TRACKING DEVICE WIRELESS PRECONFIGURATION
First Claim
1. A tracking device, comprising:
- a hall effect sensor configured to, when the tracking device is configured to operate in a sleep mode, detect a magnetic field and produce an output voltage based on a strength of the magnetic field;
a communication interface configured to establish a communicative connection with a preconfiguration system; and
a controller coupled to the hall effect sensor and the communication interface, the controller configured to;
responsive to receiving, from the hall effect sensor, an output voltage exceeding a threshold voltage, configure the tracking device to operate in a preconfiguration mode,when configured to operate in the preconfiguration mode, establish the communicative connection with the preconfiguration system via the communication interface,provide a tracking device identifier uniquely identifying the tracking device over the communicative connection to the preconfiguration system, the preconfiguration system configured to associate the tracking device identifier with a user account, andresponsive to providing the tracking device identifier to the preconfiguration system, configure the tracking device to operate in the sleep mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A preconfiguration system preconfigures tracking devices before they are received by a user of the tracking devices. The preconfiguration system generates an activation signal that can be detected by an activation signal detector on a tracking device. Upon detecting the activation signal, the tracking device begins to operate in a preconfiguration mode and establishes a communicative connection with the preconfiguration system. The preconfiguration system can then communicate with the tracking device to perform a variety of tasks, including receiving a tracking device identifier from the tracking device so that the tracking device identifier can be associated with the user identifier for the user who purchased the tracking device.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A tracking device, comprising:
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a hall effect sensor configured to, when the tracking device is configured to operate in a sleep mode, detect a magnetic field and produce an output voltage based on a strength of the magnetic field; a communication interface configured to establish a communicative connection with a preconfiguration system; and a controller coupled to the hall effect sensor and the communication interface, the controller configured to; responsive to receiving, from the hall effect sensor, an output voltage exceeding a threshold voltage, configure the tracking device to operate in a preconfiguration mode, when configured to operate in the preconfiguration mode, establish the communicative connection with the preconfiguration system via the communication interface, provide a tracking device identifier uniquely identifying the tracking device over the communicative connection to the preconfiguration system, the preconfiguration system configured to associate the tracking device identifier with a user account, and responsive to providing the tracking device identifier to the preconfiguration system, configure the tracking device to operate in the sleep mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for preconfiguring a tracking device, comprising:
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detecting, at a hall effect sensor of the tracking device while the tracking device is configured to operate in a sleep mode, a magnetic field; producing, by the hall effect sensor, an output voltage based on a strength of the detected magnetic field; in response to the output voltage exceeding a threshold voltage, configuring, by a controller of the tracking device, the tracking device to operate in a preconfiguration mode; when configured to operate in the preconfiguration mode, establishing, via a communication interface of the tracking device, a communicative connection with a preconfiguration system; providing, by the controller of the tracking device, a tracking device identifier uniquely identifying the tracking device over the communicative connection to the preconfiguration system; and in response to providing the tracking device identifier, configuring, by the controller of the tracking device, the tracking device to operate in the sleep mode. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A preconfiguration system for preconfiguring a tracking device, comprising:
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an activation signal generator configured to generate a wireless activation signal in proximity to the tracking device, the tracking device having an activation signal detector coupled to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to reconfigure the tracking device from a sleep mode to a preconfiguration mode responsive to the activation signal detector detecting the activation signal; a communication interface configured to establish a communicative connection with the tracking device when the tracking device is operating in the preconfiguration mode; and a preconfiguration manager configured to; receive, from a central tracking system, a user identifier of an owner of the tracking device, receive, from the communication interface over the communicative connection, a tracking device identifier uniquely identifying the tracking device, and provide the tracking device identifier and the user identifier to the central tracking system, the central tracking system configured to associate the tracking device identifier with the user identifier. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for preconfiguring a tracking device, comprising:
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receiving, at a preconfiguration system from a central tracking system, a user identifier of an owner of the tracking device; generating a wireless activation signal in proximity to the tracking device, the tracking device having an activation signal detector coupled to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to reconfigure the tracking device from a sleep mode to a preconfiguration mode responsive to the activation signal detector detecting the activation signal; establishing, by a communication interface of the preconfiguration system, a communicative connection with the tracking device when the tracking device is operating in the preconfiguration mode; receiving, over the communicative connection, a tracking device identifier uniquely identifying the tracking device; and providing the tracking device identifier and the user identifier to the central tracking system, the central tracking system configured to associate the tracking device identifier with the user identifier. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification