Mobile Terminal Asset Tracking Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing asset tracking systems face challenges in maximizing the functionality of mobile terminals while minimizing the impact on power constraints, particularly due to the limited battery life of mobile terminals used for tracking movable assets, which increases maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
The mobile terminal is configured to dynamically activate and deactivate its GPS engine based on available power, using a power-based cost function that considers external power sources and internal battery levels, allowing for optimized power usage and extended battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile terminal is powered by a battery to ensure portability and continuous operation, then the device can maintain functionality throughout the transport route, but the battery service life is limited and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the GPS engine operation state based on available power sources. When external power is detected, the GPS engine operates at full capability; when running on battery power, the system modifies GPS polling intervals and reporting frequency to conserve energy, thereby extending battery service life while maintaining continuous tracking functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters such as GPS update frequency, position reporting interval, and satellite re-acquisition timing based on power availability. These parameter adjustments optimize power consumption during battery operation while ensuring reliable tracking, directly addressing the contradiction between continuous operation and limited battery life
2Reliability
If the GPS engine operates continuously to maintain accurate position information, then tracking functionality is maximized, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by operating the GPS engine at reduced capacity during battery-powered mode. Instead of continuous full-strength satellite acquisition and position calculation, the system uses extended polling intervals and selective re-acquisition only when necessary, achieving adequate tracking accuracy with significantly reduced power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The GPS engine operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously. The system implements variable polling intervals that extend between position updates when battery power is available, while maintaining more frequent updates when external power is detected. This periodic operation with adaptive timing reduces average power consumption while preserving tracking reliability
3Measurement precision
If the mobile terminal is affixed to the roof of the trailer to ensure good satellite visibility, then position information quality is improved, but the device becomes more vulnerable to environmental factors and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the satellite reception function from the processing unit by using the mobile terminal's existing GPS receiver capabilities rather than adding external antenna systems. This segmentation allows the terminal to maintain compact form factor while achieving adequate satellite visibility through software-based signal processing and multi-constellation support
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations of the invention comprise a position tracking module, a transmitter, and a controller. The position tracking module collects measurements from a plurality of positioning satellites, where the collected measurements may be used to determine a position of said mobile terminal. The transmitter transmits status reports to an operations center. The controller controls an activation of the transmitter based on an analysis of a geographic cost function, where the geographic cost function identifies a geographic area in which the controller alters a communication parameter of the mobile terminal. The alteration of the communication parameter may be used by the operations center as a basis for a change in a billing rate during at least part of a time that the mobile terminal is resident within the geographic area.