Secure Cloud Broadcast Identification for Low-Power Tracking Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional tracking devices face limitations such as limited battery life due to high power consumption for long-range tracking, expensive technology requirements, and low-power options that are restricted to close proximity, limiting their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A tracking device uses a one-way communication protocol to securely transmit a hash value, which is resolved by a secondary device or a tracking server to determine location and identity, and activates location detection only upon movement, conserving power and extending battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If traditional long-range tracking technology is used, then tracking capability over long distances is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking system is segmented into multiple components: the tracking device generates hash values locally, secondary devices perform the computationally intensive hash resolution, and cloud servers provide additional resolution capability. This distribution of computational workload allows long-range tracking without requiring the tracking device itself to consume excessive power for complex operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Hash values serve as intermediaries that enable tracking communication without requiring direct long-range communication between the tracking device and the user's device. The hash value can be broadcast over short distances to multiple secondary devices, which then resolve it to determine location, eliminating the need for power-intensive long-range direct communication.
2Measurement precision
If traditional tracking devices operate continuously, then location accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking device operates periodically rather than continuously, generating hash values at intervals or when triggered by motion detection. This periodic operation maintains location tracking capability while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the computational resources of secondary devices (user devices) and cloud servers to perform hash resolution, allowing the tracking device to remain in low-power mode while still achieving accurate location determination through the collaborative network.
3Reliability
If secure communication protocol is implemented, then data security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing complex encryption and authentication protocols in the resource-constrained tracking device, the system uses hash values as simplified copies or representations of the secure identification data. The hash value maintains security properties while being computationally inexpensive to generate and transmit.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for reducing power consumption of a mobile computing device is provided. The method includes receiving a signal from a tracking device associated with the mobile computing device indicating a detected movement of the tracking device. The method includes activating a location-detection receiver of the mobile computing device. The location-detection receiver is configured to indicate a location of the mobile computing device and a first location of the tracking device based on a proximity of the tracking device to the mobile computing device. The method includes determining, based on the proximity of the tracking device to the mobile computing device, an identity information of the tracking device, and providing, to a tracking system server, the first location and the identity information. In response to receiving a confirmation that the tracking system server has received the first location and the identity information, the method includes deactivating the location-detection receiver.