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 device failure or theft, especially in transportation containers, where communication is obstructed or unreliable.

Innovation Solution

Collecting and storing communication data on signal strength and problem areas to predict and prevent communication failures, allowing devices to adjust their reporting and alert strategies, and providing advance warnings to authorities and users about impending coverage gaps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tracking device periodically attempts to communicate its location and status to a central station, then the central station can monitor the tracked entity, but battery power is consumed during each communication attempt

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring capabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes communication parameters including reporting intervals, transmission power levels, and communication frequency based on signal quality assessments and predicted communication gap conditions, optimizing the balance between monitoring reliability and battery consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary assessment of communication conditions and predicts upcoming communication gaps before they occur, allowing the tracking device to proactively adjust its communication strategy and conserve battery power by avoiding futile transmission attempts in known poor signal areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If the tracking device attempts communication in areas with poor signal strength or communication gaps, then location data can be transmitted, but communication failures occur leading to false alarms about device failure or theft

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation data transmissionVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors communication signal strength and quality, using this feedback to assess current communication conditions and adjust transmission strategies accordingly, while also providing feedback to the central station about communication reliability in specific areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system predicts upcoming communication gaps using historical data and current signal trends, allowing advance preparation of data for transmission before signal loss occurs and preventing false alarms by anticipating when communication failures are likely to happen

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the tracking device is placed inside a transportation container for product protection, then the product is protected during transport, but wireless signal strength is reduced due to container obstructions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct protectionVSAvoidwireless communication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system adjusts communication parameters such as transmission power and reporting intervals specifically adapted for containerized transport conditions, optimizing performance within the constrained electromagnetic environment of a metal container

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Loss of information

If the tracking device reports location at prescribed intervals to a central station, then the central station can track the route and status, but communication may fail in mountainous areas, tunnels, or urban canyons

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroute tracking dataVSAvoidcommunication availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system predicts upcoming communication gaps using historical data and current signal trends, allowing advance preparation of data for transmission before signal loss occurs and buffering location information for later transmission when communication is restored

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts reporting intervals and data transmission frequency based on predicted communication conditions, increasing robustness in areas prone to signal loss while maintaining efficient route tracking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8655378B1Method and apparatus for tracking a transported item while accommodating communication gaps

Publication Date: 2014.02.18 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.