Mobile Tracking Data Sharing via Selective Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile tracking technologies face challenges in providing real-time location updates, especially at high speeds and in densely populated areas, due to time lags in data generation, transmission, and processing, which can lead to outdated location information and increased burden on devices and bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
A novel method for mobile devices to share tracking data, including current location, speed, heading, and path, through a communication application, allowing for direct or indirect data transmission, and enabling features like conference calls and data customization, with graphical representation on screens to distinguish lead and follower devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If more frequent position updates are transmitted to reduce time lag, then real-time tracking accuracy is improved, but device processor burden and wireless bandwidth consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential tracking data elements (location coordinates, speed, heading) from complete device state information, transmitting only these critical parameters rather than all available data. This reduces the data volume transmitted and processed while maintaining real-time tracking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements selective data transmission where not all devices transmit at all times - instead, data is transmitted partially based on motion thresholds and tracking relevance. When the lead device is stationary or moving slowly, updates are reduced or omitted, eliminating redundant transmissions while maintaining tracking effectiveness when motion occurs.
2Loss of time
If more frequent position updates are transmitted to reduce time lag, then real-time tracking accuracy is improved, but wireless bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements selective data transmission where not all devices transmit at all times - instead, data is transmitted partially based on motion thresholds and tracking relevance. When the lead device is stationary or moving slowly, updates are reduced or omitted, eliminating redundant transmissions while maintaining tracking effectiveness when motion occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic updates with variable intervals based on motion detection. Rather than continuous transmission, the system uses threshold-based triggering where updates occur periodically only when motion exceeds a specified threshold, creating an adaptive periodic transmission pattern that conserves bandwidth while maintaining real-time tracking when needed.
3Device complexity
If static location updates are used to simplify tracking, then device burden is reduced, but tracking accuracy at high speeds deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic update intervals that automatically adjust based on the lead device's motion state. When the lead device is moving at high speed, the system increases update frequency to maintain tracking accuracy. When motion is slow or stationary, update frequency decreases to reduce device burden. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between constant low burden and constant high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where tracking devices monitor the quality and recency of received location data. When tracking accuracy degrades (detected through time-stamp analysis or motion inference), the system automatically requests more frequent updates or adjusts transmission parameters. This closed-loop feedback ensures accuracy is maintained only when necessary, reducing overall device burden while preventing accuracy deterioration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of tracking a lead mobile device entails receiving tracking data that includes a current location for both the lead mobile device and at least one other mobile device that is also tracking the lead device. The method also entails displaying the current locations of the lead device and of the at least one other mobile device that is also receiving the tracking data. A related method shares tracking data with other mobile devices by activating a communication application, communicating with a plurality of other mobile devices via the communication application, and receiving user input to cause the mobile device to transmit tracking data to the plurality of other mobile devices.