Wireless Accessory Near-Owner Maintenance for Low-Power Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless accessory devices that lack independent network connections cannot be tracked by remote tracking services when lost or stolen, and existing security features do not effectively manage their location or maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A system for wireless devices and accessories that establishes encrypted connections with owner devices, uses cryptographic key rotation, and broadcasts maintenance status indicators to ensure periodic maintenance, preventing unnecessary power consumption and network resource waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless accessory devices continuously broadcast beacon signals to enable tracking, then location tracking capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless accessory device transitions between different broadcast modes (first broadcast mode with higher beacon frequency for tracking, second broadcast mode with lower beacon frequency for power saving) based on whether an encrypted connection is established with an owner device. This periodic switching resolves the contradiction by enabling continuous tracking capability while reducing power consumption during extended periods without owner interaction.
2Reliability
If multiple owner devices continuously attempt to maintain encrypted connections with a wireless accessory, then maintenance reliability is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless accessory device autonomously manages encrypted connections with multiple owner devices by automatically establishing, maintaining, and terminating connections based on proximity and operational needs. The device self-regulates connection states without requiring coordination overhead from multiple owner devices, thereby improving maintenance reliability while reducing network resource consumption through elimination of redundant connection attempts and arbitration protocols.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The presence of a wireless device and/or accessory that cannot maintain an independent network connection can be detected by network connected wireless devices and the location of the detected device and/or accessory can be reported to a device location service. As the wireless devices and/or accessories do not have independent network connections, periodic maintenance is performed on those devices by nearby owner devices to which the wireless devices and/or accessories are paired or associated. Described herein are systems, methods, and associated devices to maintain a locatable wireless device by a set of multiple owner devices for that wireless device.