EP-4736476-A1 - METHOD FOR MANAGEMENT OF DEVICE UPDATE TRANSMISSION

EP4736476A1EP 4736476 A1EP4736476 A1EP 4736476A1EP-4736476-A1

Abstract

A field device is configured to determine whether a device update is to be transmitted to a central server. The field device determines a period of time between an update time and a previous update time and a set of device conditions associated with a user utilization of the field device. The field device utilizes at least one of the period of time and the set of device conditions to determine an update schedule for the field device. The update schedule is determined by the field device utilizing a set of internal criteria that the period of time and the set of device conditions are evaluated against. The field device generates a device update from the set of device conditions and the update schedule and transmits the device update to a central server. The field device, via the device update causes the central server to utilize the update schedule.

Inventors

NARASIMHAN, KARTHIK
MESRI, David B.
TRAN, Phu Thanh Bao
Tiwari, Shlesh
CAVAGE, Christopher J.
WILSON, Shane Michael

Assignees

Axon Enterprise, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240701

Claims (20)

1. A method compri sing : determining, by a field device, that a period of time between an update time and a previous update time satisfies a duration threshold; determining a device location associated with the field device, the device location comprising a device position and an indication of device movement; determining, by the field device, a distance between the device location associated with the update time and a previous location associated with the previous update time; generating, based at least on the distance exceeding a distance threshold, a location update comprising the device location of the field device and a set of device conditions associated with the field device; transmitting, via a communication interface connected to a communication network, the location update to a state management server; and causing the state management server to update a device state based at least on the location update transmitted by the field device, the device state associated with an update frequency and the set of device conditions.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by the field device, that an additional period of time between an additional update time and the update time satisfies the duration threshold; determining an additional device location associated with the field device; determining, by the field device, an additional distance between the additional device location associated with the additional update time and the device location associated with the update time; determining, based at least on the distance threshold being greater than the additional distance, to suppress an additional location update; and causing, based at least on the additional location update being suppressed, the state management server to update the device state.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining to suppress the additional location update further comprises reverting to a standby state.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by the field device, that an additional period of time between an additional update time and the update time satisfies the duration threshold; determining an additional device location associated with the field device; determining, by the field device, an additional distance between the additional device location associated with the additional update time and the device location associated with the update time; generating, based at least on the distance threshold being greater than the additional distance, an additional location update comprising a stationary device notification associated with the field device; transmitting, via the communication interface connected to the communication network, the additional location update to the state management server; and causing the state management server to update the device state based at least on the additional location update transmitted by the field device, wherein the stationary device notification causes the update frequency to be updated to a stationary update frequency and the field device to be associated with a standby status.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the additional location update further comprises an indication that a set of location updates will be suppressed by the field device.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the additional location update further comprises an update timestamp associated with a scheduled location update to be transmitted by the field device.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the field device is a body worn camera associated with a law enforcement officer.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein: the duration threshold is a first duration threshold configured to trigger a suppressible location update evaluation; and a second duration threshold, greater than the first duration threshold, is configured to trigger a mandatory location update.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining that an additional period of time between an additional update time and the update time exceeds the second duration threshold; generating, based at least on the additional period of time exceeding the second duration threshold, an additional location update comprising an additional device location of the field device and an additional set of device conditions associated with the field device; and transmitting, via the communication interface connected to the communication network, the additional location update to the state management server.
10. A system, comprising: a field device, the field device configured to: determine a device location and a timestamp associated with the device location; generate a location update based at least on the device location and the timestamp; and determine whether the location update is transmitted via a communication network to a state management server; and the state management server, the state management server configured to: receive the location update from the field device; manage a device state associated with the field device, the device state associated with a current assignment of the field device, an activity indicator of the field device, and an update configuration of the field device; and update the device state based at least on the location update.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the field device comprises: a location determining component; a communication interface; one or more processing circuits; and a memory storing one or more instructions that are executable by the one or more processing circuits to perform a set of operations.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the location determining component is configured as at least one of a global navigation satellite system and a Wi-Fi positioning system.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the state management server comprises: a communication interface; one or more processing circuits; and a memory storing one or more instructions that are executable by the one or more processing circuits to perform a set of operations.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein the update configuration of the field device comprises an update schedule that includes one or more timestamps associated with one or more scheduled updates to be received from the field device.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein generating the location update based at least on the device location and the timestamp further comprises: determining a previous location associated with the field device; determining a device movement status based at least on the previous location and the device location; and determining a previous location type associated with the previous location and a location type associated with the device location.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein determining whether the location update is transmitted further comprises: determining a period of time that elapsed between the previous location was generated and the device location was generated; and determining that the location update is transmitted based at least on the period of time exceeding a threshold duration.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein determining whether the location update is transmitted further comprises: determining a distance between the previous location and the device location; determining a set of distance thresholds based at least on the previous location type and the location type; and determining that the location update is transmitted based at least on the distance satisfying the set of distance thresholds.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the set of distance thresholds comprises a travel distance threshold and a velocity threshold.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein determining whether the location update is transmitted further comprises determining that the device movement status indicates the field device is stationary and determining that the location update is suppressed based at least on the field device being stationary.
20. A system, comprising: a communication interface; one or more processing circuits; and a memory storing one or more instructions that are executable by the one or more processing circuits to perform a set of operations, the set of operations comprising: configuring, for a field device, a set of update criteria cause the field device to generate one or more location updates; updating the field device with the set of update criteria; receiving a initialize indication from the field device, the initialize indication indicating that the field device has been activated; receiving a location update of the one or more location updates, the location update comprising a device location and a device state; determining, based at least on the device location and the device state, a scheduled update and a device utilization from the set of update criteria associated with the field device; and updating a device status with the scheduled update and the device utilization.

