Multi-Antenna Tag Assembly for Secure Item Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems struggle to accurately locate personal property or electronic devices without GPS, such as keys or wallets, using wireless communication protocols.
Innovation Solution
A wirelessly locatable tag equipped with multiple antennas configured for different wireless protocols, including Bluetooth, ultra-wideband, and near-field communication, which transmits a public encryption key to an electronic device for localization, enabling secure and accurate determination of its location through a device-location relay network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple antennas with different wireless protocols are integrated into the tag, then the localization capability and communication versatility are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antennas (first antenna for Bluetooth, second antenna for ultra-wideband, third antenna for near-field communication) into a single integrated antenna assembly that is coupled to the housing. This merging approach allows the tag to support multiple wireless communication protocols simultaneously while managing the complexity through a unified structural design rather than separate independent assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna assembly is designed as a multi-functional component that performs multiple wireless communication functions through different protocols (Bluetooth, ultra-wideband, near-field communication). This universal design allows a single assembly to replace what would otherwise require multiple separate communication modules, thereby improving versatility while controlling overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If encryption is implemented for location data transmission, then privacy and security are improved, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements encryption of location data before transmission to the remote server. By performing the encryption action in advance of data exposure or unauthorized access attempts, the system ensures security is built into the data transmission process from the outset, rather than requiring additional processing time during critical moments when location information is needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A wirelessly locatable tag may include a first housing member defining a first exterior surface of the tag, a second housing member removably coupled to the first housing member and defining a second exterior surface of the tag, and an antenna assembly. The antenna assembly may include an antenna frame defining a top surface and a peripheral side surface, a first antenna on the antenna frame along the peripheral side surface and configured to communicate with the electronic device using a first wireless protocol, a second antenna on the antenna frame along the peripheral side surface and configured to send a localization signal to the electronic device using a second wireless protocol different than the first protocol, and a third antenna on the antenna frame along the top surface and configured to communicate with the electronic device via a third wireless protocol different than the first and second protocols.