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SE543335C2 - A low power portable location tracker, a location tracking system and methods - Google Patents

A low power portable location tracker, a location tracking system and methods

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Publication number
SE543335C2
SE543335C2 SE1950093A SE1950093A SE543335C2 SE 543335 C2 SE543335 C2 SE 543335C2 SE 1950093 A SE1950093 A SE 1950093A SE 1950093 A SE1950093 A SE 1950093A SE 543335 C2 SE543335 C2 SE 543335C2
Authority
SE
Sweden
Prior art keywords
location tracker
tracker
short
data
range wireless
Prior art date
Application number
SE1950093A
Other languages
Swedish (sv)
Other versions
SE1950093A1 (en
Inventor
Carl Aspenberg
Stefan Hultberg
Original Assignee
Spaara Group Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Spaara Group Ab filed Critical Spaara Group Ab
Priority to SE1950093A priority Critical patent/SE543335C2/en
Priority to PCT/SE2020/050058 priority patent/WO2020153897A1/en
Priority to EP20744268.2A priority patent/EP3914922A4/en
Publication of SE1950093A1 publication Critical patent/SE1950093A1/en
Publication of SE543335C2 publication Critical patent/SE543335C2/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B34/00—Computer-aided surgery; Manipulators or robots specially adapted for use in surgery
    • A61B34/20—Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S5/00—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
    • G01S5/01—Determining conditions which influence positioning, e.g. radio environment, state of motion or energy consumption
    • G01S5/017—Detecting state or type of motion
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S19/00—Satellite radio beacon positioning systems; Determining position, velocity or attitude using signals transmitted by such systems
    • G01S19/01—Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
    • G01S19/13—Receivers
    • G01S19/14—Receivers specially adapted for specific applications
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S5/00—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
    • G01S5/0009—Transmission of position information to remote stations
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S5/00—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
    • G01S5/0009—Transmission of position information to remote stations
    • G01S5/0018—Transmission from mobile station to base station
    • G01S5/0027—Transmission from mobile station to base station of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/02—Services making use of location information
    • H04W4/029—Location-based management or tracking services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/80—Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
    • Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
    • Y02D30/70—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wireless communication networks

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Robotics (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Telephone Function (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods, a location tracking system and a portable location tracker for low power consuming uses cases when the state or position of the tracker needs to be determined also when the tracker is outside short-range wireless communication range with a mobile communications device. The technology disclosed further relates to a low power consuming location tracker system for controlling a plurality of portable location trackers comprising a movement sensor and a remote control and monitoring system for communicating with the portable location trackers via a cellular radio communications network.

Description

TITLE A low power portable location tracker, a location tracking system and methods TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to methods, a location tracking system and a portable locationtracker. Specifically, the present invention relates to methods, a location tracking system and aportable location tracker suitable for low power consuming uses cases when the state orposition of the tracker needs to be determined also when the tracker is outside short-rangewireless communication range with a mobile communications device and the owner of theportable location tracker needs to be notified about the whereabouts of the portable location tracker.
BACKGROUND Wireless telecommunication networks often include user equipment that connect to RadioAccess Networks (RANs) ofthe wireless telecommunication network. The user equipment mayinclude user devices, such as mobile communications devices (e.g. smartphones), tabletcomputers, etc., and Internet of Things (IoT) devices (also referred to as Machine TypeCommunication (MTC) devices and Machine-to-Machine (MZM) devices). An example of aportable location tracker device may include Category 1 (CAT 1) trackers (also referred to as an IoT tracker).
A GPS tracking unit is a navigation device, normally carried by a moving vehicle or person, thatuses the Global Positioning System (GPS) to track and determine its location. The recordedlocation data can either be stored within the tracking unit or transmitted to an Internet-connected device using the cellular, radio, or satellite modem embedded in the unit. This allowsthe location to be displayed against a map backdrop either in real time or when analysing thetrack later, using GPS tracking software. Data tracking software is available for smartphones with GPS capability.
Data pusher is the most common type ofGPS tracking unit, used for asset tracking, personaltracking and vehicle tracking systems. Also known as a GPS beacon, this kind of device pushes (i.e. "sends") the position of the device as well as other information like speed or altitude at regular intervals, to a determined server, that can store and instantly analyse the data.
Most GPS trackers provide data "push" technology, enabling sophisticated GPS tracking inbusiness environments, specifically organizations that employ a mobile workforce, such as acommercial fleet. GPS tracking systems used in commercial fleets are often configured totransmit location and telemetry input data at a set update rate or when an event (dooropen/close, auxiliary equipment on/off, geofence border cross) triggers the unit to transmitdata. Live GPS tracking used in commercial fleets generally refers to systems that updateregularly at one-minute, two-minute or five-minute intervals while the ignition status is on.
Some tracking systems combine timed updates with heading change triggered updates.
GPS tracking solutions such as Telematics 2.0, an IoT based telematics technology for the automotive industry, are being used within mainstream commercial auto insurance.
The applications oftrackers of this kind include GPS personal tracking devices are used in thecare of the elderly and vulnerable. Devices allow users to call for assistance and optionally allowdesignated carers to locate the user's position, typically within 5 to 10 meters. Their use helpspromote independent living and social inclusion for the elderly. Devices often incorporate either1-way or 2-way voice communication. Some devices also allow the user to call several phonenumbers using pre-programmed speed dial buttons. Trials using GPS personal tracking devices are also underway in several countries for use with sufferers of early-stage dementia.
The applications of trackers of this kind also include asset tracking such as solar powered. Theadvantage ofsome solar powered units is that they have much more power over their lifetimethan battery powered units. This gives them the advantage of reporting their position and statusmuch more often than battery units which need to conserve their energy to extend their life.Some wireless solar-powered units may report more than 20,000 times per year and work indefinitely on solar power, eliminating the need to change batteries.
Asset tracking devices often conserve battery life by reporting in less frequently than vehicle-powered counterparts. When put on a wildlife animal, e.g. in a collar, the tracker allowsscientists to study its activities and migration patterns. Vaginal implant transmitters mark thelocation where pregnant females give birth. Animal trackers may also be put on domestic animals, to locate them in case they get lost.
PROBLEMS WITH THE PRIOR ART The location trackers known in the art are configured to periodically report their currentlocation to a user device either via a cellular communications network, e.g. a wirelesstelecommunication network, or via short-range wireless communication with a known, trusted or associated user device within short-range communication.
In operation, some of the location trackers known in the art periodically determine a currentgeographic location, e.g. via Global Positioning System (GPS), ofthe portable location tracker andprovide the location to a user device via a wireless telecommunication network. In this manner,the movements ofa portable location tracker, and hence the movements of the object to which aportable location tracker is attached, may be monitored. Due to the mobile nature of theseportable location trackers, they often include a small battery powered device. However, sincethe use of cellular radio communication capabilities to provide a location to a user device oftenrequire a significant amount of power, these location trackers are typically not adapted for usescases requiring a very low consumption of battery life, e.g. use cases including lots of periods when the location tracker is not at all moving.
A typical tracking device existing in the art uses a GPS satellite to determine the current locationof the device. A wireless transceiver coupled to the GPS receiver, and GPS processor, transmitsinformation from the GPS processor toward a central computer for processing. The algorithmthen compares the current location coordinate of the GPS receiver to predeterminedcoordinates, or other definition ofa geometric shape, such as an equation ofa circle centered ata given location predetermined by a user at the central computer, to determine whether the GPSdevice, and thus what it is fixed to, is bounded by the geometric shape. If not, the central computer may generate a notification that the geometric shape does not bound the GPS device.
While such an approach performs the desired function of generating the notice when a trackedasset leaves the predetermined geographical boundary, for example, the approach also hasdrawbacks. The drawbacks include excessive power usage and wireless transmission bandwidthusage. To perform a comparison ofthe current location to the geographical boundary, a systemmay periodically transmit current location coordinates to the central server, and then thecentral server performs the comparison and generation ofalerts if the comparison indicates thatthe geographical boundary does not bound the tracked asset. Since each transmission of a dataunit, such as a packet, cost money, each periodic transmission of a data unit incurs a cost in air time.
Some of the location trackers known in the art require to be within short-range communicationrange with a known/trusted or associated user device, e.g. a mobile communications device, toperiodically report their current positions. However, these location trackers are not adapted forsituations or use cases when the location tracker often is not within short-range communicationrange with a known/trusted or associated mobile communications device but is only withinshort-range communication range with an unknown or untrusted user device. In thesesituations, or use cases, the monitoring ofthe movements ofthe portable location tracker, e.g.the knowledge about the current location and/ or a changed movement pattern for the portablelocation tracker, may still be of high importance to the owner of the location tracker and/ or auser ofa known/trusted user device, e.g. in situations or use cases where the movements ormovement pattern of the object to which a portable location tracker is attached is important tothe owner ofthe portable location tracker and/or user of a known/trusted or associated user device.
A geo-fence is defined and established automatically based on a current location of an assetalong with some range or distance, avoiding the need for a user to manually specify a location bydrawing a perimeter, specifying a point location, or by any other means. Once established, thegeo-fence can be activated so as to notify the owner of the asset and/or some other entity ofmovement of the asset beyond the boundary specified by the geo-fence. In one embodiment, thegeo-fence can be automatically activated upon certain conditions, or can be manually activated, or any combination thereof.
Location tracking is a useful mechanism for limiting or preventing theft ofassets such asvehicles, and for recovering stolen assets. Various location tracking mechanisms are well knownin the art. For example, Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality is a well-known andubiquitous technique for tracking a vehicle's location. In addition, other mechanisms are known,such as triangulation by cellular telephone signal or other means. Radio frequency identification(RFID) systems are also well known but are generally suitable only for short-range location tracking.
It is often useful to provide notification when an asset is moved beyond a defined geographicregion, referred to herein as a "geo-fence". A geo-fence can be defined by reference to aperimeter, or boundary, surrounding a geographic area. The geographic area can besubstantially circular or can be a polygon or any other shape. A monitoring system includes asensor mounted within the asset to be tracked, a communication link, and an alert notificationmechanism. Asset owners and/or other parties can thus be notified when the geo-fence boundary is violated by the asset leaving the boundary. Notification of geo-fence violations in this manner can serve to limit or prevent theft, by promptly alerting an owner and/or law-enforcement authorities that the asset has been moved without authorization. Ongoing location tracking can help authorities in their efforts to find a vehicle that has been stolen.
A limitation inherent in many currently available GPS monitoring systems is that they require auser to specify the geo-fence boundary settings, for example by drawing a perimeter on a map.This can be done, for example, on a website designed to facilitate geo-fence configuration. Othersystems allow a user to specify a geo-fence by specifying a point location, for example byentering an address or coordinates, and indicating a maximum distance from the specified point.Thus, the user must obtain, by some means, a description or indication as to where the geo-fence should be placed.
What is needed is a system and method of location tracking and boundary violation notificationthat avoids the limitations of the prior art. What is further needed is a system and method thatautomatically defines a geo-fence based on a current location ofan asset. What is further neededis a system and method that is adapted to automatically and / or passively activate boundaryviolation notification under certain conditions, so as to more reliably provide notification with aminimum ofuser effort. What is further needed is a system and method by which an owner of anasset can specify conditions in which the owner or some other entity is to be notified if the asset moves outside a geo-fence.
A portable location tracker typically relies on a power source, such as a battery, in order tofunction. However, the portable location trackers and systems of today are consuming too muchenergy and are not optimised for use cases when the object-to-track is often changing itsposition, have no access to external power, require a small tracker and cannot bear a too high cost for the tracking.
Hence, there is a need for solutions which are adapted to preserve the amount of power in aportable location tracker for the above uses cases and in situations when the tracker may or maynot be within short-range communication with a known mobile communications device to which the tracker is linked.
SUMMARY The technology disclosed relates to a portable location tracker, a location tracker system and methods in a location tracker system comprising a plurality of portable location trackers.
The technology disclosed relates to a portable low power consuming location tracker,comprising:a. a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver adapted to receive positiondata from a global navigation satellite system;b. a movement sensor adapted to detect the movements of the location tracker;a control system;d. a short-range wireless transmitter adapted to transmit data;e. a short-range wireless receiver adapted to receive data from a mobilecommunications device within range for short-range communication; andf. a cellular radio communications transmitter and receiver adapted for cellularradio communication with a remote control and monitoring system via a cellular radio communications network.
The control system of the location tracker may comprise a memory configured to store thereceived position data for the location tracker and the movement data detected by themovement sensor of the location tracker. The control system of the location tracker may further comprise a data processing unit and computer program code control logics.
The movement sensor may be an accelerometer adapted to detect the movements ofthe portable location tracker, e.g. the movement pattern of the portable location tracker.
In embodiments, the location tracker may be further configured to transmit the current position,or the most recently obtained or received position, of the location tracker from the cellular radiocommunications transmitter to a remote control and monitoring system. The position data maythen be transmitted via a cellular radio communications network such as a cellular narrowbandradio communications network using low power cellular narrowband radio techniques like NB- IoT, SigFox or LoRa.
In embodiments, the control system of the portable location tracker may be configured toincrease or decrease the periodicity and/or frequency ofhow often said short-range wirelessreceiver is turned on upon expiration of a timer and/or at least partly based on input from said mOVGmGnt SGIISOT.
In embodiments, the control system of the portable location tracker may be configured toincreased or decreased periodicity and/or frequency of short-range wireless transmissions istriggered by at least one of input from the movement sensor, a received token or other identification data in a short-range wireless response is indicating that the short-range wireless 6 response was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by, or associated with, the location tracker and/or upon expiration of a timer ofthe location tracker.
In embodiments, the control system of the portable location tracker may be configured toincrease or decrease the periodicity and/or frequency ofhow often the GNSS receiver is turnedon to take position upon expiration of a timer and/or at least partly based on input from the mOVGmGnt SGIISOT.
In embodiments, the control system of the portable location tracker may be configured to so thata decision to increase or decrease the periodicity and/or frequency of how often the GNSSreceiver is turned on to take position is at least partly triggered by a received token or otheridentification data in a short-range wireless response is indicating that the short-range wirelessresponse was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by or associated with the location tracker.
The technology disclosed further relates to a low power consuming location tracker systemcomprising: a. at least one portable location tracker comprising a control system and amovement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer; b. a remote control and monitoring system, e.g. a backend location tracker system,configured to communicate both with the at least one portable location trackervia a cellular radio communications network and communicate with a cellularmobile communications device; c. an application program for execution in a cellular mobile communications devicebeing provided with short range wireless communication capabilities and cellular radio communication capabilities.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed further relates to a low power consuming locationtracker system comprising:a. a portable location tracker comprising a control system and a movement sensor,said portable location tracker is configured to:i. communicate with a remote control and monitoring system via acellular radio communications network;ii. communicate with a cellular mobile communications device viashort-range wireless communication; b. a remote control and monitoring system configured to: i. communicate with a plurality of cellular mobile communicationsdevices via at least one of a wideband cellular radiocommunications network, a wireless local network and theinternet; ii. communicate with the portable location tracker via a cellularradio communications network; andiii. store data related to the position data associated with theportable location tracker;c. an application program for execution in a cellular mobile communications device10 being provided with short range wireless communication capabilities and cellular radio communication capabilities, the cellular mobile communicationsdevice having computer program code portions adapted to control the mobile communications device to:i. communicate with the portable location tracker via short-range wireless communication;ii. communicate with the remote control and monitoring system via at least one of a wideband cellular radiocommunications network, a wireless local network and the internet.
The technology disclosed further relates to an application program for execution in a cellularmobile communications device being provided with short range wireless communicationcapabilities and cellular radio communication capabilities, the application program havingcomputer program code portions adapted to control the mobile communications device to: i. communicate with the portable location tracker via short-range wireless communication; ii. communicate with the remote control and monitoring system, e.g. via acellular radio communications network, local wireless networks and/orthe internet, and iii. initiate actions in the mobile communications device triggered by or based on data received via communication with the portable location tracker via short-range wireless communication.
The technology disclosed further relates to an application program for execution in a cellular mobile communications device being provided with short range wireless communication 8 capabilities and cellular radio communication capabilities, the application program having computer program code portions adapted to control the mobile communications device to: i. communicate with the portable location tracker via short-rangewireless communication;ii. communicate with the remote control and monitoring system via acellular radio communications network, andiii. initiate actions in the mobile communications device triggered by orbased on data received from the remote control and monitoring system.
The technology disclosed further relates to an application program for execution in a cellularmobile communications device being provided with short range wireless communicationcapabilities and cellular radio communication capabilities, the application program having computer program code portions adapted to control the mobile communications device to: iv. communicate with the portable location tracker via short-rangewireless communication; v. communicate with the remote control and monitoring system theremote control and monitoring system via at least one of a wirelesslocal network a cellular radio communications network and theinternet, and vi. present, in the application program and/or on a display, display data orinformation related to at least one of position data and movement status data associated with the portable location tracker.
The portable location trackers of the low power consuming location tracker system may beconfigured to at least one ofcommunicating with a remote control and monitoring system, e.g. abackend system, via e.g. at least one of a cellular radio communications network and/or theinternet and communicating with a cellular mobile communications device via short-rangewireless communication. In embodiments, the at least one portable location tracker and theremote control and monitoring system of the above low power consuming location trackersystem may be configured to communicate with each other via a cellular narrow band radiocommunications network, e.g. using low power cellular narrow band radio techniques like NB- IoT, SigFox or LoRa.
The technology disclosed further relates to a low power consuming location tracker system, thesystem comprising:a. a portable location tracker comprising a control system and a movement sensor,e.g. an accelerometer, said portable location tracker is configured to: i. communicate with a remote control and monitoring system, e.g. a backend system, via a cellular radio communications network, e.g. a narrowband cellular radio communications network; ii. communicate with a cellular mobile communications device viashort-range wireless communication, e.g. Bluetooth; b. a remote control and monitoring system, e.g. a backend location tracker system,configured to: i. communicate with a plurality of cellular mobile communicationsdevices; ii. communicate with the portable location tracker via a cellularradio communications network, e.g. a narrowband cellular radiocommunications network; and iii. store data related to the position data associated with theportable location tracker; c. an application program for execution in a cellular mobile communications devicebeing provided with short range wireless communication capabilities andcellular radio communication capabilities, the application program havingcomputer program code portions adapted to control the mobile communicationsdevice to: i. communicate with the portable location tracker via short-rangewireless communication; ii. communicate with the backend location tracker system via e.g. at leastone of a wideband cellular radio communications network, a wirelesslocal network and/ or the internet, and iii. present, in the application program and/or on a display, display data orinformation related to at least one of position data and movement status data associated with the portable location tracker.
The control system of the portable location tracker of the low power consuming location trackersystem may be configured to use status data or instructions received from the remote controland monitoring system for making decisions whether to change how often at least one ofa GNSS receiver, a cellular radio communications transmitter and a cellular radio communications transmitter of the portable location tracker is turned on. The status data exchanged between theportable location tracker and the mobile communications device may include at least one of GPSand/or cellular position data for the mobile communications device and GPS position data and / or movement sensor data for the portable location tracker.
The control system of the portable location tracker of the low power consuming location trackersystem may be configured to use status data or instructions previously received from a nearbymobile communications device for making decisions whether to change how often at least one ofa GNSS receiver, a cellular radio communications transmitter and a cellular radiocommunications transmitter of the portable location tracker is turned on. The status dataexchanged between the portable location tracker and the mobile communications device mayinclude at least one ofGPS and/or cellular position data for the mobile communications device and GPS position data and/or movement sensor data for the portable location tracker.
The technology disclosed further relates to a method in a location tracker system including aportable location tracker, at least one cellular mobile communications device comprising anapplication program for execution in the cellular mobile communications device, and a remotecontrol and monitoring system, comprising: a. transmitting, from a short-range wireless transmitter of the location tracker, asignal including a token or data identifying the portable location tracker and atleast one of position data and movement status data for the location tracker; b. turning on a short-range wireless receiver of the portable tracker, wherein thereceiver is listening for a short-range wireless response from a device withinshort-range wireless communication range, c. obtaining movement sensor data from the movement sensor of the portablelocation tracker, and, at least partly based on the obtained movement sensor dataand/or upon expiration ofa timer indicating that there is no mobilecommunications device within short-range wireless communication range: d. turning on at least one ofa cellular radio communications transmitter and a GNSS receiver of the portable location tracker.
In embodiments, the method according to certain aspects ofthe technology disclosed includesthat the obtained sensor data is indicating at least one of an acceleration beyond a certain threshold value and a changed movement pattern for the location tracker. 11 In embodiments, the method according to certain aspects ofthe technology disclosed furthercomprises receiving, at the portable location tracker, a short-range wireless response from amobile communications device where a token or other identification data in the response isindicating that the response was not sent by a mobile communications device unknown to, or untrusted by, the location tracker.
In embodiments, the method according to certain aspects ofthe technology disclosed includesthat the portable location tracker is turning on the cellular radio communications transmitterand/or the GNSS receiver at least partly based on the received token or other identification data indicating that mobile communications device is unknown or untrusted.
In embodiments, the method according to certain aspects ofthe technology disclosed furthercomprises transmitting, from the portable location tracker to the remote control and monitoringsystem via the cellular radio communications network, a message comprising at least one ofposition data and movement status data for the portable location tracker. The message may thenbe sent in response to at least one of the obtained sensor data from the movement sensor and ashort-range wireless response from a mobile communications device where a token or otheridentification data in the response is indicating that the response was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by or associated with the location tracker.
In embodiments, the method according to certain aspects ofthe technology disclosed furthercomprises receiving, at the remote control and monitoring system, a message comprising at leastone of position data and movement status data for the portable location tracker and notifying, inresponse to receiving the at least one of position data and movement status data for the portablelocation tracker, the mobile application ofa mobile communications device known to, or trusted by, the portable location tracker.
In embodiments, the method according to certain aspects ofthe technology disclosed furthercomprises presenting, in the application program and/or on a display ofthe mobilecommunications device, data or information related to at least one of position data and movement status data associated with the portable location tracker.In embodiments, the control system of the portable low power consuming location tracker is configured to change how often at least one of the transmitters and receivers of the location tracker is turned on. This change may be triggered at least partly based on input from the 12 movement sensor and/or upon expiration of a timer indicating that there is no mobile communications device within short-range wireless communication range.
In embodiments, the control system of the portable low power consuming location tracker isconfigured to turn on the GNSS receiver to obtain the current position ofthe location tracker upon expiration of a timer and/or at least partly based on input from the movement sensor.
In embodiments, the control system of the portable low power consuming location tracker isconfigured to turn on the cellular radio communications transmitter upon expiration of a timerand/or at least partly based on input from the movement sensor. In certain embodiments, thecontrol system of the location tracker is configured to turn on the cellular radio communicationstransmitter at least partly based on, or in response to, sensor data detected or measured by themovement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer. The sensor data triggering the control system to turnon the cellular radio communications transmitter may then indicate an acceleration of thelocation tracker beyond a certain threshold value and/ or indicate a certain changed movement pattern for the location tracker.
In embodiments, the portable low power consuming location tracker is configured to transmitthe current position, or the most recently obtained or received position, ofthe location trackerfrom the cellular radio communications transmitter to a remote control and monitoring system.The position data may then be transmitted via a cellular radio communications network such asa cellular narrowband radio communications network using low power cellular narrowband radio techniques like NB-IoT, SigFox or LoRa.
In embodiments, the control system of the portable low power consuming location tracker isconfigured to turn on the cellular radio communications transmitter at least partly based on areceived token or other identification data in a short-range wireless response is indicating thatthe short-range wireless response was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by, or associated with, the location tracker.
In embodiments, the cellular radio communications transmitter of the portable low powerconsuming location tracker is turned on to transmit at least one of position data and movementstatus data sensor to a remote control and monitoring system at least partly based on input fromthe movement sensor. The control system of the location tracker may then configured so thatthe transmission of at least one of position data and movement status data via a cellular radio communications network is triggered by at least one of input from the movement sensor, a 13 received token or other identification data in a short-range wireless response is indicating that the short-range wireless response was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by, or associated with, the location tracker and/or upon expiration of a timer ofthe location tracker.
In embodiments, the expiration of the timer may indicate that there is no mobilecommunications device within short-range wireless communication range. In otherembodiments, the expiration of the timer may indicate that there is no trusted or known mobilecommunications device within short-range wireless communication range in that the locationtracker is only receiving short-range wireless response(s) from an unknown or untrustedmobile communications device over a certain pre-determined period, e.g. the expiration of thetimer indicates that there is no mobile communications device which is associated with thelocation tracker within short-range wireless communication range. In certain embodiments, thecontrol system of the location tracker is configured to turn on the cellular radio communicationstransmitter at least partly based on, or in response to, sensor data detected or measured by themovement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer. The sensor data triggering the control system to turnon the cellular radio communications transmitter may then indicate an acceleration of thelocation tracker beyond a certain threshold value and/ or indicate a certain changed movement pattern for the location tracker.
In embodiments, the control system of the portable low power consuming location tracker isconfigured to increase or decrease the periodicity and/or frequency of short-range wirelesstransmissions from the short-range wireless transmitter of the location tracker upon expirationof a timer and/or at least partly based on input from the movement sensor of the locationtracker. The increased or decreased periodicity and/or frequency of short-range wirelesstransmissions may then be triggered by at least one of input from the movement sensor, areceived token or other identification data in a short-range wireless response is indicating that the short-range wireless response was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by, or associated with, the location tracker and/or upon expiration of a timer of the location tracker.
In embodiments, the expiration of the timer may then indicate that there is no mobilecommunications device within short-range wireless communication range over a certain periodof time. In other embodiments, the expiration ofthe timer may indicate that there is no trustedor known mobile communications device within short-range wireless communication range inthat the location tracker is only receiving short-range wireless response(s) from an unknown oruntrusted mobile communications device over a certain pre-determined period of time, e.g. theexpiration of the timer is indicating that there is no mobile communications device which is associated with the location tracker within short-range wireless communication range. 14 In embodiments, the control system of the portable low power consuming location tracker isconfigured to increase or decrease the periodicity and/or frequency of how often the short-range wireless receiver ofthe location tracker is turned on upon expiration of a timer and/or atleast partly based on input from the movement sensor of the location tracker. The increase ordecrease may then be triggered by at least one of input from the movement sensor, a receivedtoken or other identification data in a short-range wireless response is indicating that the short-range wireless response was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by, orassociated with, the location tracker and/or upon expiration of a timer of the location tracker. Inembodiments, the expiration of the timer may indicate that there is no mobile communicationsdevice within short-range wireless communication range over a certain period oftime. In otherembodiments, the expiration of the timer may indicate that there is no trusted or known mobilecommunications device within short-range wireless communication range in that the locationtracker is only receiving short-range wireless response(s) from an unknown or untrustedmobile communications device over a certain period of time, e.g. the expiration of the timer is anindicating that there is no mobile communications device associated with the location tracker within short-range wireless communication range.
In embodiments, the control system of the portable low power consuming location tracker isconfigured to increase and/or decrease the periodicity and/or frequency of how often the GNSSreceiver is turned on to take position upon expiration ofa timer and/or at least partly based oninput from the movement sensor. The increase or decrease may then be triggered by at least oneof input from the movement sensor, a received token or other identification data in a short-range wireless response is indicating that the short-range wireless response was not sent by amobile communications device trusted by, or associated with, the location tracker and/or uponexpiration of a timer of the location tracker. In embodiments, the decision by the control systemto increase or decrease the periodicity and/or frequency of how often the GNSS receiver isturned on to take position is at least partly triggered by a received token or other identificationdata in a short-range wireless response is indicating that the short-range wireless response wasnot sent by a mobile communications device trusted by or associated with the location tracker.In embodiments, the expiration of the timer may indicate that there is no mobilecommunications device within short-range wireless communication range over a certain periodoftime. In other embodiments, the expiration ofthe timer may indicate that there is no trustedor known mobile communications device within short-range wireless communication range inthat the location tracker is only receiving short-range wireless response(s) from an unknown or untrusted mobile communications device over a certain period of time, e.g. the expiration of the timer is an indicating that there is no mobile communications device associated with the location tracker within short-range wireless communication range.
In embodiments, the control system of the portable low power consuming location tracker isconfigured to increase the periodicity and/or frequency of short-range wireless transmissionsfrom the short-range wireless transmitter of the location tracker at least partly based on areceived token or other identification data in a short-range wireless response is indicating thatthe short-range wireless response was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by, or associated with, the location tracker.
In embodiments, the control system of the portable low power consuming location tracker isconfigured to increase the periodicity and/or frequency of how often the short-range wirelessreceiver is turned on at least partly based on a received token or other identification data in ashort-range wireless response is indicating that the short-range wireless response was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by or associated with the location tracker.
In embodiments, the control system of the portable low power consuming location tracker isconfigured to at least one of change the mode or state of the location tracker to thereby increaseand/or decrease the periodicity and/or frequency of how often at least one ofthe transmittersand / or receivers of the location tracker is turned on. In different embodiments, the controlsystem is configured so that the change of mode or state is triggered by at least one ofinstruction data received via short-range communication with a known or trusted mobilecommunications device and instruction data received from a remote control and monitoring system via a cellular radio communications network.
In embodiments of the technology disclosed, the system and portable location tracker may beconfigured to receive a short-range communication signal, or message, from a mobilecommunications device, and identify a unique identifier or token ofthe received signal ormessage to determine whether the mobile communications device is a known/trusted userdevice, or which is at least associated with the portable location tracker, or an unknown oruntrusted user device, e.g. a user device not associated with the portable location tracker. In theevent the mobile communications device is identified by the portable location tracker to be aknown/ trusted / associated user device, the control system / unit of the portable location trackermay be configured to decide that the portable location tracker should enter, leave or remain in acertain mode or state. The control system / unit may then be configured to control that the portable location tracker enters, leaves or remain in a sleep mode or extremely low-power 16 consuming state in response to determining that a short-range communication signal, ormessage, was received from a known, trusted or associated user device such as a known, trusted or associated mobile communications device.
In embodiments of the technology disclosed, the system and portable location tracker may beconfigured to receive a short-range communication signal, or message, from a mobilecommunications device, and identify a unique identifier or token ofthe received signal ormessage to determine whether the mobile communications device is a known/trusted userdevice, or is at least associated with the portable location tracker, or an unknown or untrusteduser device which is not associated with the portable location tracker. In the event the mobilecommunications device is identified by the portable location tracker to be an unknown,untrusted and/ or non-associated user device, the control system of the portable location trackermay be configured to decide that the portable location tracker should leave a certain mode orstate, e.g. leave a sleep mode or extremely low-power consuming state by increasing thefrequency of short-range wireless low energy advertisement transmissions and/or increasingthe frequency of cellular radio communication transmissions to a remote control and monitoring system/node.
In embodiments of the technology disclosed, the portable location tracker of the technologydisclosed may be configured to change its status, e.g. mode or operational state, in response tonot receiving any short-range communication signal or message from a mobile communicationsdevice, e.g. during a certain period indicated by a timer ofthe tracker. According to certainembodiments and upon expiration ofthe timer, the tracker may then be configured to enter intoa battery conservation mode/state in order to help preserve the amount of power in the batteryof the portable location tracker. During this time, however, the location tracker may continue tomonitor certain conditions. For example, the tracker may be configured to continue to monitorinput from an accelerometer of the tracker indicating the movements and/or movement pattern of the portable location tracker.
In embodiments of the technology disclosed, the portable location tracker of the technologydisclosed may be configured to obtain its position in response to not receiving any short-rangecommunication signal or message from a mobile communications device, e.g. when no response has been received for a certain pre-determined period indicated by a timer of the tracker.
According to certain embodiments and upon expiration of the timer, the tracker may then be configured to obtain its position, e.g. through a GPS system, in response to not receiving any 17 short-range communication signal or message. The position may then be obtained by turning ona GPS receiver in response to expiration ofthe timer or the portable location tracker may beconfigured to be in a mode or operational state where the GPS receiver of the tracker isperiodically turned on to obtain the position of the tracker. The portable location tracker maythen be further configured to transmit the obtained position to a remote control and monitoringsystem via a cellular radio communications network such as a cellular narrowband radiocommunications network, e.g. using low power cellular narrowband radio techniques like NB- IoT, SigFox or LoRa.
In other embodiments, the portable location tracker may be configured to transmit its storedmost recent position to the remote control and monitoring system via a cellular radiocommunications network when no response has been received for a certain pre-determinedperiod indicated by the timer ofthe tracker, i.e. the stored position may then be transmitted tothe remote control and monitoring system without first obtaining its current position through a GPS system.
The portable location tracker of the technology disclosed may be configured to monitor inputfrom an accelerometer of the tracker indicating the movements and/or movement pattern of theportable location tracker. The control system / unit of the portable location tracker may then beconfigured to control the transmission of position data and/or the obtaining of position byturning on the GPS receiver based on at least one ofinput from the accelerometer and/or thecurrent status for the tracker, e.g. the current mode or operational state for the tracker. Forexample, the tracker may be configured to continuously and periodically monitor input from anaccelerometer of the tracker indicating the movements and/ or movement pattern of theportable location tracker. The accelerometer of the tracker may then be configured tocontinuously and periodically measure or detect the movements and/or movement pattern of tracker.
In embodiments, the periodicity of short-range transmissions and/or turning on of a transmitteror GPS receiver ofthe portable location tracker may be adjusted by the control system/unit ofthe location tracker based on at least one of input from the accelerometer and/or the current status for the tracker, e.g. the current mode or operational state for the tracker.
According to certain embodiments and upon expiration of a timer, the control system/unit maybe configured to transmit position data and/or obtain position data by turning on the GPS receiver, where a decision by the control system/node whether to turn on a GPS receiver and/or 18 turn on a cellular radio communications transmitter is based on at least one ofinput from the accelerometer and/ or the current status for the tracker.
In embodiments, the mode/state of the portable location tracker and/or the periodicity and/orfrequency oftransmissions ofsignals/messages transmitted from the tracker may be changed(e.g. by the control system/unit of the portable location tracker) based on input in a signal ormessage received from a mobile communications device, e.g. received from aknown/trusted/associated mobile communications device, via short-range wirelesscommunication. In certain embodiments, the changed periodicity/frequency periodicity oftransmissions ofsignals/messages from the tracker may comprise at least one of changing theperiodicity/frequency of short-range wireless low energy advertisement transmissions (e.g.iBeacon transmissions from the portable location tracker, ”ping”) and changing theperiodicity/ frequency of cellular radio communication transmissions to a remote control andmonitoring system/node. In certain embodiments, a mode/state, of the tracker may define atleast one of the periodicity of short-range wireless transmissions, e.g. the periodicity of short-range wireless low energy advertisement transmissions (e.g. iBeacon transmissions from theportable location tracker, ”ping”) and the periodicity of cellular radio communicationtransmissions to a remote control and monitoring system/node from the portable location tracker.
The control system / unit of the portable location tracker may then be configured to change theperiodicity of short-range wireless low energy advertisement transmissions and/or cellularradio communication transmissions to a remote control and monitoring system/node based onthe input in the signal or message received from a mobile communications device via short-range wireless communication. In certain embodiments, the decision by the control system/ unitto change the mode/state of the tracker and/or the periodicity oftransmissions ofsignals/messages may in addition be at least partly based on input received from a movementsensor, e.g. accelerometer, of the tracker where the input from the movement sensor isindicating a movement for the tracker which is beyond a certain pre-determined threshold valueor a changed movement pattern for the tracker. In certain embodiments, the decision by thecontrol system / unit to change the mode /state of the tracker and/ or the periodicity oftransmissions of signals/messages may be triggered upon expiration ofa timer of the portable location tracker.
In embodiments, the mode or state ofthe portable location tracker and/or the periodicity and/or frequency of transmissions of signals/messages transmitted from the tracker may be 19 changed (e.g. by the control system/ unit of the portable location tracker) based on input in asignal or message received from a control and monitoring system/node. In certainembodiments, the changed periodicity/frequency of transmissions of signals/messages from thetracker may comprise at least one of changing the periodicity/frequency of short-range wirelesslow energy advertisement transmissions (e.g. iBeacon transmissions from the portable locationtracker, ”ping”) and changing the periodicity/ frequency of cellular radio communicationtransmissions to a remote control and monitoring system/node (e.g. using low power cellularnarrow band radio techniques like NB-IoT, SigFox or LoRa). In certain embodiments, a pre-defined mode of the tracker may define at least one of the periodicity and/or frequency of short-range wireless transmissions, e.g. the periodicity of short-range wireless low energyadvertisement transmissions (e.g. iBeacon transmissions from the portable location tracker,"ping") and the periodicity and/or frequency ofcellular radio communication transmissions to a remote control and monitoring system/node from the portable location tracker.
The control system / unit of the portable location tracker may then be configured to change theperiodicity and/or frequency of short-range wireless low energy advertisement transmissionsand/or the periodicity and/or frequency of cellular radio communication transmissions to aremote control and monitoring system/node based on the input in the signal or messagereceived from the remote control and monitoring system/node. In certain embodiments, a pre-defined mode of the portable location tracker may be changed by the control system/unit of theportable location tracker (e.g. without receiving any signal or message instructing the changefrom any device/unit/node) based on input from a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer,indicating a changed movement pattern and/or upon expiration of a timer of the portablelocation tracker. The pre-defined mode ofthe tracker may then define at least one of the periodicity and/or frequency of The technology disclosed further relates to a low power consuming location tracker, comprising: a. a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver adapted to receive positiondata for the location tracker from a global navigation satellite system; b. a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, adapted to detect the movements ofthe location tracker; c. a control system / unit; d. a short-range wireless transmitter adapted to transmit data; e. a cellular radio communications transmitter for cellular radio communicationwith a remote control and monitoring system, e.g. a backend location tracker system ; f. a short-range wireless receiver adapted to wireless receive data from a mobilecommunications device within range for short-range communication, and g. a cellular radio communications transmitter and receiver adapted for cellularradio communication with a remote control and monitoring system via a cellular radio communications network.
In embodiments, the control system/unit of the location tracker may comprise a memoryconfigured to store received position data for the location tracker and / or the movement datadetected by the movement sensor ofthe location tracker. In embodiments, the controlsystem/unit of the location tracker may also comprise a data processing unit and computer program code control logics.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a method in a location tracker systemcomprising the steps of obtaining sensor data from a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, ofthe portable location tracker, and, in response to at least one of not receiving any response fromany mobile communications device within short-range wireless communication range and theobtained sensor data: turning on at least one ofa cellular radio communications transmitter ofthe portable location tracker and at least one of a short-range wireless transmitter and a globalnavigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver of the portable location tracker. The obtained sensordata may then indicate at least one of an acceleration beyond a certain threshold and a certain changed movement pattern for the location tracker.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a method in a location tracker system comprising the steps of: a. receiving position data for the portable location tracker from a globalnavigation satellite system (GNSS); and b. obtaining sensor data from a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, ofthe portable location tracker, and, in response to at least one ofnotreceiving any response from any mobile communications device withinshort-range wireless communication range and the obtained sensor data: c. transmitting previously received position data for the portable location tracker to a remote control and monitoring system / node.
In embodiments, the transmission of position data for the portable location tracker to a remotecontrol and monitoring system / node is triggered by the location tracker identifying that it has not received any response from any mobile communications device within short-range wireless 21 communication range for a certain time period where the time period may be a pre-determined time period.
In embodiments, the transmission ofposition data for the portable location tracker to a remotecontrol and monitoring system / node is triggered by the location tracker identifying that it hasnot received any response from any trusted or associated mobile communications device withinshort-range wireless communication range for a certain time period where the time period may be a pre-determined time period.
In embodiments, the transmission ofposition data from the portable location tracker to aremote control and monitoring system/node is triggered by the obtained movement sensor dataindicating at least one of an acceleration beyond a certain threshold value and a certain changed movement pattern for the location tracker.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a method in a location tracker system comprising the steps of: a. obtaining sensor data from a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, ofthe portable location tracker, and, in response to at least one ofnotreceiving any response from any mobile communications device withinshort-range wireless communication range and the obtained sensor data: b. receiving position data for the portable location tracker from a globalnavigation satellite system (GNSS); and c. transmitting the received position data for the portable location tracker to a remote control and monitoring system/node.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a method in a location tracker system comprising the steps of: a. obtaining sensor data from a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, ofthe portable location tracker, and, in response to at least one ofnotreceiving any response from any mobile communications device withinshort-range wireless communication range and the obtained sensor data: b. turning a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver of the portablelocation tracker to receive position data for the portable location tracker from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS); and 22 c. turning on a cellular radio communications transmitter of the portablelocation tracker to transmit position data for the portable location tracker to a remote control and monitoring system/node.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a method in a location tracker system comprising the steps of: a. receiving position data for the portable location tracker from a globalnavigation satellite system (GNSS) or from a mobile communicationsdevice within short-range wireless communication range; b. obtaining sensor data from a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, ofthe portable location tracker, and, in response to receiving a response froma mobile communications device which is identified by the location trackernot be trusted by or associated with the location tracker and the obtainedsensor data indicating a certain movement pattern for the portablelocation tracker: c. transmitting the previously received position data for the portable locationtracker, via short-range transmission to the mobile communications deviceidentified not being trusted or associated with the portable locationtracker, to a remote control and monitoring system / node, wherein the mobile communications device identified not being trusted or associated with the portable location tracker relays the position data to the remote control and monitoring system / node via a cellular radio communications network.
In embodiments and upon expiration ofa timer ofthe portable location tracker, the portablelocation tracker may be configured to, at least partly in response to an identified token oridentification data in a short-range wireless response indicating that the response was sent byan unknown or untrusted user device, perform at least one of the actions of:a. turning on the cellular radio communications transmitter for transmitting atleast one of position data and accelerometer data directly, without using thecapabilities of a mobile communications device, to the remote control and monitoring system via the cellular radio communications network, and In embodiments and upon expiration ofa timer ofthe portable location tracker, the portable location tracker may be configured to, at least partly in response to an identified token or other 23 identification data in a short-range wireless response indicating that the response was sent byan unknown or untrusted user device, perform at least one of the actions of: a. turning on at least one of the GNSS receiver and the short-range wirelesstransmitter for transmitting at least one of position data and accelerometer datato the remote control and monitoring system via short-range communicationwith the untrusted mobile communications device from which the short-range wireless response was received.