Description

METHOD FOR MANAGEMENT OF DEVICE UPDATE TRANSMISSION CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 63/524,524 filed June 30, 2023, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. [0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to managing transmissions between a field device and central server. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING [0003] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawing, wherein like designations denote like elements, and: [0004] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system that creates an environment (e.g., ecosystem) for electronic devices to communicate location updates according to various aspects of the present disclosure; [0005] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a system that receives location updates from electronic devices to manage device state for the electronic devices according to various aspects of the present disclosure; [0006] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for determining whether location updates are to be managed and/or transmitted by an electronic device according to various aspects of the present disclosure; [0007] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an additional method for determining whether location updates are to be managed and/or transmitted by an electronic device according to various aspects of the present disclosure; [0008] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for evaluating criteria regarding an electronic device providing location updates to a central server according to various aspects of the present disclosure; [0009] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method for determining whether a location update is to be generated by an electronic device according to various aspects of the present disclosure; and [0010] FIG. 7 is device architecture diagram according to various aspects of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0011] The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosures, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with this disclosure and the teachings herein. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. [0012] The scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the examples described. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, coupled, connected, or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full, and/or any other possible attachment option. Surface shading lines may be used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials. [0013] Various electronic devices are carried by users in the field that benefit from battery life management with the objective of extending operating windows for the electronic devices. Battery life is commonly associated with both user satisfaction and user complaints when utilizing an electronic device. Additionally, devices that utilize communication networks, recording components, and other high power consumption features may benefit from management of those features to extend battery life. For example, while wireless communication features are enabled, electronic devices may utilize more power in the field while transmitting state, location, and other updates to a central server. [0014] Law enforcement officers, for example, may carry several electronic devices that are capable of wireless communication while drawing power from an internal battery such as cameras, sensor equipped holsters, weapons, microphones, etc. The devices may wirelessly communicate with electronic devices in police cars, with other devices carried by law enforcement officers, and with remote data centers. The wireless connectivity provides a pathway for the exchange of information and instructions in situations where the law enforcement officer(s) are otherwise occupied with carrying out various tasks. The flow of information between electronic devices on the law enforcement officers, electronic devices within vehicles, and remote data centers may enable various features that record and preserve information for later review. However, while the high energy consumption features offer benefits in efficiency, accuracy, and comprehensiveness during active periods, there are also inactive periods where these features consume