Portable Location Tracker Secure Zone Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing GPS-based location tracking systems face limitations in accuracy, computational efficiency, battery life, and signal reliability, making them unsuitable for precise tracking of portable devices in complex environments, and they lack secure and low-power communication methods.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained portable location tracking device using universally available location systems like GPS, cellular, and radio triangulation, with a custom location system option, that defines and adjusts complex geometry zones autonomously, communicates securely and efficiently with a monitoring apparatus using minimal power, and encrypts data for privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If prior art GPS systems use nodes to define perimeter and mathematically calculate device location relative to nodes, then location determination is achieved, but computational requirements increase substantially and battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy computational tasks from the portable device and relocates them to a remote server. The portable device only performs simple GPS coordinate acquisition and basic boundary comparison, while the server handles complex geometric calculations, route optimization, and data processing. This division of labor significantly reduces power consumption on the portable device, extending battery life while maintaining location accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a remote server as an intermediary between the portable device and the final processing system. The server acts as a mediator that receives raw GPS data, performs complex computational tasks, and returns simplified results to the portable device. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for the portable device to perform intensive computations locally, thereby conserving battery power.
2Productivity
If prior art systems use fast processors to perform intensive computations, then calculation speed is improved, but power consumption increases and device size/weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts computationally intensive tasks from the portable device to a remote server with powerful processing capabilities. The portable device only performs minimal data acquisition and basic operations, eliminating the need for high-power processors. This significantly reduces both power consumption and device hardware requirements while maintaining high calculation speeds through the server's processing power.
3Reliability
If prior art GPS systems continuously communicate with base station, then location tracking is maintained, but battery power is drained continuously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic communication instead of continuous communication. The portable device transmits location data to the server at predetermined time intervals or when specific events occur (such as boundary crossings or route deviations). This periodic transmission pattern maintains location tracking reliability while dramatically reducing total communication time and associated power consumption compared to continuous communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable device autonomously determines when communication is necessary by monitoring local conditions such as proximity to boundaries or significant location changes. The device self-manages its communication schedule based on actual operational needs rather than following a rigid continuous transmission protocol, optimizing the balance between tracking reliability and power conservation.
4Device complexity
If prior art systems rely on remote primary processing system, then computational burden on portable device is reduced, but device portability is limited and secondary base station is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the remote server a universal processing platform that can serve multiple portable devices simultaneously. The server handles computations for any number of devices without requiring dedicated hardware at each location. This universal approach eliminates the need for secondary base stations while maintaining reduced processing complexity on portable devices, thereby enhancing portability and versatility.
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
The system provides accurate, long-lasting, and secure location tracking with minimal external dependencies, enabling reliable operation in diverse environments while preserving battery life and enhancing security through compact and secure data transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a GPS location determination apparatus to determine location
Implementation Method 2
a wireless communications apparatus to communicate location and status
Data Source
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AI summary
A fully self-contained portable location tracking device autonomously compares a current location with a latitude-longitude map stored in memory. The latitude-longitude map stores guidance zone values indicative of a predetermined safe zone, progressive alert zones, and a predetermined reference point. The guidance zone values represent actions to be taken based upon current location. When initiated by some combination of current location or zone value, location history, and time, or when otherwise queried, the tracking device transmits the offset from reference location, rather than actual current location data, to at least one wireless communications monitoring apparatus. The monitoring apparatus also stores a copy of the latitude-longitude map and reference point. Using the received offset, the monitoring apparatus knows both the location of the location tracking device and the actions to be taken based upon current location.