Wireless gateway relay system and method

1. A tracking device comprising:

a location receiver configured to receive location information of the tracking device;

a communication unit configured to:

transmit through a wide area network,

transmit through a local area network, and

receive an operational command through the local area network, wherein the operational command represents at least one of a silent command, a reconfiguration command, and a registration command; and

a processor configured to:

attempt to ascertain the location information of the tracking device,

generate a first message, wherein when the location information is ascertained, the first message includes a location of the tracking device and when the location information is not ascertained, the first message includes a null location, and

generate a second message, wherein when the location information is ascertained, the second message includes the location of the tracking device and when the location information is not ascertained, the second message includes the null location,

wherein the communication unit is further configured to:

transmit the first message through the wide area network to a remote server when the wide area network is available, and

transmit the second message through the local area network to a local gateway device when the local area network is available,

wherein when the operational command representing the silent command is received, the processor is further configured to prevent network communication through the wide area network and the local area network for a period of time and upon an expiration of the period of time, transmit at least one of the first message and the second message, and

wherein when the operational command representing the reconfiguration command is received, the processor is further configured to reconfigure one or more predefined settings according to the reconfiguration command.

2. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to include a previous location of the tracking device in the second message when the location information is not received.

3. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein after receiving the silent command, the processor is configured to:

instruct the communication unit to stop transmitting through the communication unit for the period of time,

instruct the location receiver to stop receiving the location information for the period of time, and

stop the attempt to ascertain the location information.

4. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to modify, based on the reconfiguration command, how often at least one of:

the location information is ascertained, and

at least one of the first message and the second message is transmitted.

5. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein when the operational command represents the registration command, the processor is configured to register the tracking device.

6. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein:

the wide area network is at least one of a satellite communication system or a cellular communication system, and

the local area network is at least one of a bluetooth communication system or a WI-FI communication system.

7. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

switch between a dormant state and an active state based on a predetermined time period or the operational command;

while the active state is activated, the processor is configured attempt to ascertain the location information, generate the first message and the second message, and transmit the first message and the second message; and

while the dormant state is activated, the processor is configured to reduce power consumption,

wherein the operational command is received from the remote server or the local gateway device, and

wherein when the operational command is received from the local gateway device the operational command originated from the local gateway device or the remote server.

8. A method comprising:

receive an operational command through a local area network, wherein the operational command represents at least one of a silent command, a reconfiguration command, and a registration command;

attempting to ascertain location information of a tracking device;

generating a first message, wherein when the location information is ascertained, the first message includes a location of the tracking device and when the location information is not ascertained, the first message includes a null location;

generating a second message, wherein when the location information is ascertained, the second message includes the location of the tracking device and when the location information is not ascertained, the second message includes the null location;

transmitting the first message through a wide area network to a remote server when the wide area network is available;

transmitting the second message through the local area network to a local gateway device when the local area network is available;

when the operational command representing the silent command is received preventing network communication through the wide area network and the local area network for a period of time;

upon an expiration of the period of time, transmitting at least one of the first message and the second message; and

when the operational command representing the reconfiguration command is received, reconfiguring one or more predefined settings according to the reconfiguration command.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

including a previous location of the tracking device in the second message when the location information is not received.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein after receiving the silent command, the method further comprises:

stopping the attempt to ascertain the location information; and

stopping the first message and the second message from transmitting for the period of time.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises modifying, based on the reconfiguration command, how often at least one of:

the location information is ascertained, and

at least one of the first message and the second message is transmitted.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein when the operational command represents the registration command, the method further comprises registering the tracking device.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the wide area network is at least one of a satellite communication system or a cellular communication system, and

the local area network is at least one of a bluetooth communication system or a WI-FI communication system.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

switching between a dormant state and an active state based on a predetermined time period or the operational command;

while the active state is activated, the location information is ascertained, the first message and the second message are generated, and the first message and the second message are transmitted; and

while the dormant state is activated, reducing power consumption,

wherein the operational command is received from the remote server or an electronic device, and

wherein when the operational command is received from the local gateway device the operational command originated from the local gateway device or the remote server.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed cause at least one processor of a tracking device to:

receive an operational command through a local area network, wherein the operational command represents at least one of a silent command, a reconfiguration command, and a registration command;

attempt to ascertain location information of the tracking device;

generate a first message, wherein when the location information is ascertained, the first message includes a location of the tracking device and when the location information is not ascertained, the first message includes a null location;

generate a second message, wherein when the location information is ascertained, the second message includes the location of the tracking device and when the location information is not ascertained, the second message includes the null location;

transmit the first message through a wide area network to a remote server when the wide area network is available;

transmit the second message through the local area network to a gateway device when the local area network is available;

when the operational command representing the silent command is received, prevent network communication through the wide area network and the local area network for a period of time;

upon an expiration of the period of time, transmit at least one of the first message and the second message; and

when the operational command representing the reconfiguration command is received, reconfigure one or more predefined settings according to the reconfiguration command.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions when executed further cause the at least one processor to include a previous location of the tracking device in the second message when the location information is not received.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein after receiving the silent command, the instructions when executed further cause the at least one processor to:

stop the attempt to ascertain the location information; and

stop the first message and the second message from transmitting for the period of time.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions when executed further cause the at least one processor to modify, based on the reconfiguration command, how often at least one of:

the location information is ascertained, and

at least one of the first message and the second message is transmitted.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operational command represents the registration command, the instructions when executed further cause the at least one processor to register the tracking device.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:

the wide area network is at least one of a satellite communication system or a cellular communication system, and

the local area network is at least one of a bluetooth communication system or a WI-FI communication system.