US-12621763-B2 - Location tracking based on sensor data

US12621763B2US 12621763 B2US12621763 B2US 12621763B2US-12621763-B2

Abstract

Aspect herein capture methods, media, device, and systems that leverage real-time sensor data to trigger events, location tracking, and notification events using customizable configurations of a tracking device with various sensor(s).

Inventors

Maikel E. FALTAOUS
Kristopher Michael McNEIL
Kevin Lorne ENGELBERT
Barry Robert BUTTERKLEE

Assignees

T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20231222

Claims (20)

1 . A computerized method comprising: determining a tracking device is in motion using a sensor of the tracking device; determining whether the tracking device is in motion for a time duration that meets a time duration threshold; in response to determining the time duration threshold is met, referencing a plurality of configurations; based on the plurality of configurations, determining whether the tracking device is in range for a short range wireless connection with a user device to which the tracking device is paired; in response to determining that the tracking device is not in range for the short range wireless connection with the user device to which the tracking device is paired, determining to initiate an update request; based on the plurality of configurations, selecting one of a Wi-Fi network or a telecommunications network for communicating the update request; and generating and communicating the update request from the tracking device to a cloud-based server using the Wi-Fi network or the telecommunications network, wherein the update request is configured to cause the cloud-based server to generate and communicate a notification to the user device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising preferentially selecting the Wi-Fi network when the Wi-Fi network is in range based on the plurality of configurations.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising when the Wi-Fi network is not in range, selecting the telecommunications network based on the plurality of configurations.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to determining that the tracking device is in range for the short range wireless connection with the user device to which the tracking device is paired, determining not to generate the update request.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the tracking device is in range for the short range wireless connection, the Wi-Fi network, or the telecommunications network that is selected comprises: when the tracking device is determined to not be in range for the short range wireless connection, determining whether the tracking device is in range for the Wi-Fi network; and when the tracking device is determined to not be in range for the short range wireless connection and is determined not to be in range for the Wi-Fi network, determining whether the tracking device is in range for the telecommunications network.
6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising, in response to determining the time duration threshold is not met, determining not to generate the update request.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating and communicating a polling message from the tracking device to the cloud-based server using a polling time interval specified by the plurality of configurations.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, based on the plurality of configurations, determining to communicate near real-time location reporting from the tracking device to the cloud-based server.
9 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that when executed via one or more processors perform a computerized method, the media comprising: determining a tracking device is in motion using a sensor of the tracking device; determining whether the tracking device is in motion for a time duration that meets a time duration threshold; in response to determining the time duration threshold is met, referencing a plurality of configurations; based on the plurality of configurations, determining whether the tracking device is in range for a short range wireless connection with a user device to which the tracking device is paired; in response to determining that the tracking device is not in range for the short range wireless connection with the user device to which the tracking device is paired, determining to initiate an update request; based on the plurality of configurations, selecting one of a Wi-Fi network or a telecommunications network for communicating the update request; and generating and communicating the update request from the tracking device to a cloud-based server using the Wi-Fi network or the telecommunications network, wherein the update request is configured to cause the cloud-based server to generate and communicate a notification to the user device.
10 . The media of claim 9 , further comprising preferentially selecting the Wi-Fi network when the Wi-Fi network and the telecommunications network are in range based on the plurality of configurations.
11 . The media of claim 9 , further comprising, when the Wi-Fi network is not in range, selecting the telecommunications network based on the plurality of configurations.
12 . The media of claim 9 , further comprising, in response to determining that the tracking device is in range for the short range wireless connection with the user device to which the tracking device is paired, determining not to generate the update request.
13 . The media of claim 9 , wherein determining whether the tracking device is in range for the short range wireless connection, the Wi-Fi network, or the telecommunications network that is selected comprises: when the tracking device is determined to not be in range for the short range wireless connection, determining whether the tracking device is in range for the Wi-Fi network; and when the tracking device is determined to not be in range for the short range wireless connection and is determined not to be in range for the Wi-Fi network, determining whether the tracking device is in range for the telecommunications network.
14 . The media of claim 9 , further comprising, in response to determining the time duration threshold is not met, determining not to generate the update request.
15 . The media of claim 9 , further comprising generating and communicating a polling message from the tracking device to the cloud-based server using a polling time interval specified by the plurality of configurations.
16 . The media of claim 9 , further comprising, based on the plurality of configurations, determining to communicate near real-time location reporting from the tracking device to the cloud-based server.
17 . A system comprising: a cloud-based server operating within a telecommunications network; a tracking device having one or more processors, the tracking device configured to, via the one or more processors: determine the tracking device is in motion using a sensor of the tracking device; determine whether the tracking device is in motion for a time duration that meets a time duration threshold; in response to determining the time duration threshold is met, reference a plurality of configurations; based on the plurality of configurations, determine whether the tracking device is in range for a short-range wireless connection with a user device to which the tracking device is paired; in response to determining that the tracking device is not in range for the short range wireless connection with the user device to which the tracking device is paired, determine to initiate an update request; based on the plurality of configurations, preferentially select a Wi-Fi network over a telecommunications network for the update request based on the plurality of configurations; and generate and communicate the update request from the tracking device to the cloud-based server using the Wi-Fi network or the telecommunications network, wherein the update request is configured to cause the cloud-based server to generate and communicate a notification to the user device.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein determining whether the tracking device is in range for the short range wireless connection, the Wi-Fi network, or the telecommunications network that is selected comprises: when the tracking device is determined to not be in range for the short range wireless connection, determining whether the tracking device is in range for the Wi-Fi network; and when the tracking device is determined to not be in range for the short range wireless connection and is determined not to be in range for the Wi-Fi network, determining whether the tracking device is in range for the telecommunications network.
19 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising generating and communicating a polling message from the tracking device to the cloud-based server using a polling time interval specified by the plurality of configurations.
20 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising, based on the plurality of configurations, determining to communicate near real-time location reporting from the tracking device to the cloud-based server.

