Tracking device power preservation through signal strength reduction
First Claim
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1. A method for conserving power for a tracking device, the method comprising:
- establishing, by the tracking device, a communicative connection with a mobile device, the tracking device having a first transmission range;
receiving, by the tracking device from the mobile device, an instruction to reduce the transmission range of the tracking device to a second transmission range smaller than the first transmission range, the instruction sent in response to a detection of a threshold number of disconnections between the tracking device and the mobile device;
reducing, by the tracking device, the transmission range of the tracking device to the second transmission range such that the communication connection between the tracking device and the mobile device is severed; and
in response to re-establishing a connection with the mobile device while the transmission range of the tracking device is the second transmission range, increasing, by the tracking device, the transmission range of the tracking device to the first transmission range.
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Abstract
The power consumption of a tracking device can be reduced by managing the transmission power of the tracking device when a mobile device is at the edge of the range of the tracking device. A connection can be established between a tracking device and a mobile device at the edge of a first range of the tracking device. The transmission range of the tracking device can be reduced to sever the connection between the tracking device and the mobile device. After a pre-determined time interval or after a connection with the mobile device is re-established the transmission range of the tracking device can be restored.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for conserving power for a tracking device, the method comprising:
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establishing, by the tracking device, a communicative connection with a mobile device, the tracking device having a first transmission range; receiving, by the tracking device from the mobile device, an instruction to reduce the transmission range of the tracking device to a second transmission range smaller than the first transmission range, the instruction sent in response to a detection of a threshold number of disconnections between the tracking device and the mobile device; reducing, by the tracking device, the transmission range of the tracking device to the second transmission range such that the communication connection between the tracking device and the mobile device is severed; and in response to re-establishing a connection with the mobile device while the transmission range of the tracking device is the second transmission range, increasing, by the tracking device, the transmission range of the tracking device to the first transmission range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing instructions that when executed by a processor of a tracking device cause the tracking device to perform the steps of:
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establishing, by the tracking device, a communicative connection with a mobile device, the tracking device having a first transmission range; receiving, by the tracking device from the mobile device, an instruction to reduce the transmission range of the tracking device to a second transmission range smaller than the first transmission range, the instruction sent in response to a detection of a threshold number of disconnections between the tracking device and the mobile device; reducing, by the tracking device, the transmission range of the tracking device to the second transmission range such that the communication connection between the tracking device and the mobile device is severed; and in response to re-establishing a connection with the mobile device while the transmission range of the tracking device is the second transmission range, increasing, by the tracking device, the transmission range of the tracking device to the first transmission range. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A tracking device comprising:
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a tracking device interface, the tracking device interface configured to; establish a communicative connection with a mobile device, the tracking device having a first transmission range; and receive, from the mobile device, an instruction to reduce the transmission range of the tracking device to a second transmission range smaller than the first transmission range, the instruction sent in response to a detection of a threshold number of disconnections between the tracking device and the mobile device; and a tracking device controller, the tracking device controller configured to; reduce the transmission range of the tracking device to the second transmission range such that the communication connection between the tracking device and the mobile device is severed; and in response to re-establishing a connection with the mobile device while the transmission range of the tracking device is the second transmission range, increase the transmission range of the tracking device to the first transmission range. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification