Low power location tracking device
First Claim
1. An electronic tracking device comprising:
- a controller;
a motion sensor in communication with the controller, the motion sensor configured to detect a motion of the electronic tracking device; and
a wireless communication subsystem in communication with the controller,wherein the controller is configured to;
(a) activate the wireless communication subsystem, when no motion of the electronic tracking device has been detected by the motion sensor for a threshold time period after a first motion of the electronic tracking device is detected by the motion sensor;
(b) cause location information of the electronic tracking device to be obtained;
(c) cause the location information of the electronic tracking device to be sent to a server using the wireless communication subsystem;
(d) deactivate the wireless communication subsystem after the location information of the electronic tracking device is sent to the server; and
(e) after a motion of the electronic tracking device is detected by the motion sensor while the wireless communication subsystem is deactivated,power up the wireless communication subsystem;
cause the wireless communication subsystem to register with a wireless network; and
subsequently set the wireless communication subsystem to a standby mode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are techniques for reducing power consumption of an electronic tracking device. The electronic tracking device includes a wireless communication subsystem and an always-on low-power sensor for sensing the motions of the electronic tracking device. A controller of the electronic tracking device controls the operations of the wireless communication subsystem based on the detection signals from the always-on low-power sensor such that the wireless communication subsystem is only activated when motions of the electronic tracking device have stopped for a threshold period of time, or when a query from a server is received when the wireless communication subsystem is in a standby mode.
12 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An electronic tracking device comprising:
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a controller; a motion sensor in communication with the controller, the motion sensor configured to detect a motion of the electronic tracking device; and a wireless communication subsystem in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to; (a) activate the wireless communication subsystem, when no motion of the electronic tracking device has been detected by the motion sensor for a threshold time period after a first motion of the electronic tracking device is detected by the motion sensor; (b) cause location information of the electronic tracking device to be obtained; (c) cause the location information of the electronic tracking device to be sent to a server using the wireless communication subsystem; (d) deactivate the wireless communication subsystem after the location information of the electronic tracking device is sent to the server; and (e) after a motion of the electronic tracking device is detected by the motion sensor while the wireless communication subsystem is deactivated, power up the wireless communication subsystem; cause the wireless communication subsystem to register with a wireless network; and subsequently set the wireless communication subsystem to a standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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receiving detection signals from a motion sensor of an electronic tracking device; determining that the detection signals indicate that motions of the electronic tracking device have stopped for a threshold time period after a first motion of the electronic tracking device is detected by the motion sensor; activating a wireless communication subsystem of the electronic tracking device; causing location information of the electronic tracking device to be obtained; causing the location information of the electronic tracking device to be sent to a server using the wireless communication subsystem; deactivating the wireless communication subsystem after the location information of the electronic tracking device is sent to the server; and in response to the detection signals indicating that a motion of the electronic tracking device has been detected while the wireless communication subsystem is deactivated, powering up the wireless communication subsystem; causing the wireless communication subsystem to register with a wireless network; and subsequently setting the wireless communication subsystem to a standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus comprising:
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means for detecting motions of an object; means for receiving detection signals from the means for detecting motions; means for obtaining and reporting location information of the object to a server; means for determining that motions of the object have stopped for a threshold period of time based on the detection signals; means for activating the means for obtaining and reporting location information, when motions of the object have stopped for the threshold period of time after a first motion of the object is detected; means for deactivating the means for obtaining and reporting the location information after the location information of the object is reported to the server; and means for, in response to detecting a motion of the object while the means for obtaining and reporting the location information is deactivated, powering up the means for obtaining and reporting the location information; causing the means for obtaining and reporting the location information to register with a wireless network; and subsequently setting the means for obtaining and reporting the location information to a standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by one or more processing units, causing the one or more processing units to:
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receive detection signals from a motion sensor of an electronic tracking device; determine that the detection signals indicate that motions of the electronic tracking device have stopped for a threshold period of time after a first motion of the electronic tracking device is detected by the motion sensor; activate a wireless communication subsystem of the electronic tracking device; cause location information of the electronic tracking device to be obtained; cause the location information of the electronic tracking device to be sent to a server using the wireless communication subsystem; deactivate the wireless communication subsystem after the location information of the electronic tracking device is sent to the server; and when the detection signals indicate that a motion of the electronic tracking device has been detected while the wireless communication subsystem is deactivated, power up the wireless communication subsystem; cause the wireless communication subsystem to register with a wireless network; and subsequently set the wireless communication subsystem to a standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification