Mobile Device Location Tracking Using Portable Intermediary Log System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in determining the last known location of their mobile electronic devices, which can be easily misplaced, lost, or stolen, as existing technologies lack an adequate means to track or locate these devices effectively.
Innovation Solution
A user-portable electronic device equipped with geographic-location determining circuitry, log circuitry, and user-interface circuitry that establishes transmission connections with mobile devices, determines their geographic location, and stores a log of last-known locations, allowing users to access and display this information on a map, even for devices without built-in position-determining circuitry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no location tracking system is implemented, then device simplicity is maintained, but the ability to locate misplaced devices is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a location service system that acts as an intermediary between mobile devices and users. This centralized service handles the complexity of location tracking, authentication, and data management, while individual devices only need to run a simple client application. The mediator approach allows location tracking functionality to be added without significantly increasing the complexity of individual mobile devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables devices to automatically report their own location data without requiring manual intervention from users. The location client on each device automatically obtains location information from position-determining circuitry and transmits it to the location service, which then makes it accessible to authorized users. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual location recording while maintaining system simplicity.
2Reliability
If location tracking is added to all mobile devices, then location capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal location service system that can track multiple types of mobile devices (cell phones, PDAs, vehicles, boats, aircraft) through a single platform. The location service infrastructure is designed to be device-agnostic, supporting various position-determining technologies and communication methods. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide location tracking across diverse device types without requiring separate systems for each device category, thereby reducing overall manufacturing and deployment costs.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing a centralized location service as an intermediary, the patent allows location tracking functionality to be added to existing devices through software updates rather than hardware modifications. The location client application can be deployed to various devices, which then communicate with the universal location service infrastructure. This approach avoids the need to manufacture specialized tracking hardware for each device, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining location tracking capability.
3Measurement precision
If continuous location monitoring is performed, then location accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic location reporting rather than continuous monitoring. The location client on each device obtains location information at scheduled intervals and transmits updates to the location service only when location data changes or at predetermined time intervals. This periodic action maintains location accuracy for practical purposes while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous real-time tracking, as the device's position-determining circuitry and communication transmitters remain inactive between updates.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a user-portable electronic device and in particular one which is capable of establishing transmission connection with one or more mobile electronic devices. A user-portable electronic device comprising transmission connection circuitry arranged to establish transmission connection between the user-portable electronic device and one or more mobile electronic devices; geographic-location determining circuitry arranged to determine a geographic location of the or each mobile electronic device associated with transmission connection of the user-portable electronic device and the or each mobile electronic device; and log circuitry arranged to allow storage of a geographic-location log including at least a last-known geographic location of the or each mobile electronic device.