In embodiments and upon expiration ofa timer ofthe portable location tracker, the portablelocation tracker may be configured to, in response to an identified token or other identificationdata in a short-range wireless response indicating that the response was sent by an unknown oruntrusted user device, perform at least one of the actions of: a. turning on the cellular radio communications transmitter for transmitting atleast one of position data and accelerometer data directly, without using thecapabilities of a mobile communications device, to the remote control andmonitoring system via the cellular radio communications network, and b. turning on at least one of the GNSS receiver and the short-range wirelesstransmitter for transmitting at least one of position data and accelerometer datato the remote control and monitoring system via short-range communicationwith the untrusted mobile communications device from which the short-range wireless response was received.
In embodiments and upon expiration ofa timer ofthe portable location tracker, the portablelocation tracker may be configured to, at least partly based on movement sensor data indicatinga changed movement pattern and in response to an identified token or identification data in ashort-range wireless response indicating that the response was sent by an unknown oruntrusted user device, perform the actions of:a. turning on the cellular radio communications transmitter fortransmitting at least one of position data and movement sensor data tothe remote control and monitoring system via the cellular radio communications network.
In embodiments, the portable location tracker may be configured to transmit the at least one ofposition data and movement sensor data directly to the remote control and monitoring systemvia a cellular radio communications network without using the capabilities of any mobile communications device within short-range communication range. 24 In certain embodiments, the portable location tracker may be configured to transmit the at leastone ofposition data and movement sensor data directly to the remote control and monitoringsystem via a cellular narrow band radio communications network, e.g. NB-IoT, SigFox or LoRa,without using the capabilities of any mobile communications device within short-range communication range, In embodiments and upon expiration ofa timer ofthe portable location tracker, the portablelocation tracker may be configured to, at least partly based on movement sensor data indicatinga changed movement pattern and in response to an identified token or other identification datain a short-range wireless response indicating that the response was sent by an unknown oruntrusted user device, perform the actions of:a. transmitting at least one of position data and movement status data to theremote control and monitoring system via short-range communication with theuntrusted mobile communications device from which the short-range wireless response was received.
In embodiments and upon expiration ofa timer ofthe portable location tracker, the portablelocation tracker may be configured to, at least partly based on movement sensor data indicatinga changed movement pattern and in response to an identified token or other identification datain a short-range wireless response indicating that the response was sent by an unknown oruntrusted user device, perform the actions of:a. turning on at least one ofthe GNSS receiver to take its position, andb. transmitting the obtained position to the remote control and monitoring systemvia short-range communication with the untrusted mobile communications device from which the short-range wireless response was received.
In embodiments, the above methods may further comprise transmitting, from the portablelocation tracker to the remote control and monitoring system and via the cellular radiocommunications network, a message comprising at least one ofposition data and accelerometerdata for the portable location tracker. The message may be sent in response to at least one of theobtained sensor data from the movement sensor indicating a certain unwanted movementpattern and a short-range wireless response from a mobile communications device, where atoken or other identification data in the response is indicating that the response was not sent bya mobile communications device trusted by or associated with the portable location tracker. The obtained sensor data indicating a certain unwanted movement pattern may then indicate at least one of an acceleration beyond a certain threshold and a certain changed movement pattern forthe location tracker. In embodiments, the portable location tracker may further be configured toturn on its cellular radio communications transmitter and/or turn on at least one of its short-range wireless transmitter and GNSS receiver at least partly based on the received token orother identification data in the response is indicating that mobile communications device is unknown and/ or untrusted.
In embodiments, the above methods may further comprise the steps ofreceiving, at the remotecontrol and monitoring system, a message comprising at least one of position data andaccelerometer data for the portable location tracker; and notifying, in response to the receivedat least one of position data and accelerometer data for the portable location tracker, the mobileapplication program (APP) of a mobile communications device trusted by, or associated with,the portable location tracker, e.g. via a radio communications network, in response to receiving amessage from the portable location tracker. The notification may then include at least one ofinformation or data about the movement status, e.g. accelerometer data and/or position data, forthe portable location tracker, and information or data about an unknown and/ or untrustedmobile communications device from which the portable location tracker received a short-rangewireless response. The notified mobile communications device which is trusted by, orassociated with, the portable location tracker is then a different mobile communications devicefrom the unknown and/ or untrusted mobile communications device relaying the message from the portable location tracker to the remote control and monitoring system.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a method in a location tracker system comprising the steps of: a. obtaining sensor data from a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, ofthe portable location tracker, and, in response to receiving a response froma mobile communications device which is not trusted by or associated withthe location tracker and the obtained sensor data indicating a certainmovement pattern for the portable location tracker: b. receiving position data for the portable location tracker from a globalnavigation satellite system (GNSS) and c. transmitting the received position data for the portable location tracker,via short-range transmission to the not trusted or associated mobilecommunications device, to a remote control and monitoring system / node,where the not trusted or associated mobile communications device relays the position data to the remote control and monitoring system/node. 26 In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a method in a location tracker system comprising the steps of: a. obtaining sensor data from a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, ofthe portable location tracker, and, in response to receiving a response froma mobile communications device which is not trusted by or associated withthe location tracker and the obtained sensor data indicating a certainmovement pattern for the portable location tracker: b. turning on a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver of theportable location tracker to receive position data for the portable locationtracker from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS); and c. turning on a short-range wireless transmitter of the portable locationtracker to transmit position data for the portable location tracker, via thenot trusted or associated mobile communications device, to a remote control and monitoring system / node.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a low power consuming location trackercomprising a receiver adapted to receive position data for the location tracker from a globalnavigation satellite system, a movement sensor such as an accelerometer, transmitter andreceiver, or transceiver, for short-range wireless communication and transmitter and receiver, or transceiver, for cellular radio communication.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a system comprising a control and monitoring system, e.g. a backend location tracker system, configured to communicate both withportable location trackers via a cellular radio communications network and with cellular mobilecommunications device via at least one of a wideband cellular radio communications network, a local wireless network and/ or the internet.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a method in a location tracker systemcomprising a control and monitoring system, portable location trackers and mobilecommunications devices, comprising: a. transmitting, from a short-range wireless transmitter of a portable locationtracker, a signal including a token or data identifying the portable locationtracker; b. obtaining sensor data from a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, of the portable location tracker, and, in response to at least one of not receiving any 27 response from any device within short-range wireless communication range andthe obtained sensor data: c. turning on a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver of the portablelocation tracker to receive position data for the portable location tracker from aglobal navigation satellite system; and d. turning on the cellular radio communications transmitter of the portable locationtracker to transmit the received position data to a remote control and monitoring system via a cellular radio communications network.
In embodiments, the above method in a location tracker system further comprises obtainingsensor data from a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, of the portable location tracker, and,in response to at least one of not receiving any response from any device within short-rangewireless communication range, e.g. over a certain period, and the obtained sensor data: turningon at least one of a cellular radio communications transmitter of the portable location trackerand at least one of a short-range wireless transmitter and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, or GPS receiver, of the portable location tracker.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a method in a location tracker systemcomprising a control and monitoring system, portable location trackers and mobilecommunications devices, comprising: turning on a short-range wireless receiver of a portable location tracker, b. transmitting, from a short-range wireless transmitter, a signal including a tokenor data identifying the portable location tracker; c. obtaining sensor data from a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, of theportable location tracker, and, in response to at least one of not receiving anyresponse from any device within short-range wireless communication rangeover a certain period and the obtained sensor data: d. turning on at least one ofa cellular radio communications transmitter, a short-range wireless transmitter and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver of the portable location tracker.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a method in a system comprising a controland monitoring system, portable location trackers and mobile communications devices,comprising: a. turning on a short-range wireless receiver of a portable tracker, wherein the receiver is configured to be listening for a short-range wireless response from a 28 mobile communications device within short-range wireless communicationrange, transmitting, from a short-range wireless transmitter of the portable locationtracker, signals, including a token or data identifying the portable locationtracker; obtaining sensor data from the movement sensor of the portable locationtracker, and, in response to at least one of not receiving any response from anymobile communications device within short-range wireless communicationrange, e.g. over a certain period, and the obtained sensor data: turning on at least one of a cellular radio communications transmitter of theportable location tracker and at least one of a short-range wireless transmitterand a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, or GPS receiver, of the portable location tracker.
In embodiments, the above signal transmitted from the short-range wireless transmitter of the portable location tracker also includes at least one of position data for the location tracker and movement status data for the portable location tracker which is based on sensor data detected by the movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, of the portable location tracker. In different embodiments, the signal transmitted from the short-range wireless transmitter of the portable location tracker may be a short-range wireless low-energy advertisement such as an iBeacon signal.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a low power consuming location tracker, comprising: a. a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver adapted to receive positiondata for the location tracker from a global navigation satellite system; a movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, adapted to detect the movements ofthe location tracker; a control system comprising a memory configured to store the received positiondata for the location tracker and the movement data detected by the movementsensor of the location tracker; a short-range wireless transmitter adapted to transmit data; a control system comprising a data processing unit and computer program codecontrol logics; a cellular radio communications transmitter for cellular radio communicationwith a remote control and monitoring system, e.g. a backend location tracker system; 29 g. a short-range wireless receiver adapted to wireless receive data from a mobilecommunications device within range for short-range communication, and h. a cellular radio communications transmitter and receiver adapted for cellularradio communication with a remote control and monitoring system via a cellular radio communications network.
In embodiments, the control system ofthe low power consuming location tracker may beconfigured to control so that the location tracker communicates with the remote control andmonitoring system via a cellular radio communications network when there is no mobilecommunications device available for short-range communication with the location tracker. Incertain embodiments, the location tracker may be configured to communicate with the remotecontrol and monitoring system via a cellular narrow band radio communications network whenthere is no mobile communications device available for short-range communication, e.g.
Bluetooth communication.
In embodiments, the short-range wireless transmitter of the low power consuming locationtracker is configured to frequently, e.g. at least 4 times every minute, transmit a signal, e.g. ashort-range wireless low-energy advertisement such as an iBeacon signal, including a token ordata identifying the location tracker and at least one of position data for the location tracker andmovement status data for the location tracker which is based on sensor data detected by themovement sensor. The short-range wireless receiver may then be configured to frequently, e.g.at least two times every minute, be turned on and be listening for a short-range wirelessresponse from a device, e.g. a mobile communications device, within short-range wireless communication range, e.g. within Bluetooth communication range.
In embodiments, the control system of the low power consuming location tracker is furtherconfigured to, upon expiration of a timer of the location tracker indicating that no short-rangewireless response was received for a certain period and/or in response to a token oridentification data in a received short-range wireless response, perform at least one of theactions of: a. turning on the cellular radio communications transmitter for transmitting atleast one of obtained position data and movement status data to the remotecontrol and monitoring system via the cellular radio communications network,and b. turning on at least one of the GNSS receiver to obtain the current position ofthe location tracker and the short-range wireless transmitter, and c. transmitting the current position of the location tracker to the remote controland monitoring system via a mobile communications device within short-range wireless communication range.
In embodiments, the control system ofthe low power consuming location tracker is configuredto, upon expiration of a timer of the location tracker indicating that no short-range wirelessresponse was received for a certain pre-defined period, perform the action of: a. transmitting the current position of the location tracker to the remote control and monitoring system via the cellular radio communications network.
In embodiments, the control system ofthe low power consuming location tracker is configuredto, upon expiration of a timer of the location tracker indicating that no short-range wirelessresponse was received for a certain pre-defined period, perform the action of: a. turning on the cellular radio communications transmitter of the location tracker, andb. transmitting the current position of the location tracker to the remote control and monitoring system via the cellular radio communications network.
In embodiments, the control system ofthe low power consuming location tracker is configuredto, upon expiration of a timer ofthe location tracker indicating that no short-range wirelessresponse was received for a certain period, perform the actions of:a. turning on the GNSS receiver of the location tracker to obtain the currentposition of the location tracker;b. turning on the cellular radio communications transmitter of the location tracker,andc. transmitting the obtained current position of the location tracker to the remote control and monitoring system via the cellular radio communications network.
In embodiments, the control system of the low power consuming location tracker is furtherconfigured to, upon expiration of a timer of the location tracker indicating that no short-rangewireless response was received for a certain period and/or in response to a token oridentification data in a received short-range wireless response, perform at least one of theactions of: a. turning on the cellular radio communications transmitter for transmitting at least one of obtained position data and movement status 31 data to the remote control and monitoring system via the cellular radiocommunications network, andb. turning on at least one ofthe GNSS receiver (to obtain the current position of the location tracker) and the short-range wireless transmitterand then transmitting the current position of the location tracker to theremote control and monitoring system via a mobile communications device within short-range wireless communication range.
In embodiments, the control system of the low power consuming location tracker is furtherconfigured to at least one ofturning on the cellular radio communications transmitter andturning on at least one ofthe short-range wireless transmitter and the GNSS receiver inresponse to at least one of not receiving any response from any device within short-range wireless communication range over a certain period, e.g. a pre-defined period.
In certain embodiments, the decision by the control system/unit to turn on the cellular radiocommunications transmitter and/or at least one of the short-range wireless transmitter and theGNSS receiver of the location tracker is at least partly based on obtained sensor data indicatingan acceleration beyond a certain threshold and / or indicating a certain changed movementpattern for the location tracker, where the obtained sensor data is based on sensor data detected by the movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer.
In embodiments, the decision by the control system/unit of the low power consuming locationtracker to turn on the cellular radio communications transmitters to transmit data to a remotecontrol and monitoring system/node and/or turn on at least one ofthe short-range wirelesstransmitter and the GNSS receiver is triggered upon expiration ofa timer of the location trackerand is at least partly based on a short-range wireless response from a mobile communicationsdevice, where a token or other identification data in the response is indicating that the responsewas not sent by a known mobile communications device trusted by, or associated with, the location tracker.
In embodiments, the control system/unit ofthe low power consuming location tracker is furtherconfigured to transmit data via a cellular radio communications transmitters or turn on at leastone of the short-range wireless transmitter and the GNSS receiver at least partly based on thereceiving ofa short-range wireless response from a mobile communications device, where atoken or other identification data in the response is indicating that the response was not sent by a known mobile communications device trusted by or associated with the location tracker. 32 In embodiments, the above low power consuming location tracker is further configured to sendat least one ofposition data and accelerometer to a remote control and monitoring system via anunknown and/or untrusted mobile communications device within short-range wireless communication range.
In embodiments, the control system of the low power consuming location tracker is configuredto obtain sensor data from its movement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, and change theoperations of the location tracker at least partly based on the obtained sensor data indicating atleast one of an acceleration beyond a certain threshold and a certain changed movement patternfor the location tracker. The change of operations may then include at least one of turning on atleast one transmitter or receiver in the location tracker and changing the frequency for howoften a transmitter or receiver in the location tracker is turned on. In embodiments, the controlsystem is configured to use the sensor data obtained from the movement sensor for makingdecisions whether to change how often at least one ofthe GNSS receiver, the cellular radiocommunications transmitter and the cellular radio communications transmitter of the location tracker is turned on.
In embodiments, the low power consuming location tracker is configured to receive status datafrom a mobile communications device via short-range wireless communication. The status datareceived from mobile communications device may then include data related to at least one ofpositioning data and movement data for the location tracker. The control system of the locationtracker may be configured to use the status data received from the mobile communicationsdevice for controlling the operations of the location tracker, e.g. turning on at least onetransmitter or receiver in the location tracker and/ or changing the frequency for how often a transmitter or receiver in the location tracker is turned on.
In embodiments, the short-range wireless receiver of the low power consuming location trackeris configured to receive, from a mobile communications device, data defining a future time slotand/or series of time cycles during which the cellular radio communications receiver is turnedon to receive data from a remote control and monitoring system, e.g. a backend system, via thecellular radio communications network. The control system may then be configured to turn onthe cellular radio communications receiver at the beginning of the time slot and/or series oftime cycles defined by the received data and turn off the cellular radio communications receiverafter the time slot and/or series of time cycles for receiving data from the remote control and monitoring system have lapsed. 33 In embodiments, the control system of the low power consuming location tracker is configuredto turn on its GNSS receiver between 1 and 10 times over a period of4 hours when the location tracker is in its most extreme battery conserving mode.
In embodiments, the low power consuming location tracker may be configured to be in anextremely low power state among a plurality of possible low power states. In certainembodiments and without first receiving data from a mobile communications device defining afuture time slot, the location tracker may then be configured to transmit at least one of positiondata and movement status data to a backend location tracker system via the cellular radiocommunications network. In certain specific embodiments, the location tracker may beconfigured to transmit at least one ofposition data and movement status data between 1 and 20times over a period of96 hours, e.g. the number oftransmissions over a certain period may be fixed so long as the location tracker is in an extremely low power state.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to an application program for execution in acellular mobile communications device being provided with short range wirelesscommunication capabilities and cellular radio communication capabilities, where the applicationprogram has computer program code portions adapted to control the mobile communicationsdevice to:i. communicate with location trackers via short-range wirelesscommunication, e.g. via Bluetooth; andii. communicate with a backend location tracker system via at least one ofa wideband cellular radio communications network, a wireless local network and / or the internet.
In certain embodiments, the cellular mobile communications may be configured to store, e.g. temporarily store data related to the position data associated with the location trackers.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a low power consuming location trackersystem comprising:a. at least one portable location tracker comprising a control system and amovement sensor, e.g. an accelerometer;b. a remote control and monitoring system, e.g. a backend location tracker system,configured to communicate both with the at least one portable location trackervia a cellular radio communications network and communicate with a cellular mobile communications device; 34 c. an application program for execution in a cellular mobile communications devicebeing provided with short range wireless communication capabilities and cellular radio communication capabilities.
The portable location trackers of the above low power consuming location tracker system maybe configured to at least one ofcommunicating with a remote control and monitoring system,e.g. a backend system, via a cellular radio communications network and communicating with a cellular mobile communications device via short-range wireless communication.
The remote control and monitoring system of the above low power consuming location trackersystem may be configured to at least one of communicating with the portable location trackervia a cellular radio communications network and communicating with a cellular mobilecommunications device via a cellular radio communications network. The remote control andmonitoring system may also be configured to store data related to the position data associated with a plurality of portable location trackers.
The application program may have computer program code portions adapted to control themobile communications device to at least one of communicating with portable location trackersvia short-range wireless communication and communicating with the remote control andmonitoring system via at least one of a wideband cellular radio communications network, awireless network and/ or the internet. These code portions may also be adapted to control themobile communications device to store data related to the position data associated with the portable location trackers.
In embodiments, the above low power consuming location tracker system may be configured tocontrol so that a portable location tracker and the remote control and monitoring systemcommunicate with each other via a cellular radio communications network when there is nomobile communications device available for short-range communication with the at least one portable location tracker.
In embodiments, the at least one portable location tracker and the remote control andmonitoring system of the above low power consuming location tracker system may beconfigured to communicate with each other via a cellular radio communications network whenthere is no mobile communications device available for short-range communication with the at least one portable location tracker.
In embodiments, the portable location tracker(s) and the remote control and monitoring system of the above low power consuming location tracker system may be configured to communicate with each other via a cellular narrow band radio communications network.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed relates to a low power consuming location tracker system, where the system comprises: a. a portable location tracker comprising a control system and a movement sensor,e.g. an accelerometer, the portable location tracker is configured to:i. communicate with a remote control and monitoring system, e.g. abackend system, via a cellular radio communications network;ii. communicate with a cellular mobile communications device viashort-range wireless communication, e.g. Bluetooth;a remote control and monitoring system, e.g. a backend location tracker system,configured to:i. communicate with the portable location tracker via a cellularradio communications network;ii. communicate with a cellular mobile communications device via atleast one of a wideband cellular radio communications network, awireless local network and / or the internet; andiii. storing data related to the position data associated with theportable location tracker;an application program for execution in a cellular mobile communications devicebeing provided with short range wireless communication capabilities andcellular radio communication capabilities, the application program havingcomputer program code portions adapted to control the mobile communicationsdevice to:i. communicate with the portable location tracker via short-rangewireless communication; andii. communicate with the backend location tracker system via a cellular radio communications network, and The mobile communications device comprising the application program may then be configured to store data related to the position data associated with the portable location tracker.
In embodiments, the portable location tracker(s) and the remote control and monitoring system of the above low power consuming location tracker system are configured to communicate with each other via a cellular narrow band radio communications network. 36 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of a location tracker system according to the technology disclosed will be described more in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 illustrates a location tracking system according to embodiments of the technology disclosed.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example location tracking system and communication interfaces according to embodiments ofthe technology disclosed.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example location tracking system and communication interfaces according to embodiments ofthe technology disclosed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawings, similar details are denoted with the same reference number throughout thedifferent embodiments. In the various embodiments of the location tracker system according tothe technology disclosed, the different subsystems are denoted. The "boxes"/subsystems shownin the drawings are by way of example only and can within the scope of the technology disclosed be arranged in any other way or combination.
In the drawings, similar details are denoted with the same reference number throughout thedifferent embodiments.
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that allows data to be exchangedbetween fixed and mobile devices. The technology uses short wavelength radio waves from 2.4to 2.485 GHz. Unlike other forms of connectivity such as wi-fi or 4G, Bluetooth carriesconnections between devices and other devices as opposed to carrying data to and from the internet.
BLE stands for Bluetooth Low Energy and is a form of wireless communication designed especially for short-range communication. BLE is very similar to Wi-Fi in the sense that it allowsdevices to communicate with each other. However, BLE is meant for situations where battery lifeis preferred over high data transfer speeds. The amount of data you need to transfer to a visitor's smartphone is extremely small, hence BLE compatible beacons do the job quickly without 37 draining the battery. Most mobile communications device of today are BLE compatible, which means they can seamlessly communicate with Bluetooth enabled location trackers.
BLE data transfer is essentially a one-way communication. A BLE beacon trying to communicatewith a smartphone in close proximity transmits Bluetooth Low Energy beacon broadcastspackets of data at regular intervals of time. These data packets are detected by app / pre-installedservices on smartphones nearby. This BLE communication may trigger actions such as, pushing a message or promoting a mobile application (APP).
Bluetooth beacons are hardware transmitters - a class of Bluetooth low energy (LE) devices thatbroadcast their identifier to nearby portable electronic devices. The technologyenables smartphones, tablets and other devices to perform actions when in close proximity to a beacon.
Bluetooth beacons use Bluetooth low energy proximity sensing to transmit a universally uniqueidentifier picked up by a compatible mobile application (APP) or operating system. The identifierand several bytes sent with it can be used to determine the device's physical location, trackcustomers, or trigger a location-based action on the device such as a check-in on social media or a push notification.
Examples of Bluetooth beacons for BLE data transfer used as the short-range transmission, orcommunication, according to example embodiments ofthe technology disclosed may include fast beacon detection for Androids and iBeacon technology. Due to typically use cases orapplications for these types of BLE transmissions, the BLE data transfer or transmission mayalso be referred to as a short-range wireless low energy advertisement transmission sending out a short-range wireless low energy advertisement signal. iBeacon-compatible hardware transmitters, typically called beacons, are a class of Bluetooth lowenergy (BLE) devices that broadcast their identifier to nearby portable electronic devices. Thetechnology enables smartphones, tablets and other devices to perform actions when in close proximity to an iBeacon. iBeacon is based on Bluetooth low energy proximity sensing by transmitting a universallyunique identifier picked up by a compatible app or operating system. The identifier and severalbytes sent with it can be used to determine the device's physical location, track customers, or trigger a location-based action on the device.
The frequency of the iBeacon transmissions depends on the configuration of the iBeacon and canbe altered using device specific methods. Both the rate and the transmit power have an effect on the iBeacon battery life. 38 A low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) or low-power wide-area (LPWA) network or low-power network (LPN) is a type of wireless telecommunication wide area network designed toallow long range communications at a low bit rate among things (connected objects), such assensors operated on a battery. The low power, low bit rate and intended use distinguish thistype of network from a wireless WAN that is designed to connect users or businesses, and carry more data, using more power.
Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) is a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) radiotechnology standard developed by BGPP to enable a wide range of cellular devices and services.NB-IoT focuses specifically on indoor coverage, low cost, long battery life, and high connection density.
SigFox is a narrowband (or ultra-narrowband) technology. It uses a standard radio transmissionmethod called binary phase-shift keying (BPSK), and it takes very narrow chunks of spectrumand changes the phase of the carrier radio wave to encode the data. This allows the receiver toonly listen in a tiny slice of spectrum, which mitigates the effect of noise. It requires an inexpensive endpoint radio and a more sophisticated base station to manage the network.
SigFox communication tends to be better ifit's headed up from the endpoint to the base station.It has bidirectional functionality, but its capacity going from the base station back to theendpoint is constrained, and you'll have less link budget going down than going up. This is because the receiver sensitivity on the endpoint is not as good as on the expensive base station.
LoRa (Long Range) is a digital wireless data communication technology. LoRa uses license-freesub-gigahertz radio frequencyy bands like 169 MHz, 433 MHz, 868 MHz (Europe) and 915 MHz(North America). LoRa enables very-long-range transmissions (more than 10 km in rural areas)with low power consumption. The technology is presented in two parts - LoRa, the physical layerr and LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network), the upper layers.
LoRaWAN looks at a wider amount of spectrum than SigFox (and thus gets more interference).However, because it's looking for a very specific type of communication, the elevate noise due toa larger receiver bandwidth is mitigated by the coding gains. Practical link budgets are about the same for SigFox and LoRaWAN.
Unlike SigFox, both the endpoint and the basestation are relatively inexpensive with LoRa- enabled devices. This is primarily because you can use the same radio for a receiver on the 39 basestation and at the endpoint. While the LoRaWAN base station tends to be more expensive than the endpoint, it's inexpensive in comparison to a SigFox base station.
LoRa and LoRaWAN permit inexpensive, long-range connectivity for Internet of Things (IoT)devices in rural, remote and offshore industries. They are typically used in mining, naturalresource management, renewable energy, transcontinental logistics, and supply chain management.
Geofencing is a technology that defines a virtual boundary around a real-world geographicalarea. In doing so, a radius ofinterest is established that can trigger an action in a geo-enabledphone or other portable electronic device. The term "geofencing" refers to a technology that usesGPS coordinates or RFID signals to draw a virtual boundary in space and to trigger certainactions on the basis of this boundary. This virtual border is called a geofence, which is aportmanteau word made up of geographic and fence. The actions that are triggered by the userwhen a geofence is crossed can result in the sending ofpush messages, emails, SMS or in more complex applications, which sometimes include programming instructions.
Both objects and persons can be located within a geofence. Ifa receiver device such as asmartphone or a microchip in a car is within the range ofa predefined geofence, subsequentactions are triggered by the exchange of signals between the receiver and the transmitter. Thereceiver receives a message, for example, that special offers are submitted to him or that the car with the microchip is not allowed to cross the national boundaries.
Geofencing is technically based on a GPS system, but can also be implemented using RFID chipsand MZM communication. It is commonly assumed that geofencing will be an importanttechnology for the Internet ofThings. The technology is already being used in mobile marketing.Geofencing is used in a wide variety of areas to manage administrative tasks, supplementmarketing, or to check security-relevant aspects. In principle, such systems work like positioningand navigation systems. The difference is in the boundary coordinates, which enclose a specificarea in the shape ofa rectangle or circle and function as a geofilter. This virtual positioning isknown from vehicle location by GPS. By distinguishing between the inside and the outside of aprecisely defined area, it is possible to trigger actions on entering or exiting from this defined aI'ea.
