Dynamic selection and modification of tracking device behavior models
View Patent ↗A tracking device broadcasts beacon signals that are separated in time by broadcast intervals. The tracking device determines the broadcast intervals based on a behavior model. The behavior model specifies one or more conditions, such as times of day within a 24-hour day, and associates a usage probability with each condition. A higher usage probability causes the tracking device to broadcast beacon signals at shorter broadcast intervals. A mobile device in communication with the tracking device can reconfigure the behavior model, either by modifying portions of the behavior model or by replacing the behavior model with a different behavior model. This allows the behavior model to adapt to different circumstances, such as different usage patterns during weekdays, weekends, and vacations.
1. A tracking device, comprising:
a transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals;
a communication interface coupled to the transceiver and configured to:
broadcast a beacon signal via the transceiver, the beacon signal detectable by one or more mobile devices in proximity to the tracking device, and
establish a communicative connection with a mobile device; and
a controller coupled to the communication interface and configured to:
store a plurality of behavior models, each of the behavior models associated with one or more triggering conditions, each of the triggering conditions specifying a condition to be satisfied before switching to the associated behavior model, the specified condition associated with a usage probability for the specified condition,
detect that the triggering conditions associated with a first behavior model have been satisfied, and
responsive to detecting that the triggering conditions have been satisfied, broadcast a series of the beacon signals via the communication interface and the transceiver, the series of beacon signals separated in time by broadcast intervals determined based on a first specified condition of the first behavior model being satisfied and based on the usage probability associated with the first specified condition.
2. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the mobile devices is configured to send a location associated with the tracking device to a tracking system responsive to detecting the beacon signal.
3. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein a specified condition is a time interval in a 24-hour day.
4. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein determining the broadcast intervals further comprises:
determining, based on output from one or more sensors of the tracking device, that a second specified condition of the first behavior model is satisfied; and
generating a second broadcast interval based on the usage probability associated with the second specified condition, wherein the second broadcast interval is shorter than the first broadcast interval.
5. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein determining the broadcast intervals further comprises:
determining, based on output from one or more sensors of the tracking device, that a second specified condition of the first behavior model is satisfied; and
generating a second broadcast interval based on the usage probability associated with the second specified condition, wherein the second broadcast interval is longer than the first broadcast interval.
6. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a transmit power of the beacon signal based on the first behavior model associated with the satisfied triggering conditions.
7. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein one of the stored behavior models is a lost mode behavior mode, and wherein the triggering conditions associated with the lost mode behavior model are satisfied if the tracking device has not communicated with a mobile device over the communicative connection for a predetermined length of time.
8. The tracking device of claim 7 , wherein broadcast intervals determined based on the lost mode behavior model are shorter than broadcast intervals determined based on at least one of the other stored behavior models.
9. A method of configuring a tracking device, comprising:
maintaining a plurality of behavior models stored on the tracking device, each of the behavior models associated with one or more triggering conditions, each of the triggering conditions specifying a condition to be satisfied before switching to the associated behavior model, the specified condition associated with a usage probability for the specified condition;
detecting that the triggering conditions associated with a first behavior model have been satisfied; and
responsive to detecting that the triggering conditions have been satisfied, broadcasting a series of beacon signals via a communication interface and a transceiver of the tracking device, the series of beacon signals separated in time by broadcast intervals determined based on a first specified condition of the first behavior model being satisfied and based on the usage probability associated with the first specified condition.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the mobile devices is configured to send a location associated with the tracking device to a tracking system responsive to detecting the beacon signal.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein a specified condition is a time interval in a 24-hour day.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the broadcast interval further comprises:
determining, based on output from one or more sensors of the tracking device, that a second specified condition of the first behavior model is satisfied; and
generating a second broadcast interval based on the usage probability associated with the second specified condition, wherein the second broadcast interval is shorter than the first broadcast interval.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the broadcast interval further comprises:
determining, based on output from one or more sensors of the tracking device, that a second specified condition of the behavior model is satisfied; and
generating a second broadcast interval based on the usage probability associated with the second specified condition, wherein the second broadcast interval is longer than the first broadcast interval.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining a transmit power of the beacon signal based on the first behavior model associated with the satisfied triggering conditions.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein one of the stored behavior models is a lost mode behavior mode, and wherein the triggering conditions associated with the lost mode behavior model are satisfied if the tracking device has not communicated with a mobile device over the communicative connection for a predetermined length of time.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein broadcast intervals determined based on the lost mode behavior model are shorter than broadcast intervals determined based on at least one of the other stored behavior models.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps comprising:
maintaining a plurality of behavior models for a tracking device, each of the behavior models associated with one or more triggering conditions, each of the triggering conditions specifying a condition to be satisfied before switching to the associated behavior model, the specified condition associated with a usage probability for the specified condition;
detecting that the triggering conditions associated with a first behavior model have been satisfied; and
responsive to detecting that the triggering conditions have been satisfied, causing a series of beacon signals to be broadcast via a communication interface and a transceiver of the tracking device, the series of beacon signals separated in time by broadcast intervals determined based on a first specified condition of the first behavior model being satisfied and based on the usage probability associated with the first specified condition.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the series of beacon are broadcasted with a transmit power, the transmit power determined based on the first behavior model associated with the satisfied triggering conditions.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein one of the maintained behavior models is a lost mode behavior mode, and wherein the triggering conditions associated with the lost mode behavior model are satisfied if the tracking device has not communicated with a mobile device over the communicative connection for a predetermined length of time.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein broadcast intervals determined based on the lost mode behavior model are shorter than broadcast intervals determined based on at least one of the other stored behavior models.