Tracker Sensor Mode Switching from Passive Neighbor Context

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smart device architectures, such as smart envelopes and smart labels, face challenges in optimizing sensor power mode configuration versus sample rate tradeoffs, leading to excessive power consumption and inefficiency in determining context information and managing groups of tracker devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an adaptive context detection (ACD) system that uses passive sensing to determine device and neighbor context information, allowing tracker devices to adjust sensor operation modes based on changes in neighbor context without wireless communication, thereby minimizing power consumption and maintaining performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sensor operation mode is set to high sampling rate for accurate context determination, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontext determination accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor operation mode is made dynamic rather than static. The system transitions between different sensor modes (e.g., high sampling rate mode for accurate context determination, low sampling rate mode for power saving) based on real-time neighbor context information. When a tracker device detects changes in neighbor context, it adjusts its sensor sampling rate accordingly, optimizing the balance between measurement precision and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (sensor sampling rate, processing frequency) based on detected context conditions. When neighbor context indicates stable conditions, the system reduces sampling rate to conserve energy. When changes are detected, the system increases sampling rate to maintain measurement precision, thus adapting parameters to current operational needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If continuous sensor data collection is performed to maintain context information, then reliability is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontext information accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous sensor data collection, the system employs periodic sampling based on detected context changes. The tracker device continuously monitors neighbor context information and only activates high-rate sensor collection when changes are detected. This periodic action maintains reliability by capturing context changes while reducing energy consumption during stable periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The tracker device autonomously determines when sensor data collection is needed based on its own detection of neighbor context changes. Each device independently monitors its environment and adjusts its sampling behavior without external control, optimizing the balance between maintaining reliable context information and conserving energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If sensor mode is adjusted frequently in response to neighbor context changes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse to context changesVSAvoidsensor management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where neighbor context information detected by passive sensors feeds back into the sensor mode selection logic. This closed-loop approach enables automatic adaptation to changing contexts while keeping the control logic relatively simple, as the feedback directly drives the mode adjustment without complex intermediate processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20260082179A1Tracker device sensing configuration based on neighbor context information and passive sensor data

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Systems and techniques are provided for sensing and device tracking. For example, a process can include obtaining first sensor data from a plurality of sensors configured with a first sensor operation mode and included in a tracker device of a plurality of tracker devices. Neighbor context information can be determined for the tracker device based on passive sensing data included in the first sensor data, and can be indicative of a placement of the tracker device relative to one or more additional tracker devices included in the plurality of tracker devices. An updated sensor operation mode can be determined for the tracker device in response to one or more changes in the neighbor context information, the updated sensor operation mode different from the first sensor operation mode. Second sensor data can be obtained from the plurality of sensors based on configuring the tracker device with the updated sensor operation mode.