Proximity Tracking Leash with Programmable Alert Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
The frequent loss of valuable items due to distractions, mental lapses, or theft, particularly in busy environments, poses a significant challenge as many items are irreplaceable and contain important data or information.
Innovation Solution
A signaling clip or transmitter device is secured to the item to be tracked, paired with a user-associated signal recovery device such as a wristband, which allows for programming and monitoring, using a compact disc or software to uniquely associate the components and set proximity alerts, ensuring the item remains within a safe range from the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous monitoring of item proximity is implemented, then loss prevention capability is improved, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system operates periodically rather than continuously, activating proximity detection at predetermined intervals. This allows the system to maintain loss prevention capability while significantly reducing battery consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts monitoring intensity and frequency based on environmental context and risk levels. In low-risk environments, monitoring is reduced to conserve battery, while in high-risk situations, monitoring intensity increases to maintain security.
2Measurement precision
If proximity alert thresholds are set to be highly sensitive, then loss detection accuracy is improved, but false alarm frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple proximity threshold parameters instead of a single threshold. Different thresholds are set for different alert levels, allowing the system to distinguish between normal separation and actual loss situations, thereby reducing false alarms while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where alert history and patterns are analyzed to adjust sensitivity dynamically. When false alarms are detected, the system learns from these events and adjusts thresholds to reduce future false positives while maintaining accurate loss detection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system monitors multiple items simultaneously, then comprehensive tracking capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides multiple items into separate tracking groups or zones, each with its own monitoring parameters. This segmentation allows comprehensive tracking of multiple items while managing complexity by organizing monitoring tasks into discrete, manageable units rather than treating all items as a single complex system.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for tracking an object includes a transmitter that generates a signal and a receiver that receives the signal generated by the transmitter. The receiver generates an alert signal when a distance between the transmitter and receiver is greater than a predetermined value. The receiver is retained in a retaining element, such as a wrist band, while the transmitter is secured to an object. The receiver is programmable to generate the alert signal only when the predetermined distance has been exceeded. The retaining element optionally includes multiple retaining features so that multiple receivers may be retained in a single retaining element. Each receiver is programmable to communicate only with one corresponding transmitter by assigning each transmitter/receiver pair with a unique identification code. The unique identification code expires after use so that each transmitter may only communicate with a single receiver.