Multi-mode Tracking Tag for Stolen Item Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Valuable items are often stolen despite protective measures, as existing security techniques can be inefficient and cumbersome, making it difficult to retrieve them once stolen.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes tags equipped with multiple wireless communication modes and location detection capabilities, allowing them to determine their geographic location and transmit it to a server when outside the communication range of a gateway or mobile device, enabling tracking and recovery of stolen items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional security techniques (locks, alarms, fences) are used to protect valuable items, then theft prevention is attempted, but these methods are inefficient and cumbersome, and items are still lost or stolen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical security systems (locks, fences, physical barriers) with an electronic tracking tag system that uses wireless communication and GPS location detection. This substitution eliminates the need for cumbersome physical security measures while providing reliable theft prevention through automated tracking and reporting capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking tag system operates autonomously without requiring human intervention for monitoring. The tag automatically detects its location, communicates with gateways or mobile devices, and reports theft events to authorities, enabling the security function to serve itself without complex human-managed security infrastructure.
2Reliability
If traditional security techniques are used, then some level of protection is provided, but retrieving stolen items becomes difficult once theft occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking tag provides continuous feedback on the location of valuable items through wireless communication with gateways and mobile devices. When theft occurs, the system immediately reports the item's location to authorities, enabling rapid recovery. This real-time feedback mechanism eliminates the time loss associated with traditional security systems that cannot track items after theft.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking tag is pre-installed on valuable items before theft can occur, establishing a baseline location and communication capability. This preliminary action ensures that when theft happens, the item's location can be immediately determined and reported without delay for setup or configuration.
3Reliability
If a tag uses multiple wireless communication modes and location detection capabilities to track location when outside gateway range, then tracking reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking tag is designed with multiple wireless communication modes (WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular) and location detection capabilities (GPS, accelerometer) integrated into a single device. This multi-functionality allows the tag to operate reliably across different environments and communication ranges without requiring multiple separate devices, managing complexity through consolidation rather than proliferation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the tracking and potential recovery of stolen items by determining their location and alerting authorities, providing a more efficient and convenient security solution than traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a first wireless transceiver configured to communicate in a first wireless communication mode
Implementation Method 2
a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate in a second wireless communication mode
Implementation Method 3
a third wireless transceiver configured to communicate in a third wireless communication mode
Implementation Method 4
a location detector configured to determine a geographic location of the tag
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable medium are disclosed. The method includes determining, by a server, an inventory of tags in communication with a gateway using a first wireless communication mode, and enabling, in response to a first triggering event recognized by a tag, a second wireless communication mode. The method also includes enabling, in response to a second triggering event recognized by the tag, a third wireless communication mode and a location detection capability of the tag. The method further includes determining, by the tag, a geographic location of the tag using a location detection capability, and transmitting, using the third wireless communication mode, to a server the geographic location of the tag.