Dynamic tracking device reconfiguration
A tracking device can be reconfigured after an amount of operation to preserve the battery capacity of the tracking device and to ensure that the tracking device can be operated for a pre-determined threshold period of time. The tracking device can provide diagnostic information representative of a state of the tracking device, such as a current power capacity of the tracking device's battery, to a mobile device within a threshold proximity of the tracking device. The mobile device can then provide the diagnostic information to a tracking server, which in turn can provide reconfiguration instructions to the mobile device. The mobile device can then pass on the reconfiguration instructions to the tracking device, in response to which the tracking device can reconfigure itself.
1. A method for reconfiguring a tracking device, comprising:
receiving, by a mobile device communicatively coupled to the tracking device, diagnostic information identifying a battery power capacity available to the tracking device, the tracking device configured to broadcast advertising packets at a default frequency;
providing, by the mobile device to a tracking server, the received diagnostic information, the tracking server configured to estimate an amount of operation time remaining for the tracking device based on the battery power capacity available to the tracking device;
receiving, by the mobile device from the tracking server, first reconfiguration instructions identifying a first time interval corresponding to a historic period of low tracking device movement and a decreased broadcast frequency;
receiving, by the mobile device from the tracking server, second reconfiguration instructions identifying a second time interval corresponding to a historic period of high tracking device movement and an increased broadcast frequency; and
configuring, by the mobile device, the tracking device to transmit advertisement packets 1) at the decreased broadcast frequency such that the advertisement packets are transmitted over fewer than all transmission channels available to the tracking device during the first time interval, 2) at the increased broadcast frequency such that the advertisement packets are transmitted over all transmission channels available to the tracking device during the second time interval, and 3) at the default broadcast frequency outside of the first time interval and second time interval.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tracking device is configured to provide diagnostic information to the mobile device in response to a request from a user of the mobile device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tracking device is configured to provide diagnostic information to the mobile device periodically.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic information further includes information describing a historical behavior of the tracking device.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the historical behavior of the tracking device comprises tracking device movement information.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the historical behavior of the tracking device comprises behavior during a time interval corresponding to the first time interval or the second time interval.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first reconfiguration instructions comprise instructions for deactivating one or more sensors of the tracking device.
8. A system for reconfiguring a tracking device, comprising:
a hardware processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by the hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to perform steps comprising:
receiving diagnostic information identifying a battery power capacity available to a tracking device, the tracking device configured to broadcast advertising packets at a default frequency;
providing, to a tracking server, the received diagnostic information, the tracking server configured to estimate an amount of operation time remaining for the tracking device based on the battery power capacity available to the tracking device;
receiving, from the tracking server, first reconfiguration instructions identifying a first time interval corresponding to a historic period of low tracking device movement and a decreased broadcast frequency;
receiving, from the tracking server, second reconfiguration instructions identifying a second time interval corresponding to a historic period of high tracking device movement and an increased broadcast frequency; and
configuring the tracking device to transmit advertisement packets 1) at the decreased broadcast frequency such that the advertisement packets are transmitted over fewer than all transmission channels available to the tracking device during the first time interval, 2) at the increased broadcast frequency such that the advertisement packets are transmitted over all transmission channels available to the tracking device during the second time interval, and 3) at the default broadcast frequency outside of the first time interval and second time interval.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the tracking device is configured to provide diagnostic information to the mobile device in response to a request from a user of the mobile device.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the tracking device is configured to provide diagnostic information to the mobile device periodically.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the diagnostic information further includes information describing a historical behavior of the tracking device.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the historical behavior of the tracking device comprises tracking device movement information.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the historical behavior of the tracking device comprises behavior during a time interval corresponding to the first time interval or the second time interval.
14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first reconfiguration instructions comprise instructions for deactivating one or more sensors of the tracking device.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps comprising:
receiving diagnostic information identifying a battery power capacity available to a tracking device, the tracking device configured to broadcast advertising packets at a default frequency;
providing, to a tracking server, the received diagnostic information, the tracking server configured to estimate an amount of operation time remaining for the tracking device based on the battery power capacity available to the tracking device;
receiving, from the tracking server, first reconfiguration instructions identifying a first time interval corresponding to a historic period of low tracking device movement and a decreased broadcast frequency;
receiving, from the tracking server, second reconfiguration instructions identifying a second time interval corresponding to a historic period of high tracking device movement and an increased broadcast frequency; and
configuring the tracking device to transmit advertisement packets 1) at the decreased broadcast frequency such that the advertisement packets are transmitted over fewer than all transmission channels available to the tracking device during the first time interval, 2) at the increased broadcast frequency such that the advertisement packets are transmitted over all transmission channels available to the tracking device during the second time interval, and 3) at the default broadcast frequency outside of the first time interval and second time interval.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the tracking device is configured to provide diagnostic information to the mobile device in response to a request from a user of the mobile device.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the tracking device is configured to provide diagnostic information to the mobile device periodically.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the diagnostic information further includes information describing a historical behavior of the tracking device.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the historical behavior of the tracking device comprises tracking device movement information.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the historical behavior of the tracking device comprises behavior during a time interval corresponding to the first time interval or the second time interval.