Tracking Device Communication Gap Prediction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless tracking devices face communication challenges in areas with signal gaps or blackouts, leading to battery waste and potential misinterpretation of data gaps as theft or device failure, especially in transportation containers where signal strength is degraded due to obstructions or sparse network coverage.

Innovation Solution

Collecting and analyzing communication data to predict and prevent communication failures by adjusting reporting schedules and alerting authorities of impending coverage gaps, using historical and real-time data to rank routes by communication reliability and suggesting alternative routes with better coverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tracking device attempts to communicate in areas with poor signal coverage, then communication reliability may improve slightly, but battery power is wasted and communication efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting communication gaps before they occur using historical signal data and route information. The tracking device receives advance notification of upcoming poor coverage areas and proactively adjusts its communication schedule, attempting to transmit data before entering the gap rather than wasting power attempting communication during the gap.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The communication schedule is made dynamic and adaptive rather than fixed. The system continuously monitors signal quality, updates predictions of communication gaps, and adjusts the timing and frequency of communication attempts in real-time based on current conditions and predicted future conditions, optimizing battery usage while maintaining communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If the tracking device communicates frequently to ensure data availability, then information completeness improves, but energy consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata availabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where communication outcomes are monitored and used to refine future communication scheduling. The central station analyzes successful and unsuccessful communication attempts, updates the prediction model, and adjusts the communication schedule accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes data transmission while minimizing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the tracking device operates in a containerized environment, then product protection improves, but wireless signal reception deteriorates due to obstructions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct protectionVSAvoidsignal reception

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The central station acts as an intermediary that bridges the communication gap caused by container obstructions. It collects historical signal data, predicts future communication problems, and coordinates communication attempts between the tracking device and the network, effectively mediating the relationship between the protected product in the container and the external communication network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Loss of information

If communication attempts are made in dead zones, then data transmission may occasionally succeed, but battery power is wasted and communication efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmissionVSAvoidbattery power waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9020536B1Method and apparatus for tracking a transported item while accommodating communication gaps

Publication Date: 2015.04.28 INTELLECTUAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A method and apparatus is provided for minimizing potential security problems and battery power usage in a tracking device used in tracking an associated product while being transported along a route wherein wireless communication may be nonexistent or intermittent. This is accomplished in part by having an accessible database of signal quality and strength at a large plurality of locations along given transportation routes whereby adjustments can be made as to the times for the tracking device to obtain GPS location information as well as for times to report any location and or product status data to a remotely located central station. The ability to predict when, along a transportation route communication problems may occur provides the opportunity to notify appropriate authorities in advance of arriving at the communication gap zones whereby arrangements can be made to alleviate potential problems during transportation through wireless communication “gap or dead” zones.