Methods and devices for serving as a proxy beacon for a tracking device
First Claim
1. A method operational at a wireless communication device for tracking, comprising:
- serving as a beacon for a tracking device by transmitting a beacon signal to the tracking device, the tracking device having a long range communication interface configured to communicate with a tracking server; and
serving as a proxy to the tracking device by communicating with the tracking server on behalf of the tracking device after the tracking device loses communication with a home beacon associated with the tracking device, and serving as the proxy to the tracking device includesreceiving tracking server data from the tracking server and transmitting the tracking server data to the tracking device via a short range communications link instead of the tracking server data being received at the tracking device directly from the tracking server via the long range communication interface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
One feature includes a mobile device being used as a mobile beacon and proxy for a tracking device that may track an object, such as a pet. The mobile device may act as a beacon that transmits messages over a short range communications link to the tracking device. If the tracking device fails to receive the messages transmitted by the mobile device, it may be assumed that the pet has gone missing, and in response the tracking device may contact a tracking server with its location information via a wireless wide area network (WWAN). Additionally, the mobile device may act as a proxy of the tracking device by transmitting and receiving data to/from the tracking server using its own communication interface on behalf of the tracking device. This helps conserve the battery power of the tracking device because the tracking device does not use its own WWAN interface.
19 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method operational at a wireless communication device for tracking, comprising:
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serving as a beacon for a tracking device by transmitting a beacon signal to the tracking device, the tracking device having a long range communication interface configured to communicate with a tracking server; and serving as a proxy to the tracking device by communicating with the tracking server on behalf of the tracking device after the tracking device loses communication with a home beacon associated with the tracking device, and serving as the proxy to the tracking device includes receiving tracking server data from the tracking server and transmitting the tracking server data to the tracking device via a short range communications link instead of the tracking server data being received at the tracking device directly from the tracking server via the long range communication interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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a short range communications interface adapted to wirelessly communicate with a tracking device via a short range communications link (SRCL), the tracking device having a long range communication interface configured to communicate with a tracking server; a first communications interface adapted to communicate with the tracking server; and a processor communicatively coupled to the short range communications interface and the first communications interface, the processor adapted to; serve as a beacon for the tracking device by transmitting a beacon signal to the tracking device; and serve as a proxy to the tracking device by communicating with the tracking server on behalf of the tracking device after the tracking device loses communication with a home beacon associated with the tracking device, and serving as the proxy to the tracking device includes receiving tracking server data from the tracking server and transmitting the tracking server data to the tracking device via the SRCL instead of the tracking server data being received at the tracking device directly from the tracking server via the long range communication interface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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means for serving as a beacon for a tracking device by transmitting a beacon signal to the tracking device, the tracking device having a long range communication interface configured to communicate with a tracking server; and means for serving as a proxy to the tracking device by communicating with the tracking server on behalf of the tracking device after the tracking device loses communication with a home beacon associated with the tracking device, and means for serving as the proxy to the tracking device includes means for receiving tracking server data from the tracking server and transmitting the tracking server data to the tracking device via a short range communications link instead of the tracking server data being received at the tracking device directly from the tracking server via the long range communication interface.
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30. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for tracking, the instructions which when executed by at least one processor causes the processor to:
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serve as a beacon for a tracking device by transmitting a beacon signal to the tracking device, the tracking device having a long range communication interface configured to communicate with a tracking server; and serve as a proxy to the tracking device by communicating with the tracking server on behalf of the tracking device after the tracking device loses communication with a home beacon associated with the tracking device, and serving as the proxy to the tracking device includes receiving tracking server data from the tracking server and transmitting the tracking server data to the tracking device via a short range communications instead of the tracking server data being received at the tracking device directly from the tracking server via the long range communication interface.
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Specification