IP Library Granted Patent US 11,576,009
Granted Patent B2
US 11,576,009 · App. 17/322,905 · Granted Feb 7, 2023

Tracking device location determination in a communicatively-restricted environment

Inventors: Mohamed Sameh Mahmoud (San Mateo, CA); Muhammad Umair (Pleasanton, CA); John Mathew Depew (Sunnyvale, CA); Richard Philip Sillman (Los Altos, CA)
Assignee: Tile, Inc.
H04W4/029G06F16/29H04W4/023H04W4/80H04W64/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,576,009
App. No.
17/322,905
Granted
Feb 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tracking device has a first transceiver, a second transceiver, and control logic. The first transceiver can transmit a first tracking signal for locating the tracking device to mobile devices via a first network. The mobile devices provide the first tracking signal to a tracking server. The second transceiver can transmit a second tracking signal for locating the tracking device to the tracking server via a second network. The control logic can configure the tracking device in a first state in which the first transceiver transmits the first tracking signal, and the second transceiver is disabled and does not transmit the second tracking signal. In response to determining that the tracking device cannot connect to the tracking server via the first network, the control logic configures the tracking device in a second state in which the second transceiver is enabled and transmits the second tracking signal.

Claims (28)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a plurality of transceivers, each configured to transmit tracking signals for locating the electronic device to at least one of a plurality of client devices via a different network, the plurality of client devices configured to provide the tracking signals to a tracking server; and

control logic configured to:

configure the electronic device to operate in a first state wherein a first transceiver of the plurality of transceivers is configured to transmit tracking signals via a first network and a second transceiver of the plurality of transceivers is configured to operate in a sleep mode; and

configure the electronic device to operate in a second state wherein the second transceiver is configured to transmit tracking signals via a second network and the first transceiver is configured to operate in a sleep mode.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the control logic configures the electronic device to operate in the first state, when the electronic device is configured to operate in the second state, in response to receiving a wake signal via the second network.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the wake signal is received via the tracking server.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the wake signal is received via an entity other than the tracking server.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to, when configured to operate in the second state, determine a geographical location of the electronic device, and wherein the second transceiver is further configured to transmit the geographical location of the electronic device to the tracking server via the second network.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to configure the electronic device to operate in the first mode in response to determining that the tracking server has received a tracking signal from the electronic device via the second network.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to configure the electronic device to operate in the second mode in response to determining that the tracking server has not received a tracking signal via the first network for a threshold length of time.

8. A method comprising:

in response to a first condition being satisfied, configuring, by a controller of an electronic device, the electronic device to operate in a first state wherein a first transceiver of a plurality of transceivers of the electronic device is configured to transmit tracking signals via a first network and a second transceiver of the plurality of transceivers is configured to operate in a sleep mode; and

in response to a second condition being satisfied, configuring, by the controller of the electronic device, the electronic device to operate in a second state wherein the second transceiver is configured to transmit tracking signals via a second network and the first transceiver is configured to operate in a sleep mode.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first condition is satisfied when the electronic device receives a wake signal via the second network.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the wake signal is received via the tracking server.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the wake signal is received via an entity other than the tracking server.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the electronic device is configured to, when configured to operate in the second state, determine a geographical location of the electronic device, and wherein the second transceiver is further configured to transmit the geographical location of the electronic device to the tracking server via the second network.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first condition is satisfied when the tracking server has received a tracking signal from the electronic device via the second network.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second condition is satisfied when the tracking server has not received a tracking signal via the first network for a threshold length of time.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to perform steps comprising:

in response to a first condition being satisfied, configuring, by the controller of an electronic device, the electronic device to operate in a first state wherein a first transceiver of a plurality of transceivers of the electronic device is configured to transmit tracking signals via a first network and a second transceiver of the plurality of transceivers is configured to operate in a sleep mode; and

in response to a second condition being satisfied, configuring, by the controller of the electronic device, the electronic device to operate in a second state wherein the second transceiver is configured to transmit tracking signals via a second network and the first transceiver is configured to operate in a sleep mode.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the first condition is satisfied when the electronic device receives a wake signal via the second network.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the wake signal is received via the tracking server.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the electronic device is configured to, when configured to operate in the second state, determine a geographical location of the electronic device, and wherein the second transceiver is further configured to transmit the geographical location of the electronic device to the tracking server via the second network.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the first condition is satisfied when the tracking server has received a tracking signal from the electronic device via the second network.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the second condition is satisfied when the tracking server has not received a tracking signal via the first network for a threshold length of time.

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 May 27, 2021
From: MAHMOUD, MOHAMED SAMEH; UMAIR, MUHAMMAD; SILLMAN, RICHARD PHILIP
To: TILE, INC.
Reel/Frame 056378/0068 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17021490 · Sep 15, 2020
Continuation 16818625 · Mar 13, 2020
Continuation 16521451 · Jul 24, 2019
Continuation 16005254 · Jun 11, 2018
Related Publication 20210274317A1 · Sep 2, 2021