Tracking Device Alerts Using Signal Strength Before Disconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tracking devices often provide alerts too late or inconveniently when connectivity is lost, failing to notify users before disconnection events, such as leaving behind keys or wallets.
Innovation Solution
A tracking system that utilizes a community of mobile devices to locate lost tracking devices by setting flags and leveraging community mobile devices to provide real-time location updates, even when the user's device is out of range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If alerts are provided when connectivity is lost between mobile device and tracking device, then users are notified of disconnection, but the notification occurs too late for items like keys and wallets that should be carried everywhere
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing geofences around locations where the user is likely to leave items (home, work, frequent destinations). When the tracking device enters or exits these geofences, notifications are triggered before actual disconnection occurs, giving users advance warning to retrieve items like keys or wallets that may have been left behind.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component - a server that coordinates between the mobile device, tracking device, and geofence database. This intermediary processes location data, determines geofence violations, and manages notification timing, enabling sophisticated pre-disconnection alerts without requiring direct real-time communication between mobile and tracking devices.
2Loss of information
If real-time location monitoring is implemented for tracking devices, then users can locate lost items, but the system requires continuous communication between mobile device and tracking device
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes geofences around important locations and pre-calculates notification conditions. When a tracking device enters or exits these pre-defined zones, the server can determine location changes and send notifications even when real-time communication between mobile device and tracking device is interrupted, ensuring location information availability without requiring continuous communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking device autonomously reports its location to the server at intervals or upon geofence events, enabling the system to maintain location information without requiring the mobile device to continuously query or communicate with the tracking device. This self-service approach ensures reliable location tracking independent of mobile-device-initiated communication.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device determines based on a signal strength threshold when tracking devices communicatively coupled to the mobile device are lost or left behind. The mobile device communicatively couples to a tracking device and receives a first signal transmitted by the tracking device with a signal strength greater than a signal strength threshold. The mobile device receives a second signal transmitted by the tracking device and determines a measure of signal strength based on the second signal. While the mobile device is still communicatively coupled to the tracking device, and responsive to determining that the measure of signal strength of the second signal is less than the signal strength threshold, the mobile device generates a notification that the tracking device may be lost or left behind to alert the user of the mobile device.