular functions and leveraging vehicle power, thus extending battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If battery-powered object tracking devices use GPS and cellular operations to determine and report locations, then location information can be obtained, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vehicle gateway as an intermediary device that performs location determination and reporting functions. The gateway has GPS and cellular capabilities but does not directly power the asset tracking device. Instead, the gateway communicates location information to the asset device via low-power wireless communication, allowing the asset device to obtain location information without consuming significant power for these functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides location tracking functionality into two separate components: the vehicle gateway (which contains power-intensive GPS and cellular modules) and the asset tracking device (which uses only low-power wireless communication). This segmentation allows the asset device to maintain minimal power consumption while still obtaining location information through the gateway.
2Productivity
If asset tracking devices report locations more frequently, then more location information is obtained, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle gateway acts as an intermediary that handles frequent location reporting without draining the asset device's battery. The gateway can communicate with the backend system at high frequencies while the asset device maintains a low-power state, simply listening for gateway transmissions. This allows frequent location updates to be achieved without compromising asset device battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by having the asset tracking device perform only the minimal necessary function of receiving location information from the gateway, while the gateway performs the power-intensive functions of GPS acquisition and cellular communication. This partial action approach allows frequent updates without requiring the asset device to expend significant energy.
3Measurement precision
If asset tracking devices use GPS and cellular hardware for location determination, then accurate location tracking is achieved, but device complexity and expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle gateway serves as an intermediary that contains the complex GPS and cellular hardware necessary for accurate location determination. The asset tracking device simply needs basic wireless communication capability to receive location information from the gateway. This intermediary approach provides accurate location tracking while significantly reducing the complexity of the asset device itself.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of each asset tracking device having its own full-featured GPS and cellular hardware, the system uses a centralized gateway that performs these functions once and broadcasts the location information to multiple asset devices. This copying approach allows multiple devices to access accurate location information without each device bearing the full complexity and cost of GPS/cellular hardware.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables more efficient and frequent location updates for asset tracking devices by reducing power consumption, thereby extending battery life while maintaining accurate location reporting.
Implementation Method 1
The Peripheral includes a low power Bluetooth (BLE) module that detects and/or transmits electromagnetic signals
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described for transmitting broadcasts by Peripherals, receiving the broadcasts by Centrals, and communicating with a Backend by Centrals. Specifically, a Peripheral may generate and transmit an encrypted broadcast packet to a Central, the Central may transmit the encrypted observation information to the Backend, which may decrypt the broadcast packet. Additionally, a Central may transmit a request for authorization to connect to a Peripheral to the Backend. If authorized by the Backend, the Central may connect to the Peripheral. Further, a Central may receive a plurality of broadcasts over a period of time. The Central may store information about the broadcasts and, at the conclusion of the period of time, transmit the information about the broadcasts and the last-received broadcast to the Backend.