Description

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND The present disclosure generally relates to sensor-based event detection and responsive location tracking systems that leverage wireless networks. SUMMARY A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention are provided here to offer an overview of the disclosure and to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description section. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. In one aspect, a computerized method is provided. In accordance with the method, a tracking device is determined to be in motion using a sensor of the tracking device. Then, it is determined whether the tracking device is in motion for a time duration that meets a time duration threshold. In response to determining the time duration threshold is met, a plurality of configurations are referenced. Based on the plurality of configurations, it is determined whether the tracking device is in range for a short range wireless connection with a user device to which the tracking device is paired. In response to determining that the tracking device is not in range for the short range wireless connection with the user device to which the tracking device is paired, it is determined that an update request is to be initiated. Based on the plurality of configurations, one of a Wi-Fi network or a telecommunications network is selected for communicating the update request. Then, the updated request is generated and communicated from the tracking device to a cloud-based server using the Wi-Fi network or the telecommunications network, wherein the update request is configured to cause the cloud-based server to generate and communicate a notification to the user device. In another aspect, one or more non-transitory computer-readable media are provided for storing instructions that when executed via one or more processors perform a computerized method. In aspects, via the media, a tracking device is determined to be in motion using a sensor of the tracking device. Then, it is determined whether the tracking device is in motion for a time duration that meets a time duration threshold. In response to determining the time duration threshold is met, a plurality of configurations are referenced. Based on the plurality of configurations, it is determined whether the tracking device is in range for a short range wireless connection with a user device to which the tracking device is paired. In response to determining that the tracking device is not in range for the short range wireless connection with the user device to which the tracking device is paired, it is determined that an update request is to be initiated. Based on the plurality of configurations, one of a Wi-Fi network or a telecommunications network is selected for communicating the update request. Then, the updated request is generated and communicated from the tracking device to a cloud-based server using the Wi-Fi network or the telecommunications network, wherein the update request is configured to cause the cloud-based server to generate and communicate a notification to the user device. In yet another aspect, a system is provided. The system comprises a cloud-based server operating within a telecommunications network and a tracking device having one or more processors. The tracking device configured to, via the one or more processors, determining whether the tracking device is in motion using a sensor of the tracking device, and further, determining whether the tracking device is in motion for a time duration that meets a time duration threshold. In response to determining the time duration threshold is met, a plurality of configurations are referenced, and based on the plurality of configurations, it is determined whether the tracking device is in range for a short range wireless connection with a user device to which the tracking device is paired. In response to determining that the tracking device is not in range for the short range wireless connection with the user device to which the tracking device is paired, it is determined that an update request is to be initiated. Based on the plurality of configurations, a Wi-Fi network is preferentially selected over a telecommunications network for the update request based on the plurality of configurations. Then, the update request is generated and communicated from the tracking device to the cloud-based server using the Wi-Fi network or the telecommunications network, wherein the update request is configured to cause the cloud-based server to generate and communicate a notification to the user device. In another aspect, one or more non-transitory computer-readable media are provided for storing instructions that when executed via one or more processors perform a computerized method. In accordance with the instruction