An accelerometer, is a device that measures proper acceleration. Proper acceleration, beingthe acceleration (or rate of change of velocity) of a body in its own instantaneous rest frame, is not the same as coordinate acceleration, being the acceleration in a fixed coordinate system.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the accelerometer has been used in the past as anenergy conservation tool, reducing the number of transmissions when the location tracker is notmoving. What is not shown in the prior art is a location tracker that will factor the accelerometerstate into the decision ofwhether to perform any ofthe battery power consuming actions ofturning on its GPS receiver to receive its position data and/or turn on at least one ofits cellularradio communications transmitter and its short-range wireless transmitter to transmit a signalincluding position data for the location tracker. Imagine a case where the location tracker is inan extremely low power consuming state because it believes not to be within short-rangewireless communication range with a mobile communications device that is trusted by orassociated with the location tracker, and a token or data in a short-range wireless responsereceived by the location tracker identifies a mobile communications device within short-rangecommunication range with the location tracker which is not associated with or trusted by thelocation tracker. If the accelerometer of the location tracker then shows certain movement, e.g.shows an acceleration beyond a certain threshold and/or a certain changed movement patternfor the location tracker, the control system / unit of the location tracker may be configured todecide that the location tracker needs to turn on its GPS receiver to take its position and/or turnon its cellular radio communications transmitter to transmit data identifying the untrustedmobile communications device to a remote control and monitoring system, e.g. a backend location tracker system.
According to certain aspects of the technology disclosed, the remote control and monitoringsystem may then notify, in response to the received data identifying the untrusted mobilecommunications device, the mobile application program (APP) or the operating system ofamobile communications device trusted by, or associated with, the portable location tracker, e.g.via a radio communications network. The remote control and monitoring system may thusnotify the trusted mobile communications device in response to receiving a message from thelocation tracker. In different embodiments, the notification may include at least one ofinformation or data about the movement status, e.g. accelerometer data and/or position data, forthe portable location tracker, and information or data about an unknown and/ or untrustedmobile communications device from which the portable location tracker received a short-rangewireless response. The notified mobile communications device which is trusted by, orassociated with, the portable location tracker is then a different mobile communications devicefrom the unknown and/or untrusted mobile communications device relaying the message from the portable location tracker to the remote control and monitoring system.
A portable location tracker device may rely on a power source, such as a battery, in order to function. Once the battery is depleted, the portable location tracker may cease to operate until 41 the battery is recharged or replaced. In embodiments ofthe technology disclosed and in order topreserve battery power, the portable location tracker may periodically enter into batteryconservation mode, which may include a sleep mode, a Power Save Mode (PSM), etc. Sincelocation services and other types ofnetwork services often require a significant amount ofpower, a battery conservation mode may be directed at limiting communications between theportable location tracker and external networks (as opposed to, for example, processes that are completely internal to the IoT device).
As mentioned in the background part, the portable location trackers and systems of today areconsuming too much energy and are not optimised for any ofthe use cases, or combination ofuse cases, when the object-to-track (i) is often changing its position, (ii) have no access toexternal power, (iii) require a small tracker and (iv) cannot bear a too high cost for the tracking.The problem will be partly addressed by the introduction of new cellular narrow band radiotechniques (like NB-IoT, SigFox or LoRa), but well-defined methods and/or capabilities in theform of e.g. communication capabilities and movement sensors, for further optimisation of the four areas defined above is needed.
Some of the location trackers known in the art require to be within short-range communicationrange with a known/trusted or associated user device, e.g. a mobile communications device, toperiodically report their current positions. However, these location trackers are not adapted forsituations or use cases when the location tracker often is not within short-range communicationrange with a known/trusted or associated mobile communications device but is only withinshort-range communication range with an unknown or untrusted user device. In thesesituations, or use cases, the monitoring ofthe movements ofthe portable location tracker, e.g.the knowledge about the current location and/ or a changed movement pattern for the portablelocation tracker, may still be of high importance to the owner of the location tracker and/ or auser ofa known/trusted user device, e.g. in situations or use cases where the movements ormovement pattern of the object to which a portable location tracker is attached is important tothe owner ofthe portable location tracker and/or user of a known/trusted or associated user device.
The location tracker system and portable location trackers of the technology disclosed takeadvantage of both mobile communications devices with their positioning skills andcommunication capabilities and a remote control and monitoring system, e.g. a backend system,for making decisions. The bidirectional communication between the mobile communicationsdevice and the tracker allows the tracker to receive messages to make the tracker aware of its own status and the mobile communications device it is communicating with. Similarly, the 42 tracker of the technology disclosed may also be configured to communicate directly with aremote control and monitoring system the network via cellular radio communications network.The technology disclosed enables the owner of the tracker and the remote control andmonitoring system to communicate with the tracker also when the tracker is outside short-range wireless communication range with a mobile communication device. In this way, thetracker may use the remote control and monitoring system as an intermediate hub, or middleman, for conveying information about the status of the tracker to the owner of the tracker, e.g.by providing position data and movement status data that is presented on a mobile app and/orthe display of the owner's mobile communications device. The identity of the tracker may belinked to its owner's mobile communications device in a database of the remote control andmonitoring system, which enables that the owner of the tracker is provided with informationabout the status and positioning ofthe tracker also when the tracker is outside short-rangewireless communication range with a mobile communication device. The above capabilitiesmake the system and portable location tracker of the technology disclosed not only optimizedfor different use cases, but also more power effective and reliable than state of the art trackers relying on just one ofthese systems separately.
In other words, the technology disclosed describes methods, capabilities and a combination ofmodes ofcommunication, which are adapted for providing optimized and faster responses anddecisions yet consuming little battery life for the trackers. In conclusion, the system and portablelocation trackers ofthe technology disclosed becomes much more useful for different applications on less battery power.
In spite of being in its deepest sleep mode or an extremely low power state, the tracker willalways be communicable in that it will have a communicate interface both with a mobilecommunications device within short-range communication, e.g. Bluetooth range, and directly viaa cellular radio communications network to the remote control and monitoring system/node,e.g. via a cellular narrowband radio communications network using low power cellularnarrowband radio techniques like NB-IoT, SigFox or LoRa. The location tracker system of thetechnology disclosed thereby provides a low power-consuming solution that in addition isreliable and robust in that the remote control and monitoring system may always communicatewith the trackers and convey information such as position and movement status data between the trackers and their respective owners.
Even though cellular narrowband radio techniques like NB-IoT, SigFox or LoRa were developedfor low power applications, it is still more power consuming to communicate using these cellularnarrowband radio techniques than via short-range wireless communication like Bluetooth low energy (BLE) proximity sensing. The system and location tracker of the technology disclosed are 43 configured to uses the cellular radio communication interface as rarely as possible. However,introducing the capabilities of cellular radio communication into the tracker makes sure that thetracker is never invisible to the remote control and monitoring system. The second most powerconsuming way for the tracker to find out its position is with the built-in GNSS/GPS receiver.Therefore, the tracker of the technology disclosed always tries to get its position from anexternal source as often as possible and if there is no movement or acceleration detected bymovements sensor, e.g. accelerometer, of the tracker, the remote control and monitoring systemand / or control system of the tracker assesses that it is unlikely that the tracker has a new position or has changed its movement pattern.
Bringing a lifetime through short-range wireless communication like Bluetooth low energy(BLE) proximity sensing is not as power/battery consuming, why the tracker ofthe technologydisclosed uses short-range wireless communication like BLE far more often than the tracker isusing its cellular radio communications capabilities or its built-in GNSS /GPS receiver to take itsposition. According to technology disclosed, a mobile communications device within short-rangewireless range may capture a signal from the tracker by identifying the universally uniqueidentifier (UID) of the tracker and the notify the remote control and monitoring system that ithas recognized the tracker. In the notification to remote control and monitoring system, themobile communications device may also include position and/or status data for the tracker. Themobile communications devices will also send a response signal back to the tracker so that thecontrol system of the tracker is aware of that there has been a mobile communications devicethat captured the short-range wireless communications signal. All in all, these increase thesystem and the tracker's own awareness of the status of the tracker and its environment. Thelocation tracker system and the control system of the trackers of the technology disclosed takeadvantage of this awareness in providing a solution that is extremely low power-consuming andfast solution in that the tracker most ofthe time is using the communication and positioningcapabilities of a mobile communications device within short-range wireless communicationrange for providing the remote control and monitoring system with information about theposition and status ofthe tracker. The positioning capabilities ofthe mobile communicationsdevice to take its position, and the position ofa nearby tracker, may include a GNSS/GPSreceiver and/or cellular-based positioning technology. The location tracker system is robust andreliable also when the trackers are outside short-range communication range by providing thetrackers themselves with cellular radio communications capabilities and a built-in GNSS / GPS receiver to take its own position.
Using iBeacon as the short-range wireless communication technology used in connection with the technology disclosed puts a limit on how much data you can send so the nature of the use 44 case and the requirements on battery consumption may decide what information in addition tothe beyond the MAC address and the universally unique identifier (UID) that is included in theiBeacon signal, e.g. whether position data (e.g. input from the tracker's GPS receiver) andmovement sensor data (e.g. input from the tracker's accelerometer) are included in the iBeacon signal.
The short-range wireless transmitter of the location tracker of the technology disclosed mayperiodically or frequently, e.g. at least 4 times every minute, transmit a signal, e.g. a short-rangewireless low energy advertisement signal, including a token or data identifying the locationtracker. The short-range wireless low energy advertisement signal, e.g. an iBeacon signal, may inaddition comprise at least one ofposition data and movement status data for the locationtracker where the movement status data is based on sensor data detected by a movement sensor of the location tracker, e.g. an accelerometer.
The short-range wireless receiver of the location tracker of the technology disclosed may thenbe periodically or frequently be turned on to be listening for a short-range wireless responsefrom a user device, e.g. a mobile communications device, within short-range wirelesscommunication range. A token or other identification data in a received in a short-range wirelessresponse may indicate whether a short-range wireless response was sent from a mobilecommunications device trusted by, or associated with, the location tracker or whether the short-range wireless response was sent from a mobile communications device not associated with the location tracker, e.g. an unknown or untrusted mobile communications device.
The control system of the location tracker according to the technology disclosed may beconfigured to at least one of turn on he cellular radio communications transmitter and at leastone of the short-range wireless transmitter and the GNSS receiver in response to a combinationofthe expiration of a timer of the location indicating that no short-range wireless response fromany mobile communications device was received over a certain period oftime, e.g. a pre-determined period, and the obtaining of sensor data, e.g. sensor data indicating an accelerationbeyond a certain threshold and/or indicating a certain changed movement pattern for thelocation tracker. The obtained sensor data may then be sensor data detected by the movementsensor ofthe location tracker, e.g. an accelerometer. The input from the movement sensor basedon sensor data indicating an acceleration beyond a certain threshold value and/or a certainchanged movement pattern for the location tracker may then trigger the control system to turn on the cellular radio communications transmitter.
The control system of the location tracker according to the technology disclosed may beconfigured to at least one of turn on the cellular radio communications transmitter and turn ofthe GNSS receiver in response to at least one of, or a combination of, not receiving any responsefrom any device, e.g. a mobile communications device, within short-range wirelesscommunication range over a certain period of the, e.g. a pre-determined period, and theobtaining of sensor data, e.g. sensor data indicating an acceleration beyond a certain thresholdand/or indicating a certain changed movement pattern for the location tracker, where theobtained sensor data is based on sensor data detected by a movement sensor ofthe location tracker, e.g. an accelerometer.
The control system of the location tracker according to the technology disclosed may beconfigured to at least one of turn on the cellular radio communications transmitter and at leastone of the short-range wireless transmitter and the GNSS receiver in response to a combinationofthe expiration of a timer of the location indicating that no short-range wireless response fromany trusted or known / friendly mobile communications device was received over a certainperiod of time, e.g. a pre-determined period, and the obtaining ofsensor data, e.g. sensor dataindicating an acceleration beyond a certain threshold and/ or indicating a certain changedmovement pattern for the location tracker. The obtained sensor data may then be sensor datadetected by the movement sensor ofthe location tracker, e.g. an accelerometer. The input fromthe movement sensor based on sensor data indicating an acceleration beyond a certainthreshold value and/ or a certain changed movement pattern for the location tracker may thentrigger the control system to turn on the cellular radio communications transmitter. In thisembodiment, the location tracker may receive short-range wireless response(s) from anuntrusted or unauthorized user device, e.g. an untrusted or unauthorized mobile communications device during the pre-determined period.
The control system of the location tracker according to the technology disclosed may beconfigured to turn on the cellular radio communications transmitter and/or turn on of at leastone of the short-range wireless transmitter and the GNSS receiver at least partly based on thereceiving ofa short-range wireless response from a mobile communications device, where atoken or other identification data in the response is indicating that the response was not sent bya mobile communications device trusted by, or associated with, the location tracker. Thelocation tracker may then send at least one of position data and movement sensor data to aremote control and monitoring system via an unknown and/or untrusted mobile communications device within short-range wireless communication range. 46 The control system of the location tracker according to certain embodiments of the technologydisclosed may be configured to obtain sensor data from a movement sensor of the locationtracker, e.g. in form of an accelerometer. A change of mode or state for the location tracker maythen be at least partly based on the obtained sensor data indicating at least one of anacceleration beyond a certain threshold and a certain changed movement pattern for thelocation tracker. The changed mode or state of the location tracker may then include at least oneof the actions of turning on at least one transmitter and/or receiver of the location tracker andchanging the frequency for how often a transmitter and/ or receiver in the location tracker is turned on.
The control system may be configured to use sensor data obtained from the movement sensorfor making decisions whether to change how often at least one of the GNSS receiver, the cellularradio communications transmitter and the cellular radio communications transmitter is turned On.
In embodiments, the location tracker is configured to be in two-way short-range communicationwith a mobile communications device to receive instruction data and/or status data via short-range wireless communication. The control system may then be further configured to use theinstruction data and/or status data received from the mobile communications device forcontrolling the operations of the location tracker, e.g. for changing the mode or state of thelocation tracker. As an example, the control system may be configured to use instructions orstatus data received from the mobile communications device for making decisions whether tochange how often at least one of the GNSS receiver, the cellular radio communicationstransmitter and the cellular radio communications transmitter is turned on. The status data maythen include data related to at least one ofposition data for the location tracker and movementstatus data for the location tracker, e.g. indicating a changed movement pattern for the location tracker.
The location tracker according to certain embodiments of the technology disclosed may beconfigured to perform two-way communication with a remote control and monitoring system inform of a backend location tracker system via a cellular radio communications network when there is no mobile communications device available for short-range communication.In embodiments, the location tracker of the technology disclosed may be configured to receive,via short-range communication with a mobile communications device, data defining a future time slot and/or series oftime cycles during which the cellular radio communications receiver of 47 the location tracker is turned on to receive data from a backend location tracker system via acellular radio communications network, e.g. such as a cellular narrowband radiocommunications network using low power cellular narrowband radio techniques like NB-IoT,SigFox or LoRa. In certain embodiments, the control system is configured to turn on the cellularradio communications receiver at the beginning ofthe time slot and/or series oftime cyclesdefined by the received data and turn off the cellular radio communications receiver after thetime slot and/or series oftime cycles for receiving data from the remote control and monitoring system has lapsed.
