Multi-Device Tracking Architecture with Community Mobile Relays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional tracking devices face limitations in long-range communication, requiring significant power and sophisticated circuitry, and low-power options are restricted to close proximity, limiting their usefulness.
Innovation Solution
A tracking server that associates tracking devices with community mobile devices within proximity, enabling communication through a community mobile device when the primary mobile device is out of range, using a tracking system to relay configuration instructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If traditional long-range communication technology is used in tracking devices, then communication distance is improved, but power consumption increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces community mobile devices as intermediaries to relay communication between the tracking device and the user's mobile device. Instead of the tracking device directly communicating over long distances (which would consume high power), it uses nearby community mobile devices as mediators to forward messages, enabling long-range communication while the tracking device remains in low-power mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages existing community mobile devices that users already carry and use for other purposes. These devices provide communication services to the tracking device without requiring dedicated long-range communication hardware in the tracking device itself, thus avoiding additional power consumption and complexity in the tracking device.
2Length of stationary object
If traditional long-range communication technology is used in tracking devices, then communication distance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes community mobile devices serve multiple functions: they act as communication relays for tracking devices, while also serving their primary purposes for their owners. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized long-range communication circuitry in the tracking device, as the community devices provide the necessary communication capability universally.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing community mobile devices as intermediaries, the patent offloads the complexity of long-range communication handling from the tracking device to the community devices. The tracking device only needs simple short-range communication capabilities, while the complex long-range communication protocols are handled by the intermediary community devices.
3Use of energy by moving object
If low-power communication options are used in tracking devices, then power consumption is reduced, but communication distance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a direct one-to-one communication model to a many-to-many mesh network model. Instead of the tracking device needing to communicate directly with the user's mobile device over long distances, multiple community mobile devices form a network that collectively extends the communication reach, allowing low-power short-range communication to achieve effective long-range connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Community mobile devices serve as intermediaries that bridge the gap between low-power tracking devices and users at a distance. The tracking device communicates with nearby community devices using low-power short-range communication, and these intermediaries forward the messages over longer distances, effectively extending communication range without increasing tracking device power consumption.
4Length of stationary object
If tracking devices use sophisticated circuitry for long-range communication, then communication distance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages the existing communication capabilities of community mobile devices that users already possess. Instead of requiring tracking devices to have sophisticated long-range communication circuitry (which would be expensive to manufacture), the solution uses the self-service capability of community devices to provide the necessary communication infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, low-cost tracking devices with basic short-range communication capabilities rather than expensive devices with sophisticated long-range communication hardware. The system accepts that individual tracking devices have limited range, but through the network of community devices, achieves effective long-range functionality at low manufacturing cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes determining, by a first computing device, that a tracking device is within a threshold proximity of the first computing device. The tracking device is attached to a pet associated with a user of the first computing device. The method includes providing, by the first computing device, and to the tracking device, a first request to locate the pet in response to a user input received on the first computing device. In response to determining that the pet is no longer within the threshold proximity, providing, by the first computing device, and to a tracking system server, a second request to locate the pet. The second request to locate the pet comprises instructions to be routed by the tracking system server to a community computing device. The method includes receiving, by the first computing device, and from the tracking system server, a response to the second request.