IP Library Granted Patent US 11,304,030
Granted Patent B2
US 11,304,030 · App. 16/843,861 · Granted Apr 12, 2022

Systems and methods for locating a tracking device

Inventors: Nicholas George Evans (San Francisco, CA); Michael George Farley (San Mateo, CA)
Assignee: Tile, Inc.
H04W4/023G06F21/88H04W4/029H04W4/21G06F2221/2111H04L67/26H04L67/306H04W92/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,304,030
App. No.
16/843,861
Granted
Apr 12, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes providing, by a tracking system, an application associated with the tracking system configured to cause a computing device to determine and send a location associated with a tracking device and an identity of the tracking device in response to the computing device receiving a signal from the tracking device. The method includes receiving, by a tracking system server, from a first computing device executing the application associated with the tracking system, a location associated with the tracking device and the identity of the tracking device. The method includes receiving, by the tracking system server from a second computing device, a request to locate the tracking device. The method includes providing, by the tracking system server to the second computing device, the location associated with the tracking device received from the first computing device.

Claims (32)

1. A method comprising:

associating, by a tracking system server, a first user of a mobile device with each of a first tracking device of the first user and a second tracking device of a second user but shared with the first user;

in response to receiving, from the mobile device, a notification of the mobile device detecting the first tracking device or the second tracking device, by the tracking system server, updating, in a database, a last known location of the first tracking device or a last known location of the second tracking device, respectively, to a current location of the mobile device;

sending, by the tracking system server, the last known location of the first tracking device and the last known location of the second tracking device to the mobile device; and

causing, by the tracking system server, an interface displayed by the mobile device to be modified to simultaneously include the last known location of the first tracking device and the last known location of the second tracking device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing to be displayed, in the interface, for at least one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device, a picture, an icon, or a text representing an object to which that tracking device, respectively, is coupled.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein including the last known location of the first tracking device and the last known location of the second tracking device in the interface comprises causing to be displayed, in the interface, either a first location type or a first geographic location associated with the last known location of the first tracking device, or a second location type or a second geographic location associated with the last known location of the second tracking device, or both.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing to be displayed, in the interface, at least one of a first time associated with the last known location of the first tracking device or a second time associated with the last known location of the second tracking device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises an application interface.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a map interface.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises an interface element configured to, when selected, cause a specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device to emit a sound.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises an interface element configured to, when selected, provide an indication to the tracking system server that a specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device is lost.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises an interface element configured to, when selected, provide an indication to the tracking system server that a specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device has been found.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising, responsive to receiving, by the tracking system server, the indication that the specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device has been found, updating, in the database, the last known location of the specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the interface comprises a second interface element configured to, when selected, provide an indication to the tracking system server that a specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device is still lost.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, responsive to receiving, by the tracking system server, the indication that the specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device is still lost, querying a set of friend mobile devices associated with a set of users that includes the second user about a location of the specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, responsive to receiving, by the tracking system server, the indication that the specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device is still lost, transmitting, to a set of friend mobile devices associated with a set of users that includes the second user, a notification that the specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device is still lost.

14. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of one or operations comprising:

associating a first user of a mobile device with each of a first tracking device of the first user and a second tracking device of a second user but shared with the first user;

in response to receiving, from the mobile device, a notification of the mobile device detecting the first tracking device or the second tracking device, updating, in a database, a last known location of the first tracking device or a last known location of the second tracking device, respectively, to a current location of the mobile device;

sending the last known location of the first tracking device and the last known location of the second tracking device to the mobile device; and

causing an interface displayed by the mobile device to be modified to simultaneously include the last known location of the first tracking device and the last known location of the second tracking device.

15. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage claim 14 , wherein the interface comprises an interface element configured to, when selected, provide an indication that a specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device has been found.

16. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause performance of further operations comprising, responsive to receiving the indication that the specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device has been found, updating, in the database, the last known location of the specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device.

17. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 15 , wherein the interface comprises a second interface element configured to, when selected, provide an indication that a specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device is still lost.

18. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause performance of further operations comprising, responsive to receiving the indication that the specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device is still lost, querying a set of friend mobile devices associated with a set of users that includes the second user about a location of the specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device.

19. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause performance of further operations comprising, responsive to receiving the indication that the specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device is still lost, transmitting, to a set of friend mobile devices associated with a set of users that includes the second user, a notification that the specified one of the first tracking device or the second tracking device is still lost.

20. A system comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause performance of a set of operations comprising:

associating, a first user of a mobile device with each of a first tracking device of the first user and a second tracking device of a second user but shared with the first user;

in response to receiving, from the mobile device, a notification of the mobile device detecting the first tracking device or the second tracking device, updating, in a database, a last known location of the first tracking device or a last known location of the second tracking device, respectively, to a current location of the mobile device;

sending the last known location of the first tracking device and the last known location of the second tracking device to the mobile device; and

causing an interface displayed by the mobile device to be modified to simultaneously include the last known location of the first tracking device and the last known location of the second tracking device.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2024
From: EVANS, NICHOLAS GEORGE; FARLEY, MICHAEL GEORGE
To: REVEAL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067052/0022 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 9, 2024
From: REVEAL LABS, INC.
To: TILE, INC.
Reel/Frame 067056/0323 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2022
From: CAPITAL IP INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC
To: TILE, INC.
Reel/Frame 058671/0383 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2021
From: TILE, INC.
To: CAPITAL IP INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 057633/0569 →
Continuity (12)
Continuation 16796619 · Feb 20, 2020
Continuation 16582771 · Sep 25, 2019
Continuation 16293655 · Mar 6, 2019
Continuation 15947212 · Apr 6, 2018
Continuation 15439056 · Feb 22, 2017
Continuation 15257708 · Sep 6, 2016
Continuation 15144826 · May 3, 2016
Continuation 14167960 · Jan 29, 2014
Continuation 29470567 · Oct 22, 2013
Provisional Application 61872478 · Aug 30, 2013
Provisional Application 61757731 · Jan 29, 2013
Related Publication 20200236498A1 · Jul 23, 2020