Tracking Non-Cooperative Bluetooth Devices via Interference Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Bluetooth-based systems lack the capability to effectively detect and track non-cooperative devices that are not connected to the network, limiting their ability to provide visibility into space utilization, security, and crowd management within areas of interest.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a communication network of radio signal-enabled devices that monitor interference signals, record power levels, identify unique device identifications, and filter out irrelevant signals to track non-cooperative user devices, using techniques such as signal strength plotting to determine their location, without compromising user privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Bluetooth-based systems use traditional connection-based detection methods, then network-connected devices can be effectively tracked, but non-cooperative devices that are not connected to the network cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts Bluetooth interference signals from non-cooperative devices, which were previously considered harmful or useless noise, into beneficial detection opportunities. By analyzing these interference signals, the system can identify and track non-cooperative devices that were previously undetectable, thus transforming a problem into a solution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces signal processing algorithms and interference analysis mechanisms as intermediaries between the Bluetooth radio and the detection system. These intermediaries process the raw interference signals to extract meaningful information about non-cooperative devices, enabling detection without direct connection
2Loss of information
If the system monitors all Bluetooth signals in the frequency spectrum, then complete visibility of all devices is achieved, but signal processing complexity and computational resources increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the relevant interference signals from the Bluetooth frequency spectrum that correspond to non-cooperative devices. Instead of processing all signals comprehensively, the system selectively identifies and processes only those signals that contain information about unconnected devices, reducing overall processing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial monitoring by focusing computational resources on detecting interference patterns characteristic of non-cooperative devices rather than performing exhaustive analysis of all Bluetooth communications. This selective approach provides sufficient detection capability without the full computational burden
3Loss of information
If the system tracks all detected devices including non-cooperative ones, then comprehensive monitoring capability is achieved, but user privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates anonymous copies or representations of non-cooperative devices for tracking purposes without accessing or storing actual user identity information. The system tracks device locations and behaviors using pseudonymous identifiers, maintaining monitoring capability while preserving user anonymity and reducing privacy concerns
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for monitoring and tracking of non cooperative devices in a communication network that includes a plurality of radio signal-enabled devices communicating with each other includes: monitoring, by each of the plurality of radio signal-enabled devices, interference signals and frequencies of the interference signals from a plurality of non-cooperative devices that are not coupled to the communication network; receiving interference signals and the frequencies from the plurality of radio signal-enabled devices; recording a power level for each of the received interference signals; identifying signals of interest and filtering out signals of no interest responsive to the power levels; detecting a unique device identification for a non-cooperative user device not coupled to the communication network, responsive to the identified signals of interest; and tracking the non-cooperative user device responsive to the identified signals of interest and the predetermined locations of the plurality of radio signal-enabled devices.