IP Library Granted Patent US 10,911,904
Granted Patent B1
US 10,911,904 · App. 17/021,447 · Granted Feb 2, 2021

Tracking device presence detection and reporting by access points

Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner (Palo Alto, CA); Josselin de la Broise (Mountain View, CA)
Assignee: Tile, Inc.
H04W4/029G01S1/68G08B21/24H04W4/023H04W4/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,911,904
App. No.
17/021,447
Granted
Feb 2, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A tracking system determines a location of a tracking device associated with a user using one or more access points at the location. Each access point at the location is configured to detect and couple with the tracking device when the tracking device is within a communicative range of the access point. An access point provides updates on the tracking device's presence, as well as the tracking device's arrival to and departure from the communicative range of the access point, to a tracking server. The tracking server determines, from these updates, whether the tracking device is at the location. The user may be notified, via a mobile device, of the tracking device's location.

Claims (31)

1. A method for locating a tracking device, comprising:

detecting, by an access point, a tracking device within a proximity of the access point;

while the tracking device and the access point are communicatively coupled, providing, by the access point, a location of the access point and an identifier of the tracking device to a tracking server at a first frequency; and

while the tracking device and the access point are not communicatively coupled, providing, by the access point, a location of the access point and an identifier of the tracking device to the tracking server at a second frequency greater than the first frequency.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tracking device and the access point being communicatively comprises being paired via Bluetooth.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access point is associated with a geographic boundary.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the access point, in response the tracking device moving outside of the geographic boundary, is configured to provide the identifier of the tracking device and a time at which the tracking device moved outside of the geographic boundary.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the tracking server is configured to provide a notification for display by a client device of a user indicating that the tracking device has moved outside of the geographic boundary.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first frequency and the second frequency are selected by the user.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access point is a router.

8. An access point for locating 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:

detecting, by the access point, a tracking device within a proximity of the access point;

while the tracking device and the access point are communicatively coupled, providing, by the access point, a location of the access point and an identifier of the tracking device to a tracking server at a first frequency; and

while the tracking device and the access point are not communicatively coupled, providing, by the access point, a location of the access point and an identifier of the tracking device to the tracking server at a second frequency greater than the first frequency.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the tracking device and the access point being communicatively comprises being paired via Bluetooth.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the access point is associated with a geographic boundary.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the access point, in response the tracking device moving outside of the geographic boundary, is configured to provide the identifier of the tracking device and a time at which the tracking device moved outside of the geographic boundary.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the tracking server is configured to provide a notification for display by a client device of a user indicating that the tracking device has moved outside of the geographic boundary.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein one or both of the first frequency and the second frequency are selected by the user.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the access point is a router.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions for locating a tracking device that, when executed by a hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to perform steps comprising:

detecting, by an access point, a tracking device within a proximity of the access point;

while the tracking device and the access point are communicatively coupled, providing, by the access point, a location of the access point and an identifier of the tracking device to a tracking server at a first frequency; and

while the tracking device and the access point are not communicatively coupled, providing, by the access point, a location of the access point and an identifier of the tracking device to the tracking server at a second frequency greater than the first frequency.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the tracking device and the access point being communicatively comprises being paired via Bluetooth.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the access point is associated with a geographic boundary.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the access point, in response the tracking device moving outside of the geographic boundary, is configured to provide the identifier of the tracking device and a time at which the tracking device moved outside of the geographic boundary.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the tracking server is configured to provide a notification for display by a client device of a user indicating that the tracking device has moved outside of the geographic boundary.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein one or both of the first frequency and the second frequency are selected by the user.

Assignments (3)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2020
From: KLINKNER, STEVEN R.; DE LA BROISE, JOSSELIN
To: TILE, INC.
Reel/Frame 053836/0983 →