The principles described herein provide methods and systems for locating a tracking device. In particular, one disclosed method includes associating a user with a tracking device, receiving an indication that the tracking device is lost, setting a flag indicating that the tracking device is lost, receiving a location within a proximity of the tracking device from one of a plurality of mobile devices associated with a community of users, and providing the location to the user.

Systems and methods for locating a tracking device

The invention is directed towards an indicator circuit. The indicator circuit includes a ground plane; an antenna; a decoupler component; and an integrated circuit. The antenna includes at least one antenna trace; a first antenna terminal; and a second antenna terminal. The decoupler component includes a first decoupler component terminal and a second decoupler component terminal. The integrated circuit is electrically coupled to the first antenna terminal and the second antenna terminal. The integrated circuit is electrically coupled to the first decoupler component terminal. The second decoupler component terminal is electrically connected to the ground plane.

Indicator circuit decoupled from a ground plane

Communications systems including multiple computer devices where: (i) for a set of computer devices, used by a common user, it is determined which computer device the user is most actively using; and (ii) an operational mode of a “wireless service” (see definition, below) on one of the other computer devices (that is, a non-most-active computer device) is changed in its operational mode. For example, if a user has two smart phones and the user's first smart phone is determined to be more active than the second smart phone, then on the second smart phone (that is, the non-most-active computer device) a social media home page updating service is turned off. In some embodiments, the change from first operational mode to second operational mode will mean that wireless transceiver hardware (such as an antenna) is turned off for the non-most-active device(s).

Efficient usage of internet services on mobile devices

Methods of connecting or linking real objects to machines or the virtual world in real time utilizing a device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless tag attached to an object in communication with an electronic device, such as a cellular phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, or watch, monitors and updates the position of a wireless tag locally and on a machine/network/cloud. Methods of using a wireless tag in safety, loss/theft prevention, healthcare, tracking, advertising and marketing, education, games, finance, payment, and athletic are disclosed. In another embodiment, methods of providing an application programming interface and/or a software development kit based on the devices are provided, allowing software developers the ability to create their own programs or applications on top of the disclosed system is disclosed. Methods of allowing developers to distribute and/or monetize applications developed through the application programming interface and/or a software development kit are also disclosed.

Comprehensive system and method of universal real-time linking of real objects to a machine, network, internet, or software service

Remote actuation of machines or machine systems is realized by a system for coupling a radiobeacon to a smart device and in turn to a broader network. The smart device is configured as a proximity-actuated “community nodal device” by an application that operates as part of the system. The community nodal device is given instructions to function as a “soft switch”: to automatically “upswitch”, amplify, and broadcast low energy, local area radiobeacon “messages” to a cloud-based server, where the message is interpreted according to rules or policies established by an operator, and a command is transmitted for execution to a remote device. Conventional smart devices generally discard data not addressed to the owner of the smart device. Instead of discarding third party messages, the system preempts their handling, and using a soft switch formed from background resources, anonymously, without access to the message by a user interface of the proxy device, and without waiting for a network query from the host, engineers an “upswitched transmission” of radiobeacon-generated data to a cloud host. Advantageously, confidential sharing of ad hoc community resources results in a negligible load on background resources of the community nodal device. Messages may include a sensor data payload. Bit overloading enables a sensor data payload to be compressed into a few hundred bytes or less.

Radiobeacon data sharing by forwarding low energy transmissions to a cloud host

A device for operation as part of a system or network, the device combining a power cell, a battery housing enclosing the power cell, and an on-board radiobeacon within the housing, where the battery is configured to supply DC power to an external apparatus and to the radiobeacon in parallel. A sensor or sensor package may also be included in the battery device and reports to the system or network. In response to a sensor or clock-derived trigger, a microcontroller in the battery uses the radiobeacon to broadcast messages to a radio receiver of a smart device or a network system. The radiobeacon has a unique identifier, and because the messages are low energy, low power radio transmissions having a maximum range of less that about 300 ft (about 100 m). Any smart device or network receiving the beacon signal may track, map and monitor the signal from the device.

Battery beacon systems and methods of use

In a tracking device 10 , a crescent-shaped PCB 12 partially encircles a battery 15 to minimize thickness of the device 10 . A speaker 23 and an LED 24 emit alerts upon command of a control apparatus 37 or in response to motion or temperature sensed by sensor 25 . A local network 40 has one hub 41 to tracking devices 33 and a wider area network 45 has multiple hubs for more detailed tracking of devices 33 . A wide area network 50 tracks devices anywhere and stores data of each tracking device including its last known position and its sensor data.

Pearson-Franks Nicholas R

Papers

Battery beacon systems and methods of use

Radiobeacon data sharing by forwarding low energy transmissions to a cloud host

Tracking device program with remote controls and alerts

Tracking device system

Tracking device program