In certain embodiments ofthe technology disclosed and when the location tracker is in anextremely low power state among a plurality of possible low power states, the control systemmay be configured to increase the frequency ofhow often the G NSS receiver is turned on and isactive in receiving position data from the global navigation satellite system. The decision by thecontrol system to increase the frequency may then be at least partly based on the movements ofthe location tracker detected by the movement sensor. The location tracker then enters another low power state which is less battery conserving than the extremely low power state.
In certain embodiments and when the location tracker is in an extremely low power state,among a plurality ofpossible low power states, the short-range wireless transmitter may beconfigured to wirelessly transmit data between 1 and 40 times over a time period of 10 seconds.At least one of the transmissions over the time period of 10 seconds may then include at least one of position data and movements status data for the location tracker.
In certain applications and when the location tracker is in an extremely low power state, amonga plurality of possible low power states, the control system may be configured to turn on theGNSS receiver to take the location tracker's current position at an interval which is less than four times over a time period of4 hours.
In certain applications and when the location tracker is in an extremely low power state, amonga plurality of possible low power states, the control system may be configured to turn on theGNSS receiver to take the location tracker's current position at an interval which is less than three times over a time period of48 hours.
In certain applications and when the location tracker is in an extremely low power state, amonga plurality of possible low power states, and without first receiving from a mobile communications device data defining a future time slot, the location tracker may be configured 48 to transmit at least one of position data and movement status data for the location tracker to aremote control and monitoring system, e.g. a backend location tracker system, via the cellularradio communications network. In embodiments, the cellular radio communication transmitterof the location tracker may be configured to transmit at least one of position data and movementstatus data to the remote control and monitoring system at an interval between 1 and 20 times over a time period of96 hours.
FIG. 1 illustrates a location tracking system 101 according to embodiments of the technologydisclosed. The location tracking system 101 in FIG. 1 comprises a portable location tracker 102,a mobile communications device 103, a frontend system 106 and a backend system 104. Themobile communications device 103 comprises at least one mobile application (AFP) which maybe activated by the user and may relate to at least one use case 107a, 107b, 107c, or application, among a plurality of applications 107 handled by the backend system 104.
The unique identity of the portable location tracker 102 may be linked to the unique identity ofthe mobile communications device 103. The backend system 104 comprises a database 105 inwhich the unique identity, e.g. a unique identifier or UID, of each of a plurality ofportablelocation trackers is linked to, or associated with, at least one unique identity, or UID, of a trusted or known mobile communications device.
A number of applications and/or use cases 107a, 107b, 107c, corresponding to the applicationsand use cases run by the mobile application (AFP) of the mobile communications device, arehandled by the backend system. The thick arrow 108 in FIG. 1 illustrates that an associationbetween a portable location tracker 102 and a (trusted) mobile communications device 103 maybe registered in the database 105 of the backend system 104. The thick arrow 108 alsoillustrates that position data and/ or movement status data, e.g. the movement pattern, for eachof the portable location tracker 102 may be stored and updated in the database 105 ofthebackend system 104.
Once the user has registered an account, the application (AFP) in the mobile communicationsdevice 103 is connected to the user and is then also used for communicating with the user aboutthe current positioning, whereabouts and statuses of the portable location tracker 102. This isregarded the frontend system/ solution 106 of the location tracker system 101. The onlinepurchasing (web shop) and the company web page may be loosely connected to the backend system 104 whereas the adminweb and the end user account page, which gives similar 49 information as the mobile applications, is more integrated but nevertheless regarded as the frontend system 106.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example location tracking system and communication interfaces accordingto embodiments ofthe technology disclosed. The portable location tracker 202 according toembodiments of the technology disclosed, and which is illustrated in FIG.2, is configured to useshort-range wireless communication 208 for communicating with a mobile communicationsdevice 203 and use cellular radio communication 209 for communicating with a remote controland monitoring system 204, i.e. the backend system 204. The portable location tracker 202 inFIG. 2 continuously receives its current position from a satellite 210 of a global navigationsatellite system 211. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the portable location tracker 202 iscommunicating with the remote control and monitoring system 204 via a base station 212 ofanarrowband radio communications network 213 and the mobile communications device 202 iscommunicating with the remote control and monitoring system 204 via a base station 214 ofa wideband radio communications network 215 and/or the internet 216.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example location tracking system and communication interfaces accordingto embodiments ofthe technology disclosed. The portable location tracker 302 according toembodiments of the technology disclosed, and which is illustrated in FIG.3, is configured to useboth short-range wireless communication 308 for communicating with a plurality ofmobilecommunications devices 303 and cellular radio communication 317 with the base stations 318 of a cellular radio network 319, e.g. a narrowband radio communications network 319.
The backend system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is configured to communicate both with the mobilecommunications device and the portable location tracker. The backend system, or remotecontrol and monitoring system, typically comprises a database in which the unique identity, e.g.a unique identifier or UID, of each of a plurality of portable location trackers is linked to, orassociated with, at least one unique identity, or UID, of a trusted or known mobilecommunications device. The backend system including the database may also be configured toreceive position data from at least one of the mobile communications devices and the portablelocation trackers to store and update position information, e.g. positions obtained from a GPS orvia cellular triangulation, for each of a plurality of portable location trackers registered in thedatabase. The backend system and its database may thus be configured to store and update thetracker's physical location, but may also be configured to trigger an action on the mobilecommunications devices via push notifications. In embodiments, the remote control and monitoring system, or backend system, is configured to receive a message comprising at least one of position data and movement status data for the portable location tracker and, in responseto receiving the at least one of position data and movement status data for the portable locationtracker, notifying a mobile application ofa mobile communications device. This notification maybe a push notification and may or may not trigger and action on the mobile communicationsdevice such as presenting display data, e.g. in the mobile application (APP) of the mobilecommunications device. The action on the mobile communication device may be handled by themobile application program (APP) or the operating system of the mobile communicationsdevice. The mobile application program (APP) of the mobile communications device accordingto the technology disclosed may be configured to receive a notification, e.g. a push notification ormessage, from the remote control and monitoring system, or backend system, and may furtherbe configured to perform certain tasks or actions, e.g. presenting or changing display data, in response to receiving the notification from the remote control and monitoring system.
The location tracker system and methods of the technology disclosed define how the backendsystem, the mobile communications device and portable location trackers are interworking andcommunicating to optimize the power consumption for a specific use case. The centralizedbackend system, or remote control and monitoring system, will frequently collect data from theportable location trackers and the physical components and perform calculations and logicaldecisions, presenting it to the users through the mobile application (APP). In embodiments, thebackend system/solution may be configured to optimize and control the performance of theportable location trackers (and/ or the mobile communications devices) and calibrate the stateand parameters for these devices so that the short-range wireless communication and cellularcommunication capabilities of these devices run in an optimized way in relation to each other.As an example, the power consumption of the individual portable location trackers may beoptimized by the backend system in that the physical components in the portable locationtrackers may also be controlled by the parameter settings. In embodiments, a change of the stateor in the parameter settings for a portable location tracker may be triggered by control datatransmitted from the backend system to the portable location tracker, e.g. via a mobilecommunication device the portable location tracker is currently in short-range wireless communication with.
In embodiments, the portable location tracker shown in FIGS. 1 may be configured tocommunicate via Bluetooth using Beacon advertisement service, in both connected and notconnected mode, to a nearby smartphone (IoS or Android). As mentioned above, the Beacon is based on Bluetooth low energy (BLE) proximity sensing by letting the tracker transmitting a universally unique identifier, a UID, picked up by the mobile application (APP) or the smartphone's operating system.
In certain embodiments of the technology disclosed, the tracker may use two methods to communicate its data to the internet: 1. Transmit data using a Beacon Advertising to a nearby smartphone (IoS or Android). TheBeacon Advertising is based on Bluetooth low energy (BLE) proximity sensing by lettingthe tracker transmitting a universally unique identifier, a UID, picked up by the mobileapplication (APP) or the smartphone's operating system. Advertisement request will beused by the mobile application (APP) to catch responses (that includes certain payload,e.g. a token to identify the tracker) on from the short-range advertisement messagesent.At some occasions, e.g. at registration, more data may temporarily be transmittedfrom the mobile phone/backend- Bluetooth connect will then be used for that specificuse case. 2. Via Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT). This is a Low Power radio technology standard developedby 3GPP. NB-IoT focuses specifically on improved coverage, low cost, long battery life,and high connection density. NB-IoT uses a subset of the LTE standard but limits the bandwidth to a single narrow-band of 200kHz.
It is envisioned that the mobile application (APP) of the technology disclosed will be widelyinstalled. Therefore, all mobile phones with the APP installed, whether it is running or not orwhether is registered to a user, may act as receivers of the Advertisement Beacons (short-rangeadvertisement messages) and hence be nodes in a distributed and meshed network. The trackerwill be most power efficient when it is communicating over BLE Advertisement and via a smartphone, so this method will play a vital role in the low power consumption strategy.
In certain embodiment and situations when it is not possible to communicate over BLE and via asmartphone, the technology disclosed will use the NB-IoT technology. This technology is themost power effective cellular communication technology with global coverage. In contrast, theshort-range wireless communication/transmission according to the technology disclosed doesnot have global coverage but rather a short-range communication range comparable with the communication range of Bluetooth technology.
The mobile application (APP) typically needs to be installed and registered on the users' mobilephones and is using the GPS and Radio (Bluetooth and cellular radio) functionality of the mobile phone. All mobile phones with the APP installed, whether it is running or not or whether it is registered to a user, will act as receivers of the short-range wireless transmissions, e.g.Advertisement Beacons, and hence be nodes in a distributed and meshed network. The mobileapplication (APP) may therefore function as an extension of the backend system/ solution andthe data and functionality ofthe mobile phone may be used as input and information used by the backend system.
In embodiments, the portable location tracker uses Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT). This is a LowPower radio technology standard developed by 3GPP. NB-IoT focuses specifically on improvedcoverage, low cost, long battery life, and high connection density. NB-IoT uses a subset of the LTE standard but limits the bandwidth to a single narrow-band of 200kHz.
In specific embodiments, saving public data in a public distributed ledger will be valuable forassurance issues and other cases where full transparency and untampered data is needed. Itcould be considered to use a private chain for non-public and high speed/low latency transactions.
In example embodiments of the technology disclosed, the location tracker system illustrated inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 may be built on a number of distributed physical components and functions. Thecomponents defined below may then be implemented over time, in different stages: 1) Two (2) physical GNSS receivers, i.e. (i) one GNSS in the tracker and (ii) one GNSS in acellular mobile phone with the mobile application (APP) installed 2) One (1) physical CPU/Memory Areas, in the tracker. 3) Two (2) physical short-range wireless radios, e.g. Bluetooth Radiotransmitters/receivers, i.e. (i) one Bluetooth TX/ RX in the tracker and (ii) one BluetoothTX/RX in a cellular mobile phone - with the mobile application (APP) installed - close tothe user. 4) Two (2) physical cellular radio Radios, i.e. (i) one Radio RX/TX in the tracker and (ii) oneRadio RX/TX in a cellular mobile phone - with the mobile application ofinstalled - oftheuser.
) One (1) physical accelerometers in the tracker 6) One (1) cloud-based frontend solution including Android apps, IoS apps, companywebpage, web shop, admin web, etc 7) One (1) cloud based centralized backend solution, with centralized databases 8) Two (2) decentralized ledgers for storing ofdata, i.e. one public ledger, e.g. Ethereumand one private ledger, e.g. Hyperledger.
The location tracker system and methods of the technology disclosed define how the above listed components and functions are interworking and communicating to optimize the power consumption for a specific use case. The centralized backend system/ solution, or remote controland monitoring system, will frequently collect data from the tracker and the physicalcomponents and perform calculations and logical decisions, presenting it to the users throughfrontend components. The backend system/ solution may further be configured to optimize andcontrol the performance of the components and calibrate the parameters so that thecomponents run in an optimized way in relation to each other. By this, the overall systemperformance and the power consumption will be optimized. The physical components in the tracker may also be controlled by the parameter settings.
The backend system is controlling and interacting with the entire system including the trackers,the mobile applications on the users' mobile phones and with the frontend applications that, for example, handle online purchasing (web shop), the company web page and the admin web page.
The portable location tracker is a physical device and is linked in the database of the backendsystem to a user. A user can be allocated, linked or associated with one or more trackers and theuser may "distribute" a tracker to other users. In embodiments, the location trackers are visibleto all users who are entitled to view them, but typically only the registered user of a tracker isauthorized to change the settings and parameters for the location tracker. The registered usermay also grant other trusted party access to change certain settings in the tracker. Inembodiments, the parameters that control the behaviour of the tracker and software of the trackers may be update over Bluetooth and/or Cellular Radio.
Once the user has registered an account, the application (APP) in the mobile phone is connectedto the user and is then also used for communicating with the user about the whereabouts andstatuses of the trackers. This is regarded the frontend system / solution of the location trackersystem. The online purchasing (web shop) and the company web page may be loosely connectedto the backend system whereas the adminweb and the end user account page, that gives similar info as the mobile applications, is more integrated but nevertheless regarded as the frontend.
The functions and logic of the portable location tracker of the technology disclosed typicallycomprise a CPU, accelerometer, position (GNSS), radio#1 (short-range wireless radio, e.g.Bluetooth) and radio#2 (Cellular radio, e.g NB-IoT) are the main components in the portablelocation tracker, together with antennas for the two radio transmitters / receivers and the GNSSreceiver. The accelerometer and GNSS may collectively be referred to as "Sensors" as they aremeasuring surrounding input data such as acceleration and position data. The radio#1 andradio#2 may collectively be referred to as ”Access Function". How these Sensors and AccessFunctions are controlled and used is the foundation for a number ofpredefined so-called Use Cases and a Use Case defines what the tracker shall track and/or where it will be physically placed. The portable location tracker typically behaves differently when in an alarm statecompared to a non-alarm state. A Use Case may be defined by how many cycles elapses betweeneach time any of the components generates data to be used by a certain Logical Function. Atypical sequence and cycles ofthe execution of each Logical Function is controlled by the CPU.The Logical Function is defined by a set of rules and calculations that describe what actions thedata collected from one or several components will result in after it has been calculated by theCPU in the tracker. An example, and the most common, could be to put the tracker in an alarm / notification state.
