Smart Device Tracking in Vehicles Using Wearable Sync
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Passengers often accidentally leave smart devices in vehicles after a ride, leading to complicated and time-consuming retrieval processes, which may not be successful.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a mobile device and a wearable device connected via wireless communication to determine if a smart device has been left in a vehicle, sending alerts to the user and allowing for timely retrieval by synchronizing movement and location data between the devices and the vehicle's controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passengers manually check and retrieve left smart devices, then retrieval success rate improves, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by having the smart device automatically detect when it has been left in the vehicle and autonomously initiate the retrieval process. The device uses its own sensors (accelerometer, GPS) and communication capabilities to notify the user and coordinate return to the vehicle, eliminating the need for manual checking by passengers or drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring the smart device's location and movement status during the ride. Before the passenger even realizes they left the device, the system has already detected the separation between the device and the user, prepared the notification, and initiated the retrieval workflow in advance.
2Measurement precision
If the system continuously monitors device location and movement data, then detection accuracy improves, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by leveraging the smart device's existing periodic motion detection capabilities (step counting, acceleration sensing) that are already running for other functions. Rather than adding continuous dedicated monitoring, the system repurposes these periodic sensor readings to detect when the device is stationary in the vehicle while the user moves away.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies multi-functionality by using the smart device's existing sensors and processing capabilities for multiple purposes: the accelerometer and gyroscope serve both for user interaction detection and for detecting device separation from the user. The GPS serves both navigation and location tracking for retrieval purposes, eliminating the need for dedicated monitoring hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for detecting that smart device were left in vehicles and facilitating retrieval of such devices. Example methods may include determining that the vehicle has arrived at a destination. The method may further include determining that a first device of the user is no longer disposed in the vehicle while a second device associated with the user is still disposed in the vehicle. The method may include exchanging one or more indications associated with retrieval of the first device.