Security system tracking of remote items using reduced power

• US 9,799,190 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Jeremy B., Nye, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US15/227,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20170032647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 34053913, 3405391, 34053911, 340506, 340 31
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile tracking unit includes a controller having a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable by the processor to communicate with a control unit of an automation and security system, determine a position of the mobile tracking unit relative to a base station using a low power location module, and communicate the position of the mobile tracking unit to at least one of the base station and a control unit of the automation and security system. When the mobile tracking unit is outside a specified range from the mobile tracking unit, the controller continues tracking the position of the mobile tracking unit with the low power location module. When the mobile tracking unit is inside the specified range, the controller determines the position of the mobile tracking unit using a high power location module.

Claims

1. A mobile tracking unit comprising:

a processor;

a low power location component and a high power location component;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to cause the mobile tracking unit to;

determine a position of the mobile tracking unit using the low power location component when the mobile tracking unit is outside a specified range from a location;

determine a position of the mobile tracking unit using the high power location component when the mobile tracking unit is inside the specified range from the location; and

communicate the position of the mobile tracking unit to an electronic device.

2. The mobile tracking unit of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the mobile tracking unit to:

track the position of the mobile tracking unit during a time period using the low power location component or the high power location component based at least in part on the position of the mobile tracking unit and the location.

3. The mobile tracking unit of claim 1, wherein a virtual fence comprises the location.

4. The mobile tracking unit of claim 3, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the mobile tracking unit to:

receive data associated with the virtual fence; and

wherein determining the position of the mobile tracking unit is based at least in part on the received data.

5. The mobile tracking unit of claim 3, wherein the virtual fence defines at least part of a geographic boundary.

6. The mobile tracking unit of claim 1, wherein the location comprises a location of an electronic device.

7. The mobile tracking unit of claim 6, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the mobile tracking unit to:

send a message to the electronic device indicating the position of the mobile tracking unit.

8. The mobile tracking unit of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the mobile tracking unit to:

generate an alarm when the mobile tracking unit is within an alarm range relative to the electronic device, wherein the alarm range is less than the specified range.

9. The mobile tracking unit of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the mobile tracking unit to:

determine the position of the mobile tracking unit with a frequency based at least in part on whether a previous position of the mobile tracking unit is outside the specified range from the location.

10. The mobile tracking unit of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the mobile tracking unit to:

determine the position of the mobile tracking unit over a time period with a frequency; and

adjust the frequency of determining the position of the mobile tracking unit based at least in part on a change in the position of the mobile tracking unit relative to a threshold distance over the time period.

11. The mobile tracking unit of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the mobile tracking unit to:

receive a user command associated with determining the position of the mobile tracking unit; and

determine the position of the mobile tracking unit using the high power location component when the mobile tracking unit is outside the specified range from the location based at least in part on the user command.

12. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

determining a position of a mobile tracking unit using the low power location component when the mobile tracking unit is outside a specified range of a location;

determining a position of the mobile tracking unit using the high power location component when the mobile tracking unit is inside the specified range from the location; and

communicating the position of the mobile tracking unit to an electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a virtual fence comprises the location.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving data associated with the virtual fence; and

wherein determining the position of the mobile tracking unit is based at least in part on the received data.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the location comprises a location of a portable electronic device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the low power location component comprises a wireless Internet component, or a cellular network component, or both, and

wherein the high power location component comprises a global positioning system (GPS) component.

17. A method for tracking, comprising:

determining a first position of a mobile tracking unit;

determining a location;

comparing the first position of the mobile tracking unit and the location;

determining whether a difference in distance between the first position of the mobile tracking unit and the location is greater than a predefined value; and

determining a second position of the mobile tracking unit using a low power location component when the difference is greater than the predefined value, wherein the mobile tracking unit comprises the low power location component and a high power location component.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the second position of the mobile tracking unit further comprises:

using a high power location component when the difference is not greater than the predefined value.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the location is associated with a location of a portable electronic device, and further comprising:

communicating the first position or the second position of the mobile tracking unit to the portable electronic device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the location defines at least part of a geographic boundary.