The Radio #1 (e.g. Bluetooth/Bluetooth Low Energy Radio) is frequently (typically 1-5 times persecond) transmitting a BLE Beacon Advertising and after the transmission listening for a BLE response and a possible Connect.
The Radio #2 (NB-Iot) is transmitting frequently (PSM) or on demand. It can also be listening,and hence reachable, at specific paging time frames that is set by the IoT-NB Cellular network(e.g. eDRX). PSM is intended for applications that seldom send data (once a day, for instance),and does not need to be reachable or reachable with long latency (several hours, for instance)and eDRX is intended for applications that need to be reachable but tolerate latency in an order ofmagnitude of 10 seconds or more.
The Logical Function is defining what the tracker will do based on the input from the Sensorsbut also information on e.g. the availability ofthe radio resources (NB and/or Bluetooth). Forexample, if the CPU has detected a movement through the Accelerometer and the Radio #2 is available, but not Radio #1 and alarm could be transmitted.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed describes a location tracker system which is built on anumber of distributed physical components and functions, including: a. two physical GNSS receivers, one GNSS in the tracker and one GNSS in acellular mobile communications device having a mobile app for locationtracking use installed, b. two physical CPUs/Memory Areas, one CPU/Memory Area in the trackerand one CPU/Memory Area in the cellular mobile communications device, c. two (2) physical Bluetooth Radio2 transmitters/ receivers, one Bluetoothtransmitter in the tracker and one Bluetooth in the cellular mobilecommunications device, d. two (2) physical cellular Radio3 transmitters / receivers, one Radio RX/TXin the tracker and one Radio RX/TX in the cellular mobile communications device, e. one physical accelerometers in the tracker, andone remote control and monitoring system, e.g. a cloud-based backend system.
In addition to above-listed, the location tracker system may include one cloud-based frontendsolution including Android apps, IoS apps, company webpage, web shop, admin web, etc. Thelocation tracker system may also include two decentralized ledgers for storing of data, i.e. one public ledger, e.g. Ethereum and one private ledger, e.g. Hyperledger In embodiments, the tracker of technology disclosed is configured to communicate via Bluetoothby repeatedly transmitting a short-range wireless low energy advertisement such as an iBeaconsignal, which may or may not be captures by a nearby smartphone (IoS or Android). The iBeaconis based on Bluetooth low energy (BLE) proximity sensing by letting the tracker transmitting auniversally unique identifier, a UID, picked up by the mobile app or the smartphone's operatingsystem. BLE Receiving will be used by mobile app to catch responses on from the iBeacon IIIGSSQgGS Sent.
The portable location tracker of the technology disclosed may use Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) asits cellular radio communications interface. This is a low power radio technology standarddeveloped by 3GPP. NB-IoT focuses specifically on improved coverage, low cost, long battery life,and high connection density. NB-IoT uses a subset of the LTE standard but limits the bandwidth to a single narrow-band of 200kHz.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed describes a location tracker system, comprising: a. a portable location tracker;b. a backend location tracker system adapted to:i. communicate with the portable location tracker via acellular narrow band radio communications network;ii. communicate with a cellular communication terminalvia at least one of a wideband cellular radiocommunications network, a wireless local networkand / or the internet;iii. register latest position data associated with theportable location tracker;c. an application program for execution in a location tracker control terminal being provided with short range radio communication capabilities (e.g. Bluetooth) and cellular radio communicationcapabilities (GSM etc), the application program having computerprogram code portions adapted to control the location trackercontrol terminal to: i. communicate with the portable location tracker viashort-range radio communication on a "low level datacommunication layer”; ii. communicate with the backend location trackersystem via at least one of a wideband cellular radiocommunications network, a wireless local networkand/or the internet; iii. receive and register position data from a global navigation satellite system.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed describes a location tracker, comprising: a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver adapted to receive positiondata from a global navigation satellite system;a narrow band radio communication unit adapted to communicate data with abackend location tracker system via a cellular narrow band communicationsnetwork;a short-range radio communication (Bluetooth) unit adapted to communicatewith a location tracker control terminal associated with the location tracker andprovided with short range cellular communication capabilities (Bluetooth) ;a movement sensor adapted to deliver a movement indication signal in responseto movement of the location tracker;a control system having a data processing unit, a memory and computer programcode control logics, the control system being adapted to:i. deactivate selected functions of the location tracker inthe absence of movement or dependent on amovement pattern (movement & time)) determinedbased on the movement indication signal from themovement sensor;ii. activate position data acquisition in response to a detected movement pattern (movement & time) ; iii. activate communication via a selected one ofsaidnarrow band communication unit or the short-rangeradio communication unit in accordance with apredetermined set ofrules defined in the control logics.
In embodiments, the technology disclosed describes a method for controlling a portable location tracker, comprising: a. deactivating selected functions in the absence of movement of the portable10 location tracker;b. activating position data acquisition in response to a detected movement pattern(movement & time);c. communicating position data to a backend location tracker system via a cellularnarrow band communications network based on predetermined rules;15 d. communicating position data to a location tracker control terminal via short range radio communication based on predetermined rules.

Claims (23)

1. A low power consuming pez1=izassšaz~kæ~location tracker, comprising: a. a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver adapted to receive positiondata from a global navigation satellite system; b. a movement sensor adapted to detect the movements of the location tracker; c. a control system for controlling *thats-transmitters and receivers of the pfsvâzaššïwšc:location tracker; d. a short-range wireless transmitter adapted to transmit data; e. a short-range wireless receiver adapted to receive data from a mobilecommunications device within range for short-range communication; and f a cellular radio communications transmitter and receiver adapted for cellularradio communication with a remote control and monitoring system via a cellularradio communications network, wherein said control system is configured toturn on said cellular radio communications transmitter upon expiration of atimer indicating that there is no mobile communications device within short- range wireless communication range.
2. The location tracker according to claim 1, wherein said control system is configured tochange how often at least one of the transmitters and receivers of the location tracker isturned on, and wherein said change is triggered by at least one of input from said movement sensor and upon expiration ofgí g: timer indicating that there is no mobile communications device within short-range wireless communication range.
3. The location tracker according to any of claims 1 and 2, wherein said control system isfurther configured to turn on said GNSS receiver to obtain the current position of thelocation tracker upon expiration of ea- timer and/or at least partly based on input from Såld IIIOVGIIIGIIt SGIISOI".
4. The location tracker according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said control system isconfigured to turn on said cellular radio communications transmitter upon expiration of the timer and at least partly based on input from said movement sensor.
5. The location tracker according to claim 4, wherein said location tracker is further configured to transmit the current position, or the most recently obtained or received 10. position, of the location tracker from said cellular radio communications transmitter to aremote control and monitoring system, and wherein »sasskš-position data is transmitted viaa cellular radio communications network such as a cellular narrowband radio communications network using low power cellular narrowband radio techniques.
6. The location tracker according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said control system isfurther configured to turn on said cellular radio communications transmitter at leastpartly based on a received token or other identification data in a short-range wirelessresponse is indicating that the short-range wireless response was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by or associated with the location tracker.
7. The location tracker according to claim 6, wherein said cellular radio communicationstransmitter is turned on to transmit at least one of position data and movement statusdata based on input from said movement sensor to a remote control and monitoringsystem, and wherein said transmission of at least one of position data and movement status data via a cellular radio communications network is triggered by at least one of input from said movement sensor, a received token or other identification data in L;short-range wireless response is indicating that the short-range wireless response wasnot sent by a mobile communications device trusted by or associated with the location tracker and/or upon expiration of a timer ofthe location tracker.
8. The location tracker according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said control system isfurther configured to increase or decrease the periodicity and/or frequency of short- range wireless transmissions from said short-range wireless transmitter upon 1 expiration of ga timer and/or at least partly based on input from said movement SGIISOT.
9. The location tracker according to claim 8, wherein said increased or decreasedperiodicity and/or frequency of short-range wireless transmissions is triggered by atleast one of input from said movement sensor, a received token or other identificationdata in a short-range wireless response is indicating that the short-range wireless response was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by, or associated with, the location tracker and / or upon expiration of f :s- timer of the location tracker.
10. The location tracker according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein said control system isfurther configured to increase the periodicity and / or frequency of short-range wireless transmissions from said short-range wireless transmitter at least partly based on a 2 11. 12. 13. received token or other identification data in a short-range wireless response isindicating that the short-range wireless response was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by or associated with the location tracker.
11. The location tracker according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein said control system isfurther configured to increase the periodicity and / or frequency of how often said short-range wireless receiver is turned on at least partly based on a received token or otheridentification data in a short-range wireless response is indicating that the short-rangewireless response was not sent by a mobile communications device trusted by or associated with the location tracker.
12. The location tracker according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein said control system isfurther configured to at least one of change the mode or state of the location tracker toincrease or decrease the periodicity and/or frequency of how often at least one of thetransmitters and/ or receivers of the location tracker is turned on, and wherein saidcontrol system is further configured so that said change is triggered by at least one ofinstruction data received via short-range communication with a known / friendly ortrusted mobile communications device and instruction data received from a remote control and monitoring system via a cellular radio communications network.
13. A location tracker system for low power consumption in a »¿1_:~sz;~¥\=s:s§s:š\s>-location tracker, said system comprising: \ » “asxšasš-sælocation tracker comprising a control system and a movement sensor,said gsf~~'\ii<-:å:§\ss>-location tracker is configured to:i. communicate with a remote control and monitoring system via acellular radio communications network;ii. communicate with a cellular mobile communications device viashort-range wireless communication;b. a remote control and monitoring system configured to: i. communicate with a plurality of cellular mobile communicationsdevices via at least one of a wideband cellular radiocommunications network, a wireless local network and theinternet; ii. communicate with the §x§s=§;¿§š>\š\<ï~»-location tracker via a cellular radio communications network; and iii. store data related to »àfsxæ-position data associated with the 3:1: location tracker; c. an application program for execution in a cellular mobile communications devicebeing provided with short range wireless communication capabilities andcellular radio communication capabilities, said cellular mobile communicationsdevice having computer program code portions adapted to control the mobilecommunications device to: \ _ i. communicate with the sense-location tracker via w' short-range wireless communication; ii. communicate with the remote control and monitoring system via at least one of a wideband cellular radio communications network, a wireless local network and the internet, wherein said control system is configured to turn on a cellular radio communications | 15 transmitter of the pQsàaæšzsšelocation tracker upon expiration of a timer indicating that there is no mobile communications device within short-range wireless communication range. | 14. | 15.16.
14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said gasszsæfæaaz kas-location tracker and saidremote control and monitoring system are configured to communicate with each other via a cellular narrowband radio communications network.
15. The system according to any of claims 13 and 14, wherein said pææsiàzsæšæštæ~location trackerand said remote control and monitoring system are configured to communicate witheach other via cellular radio communications network only when there is no mobilecommunications device available for short-range communication with the gas location tracker.
16. The system according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein said remote control and monitoring system is configured to notify said rzss-.wš 'isf-application n: gof a mobile »ce t» ~t Læašissaslocation tracker, and communications device trusted by, or associated with, the :kassaf- location tracker via the cellular radio communications network. |3o
17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said »saæišæšfææ-application
18. A method in a location tracker system including a ~ configured to present, in the application program and/or on a display, data orinformation related to at least one of position data and movement status data associated with the psiafllëïašxïsæ-location tracker. »fsšssx-location tracker, at least onecellular mobile communications device comprising an application program for executionin said cellular mobile communications device, and a remote control and monitoringsystem, comprising: a. transmitting, from a short-range wireless transmitter of the location tracker, a èxfwaslocation tracker; 1 signal including a token or data identifying the gæfilrslà: \ u b. turning on a short-range wireless receiver of the tracker,wherein said receiver is listening for a short-range wireless response from adevice within short-range wireless communication range, c. obtaining, by a control system of the _g=_:~~:z:~=_=\=.<;z?\=:§~s:»location tracker, movement sensor w lxss movement sensor of the saflšswlocation tracker, and, upon expiration of a timer indicating that there is no mobile communications devicewithin short-range wireless communication range: d. turning on, by the control system of the \¿\_:\fl>i.<1§as\š.\s§æ»location tracker, a cellular radio communications transmitter of the gs§§fs1àe¿:-š>\š=së-location tracker.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said turning on of said cellular radio communications transmitter is at least partly also based on said obtained movementsensor data, and wherein said obtained movement sensor data is indicating at least oneof an acceleration beyond a certain threshold value and a changed movement pattern for the location tracker.
20. The method according to any of claims 18 and 19, further comprising: \ a. transmitting, from the \¿\_:\fl>\_s1§aa»š.\s§æ»location tracker to the remote control andmonitoring system via the cellular radio communications network, a signal or message comprising at least one ofposition data and movement status data for w äzsaasš-së-location tracker, wherein the said signal or message is sent in the 1 response to said obtained sensor data from the movement sensor. |15
21. The method according to any of claims 18 to 20, further comprising: a. receiving, at said remote control and monitoring system, a signal or messagecomprising at least one of position data and movement status data for the§N§s=âea§s§l§>location tracker; and notifying, in response to receiving said at least one of position data and w movement status data for the gasa elias-location tracker, application sis ;__of a mobile communications device known to, or trusted by, the \=-:>»location tracker.
22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: C. presenting, in the application program and/or on a display of the mobile communications device, display data or information related to at least one of position data and movement status data associated with the §:~\=:§1åaa\.~7s~a:--locationtracker, wherein said presenting of display data is triggered by or based on said signal or message received from the ;>\e\=.1%a;sšasš\e»«location tracker.
23. The method according to any of claims 18 to 22, wherein said token or data of the signal transmitted from the short-range wireless transmitter of the location tracker is further identifying at least one of position data and movement status data for the location tracker.
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