Tracking device
A tracking device comprises a controller and a location positioning device (such as GPS). The tracking device also includes a transceiver. In use, the controller reads position information from the GPS, and telemeters the location information using the transceiver. In some embodiments, the tracking device includes two transceivers, including a short-range wireless transceiver (such as Bluetooth), and a second transceiver that facilitates relatively longer-range communication compared to the short-range wireless transceiver. In alternative embodiments, the location positioning device is not required, such as where the tracking device includes a beacon or other absolute or relative locating device and/or locating functionality. The tracking device can also and/or alternatively include sensors and other features.
1. A method of generating a tracking beacon, the method comprising:
detecting that a tracking device has been activated;
reading an identifier stored on the tracking device and storing the identifier in a database that associates the identifier with a payload that the tracking device is attached to;
communicating with a sensor of the tracking device to verify that the tracking device is in motion and is traveling towards an intended destination along with a payload;
detecting that the tracking device has stopped moving after verifying that the tracking device is in motion traveling towards the intended destination;
reading a position of the tracking device after detecting that the tracking device has stopped moving;
transmitting the position of the tracking device using a wireless transceiver;
waiting a predetermined time after transmitting the position of the tracking device by:
monitoring for the presence of a wireless signal in short range; and
ascertaining that the wireless signal has an identifier that corresponds to an authentic remote device; and
transmitting, after detecting the authentic remote device, a beacon signal using a short-range wireless communication.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
detecting that a tracking device has been activated comprises detecting that an operator has activated a control on the tracking device that causes the tracking device to energize.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: wirelessly transmitting a record to a remote device of a user located proximate to the intended destination, the record containing the identifier and at least one detail characterizing the payload.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
wirelessly transmitting a record further comprises wirelessly transmitting a record that contains a security key for communicating with the tracking device.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
communicating with a sensor of the tracking device to verify that the tracking device is in motion and is traveling towards an intended destination along with a payload comprises:
taking a first position measurement at a first time;
taking a second position measurement t a second time; and
comparing the first position measurement to the second position measurement.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:
taking a first position measurement at a first time, comprises:
taking a first global positioning system reading; and
taking a second position measurement t a second time, comprises:
taking a second global positioning system reading.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
communicating with a sensor of the tracking device to verify that the tracking device is in motion and is traveling towards an intended destination along with a payload comprises:
monitoring a sensor comprising an accelerometer, a magnetometer, or a gyroscope.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
communicating with a sensor of the tracking device to verify that the tracking device is in motion and is traveling towards an intended destination along with a payload comprises:
monitoring a sensor comprising an inertial measurement unit.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
detecting that the tracking device has stopped moving after verifying that the tracking device is in motion traveling towards the intended destination, comprises:
receiving a signal from an accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope, altimeter, or inertial measurement unit that functions as a switch to trigger reading the position of the tracking device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
reading a position of the tracking device after detecting that the tracking device has stopped moving, comprises:
taking a global positioning system reading.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
transmitting the position of the tracking device using a wireless transceiver, comprises:
transmitting the position a predetermined number of times using a long range wireless transmitter, after which transmitting the position of the tracking device using the long range wireless transmitter ceases.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
transmitting the position of the tracking device using the long-range wireless transmitter comprises transmitting using a low power wide area network transceiver.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
transmitting a beacon signal using a short-range wireless communication comprises transmitting using at least one of Bluetooth, ultra-wide band, WiFi, or Zigbee.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring for the presence of a wireless signal in short range comprises monitoring passively without transmitting a signal.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
transmitting the position of the tracking device using a wireless transceiver comprises:
computing an offset as a distance of the tracking device from a designated position; and
transmitting the position of the tracking device as the offset from the designated position.