Methodology to extend battery power in asset-tracking device

• US 9,402,160 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2013
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roambee Corporation
• Original Assignee: Senaya Inc
• Inventors: Chakroborty, Mrinmoy, Lee, Brian, Dubash, Jamshed, Nakra, Jahangir
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehra, Inder
• Application Number:
  US14/140,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20140187261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/410, 455/420, 455/518, 455/556.1, 455/56.1, 455/456.5, 455/561, 370/328, 370/412
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A protocol and methodology that extends the battery power in a remote asset tracking device by storing location data more than once (i.e., “n” times), yet transmitting that data only once to a server. In other words, multiple data points are transmitted simultaneously. Devices and systems incorporating the protocol are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of using a data protocol for a wireless device, the data protocol comprising:

determining a first location of the wireless device and saving the determined first location of the device;

determining a second location of the device subsequent to determining the first location and saving the determined second location of the device;

transmitting a data packet comprising the first location and the second location to a server;

mapping, at the server, the second location;

after mapping the second location, mapping, at the server, the first location;

running, at the server, a statistical algorithm on the mapped first location and the mapped second location to determine a precise location; and

reporting, by the server, the precise location.

2. The protocol of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a third location of the device subsequent to the second location and saving the determined third location of the device; and

transmitting the data packet comprising the first location, the second location and the third location to the server;

mapping, at the server, the third location before mapping the second location;

running, at the server, the statistical algorithm on the mapped first location, the mapped second location and the mapped third location to determine the precise location; and

reporting, by the server, the precise location.

3. A method of using a data protocol for a wireless device, the data protocol comprising:

sequentially determining “

n”

number of locations of a device and saving the “

n”

number of locations of the device in a data packet, where “

n”

is an integer two or greater;

transmitting the data packet to a server;

mapping, at the server in a reverse order of determining, the “

n”

number of locations from the data packet;

reporting, by the server, the “

n”

mapped locations; and

running, at the server, a statistical algorithm on the “

n”

mapped locations to determine a precise location.

4. The protocol of claim 3 wherein “

n”

is three.

5. The protocol of claim 3 wherein “

n”

is four.

6. The protocol of claim 3 wherein “

n”

is two.

7. An asset tracking system comprising:

a wireless tracking device comprising a GPS/GLONASS system, an RF communication module or a cellular communication module configured to transmit information to a remote server, non-volatile memory, and a control system comprising a data protocol; and

an asset intelligence (AI) server;

wherein the data protocol is configured to;

determine “

n”

locations of the device and store those “

n”

locations in the memory,

where “

n”

is an integer two or greater, and

transmit the stored “

n”

locations to the AI server as a batch;

wherein the AI server is configured to;

map, in a reverse order of determining, the “

n”

number of locations from the data packet, and

run a statistical algorithm on the “

n”

mapped locations to determine a precise location.

8. The asset tracking system of claim 7 further comprising a display to report the precise location.

9. The asset tracking system of claim 7 further comprising a mobile station assistance (MSA) system.