Low energy signaling scheme for beacon fencing applications

• US 8,958,455 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lacatus, Catalin, Parikh, Hemish K., Gill, Harleen K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khai
• Application Number:
  US13/831,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20140269842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 375/133, 375/130, 375/132, 375/138, 455/450, 455/452.2, 370/329
• US Class Current: 375/133
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/0428 Signal details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0222 Message structure or message content, e.g. message protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0238 adding new units to the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/025 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses absence of reply signal after an elapsed time
• 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: H04B 1/7143 Arrangements for generation of hop patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7156 Arrangements for sequence synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide modified frequency hopping patterns that enable synchronization of a wireless tracking device with a beacon signal that defines a predetermined area (i.e., beacon fence). In an embodiment, a beacon may transmit a beacon signal according to a modified frequency hopping pattern and a wireless tracking device may receive the beacon signal by tuning a receiver according to the frequency hopping pattern. In an embodiment, the modified frequency hopping pattern may include a reference frequency generated at a high redundancy pattern multiplexed with a pseudo random sequence of frequencies. In an embodiment, the packets of the beacon signal transmitted at the reference frequency may include an indication of the next frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern.

Claims

1. A method of generating frequency hopping signals of a beacon to facilitate synchronization by a wireless tracking device, comprising:

generating a high redundancy pattern of a reference frequency;

generating a pseudo random sequence of frequencies, wherein each frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies is different than the reference frequency; and

multiplexing the high redundancy pattern of the reference frequency with the pseudo random sequence of frequencies to generate a modified frequency hopping pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a beacon signal by switching a carrier signal of the beacon signal according to the modified frequency hopping pattern.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area defined by a reception range of the beacon by:

receiving the beacon signal in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver according to the modified frequency hopping pattern;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at a current frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern;

incrementing a failure counter and tuning the receiver to a next frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was not successful at the current frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the next frequency;

incrementing the failure counter in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was not successful at the next frequency;

determining whether the failure counter exceeds a failure threshold value; and

determining whether the wireless tracking device is outside the predetermined area in response to determining that the failure counter exceeds the failure threshold value.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the beacon signal comprises a data packet, the method further comprising:

determining, prior to a next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern, a next frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies at which the carrier signal will be transmitted following the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency;

including an indication of the next frequency in the data packet to generate a reference data packet; and

transmitting the reference data packet as the beacon signal at the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising synchronizing the wireless tracking device by:

receiving the reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver of the wireless tracking device to the reference frequency;

determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on the indication of the next frequency in the reference data packet;

comparing a sequence of the reference frequency and the determined next frequency to the modified frequency hopping pattern to identify a current point in the modified frequency hopping pattern; and

tuning the receiver according to the modified frequency hopping pattern from the current point in the modified frequency hopping pattern.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area defined by a reception range of the beacon by:

receiving the reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver of the wireless tracking device to the reference frequency;

determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on the indication of the next frequency in the reference data packet;

tuning the receiver to the determined next frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency; and

determining that the wireless tracking device is inside the predetermined area in response to determining that the decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the reference frequency is a first reference frequency, the method further comprising:

transmitting the reference data packet as the beacon signal at a second reference frequency at the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal; and

determining whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area defined by a reception range of the beacon by;

receiving the beacon signal in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver of the wireless tracking device to the first reference frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal is successful at the first reference frequency;

tuning the receiver to the second reference frequency in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal is not successful at the first reference frequency;

receiving the reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver of the wireless tracking device to the second reference frequency;

determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on the indication of the next frequency in the received reference data packet;

tuning the receiver to the determined next frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency; and

indicating the wireless tracking device is inside the predetermined area in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency.

8. A communication system, comprising:

a beacon; and

a wireless tracking device,

wherein the beacon comprises;

means for generating a high redundancy pattern of a reference frequency;

means for generating a pseudo random sequence of frequencies, wherein each frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies is different than the reference frequency; and

means for multiplexing the high redundancy pattern of the reference frequency with the pseudo random sequence of frequencies to generate a modified frequency hopping pattern.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the beacon further comprises:

means for transmitting a beacon signal by switching a carrier signal of the beacon signal according to the modified frequency hopping pattern.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the wireless tracking device further comprises:

means for receiving the beacon signal in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver according to the modified frequency hopping pattern;

means for determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at a current frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern;

means for incrementing a failure counter and tuning the receiver to a next frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was not successful at the current frequency;

means for determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the next frequency;

means for incrementing the failure counter in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was not successful at the next frequency;

means for determining whether the failure counter exceeds a failure threshold value; and

means for determining whether the wireless tracking device is outside a predetermined area in response to determining that the failure counter exceeds the failure threshold value.

11. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the beacon signal comprises a data packet, and

wherein the wireless tracking device further comprises:

means for determining, prior to a next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern, a next frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies at which the carrier signal will be transmitted following the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency;

means for including an indication of the next frequency in the data packet to generate a reference data packet; and

means for transmitting the reference data packet as the beacon signal at the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the wireless tracking device further comprises:

means for receiving the reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver of the wireless tracking device to the reference frequency;

means for determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on the indication of the next frequency in the reference data packet;

means for comparing a sequence of the reference frequency and the determined next frequency to the modified frequency hopping pattern to identify a current point in the modified frequency hopping pattern; and

means for tuning the receiver according to the modified frequency hopping pattern from the current point in the modified frequency hopping pattern.

13. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the wireless tracking device further comprises:

means for receiving the reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver of the wireless tracking device to the reference frequency;

means for determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on the indication of the next frequency in the reference data packet;

means for tuning the receiver to the determined next frequency;

means for determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency; and

means for determining whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area in response to determining that the decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency.

14. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the reference frequency is a first reference frequency,

wherein the beacon further comprises means for transmitting the reference data packet as the beacon signal at a second reference frequency at the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal, and

wherein the wireless tracking device further comprises:

means for receiving the beacon signal in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver of the wireless tracking device to the first reference frequency;

means for determining whether decoding of the beacon signal is successful at the first reference frequency;

means for tuning the receiver to the second reference frequency in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal is not successful at the first reference frequency;

means for receiving the reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver of the wireless tracking device to the second reference frequency;

means for determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on the indication of the next frequency in the received reference data packet;

means for tuning the receiver to the determined next frequency;

means for determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency; and

means for indicating the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency.

15. A communication system, comprising:

a beacon, comprising;

a transmitter circuit; and

a beacon processor coupled to the transmitter circuit; and

a wireless tracking device, comprising;

a receiver circuit; and

a device processor coupled to the receiver circuit,

wherein the beacon processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

generating a high redundancy pattern of a reference frequency;

generating a pseudo random sequence of frequencies, wherein each frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies is different than the reference frequency; and

multiplexing the high redundancy pattern of the reference frequency with the pseudo random sequence of frequencies to generate a modified frequency hopping pattern.

16. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the beacon processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting, via the transmitter circuit, a beacon signal by switching a carrier signal of the beacon signal according to the modified frequency hopping pattern.

17. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to determine whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area defined by a reception range of the beacon by:

receiving the beacon signal in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver circuit according to the modified frequency hopping pattern;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at a current frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern;

incrementing a failure counter and tuning the receiver circuit to a next frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was not successful at the current frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the next frequency;

incrementing the failure counter in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was not successful at the next frequency;

determining whether the failure counter exceeds a failure threshold value; and

determining whether the wireless tracking device is outside the predetermined area in response to determining that the failure counter exceeds the failure threshold value.

18. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the beacon processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the beacon signal comprises a data packet, and

wherein the beacon processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining, prior to a next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern, a next frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies at which the carrier signal will be transmitted following the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency;

including an indication of the next frequency in the data packet to generate a reference data packet; and

transmitting, via the transmitter circuit, the reference data packet as the beacon signal at the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency.

19. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to synchronize the wireless tracking device by:

receiving the reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver circuit of the wireless tracking device to the reference frequency;

determining a next frequency to tune the receiver circuit to based on the indication of the next frequency in the reference data packet;

comparing a sequence of the reference frequency and the determined next frequency to the modified frequency hopping pattern to identify a current point in the modified frequency hopping pattern; and

tuning the receiver circuit according to the modified frequency hopping pattern from the current point in the modified frequency hopping pattern.

20. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to determine whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area defined by a reception range of the beacon by:

receiving the reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver circuit of the wireless tracking device to the reference frequency;

determining a next frequency to tune the receiver circuit to based on the indication of the next frequency in the reference data packet;

tuning the receiver circuit to the determined next frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency; and

determining that the wireless tracking device is inside the predetermined area in response to determining that the decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency.

21. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the beacon processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the reference frequency is a first reference frequency,

wherein the beacon processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising transmitting, via the transmitter circuit, the reference data packet as the beacon signal at a second reference frequency at the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal, and

wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to determine whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area defined by a reception range of the beacon by:

receiving the beacon signal in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver circuit of the wireless tracking device to the first reference frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal is successful at the first reference frequency;

tuning the receiver circuit to the second reference frequency in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal is not successful at the first reference frequency;

receiving the reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver circuit of the wireless tracking device to the second reference frequency;

determining a next frequency to tune the receiver circuit to based on the indication of the next frequency in the received reference data packet;

tuning the receiver circuit to the determined next frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency; and

indicating the wireless tracking device is inside the predetermined area in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency.

