Passive Signal Detection for Unreported Device Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies rely on active opt-in for location tracking of electronic devices, resulting in a significant portion of passive, unreported devices being excluded, including 'dark devices' that do not connect to the internet or are turned off, limiting the ability to track and analyze consumer movement and behavior effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of systems and methods that utilize sensor devices and algorithms to collect and process passive signals from unreported devices, including unique identifiers and signal strength, allowing for triangulation of location and movement analysis without requiring user consent or active participation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If active opt-in methods are used for device tracking, then tracking accuracy for reported devices is improved, but the quantity of trackable devices decreases due to user opt-outs and dark devices being excluded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sensor devices as intermediaries that passively collect signals from electronic devices without requiring user interaction. These sensor devices act as mediators between the target devices and the tracking system, enabling detection of both reported and dark devices through passive signal monitoring rather than active user participation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical signal emission and detection systems with radio frequency signal detection. By using sensor devices that detect passive RF signals from electronic devices, the system can track devices without requiring them to actively emit locatable signals or user consent, thus capturing both reported and dark devices
2Quantity of substance
If passive signal collection from dark devices is implemented, then the quantity of trackable devices is improved, but signal reliability deteriorates due to signal fluctuations and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where sensor devices continuously monitor and report passive signals to a central server. The system processes these signals over time, using feedback loops to filter out interference and validate device locations through multiple signal readings, thereby improving reliability of passive signal collection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary signal processing and filtering at the sensor device level before signals are transmitted to the central server. By pre-processing signals to remove obvious interference and validate signal quality, the system improves the reliability of passive signals before they enter the main tracking pipeline
3Productivity
If real-time processing of passive signal data is performed, then productivity of location tracking is improved, but device complexity increases due to processing requirements for signal aggregation and triangulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing architecture into distributed sensor devices that perform initial signal collection and basic filtering, a central server that handles aggregation and triangulation, and client devices that receive processed location information. This segmentation distributes computational complexity across multiple components, enabling real-time processing without concentrating all processing complexity in a single system
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 collection and analysis of previously unattainable data, improving user experience, device location tracking, surveillance, and security by passively gathering insights into consumer behavior and movement patterns without accessing personally identifiable information.
Implementation Method 1
passive signals such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and Wi-Fi
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for detecting passive devices is provided. In various embodiments, the system includes a sensor device including a sensor module, a communications module, a processor, and a memory storing instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the sensor module to receive a passive signal broadcast by a target device, assign a signal type to the passive signal to form passive signal data, and transmit the passive signal data to a central device or cloud. The system also includes a central device or cloud configured to receive the passive signal data from the sensor device.