Tracking Device Secure Cloud Broadcast Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional tracking devices face limitations in battery life due to power consumption for long-range tracking, are expensive, and have limited low-power options, restricting their usefulness, especially when the user is far away from the device.
Innovation Solution
A tracking device uses a one-way communication protocol to securely communicate with a secondary device, generating a hash value based on its identity and parameters, allowing location determination through a community of mobile devices, and activating location-detection functionality only upon movement detection to conserve power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If traditional long-range tracking technology is used, then tracking range is extended, but power consumption increases and battery life is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking system is segmented into multiple components: the tracking device generates location data, secondary devices (mobile phones, computers) perform the power-intensive processing and communication, and the tracking device only transmits minimal data. This segmentation allows long-range tracking without requiring the tracking device itself to consume high power.
Solution Approach 2:
Secondary devices act as intermediaries between the tracking device and the tracking server. Instead of the tracking device directly communicating with the server over long distances (which would require high power), the secondary devices receive data from the tracking device and handle the power-intensive communication and processing tasks.
2Reliability
If traditional long-range tracking technology is used, then tracking capability is improved, but device cost increases due to sophisticated circuitry requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The complex processing and communication functions are extracted from the tracking device and placed in the secondary devices. The tracking device only needs minimal circuitry to generate location data and transmit it to secondary devices, while the expensive sophisticated circuitry resides in the user's existing mobile devices or computers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the universal presence of secondary devices (mobile phones, computers) that users already possess. These devices perform multiple functions: receiving data from tracking devices, processing location information, communicating with the tracking server, and providing the user interface. This eliminates the need for expensive dedicated tracking equipment.
3Use of energy by moving object
If low-power tracking options are used, then power consumption is reduced, but tracking range is limited to nearby objects
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a single-device model to a multi-device network model. The tracking device operates in a low-power mode locally, while the network of secondary devices and the tracking server provide the extended range capability. This adds a network dimension to the system, allowing low-power local operation with high-range networked capability.
4Measurement precision
If continuous location detection is performed, then location accuracy is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous location detection, the system uses periodic action triggered by movement events. The tracking device detects movement and only then transmits location data to secondary devices. This periodic transmission based on events maintains location tracking accuracy while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous transmission.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tracking device can securely communicate with a secondary device by generating a hash value based on the identity of the tracking device, if the secondary device cannot resolve the hash value, the hash value can be provided to a tracking server, such as a cloud server, for resolving the hash value. Upon resolving the hash value, the tracking server can store a location of the tracking device in association with the identity of the tracking device. To preserve power, the secondary device can activate location-detection functionality (such as a GPS receive) only in response to the detection of movement of the tracking device, can obtain location information, and can de- activate the location -detection functionality upon providing the location information to the tracking server. The tracking server can associate one or both of a previous location and the current location information based on movement of the tracking device.