Low-Power Tracking Device Access Through Community Mobile Relays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional tracking devices face limitations in battery life due to high power consumption for long-range communication and require sophisticated circuitry, and low-power options are limited to close proximity, reducing their effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A tracking server that leverages a community of mobile devices to relay tracking device requests beyond the direct communication range, using a network infrastructure to configure and communicate with tracking devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If traditional long-range communication technology is used in tracking devices, then communication range is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication rangeVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces community mobile devices as intermediary nodes to relay communications between the tracking device and the user's mobile device. Instead of the tracking device directly communicating over long distances (which consumes high power), messages are forwarded through nearby mobile devices that act as intermediaries, enabling long-range communication while the tracking device remains in low-power mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication path is segmented into multiple hops through community mobile devices rather than a single direct long-range connection. The tracking device communicates with nearby mobile devices in short bursts, and these intermediaries relay the messages over longer distances, dividing the communication task into smaller, lower-power segments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of stationary object

If traditional long-range communication technology is used in tracking devices, then communication range is improved, but device complexity increases due to sophisticated circuitry requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication rangeVSAvoidcircuitry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Community mobile devices serve as intermediaries that possess the sophisticated communication circuitry, while the tracking device itself uses simple, low-power communication hardware. The complexity is shifted from the tracking device to the intermediary mobile devices that already have capable communication infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Community mobile devices perform multiple functions: they act as communication relays, provide location information, and enable various tracking features. By leveraging the existing multi-functional capabilities of mobile devices, the patent avoids adding complex specialized circuitry to the tracking device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Use of energy by moving object

If low-power communication options are used in tracking devices, then power consumption is reduced, but communication range is limited to close proximity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication range

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses community mobile devices as intermediaries to extend the effective communication range of low-power tracking devices. The tracking device only needs to communicate with nearby mobile devices using low-power signals, while the intermediaries handle the long-distance transmission, achieving both low power consumption and extended range

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Length of stationary object

If long-range communication technology is used in tracking devices, then communication range is improved, but cost increases due to expensive technology requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication rangeVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent shifts the cost of long-range communication technology from the tracking device to the community mobile devices. Since mobile devices already possess capable communication hardware, the tracking device can be manufactured with inexpensive low-power components while still achieving long-range communication through the intermediary infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12356282B2Multi-device architecture for tracking device access

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 TILE

AI summary

A method includes providing, by a first computing device, and to a tracking device, a first request to locate the tracking device. The first request is provided via a first wireless communication network associated with the first computing device and the tracking device. The method includes receiving, from the tracking device, a first response via the first wireless communication network, determining that the tracking device is not within a threshold proximity of the first computing device, and providing, to a tracking system server, a second request to locate the tracking device. The second request is provided via a second wireless communication network associated with the first computing device and the tracking system server. The method includes receiving, by the first computing device, from the tracking system server, a second response via the second wireless communication network.