22. A beacon, comprising:

a transmitter circuit; and

a beacon processor coupled to the transmitter circuit, wherein the beacon processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

generating a high redundancy pattern of a reference frequency;

generating a pseudo random sequence of frequencies, wherein each frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies is different than the reference frequency; and

multiplexing the high redundancy pattern of the reference frequency with the pseudo random sequence of frequencies to generate a modified frequency hopping pattern.

23. The beacon of claim 22, wherein the beacon processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting, via the transmitter circuit, a beacon signal by switching a carrier signal of the beacon signal according to the modified frequency hopping pattern.

24. The beacon of claim 23, wherein the beacon processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the beacon signal comprises a data packet, and

wherein the beacon processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining, prior to a next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern, a next frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies at which the carrier signal will be transmitted following the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency;

including an indication of the next frequency in the data packet to generate a reference data packet; and

transmitting, via the transmitter circuit, the reference data packet as the beacon signal at the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency.

25. A beacon, comprising:

means for generating a high redundancy pattern of a reference frequency;

means for generating a pseudo random sequence of frequencies, wherein each frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies is different than the reference frequency; and

means for multiplexing the high redundancy pattern of the reference frequency with the pseudo random sequence of frequencies to generate a modified frequency hopping pattern.

26. The beacon of claim 25, further comprising:

means for transmitting a beacon signal by switching a carrier signal of the beacon signal according to the modified frequency hopping pattern.

27. The beacon of claim 26, wherein the beacon signal comprises a data packet, the beacon further comprising:

means for determining, prior to a next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern, a next frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies at which the carrier signal will be transmitted following the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency;

means for including an indication of the next frequency in the data packet to generate a reference data packet; and

means for transmitting the reference data packet as the beacon signal at the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency.

28. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a beacon processor to perform operations comprising:

generating a high redundancy pattern of a reference frequency;

generating a pseudo random sequence of frequencies, wherein each frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies is different than the reference frequency; and

multiplexing the high redundancy pattern of the reference frequency with the pseudo random sequence of frequencies to generate a modified frequency hopping pattern.

29. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a beacon processor to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting a beacon signal by switching a carrier signal of the beacon signal according to the modified frequency hopping pattern.

30. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a beacon processor to perform operations such that the beacon signal comprises a data packet, and

wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a beacon processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining, prior to a next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern, a next frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies at which the carrier signal will be transmitted following the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency;

including an indication of the next frequency in the data packet to generate a reference data packet; and

transmitting the reference data packet as the beacon signal at the next scheduled transmission of the beacon signal at the reference frequency.

31. A wireless tracking device, comprising:

a receiver circuit; and

a device processor coupled to the receiver, wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to determine whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area defined by a reception range of a beacon by;

receiving a beacon signal in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver circuit according to a modified frequency hopping pattern, the modified frequency hopping pattern comprising a high redundancy pattern of a reference frequency multiplexed with a pseudo random sequence of frequencies wherein each frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies is different than the reference frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at a current frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern;

incrementing a failure counter and tuning the receiver circuit to a next frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was not successful at the current frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the next frequency;

incrementing the failure counter in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was not successful at the next frequency;

determining whether the failure counter exceeds a failure threshold value; and

determining whether the wireless tracking device is outside the predetermined area in response to determining that the failure counter exceeds the failure threshold value.

32. A wireless tracking device, comprising:

means for receiving a beacon signal in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver according to a modified frequency hopping pattern, the modified frequency hopping pattern comprising a high redundancy pattern of a reference frequency multiplexed with a pseudo random sequence of frequencies wherein each frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies is different than the reference frequency;

means for determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at a current frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern;

means for incrementing a failure counter and tuning the receiver to a next frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was not successful at the current frequency;

means for determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the next frequency;

means for incrementing the failure counter in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was not successful at the next frequency;

means for determining whether the failure counter exceeds a failure threshold value; and

means for determining whether the wireless tracking device is outside a predetermined area in response to determining that the failure counter exceeds the failure threshold value.

33. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a wireless tracking device processor to perform operations to determine whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area defined by a reception range of a beacon by:

receiving a beacon signal in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver according to a modified frequency hopping pattern, the modified frequency hopping pattern comprising a high redundancy pattern of a reference frequency multiplexed with a pseudo random sequence of frequencies wherein each frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies is different than the reference frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at a current frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern;

incrementing a failure counter and tuning the receiver to a next frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was not successful at the current frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the next frequency;

incrementing the failure counter in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was not successful at the next frequency;

determining whether the failure counter exceeds a failure threshold value; and

determining whether the wireless tracking device is outside the predetermined area in response to determining that the failure counter exceeds the failure threshold value.

34. A wireless tracking device, comprising:

a receiver circuit; and

a device processor coupled to the receiver circuit, wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to synchronize the wireless tracking device by;

receiving a reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver circuit of the wireless tracking device to a reference frequency;

determining a next frequency to tune the receiver circuit to based on an indication of a next frequency in the reference data packet;

comparing a sequence of the reference frequency and the determined next frequency to a modified frequency hopping pattern to identify a current point in the modified frequency hopping pattern, the modified frequency hopping pattern comprising a high redundancy pattern of the reference frequency multiplexed with a pseudo random sequence of frequencies wherein each frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies is different than the reference frequency; and

tuning the receiver circuit according to the modified frequency hopping pattern from the current point in the modified frequency hopping pattern.

35. A wireless tracking device, comprising:

means for receiving a reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver of the wireless tracking device to a reference frequency;

means for determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on an indication of a next frequency in the reference data packet;

means for comparing a sequence of the reference frequency and the determined next frequency to a modified frequency hopping pattern to identify a current point in the modified frequency hopping pattern, the modified frequency hopping pattern comprising a high redundancy pattern of the reference frequency multiplexed with a pseudo random sequence of frequencies wherein each frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies is different than the reference frequency; and

means for tuning the receiver according to the modified frequency hopping pattern from the current point in the modified frequency hopping pattern.

36. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a wireless tracking device processor to perform operations to synchronize the wireless tracking device by:

receiving a reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver of the wireless tracking device to a reference frequency;

determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on an indication of a next frequency in the reference data packet;

comparing a sequence of the reference frequency and the determined next frequency to a modified frequency hopping pattern to identify a current point in the modified frequency hopping pattern, the modified frequency hopping pattern comprising a high redundancy pattern of the reference frequency multiplexed with a pseudo random sequence of frequencies wherein each frequency of the pseudo random sequence of frequencies is different than the reference frequency; and

tuning the receiver according to the modified frequency hopping pattern from the current point in the modified frequency hopping pattern.

37. A wireless tracking device, comprising:

a receiver circuit; and

a device processor coupled to the receiver, wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to determine whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area defined by a reception range of a beacon by;

receiving a reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver circuit of the wireless tracking device to a reference frequency;

determining a next frequency to tune the receiver circuit to based on an indication of a next frequency in the reference data packet;

tuning the receiver circuit to the determined next frequency;

determining whether decoding of a beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency; and

determining that the wireless tracking device is inside the predetermined area in response to determining that the decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency.

38. A wireless tracking device, comprising:

means for receiving a reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver of the wireless tracking device to a reference frequency;

means for determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on an indication of a next frequency in the reference data packet;

means for tuning the receiver to the determined next frequency;

means for determining whether decoding of a beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency; and

means for determining that the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area in response to determining that the decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency.

39. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a wireless tracking device processor to perform operations to determine whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area defined by a reception range of a beacon by:

receiving a reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver of the wireless tracking device to a reference frequency;

determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on an indication of a next frequency in the reference data packet;

tuning the receiver to the determined next frequency;

determining whether decoding of a beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency; and

determining that the wireless tracking device is inside the predetermined area in response to determining that the decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency.

40. A wireless tracking device, comprising:

a receiver circuit; and

a device processor coupled to the receiver, wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to determine whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area defined by a reception range of a beacon by;

receiving a beacon signal in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver circuit of the wireless tracking device to a first reference frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal is successful at the first reference frequency;

tuning the receiver circuit to a second reference frequency in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal is not successful at the first reference frequency;

receiving a reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver circuit of the wireless tracking device to the second reference frequency;

determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on an indication of a next frequency in the received reference data packet;

tuning the receiver circuit to the determined next frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency; and

indicating the wireless tracking device is inside the predetermined area in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency.

41. A wireless tracking device, comprising:

means for receiving a beacon signal in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver of the wireless tracking device to a first reference frequency;

means for determining whether decoding of the beacon signal is successful at the first reference frequency;

means for tuning the receiver to a second reference frequency in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal is not successful at the first reference frequency;

means for receiving a reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver of the wireless tracking device to the second reference frequency;

means for determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on an indication of a next frequency in the received reference data packet;

means for tuning the receiver to the determined next frequency;

means for determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency; and

means for indicating the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency.

42. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a wireless tracking device processor to perform operations to determine whether the wireless tracking device is inside a predetermined area defined by a reception range of a beacon by:

receiving a beacon signal in the wireless tracking device by tuning a receiver of the wireless tracking device to a first reference frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal is successful at the first reference frequency;

tuning the receiver to a second reference frequency in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal is not successful at the first reference frequency;

receiving a reference data packet in the wireless tracking device by tuning the receiver of the wireless tracking device to the second reference frequency;

determining a next frequency to tune the receiver to based on an indication of a next frequency in the received reference data packet;

tuning the receiver to the determined next frequency;

determining whether decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency; and

indicating the wireless tracking device is inside the predetermined area in response to determining that decoding of the beacon signal was successful at the determined next frequency.