Tracking device that conserves power using a sleep mode when proximate to an anchor beacon
First Claim
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1. A power conserving tracking system comprising:
- at least one anchor beacon configured to broadcast a signal;
a tracking device configured to determine a location of the tracking device using a location detector, said tracking device also comprising a beacon sensor configured to detect the signal broadcast by the beacon, a wireless transceiver configured to wireless exchange messages with a remotely located tracking server, and a power source, the tracking device also has a plurality of power modes, said power modes including at least a low power mode and a high power mode, wherein said low power mode is automatically utilized when the tracking device is within a designated range of at least one anchor beacon, and wherein said high power mode is automatically utilized when the tracking device is outside the designated range.
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Abstract
A method for tracking objects in a way that conserves power resources. The method can establish a designed range defining a safe area based upon the broadcast signal of an anchor beacon. When the tracking device is within the designed range, the tracking device can be placed in a mode of low power consumption. Should the tracking device move outside of the designated range, then the tracking device can be placed in mode for active tracking. The level of power consumption can be achieved by only enabling a WAN transceiver in the active tracking mode.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A power conserving tracking system comprising:
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at least one anchor beacon configured to broadcast a signal; a tracking device configured to determine a location of the tracking device using a location detector, said tracking device also comprising a beacon sensor configured to detect the signal broadcast by the beacon, a wireless transceiver configured to wireless exchange messages with a remotely located tracking server, and a power source, the tracking device also has a plurality of power modes, said power modes including at least a low power mode and a high power mode, wherein said low power mode is automatically utilized when the tracking device is within a designated range of at least one anchor beacon, and wherein said high power mode is automatically utilized when the tracking device is outside the designated range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method to track an object comprising:
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automatically sensing whether a tracking device is within a designated broadcast range of at least one anchor beacon; when outside of the designated range, changing a power state of the tracking device to activate an included wide area network transceiver and an included location detector; when the power state is changed, determining a location of the tracking device using the location detector; and wirelessly conveying a notification to a predetermined computing device, said notification including the determined location. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for tracking objects in a power conservative fashion comprising:
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establishing a designated range based upon a wireless broadcast emitting from at least one anchor beacon; automatically placing a tracking device in a low power mode when the tracking device is within the designated range; and automatically placing the tracking device in an high power mode when the tracking device is outside of the designated range, wherein a wireless transceiver within the tracking device repetitively conveys location identifying messages to a tracking server when operating in the high power mode, and wherein messages are not automatically conveyed from the tracking device to the tracking server when operating in low power mode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification