Patent Publication Number: US-9848396-B1

Title: Tracking device power preservation through signal strength reduction

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/591,428, filed May 10, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,794,898, which application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/434,923, filed Feb. 16, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,681,402, which application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/226,137, filed Aug. 2, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,615,371, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates generally to tracking devices, and more specifically, to power preservation in a tracking device through selectively reducing the transmission power of the tracking device. 
     Electronic tracking devices have created numerous ways for people to track the locations of people and/or objects. For example, a user can use GPS technology to track a device remotely or determine a location of the user. In another example, a user can attach a tracking device to an important object, such as keys or a wallet, and use the features of the tracking device to more quickly locate the object, (e.g., if it becomes lost). 
     However, traditional tracking devices and corresponding systems suffer from one or more disadvantages. For instance, a battery of the tracking device may be difficult to recharge or replace, thus limiting the lifespan of the tracking device to the length of time the battery can power the tracking device. Accordingly, there is a need to improve performance in order to reduce the power requirements of the tracking device, thereby extending the amount of time the battery can power the tracking device, and thus extending the lifespan of the tracking device itself. 
     SUMMARY 
     A tracking device can wirelessly connect to mobile devices at various ranges. However, under certain circumstances, environmental conditions or other factors can result in the tracking device consuming additional transmissive power. As tracking devices can have limited battery capacity, power preservation methods can be employed to reduce the power consumption of the tracking device. In situations where a tracking device is repeatedly connecting and reconnecting to the same mobile device (for instance, at the periphery of the transmission range of the tracking device), the transmission power of the tracking device can be temporarily reduced to prevent excess power consumption related to repeated connection and reconnection to the same mobile device. The transmission power of the tracking device can later be restored based on one or more of a set of factors being satisfied. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example tracking system environment in which a tracking device can operate, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example tracking system for use in a tracking system environment, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example user mobile device for use in a tracking system environment, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example community mobile device for use in a tracking system environment, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example tracking device for use in a tracking system environment, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an environment for connecting to a tracking device, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a process for managing a tracking device in an edge of range state, according to one embodiment 
     
    
    
     The figures depict various embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Environment Overview 
     Embodiments described herein detail functionality associated with a tracking device. A user can attach a tracking device to or enclose the tracking device within an object, such as a wallet, keys, a car, a bike, a pet, or any other object that the user wants to track. The user can then use a mobile device (e.g., by way of a software application installed on the mobile device) or other device or service to track the tracking device and corresponding object. For example, the mobile device can perform a local search for a tracking device attached to a near-by object. However, in situations where the user is unable to locate the tracking device using their own mobile device (e.g., if the tracking device is beyond a distance within which the mobile device and the tracking device can communicate), the user can leverage the capabilities of a community of users of a tracking device system. 
     In particular, a tracking system (also referred to herein as a “cloud server” or simply “server”) can maintain user profiles associated with a plurality of users of the tracking device system. The tracking system can associate each user within the system with one or more tracking devices associated the user (e.g., tracking devices that the user has purchased and is using to track objects owned by the user). If the user&#39;s object becomes lost or stolen, the user can send an indication that the tracking device is lost to the tracking system, which is in communication with one or more mobile devices associated with the community of users in communication with the system. The tracking system can set a flag indicating the tracking device is lost. When one of a community of mobile devices that are scanning for nearby tracking devices and providing updated locations to the tracking system identifies a flagged tracking device, the tracking system can associate the received location with the flagged tracking device, and relay the location to a user of the tracking device, thereby enabling the user to locate the lost tracking device. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example tracking system environment in which a tracking device can operate, according to one embodiment. The environment of  FIG. 1  includes a tracking system  100  communicatively coupled to a mobile device  102  associated with the user  103  via a first network  108 . The tracking system  100  is also communicatively coupled to a plurality of community mobile devices  104   a  through  104   n  (collectively referred to herein as “community mobile devices  104 ”) associated with a plurality of users  105   a  through  105   n  of the tracking system  100  (collectively referred to herein as “community users  105 ”) via the first network  108 . As will be explained in more detail below, the tracking system  100  can allow the user  103  to manage and/or locate a tracking device  106  associated with the user  103 . In some embodiments, the tracking system  100  leverages the capabilities of community mobile devices  104  to locate the tracking device  106  if the location of the tracking device is unknown to the user  103  and beyond the capabilities of mobile device  102  to track. In some configurations, the user  103  may own and register multiple tracking devices  106 . Although  FIG. 1  illustrates a particular arrangement of the tracking system  100 , mobile device  102 , community mobile devices  104 , and tracking device  106 , various additional arrangements are possible. 
     In some configurations, the user  103  may be part of the community of users  105 . Further, one or more users  105  may own and register one or more tracking devices  106 . Thus, any one of the users within the community of users  105  can communicate with tracking system  100  and leverage the capabilities of the community of users  105  in addition to the user  103  to locate a tracking device  106  that has been lost. 
     The tracking system  100 , mobile device  102 , and plurality of community mobile devices  104  may communicate using any communication platforms and technologies suitable for transporting data and/or communication signals, including known communication technologies, devices, media, and protocols supportive of remote data communications. 
     In certain embodiments, the tracking system  100 , mobile device  102 , and community mobile devices  104  may communicate via a network  108 , which may include one or more networks, including, but not limited to, wireless networks (e.g., wireless communication networks), mobile telephone networks (e.g., cellular telephone networks), closed communication networks, open communication networks, satellite networks, navigation networks, broadband networks, narrowband networks, the Internet, local area networks, and any other networks capable of carrying data and/or communications signals between the tracking system  100 , mobile device  102 , and community mobile devices  104 . The mobile device  102  and community of mobile devices  104  may also be in communication with a tracking device  106  via a second network  110 . The second network  110  may be a similar or different type of network as the first network  108 . In some embodiments, the second network  110  comprises a wireless network with a limited communication range, such as a Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless network. In some configurations, the second network  110  is a point-to-point network including the tracking device  106  and one or more mobile devices that fall within a proximity of the tracking device  106 . In such embodiments, the mobile device  102  and community mobile devices  104  may only be able to communicate with the tracking device  106  if they are within a close proximity to the tracking device, though in other embodiments, the tracking device can use long-distance communication functionality (for instance, a GSM transceiver) to communicate with either a mobile device  102 / 104  or the tracking system  100  at any distance. In some configurations, the mobile device  102  and one or more community mobile devices  104  may each be associated with multiple tracking devices associated with various users. 
     As mentioned above,  FIG. 1  illustrates the mobile device  102  associated with the user  103 . The mobile device  102  can be configured to perform one or more functions described herein with respect to locating tracking devices (e.g., tracking device  106 ). For example, the mobile device  102  can receive input from the user  103  representative of information about the user  103  and information about a tracking device  106 . The mobile device  102  may then provide the received user information, tracking device information, and/or information about the mobile device  102  to the tracking system  100 . Accordingly, the tracking system  100  is able to associate the mobile device  102 , the user  103 , and/or the tracking device  106  with one another. In some embodiments, the mobile device  102  can communicate with the tracking device  106  and provide information regarding the location of the tracking device to the user  103 . For example, the mobile device  102  can detect a communication signal from the tracking device  106  (e.g., by way of second network  110 ) as well as a strength of the communication signal or other measure of proximity to determine an approximate distance between the mobile device  102  and the tracking device  106 . The mobile device  102  can then provide this information to the user  103  (e.g., by way of one or more graphical user interfaces) to assist the user  103  to locate the tracking device  106 . Accordingly, the user  103  can use the mobile device  102  to track and locate the tracking device  106  and a corresponding object associated with the tracking device  106 . If the mobile device  102  is located beyond the immediate range of communication with the tracking device  106  (e.g., beyond the second network  110 ), the mobile device  102  can be configured to send an indication that a tracking device  106  is lost to the tracking system  100 , requesting assistance in finding the tracking device. The mobile device  102  can send an indication of a lost device in response to a command from the user  103 . For example, once the user  103  has determined that the tracking device  106  is lost, the user can provide user input to the mobile device  102  (e.g., by way of a graphical user interface), requesting that the mobile device  102  send an indication that the tracking device  106  is lost to the tracking system  100 . In some examples, the lost indication can include information identifying the user  103  (e.g., name, username, authentication information), information associated with the mobile device  102  (e.g., a mobile phone number), information associated with the tracking device (e.g., a unique tracking device identifier), or a location of the user (e.g., a GPS location of the mobile device  102  at the time the request is sent). 
     The tracking system  100  can be configured to provide a number of features and services associated with the tracking and management of a plurality of tracking devices and/or users associated with the tracking devices. For example, the tracking system  100  can manage information and/or user profiles associated with user  103  and community users  105 . In particular, the tracking system  100  can manage information associated with the tracking device  106  and/or other tracking devices associated with the user  103  and/or the community users  105 . 
     As mentioned above, the tracking system  100  can receive an indication that the tracking device  106  is lost from the mobile device  102 . The tracking system  100  can then process the indication in order to help the user  103  find the tracking device  106 . For example, the tracking system  100  can leverage the capabilities of the community mobile devices  104  to help find the tracking device  106 . In particular, the tracking system  100  may set a flag for a tracking device  106  to indicate that the tracking device  106  lost and monitor communications received from the community mobile devices  104  indicating the location of one or more tracking devices  106  within proximity of the community mobile devices  104 . The tracking system  100  can determine whether a specific location is associated with the lost tracking device  106  and provide any location updates associated with the tracking device  106  to the mobile device  102 . In one example, the tracking system may receive constant updates of tracking device  106  locations regardless of whether a tracking device  106  is lost and provide a most recent updated location of the tracking device  106  in response to receiving an indication that the tracking device  106  is lost. 
     In some configurations, the tracking system  100  can send a location request associated with the tracking device  106  to each of the community mobile devices  104 . The location request can include any instructions and/or information necessary for the community mobile devices  106  to find the tracking device  102 . For example, the location request can include a unique identifier associated with the tracking device  106  that can be used by the community mobile devices  104  to identify the tracking device  106 . Accordingly, if one of the community mobile devices  104  detects a communication from the tracking device  106  (e.g., if the community mobile device  104  is within range or moves within range of the communication capabilities of the tracking device  106  and receives a signal from the tracking device  106  including or associated with the unique identifier associated with the tracking device  106 ), the community mobile device  104  can inform the tracking system  100 . Using the information received from the community mobile devices  104 , the tracking system  100  can inform the user (e.g., by way of the mobile device  102 ) of a potential location of the tracking device  106 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and as mentioned above, the tracking system  100  can communicate with a plurality of community mobile devices  104  associated with corresponding community users  105 . For example, an implementation may include a first community mobile device  104   a  associated with a first community user  105   a , a second community mobile device  104   b  associated with a second community user  105   b , and additional communication mobile devices associated with additional community users up to an nth community mobile device  104   n  associated with an nth community user  105   n . The community mobile devices  104  may also include functionality that enables each community mobile device  104  to identify a tracking device  106  within a proximity of the community mobile device  104 . In one example, a first community mobile device  104   a  within proximity of a tracking device  106  can communicate with the tracking device  106 , identify the tracking device  106  (e.g., using a unique identifier associated with the tracking device  106 ), and/or detect a location associated with the tracking device  106  (e.g., a location of the first mobile community device  104   a  at the time of the communication with the tracking device  106 ). This information can be used to provide updated locations and/or respond to a location request from the tracking system  100  regarding the tracking device  106 . In some embodiments, the steps performed by the first community mobile device  104   a  can be hidden from the first community user  105   a . Accordingly, the first community mobile device  104   a  can assist in locating the tracking device  106  without bother and without the knowledge of the first community user  105   a.    
     As mentioned above, the tracking system  100  can assist a user  103  in locating a tracking device  106 . The tracking device may be a chip, tile, tag, or other device for housing circuitry and that may be attached to or enclosed within an object such as a wallet, keys, purse, car, or other object that the user  103  may track. Additionally, the tracking device  106  may include a speaker for emitting a sound and/or a transmitter for broadcasting a beacon. In one configuration, the tracking device  106  may periodically transmit a beacon signal that may be detected using a nearby mobile device  102  and/or community mobile device  104 . In some configurations, the tracking device  106  broadcasts a beacon at regular intervals (e.g., one second intervals) that may be detected from a nearby mobile device (e.g., community mobile device  104 ). The strength of the signal emitted from the tracking device  106  may be used to determine a degree of proximity to the mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104  that detects the signal. For example, a higher strength signal would indicate a close proximity between the tracking device  106  and the mobile device  102  and a lower strength signal would indicate a more remote proximity between the tracking device  106  and the mobile device  102 , though in some embodiments, the tracking device  106  can intentionally vary the transmission strength of the beacon signal. In some cases, the strength of signal or absence of a signal may be used to indicate that a tracking device  106  is lost. 
     System Overview 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example tracking system for use in a tracking system environment, according to one embodiment. As shown, the tracking system  100  may include, but is not limited to, an association manager  204 , a tracking device location manager  206 , and a data manager  208 , each of which may be in communication with one another using any suitable communication technologies. It will be recognized that although managers  204 - 208  are shown to be separate in  FIG. 2 , any of the managers  204 - 208  may be combined into fewer managers, such as into a single manager, or divided into more managers as may serve a particular embodiment. 
     The association manager  204  may be configured to receive, transmit, obtain, and/or update information about a user  103  and/or information about one or more specific tracking devices (e.g., tracking device  106 ). In some configurations, the association manager  204  may associate information associated with a user  103  with information associated with a tracking device  106 . For example, user information and tracking information may be obtained by way of a mobile device  102 , and the association manager  204  may be used to link the user information and tracking information. The association between user  103  and tracking device  106  may be used for authentication purposes, or for storing user information, tracking device information, permissions, or other information about a user  103  and/or tracking device  106  in a database. 
     The tracking system  100  also includes a tracking device location manager  206 . The tracking device location manager  206  may receive and process an indication that the tracking device  106  is lost from a mobile device (e.g., mobile device  102  or community mobile devices  104 ). For example, the tracking system  100  may receive a lost indication from a mobile device  102  indicating that the tracking device  106  is lost. The tracking device location manager  206  may set a flag on a database (e.g., tracker database  212 ) indicating that the tracking device  106  is lost. The tracking device location manager  206  may also query a database to determine tracking information corresponding to the associated user  103  and/or tracking device  106 . The tracking system  100  may obtain tracking device information and provide the tracking device information or other information associated with the tracking device  106  to a plurality of community mobile devices  104  to be on alert for the lost or unavailable tracking device  106 . 
     The tracking device location manager  206  may also receive a location from one or more community mobile devices  104  that detect the tracking device  106 , for instance in response to the community mobile device receiving a beacon signal transmitted by the tracking device  106 , without the tracking device  106  having been previously marked as lost. In such embodiments, a user corresponding to the mobile device  102  can request a most recent location associated with the tracking device from the tracking system  100 , and the location manager  206  can provide the location received from the community mobile device for display by the mobile device  102 . In some embodiments, the location manager  206  provides the location of the tracking device  106  received from a community mobile device either automatically (for instance if the tracking device  106  is marked as lost) or at the request of a user of the mobile device  102  (for instance, via an application on the mobile device  102 ). The location manager  206  can provide a location of a tracking device  106  to a mobile device  102  via a text message, push notification, application notification, automated voice message, or any other suitable form of communication. 
     The tracking device location manager  206  may further manage providing indications about whether a tracking device  106  is lost or not lost. For example, as discussed above, the tracking device location manager  206  may provide a location request to the community of mobile devices  104  indicating that a tracking device  106  is lost. Additionally, upon location of the tracking device  106  by the user  103  or by one of the community of users  105 , the tracking device location manager  206  may provide an indication to the user  103 , community user  105 , or tracking system  100  that the tracking device  106  has been found, thus removing any flags associated with a tracking device and/or canceling any location request previously provided to the community of users  105 . For example, where a user  103  sends an indication that the tracking device  106  is lost to the tracking system  100  and later finds the tracking device  106 , the mobile device  102  may provide an indication to the tracking system  100  that the tracking device  106  has been found. In response, the tracking device location manager  206  may remove a flag indicating that the tracking device  106  is lost and/or provide an updated indication to the community of users  105  that the tracking device  106  has been found, thus canceling any instructions associated with the previously provided location request. In some configurations, the notification that the tracking device  106  has been found may be provided automatically upon the mobile device  102  detecting the tracking device  106  within a proximity of the mobile device  102 . Alternatively, the notification that the tracking device  106  has been found may be provided by the user  103  via user input on the mobile device  102 . In another example, a known user (e.g., a friend or family member) with whom the tracking device  106  has been shared may provide an indication that the tracking device  106  has been found. 
     The tracking system  100  additionally includes a data manager  208 . The data manager  208  may store and manage information associated with users, mobile devices, tracking devices, permissions, location requests, and other data that may be stored and/or maintained in a database related to performing location services of tracking devices. As shown, the data manager  208  may include, but is not limited to, a user database  210 , a tracker database  212 , permissions data  214 , and location request data  216 . It will be recognized that although databases and data within the data manager  208  are shown to be separate in  FIG. 2 , any of the user database  210 , tracker database  212 , permissions data  214 , and location request data  216  may be combined in a single database or manager, or divided into more databases or managers as may serve a particular embodiment. 
     The data manager  208  may include the user database  210 . The user database  210  may be used to store data related to various users. For example, the user database  210  may include data about the user  103  as well as data about each user  105  in a community of users  105 . The community of users  105  may include any user that has provided user information to the tracking system  100  via a mobile device  102 ,  104  or other electronic device. The user information may be associated with one or more respective tracking devices  106 , or may be stored without an association to a particular tracking device. For example, a community user  105  may provide user information and permit performance of tracking functions on the community mobile device  104  without owning or being associated with a tracking device  106 . The user database  210  may also include information about one or more mobile devices or other electronic devices associated with a particular user. 
     The data manager  208  may also include a tracker database  212 . The tracker database  212  may be used to store data related to tracking devices. For example, the tracker database  212  may include tracking data for any tracking device  106  that has been registered with the tracking system  100 . Tracking data may include unique tracker identifications (IDs) associated with individual tracking devices  106 . Tracker IDs may be associated with a respective user  103 . Tracker IDs may also be associated with multiple users. Additionally, the tracker database  212  may include any flags or other indications associated with whether a specific tracking device  106  has been indicated as lost and whether any incoming communications with regard to that tracking device  106  should be processed based on the presence of a flag associated with the tracking device  106 . 
     The data manager  208  may further include permissions data  214  and location request data  216 . Permissions data  214  may include levels of permissions associated with a particular user  103  and/or tracking device  106 . For example, permissions data  214  may include additional users that have been indicated as sharing a tracking device  106 , or who have been given permission to locate or receive a location of a tracking device  106 . Location request data  216  may include information related to a location request or a lost indication received from the user  103  via a mobile device  102 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example user mobile device for use in a tracking system environment, according to one embodiment. As shown, the mobile device  102  may include, but is not limited to, a user interface manager  302 , a location request manager  304 , a database manager  306 , and a tracking manager  308 , each of which may be in communication with one another using any suitable communication technologies. It will be recognized that although managers  302 - 308  are shown to be separate in  FIG. 3 , any of the managers  302 - 308  may be combined into fewer managers, such as into a single manager, or divided into more managers as may serve a particular embodiment. 
     As will be explained in more detail below, the mobile device  102  includes the user interface manager  302 . The user interface manager  302  may facilitate providing the user  103  access to data on a tracking system  100  and/or providing data to the tracking system  100 . Further, the user interface manager  302  provides a user interface by which the user  103  may communicate with tracking system  100  and/or tracking device  106  via mobile device  102 . 
     The mobile device  102  may also include a location request manager  304 . The location request manager  304  may receive and process a request input to the mobile device  102  to send an indication that a tracking device  106  is lost to a tracking system  100 . For example, the user  103  may provide an indication that a tracking device  106  is lost, unreachable, or otherwise unavailable from the mobile device  102  via the user interface manager  302 , and the location request manager  304  may process the lost indication and provide any necessary data to the tracking system  100  for processing and relaying a location request to other users  105  over a network  108 . In some configurations, an indication that a tracking device  106  is lost is provided via user input. Alternatively, the indication may be transmitted automatically in response to the mobile device  102  determining that a tracking device  106  is lost. 
     In addition, the location request manager  304  can request a location of the tracking device  106  without the tracking device  106  being identified as lost. For instance, a user can access a tracking device location feature of an application running on the mobile device  102  (for example, via the user interface manager  302 ), and the location request manager  304  can request a most recent location of the tracking device  106  from the tracking system  100 . The location request manager  304  can receive the most recent location from the tracking system  100 , and can display the most recent location via the user interface manager  302 . 
     The mobile device  102  may also include a database manager  306 . The database manager  306  may maintain data related to the user  103 , tracking device  106 , permissions, or other data that may be used for locating a tracking device  106  and/or providing a request to a tracking system  100  for locating one or more tracking devices  106  associated with the user  103 . Further, the database manager  306  may maintain any information that may be accessed using any other manager on the mobile device  102 . 
     The mobile device  102  may further include a tracking manager  308 . The tracking manager  308  may include a tracking application (e.g., a software application) for communicating with and locating a tracking device  106  associated with the user  103 . For example, the tracking manager  308  may be one configuration of a tracking application installed on the mobile device  102  that provides the functionality for locating a tracking device  106  and/or requesting location of a tracking device  106  using a tracking system  100  and/or a plurality of community mobile devices  104 . As shown, the tracking manager  308  may include, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) manager  310 , a persistence manager  312 , a local files manager  314 , a motion manager  316 , a secure storage manager  318 , a settings manager  320 , a location manager  322 , a network manager  324 , a notification manager  326 , a sound manager  328 , a friends manager  330 , a photo manager  332 , an authentication manager  334 , a device manager  336 , and a device power manager  338 . Thus, the tracking manager  308  may perform any of the functions associated with managers  310 - 338 , described in additional detail below. 
     The BLE manager  310  may be used to manage communication with one or more tracking devices  106 . The persistence manager  312  may be used to store logical schema information that is relevant to the tracking manager  308 . The local files manager  314  may be responsible for managing all files that are input or output from the mobile device  102 . The motion manager  316  may be responsible for all motion management required by the tracking manager  308 . The secure storage manager may be responsible for storage of secure data, including information such as passwords and private data that would be accessed through this sub-system. The settings manager  320  may be responsible for managing settings used by the tracking manager  308 . Such settings may be user controlled (e.g., user settings) or defined by the tracking manager  308  for internal use (e.g., application settings) by a mobile device  102  and/or the tracking system  100 . The location manager  322  may be responsible for all location tracking done by the tracking manager  308 . For example, the location manager  322  may manage access to the location services of the mobile device  102  and works in conjunction with other managers to persist data. The network manager  324  may be responsible for all Internet communications from the tracking manager  308 . For example, the network manager  324  may mediate all Internet API calls for the tracking manager  308 . The notification manager  326  may be responsible for managing local and push notifications required by the tracking manager  308 . The sound manager  328  may be responsible for playback of audio cues by the tracking manager  308 . The friends manager  330  may be responsible for managing access to contacts and the user&#39;s social graph. The photo manager  332  may be responsible for capturing and managing photos used by the tracking manager  308 . The authentication manager  334  may be responsible for handling the authentication (e.g., sign in or login) of users. The authentication manager  334  may also include registration (e.g., sign up) functionality. The authentication manager  334  further coordinates with other managers to achieve registration functionality. The device manager  336  may be responsible for managing the devices discovered by the tracking manager  308 . The device manager  336  may further store and/or maintain the logic for algorithms related to device discovery and update. 
     The device power manager  338  can manage the power consumption of connected tracking devices  106 . For example, the device power manager  338  can manage the power consumption of connected tracking devices  106  based on a detected signal strength of the connected tracking device, a detected amount of time the mobile device  102  is connected to the tracking device, or any other suitable factor. The device power manager  338  can coordinate with other managers within the mobile device  102  to achieve this functionality. In one embodiment, the device power manager  338  can send instructions to a connected tracking device  106  instructing the connected tracking device  106  to temporarily reduce its effective transmission power or otherwise reduce its effective range. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example community mobile device for use in a tracking system environment, according to one embodiment. As shown, the community mobile device  104  may include, but is not limited to, a user interface manager  402 , a tracking device manager  404 , a database manager  406 , and a tracking manager  408 , each of which may be in communication with one another using any suitable communication technologies. The user interface manager  402 , database manager  406 , and tracking manager  408  illustrated in  FIG. 4  may include similar features and functionality as the user interface manager  302 , database manager  306 , and tracking manager  308  described above in connection with  FIG. 3 . It will be recognized that although managers  402 - 408  are shown to be separate in  FIG. 4 , any of the managers  402 - 408  may be combined into fewer managers, such as into a single manager, or divided into more managers as may serve a particular embodiment. 
     The community mobile device  104  may include a tracking device manager  404 . The tracking device manager  404  may facilitate scanning for nearby tracking devices  106 . In some configurations, the tracking device manager  404  can continuously or periodically scan (e.g., once per second) for nearby tracking devices  106 . The tracking device manager  404  may determine whether to provide an updated location of the nearby tracking device  106  to the tracking system  100 . In some configurations, the tracking device manager  404  provides a location of a nearby tracking device  106  automatically. Alternatively, the tracking device manager  404  may determine whether the location of the tracking device  106  has been recently updated, and may determine whether to provide an updated location based on the last time a location of the tracking device  106  has been updated (e.g., by the community mobile device  104 ). For example, where the community mobile device  104  has provided a recent update of the location of a tracking device  106 , the tracking device manager  404  may decide to wait a predetermined period of time (e.g., 5 minutes) before providing an updated location of the same tracking device  106 . 
     In one configuration, the tracking device manager  404  may receive and process a location request or other information relayed to the community mobile device  104  by the tracking system  100 . For example, the tracking device manager  404  may receive an indication of a tracking device  106  that has been indicated as lost, and provide a location of the tracking device  106  if it comes within proximity of the community mobile device  104 . In some configurations, the community mobile device  104  is constantly scanning nearby areas to determine if there is a tracking device  106  within a proximity of the community mobile device  104 . Therefore, where a tracking device  106  that matches information provided by the tracking system  100  (e.g., from the location request) comes within proximity of the community mobile device  104 , the tracking device manager  404  may generate and transmit a response to the location request to the tracking system  100 , which may be provided to the user  103  associated with the tracking device  106 . Further, generating and transmitting the response to the tracking request may be conditioned on the status of the tracking device  106  being flagged as lost by the mobile device  102  and/or the tracking system  100 . 
     The tracking device manager  404  may additionally provide other information to the tracking system  100  in response to receiving the tracking request. For example, in addition to providing a location of the community mobile device  104 , the tracking device manager may provide a signal strength associated with the location to indicate a level of proximity to the location of the community mobile device  104  provided to the user  103 . For example, if a signal strength is high, the location provided to the user  103  is likely to be more accurate than a location accompanied by a low signal strength. This may provide additional information that the user  103  may find useful in determining the precise location of tracking device  106 . 
     As described above, the tracking device manager  404  may determine whether to send a location within the proximity of the tracking device  106  to the tracking system  100 . The determination of whether to send a location to the tracking system  100  may be based on a variety of factors. For example, a tracking device manager  404  may determine to send a location of the tracking device  106  to a tracking system  100  based on whether the detected tracking device  106  has been indicated as lost or if a tracking request has been provided to the community mobile device  104  for the particular tracking device  106 . In some configurations, the community mobile device  104  may send an update of a location of a tracking device  106  even if the tracking device  106  is not associated with a current tracking request or if the tracking device  106  is not indicated as lost. For example, where the location of a tracking device  106  has not been updated for a predetermined period of time, the community mobile device  104  may provide an update of a tracking device location to the tracking system  100 , regardless of whether a tracking request has been received. 
     In some configurations, the community mobile device  104  may include additional features. For example, the community mobile device  104  may allow a tracking system  100  to snap and download a photo using photo functionality of the community mobile device  104 . In some configurations, this may be an opt-in feature by which a community user  105  permits a tracking system  100  to take a snap-shot and possibly provide a visual image of an area within a proximity of the tracking device  106 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example tracking device for use in a tracking system environment, according to one embodiment. The tracking device  106  of  FIG. 5  includes an interface  502 , a transceiver  504 , a controller  506 , one or more sensors  508 , and a GPS unit  510 . The transceiver  504  is a hardware circuit capable of both transmitting and receiving signals. It should be noted that in other embodiments, the tracking device  106  includes fewer, additional, or different components than those illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     The interface  502  provides a communicative interface between the tracking device  106  and one or more other devices, such as a mobile device  102 . For instance, the interface  502  can instruct the transceiver  504  to output beacon signals as described above (for example, periodically or in response to a triggering event, such as a detected movement of the tracking device  106 ). The interface  502  can, in response to the receiving of signals by the transceiver  504  from, for instance, the mobile device  102 , manage a pairing protocol to establish a communicative connection between the tracking device  106  and the mobile device  102 . As noted above, the pairing protocol can be a BLE connection, though in other embodiments, the interface  502  can manage other suitable wireless connection protocols (such as WiFi, Global System for Mobile Communications or GSM, and the like). 
     The controller  506  is a hardware chip that configures the tracking device  106  to perform one or more functions or to operate in one or operating modes or states. For instance, the controller  506  can configure the interval at which the transceiver broadcasts beacon signals, can authorize or prevent particular devices from pairing with the tracking device  106  based on information received from the devices and permissions stored at the tracking device, can increase or decrease the transmission strength of signals broadcasted by the transceiver, can configure the interface to emit a ringtone or flash an LED light, can enable or disable various tracking device sensors, can enable or disable a tracking device GPS unit, can enable or disable communicative functionality of the tracking device  106  (such as a GSM transmitter and receiving), can configure the tracking device into a sleep mode or awake mode, can configure the tracking device into a power saving mode, and the like. The controller  506  can configure the tracking device to perform functions or to operate in a particular operating mode based on information or signals received from a device paired with or attempting to pair with the tracking device  106 , based on an operating state or connection state of the tracking device  106 , based on user-selected settings, based on information stored at the tracking device  106 , based on a detected location of the tracking device  106 , based on historical behavior of the tracking device  106  (such as a previous length of time the tracking device was configured to operate in a particular mode), based on information received from the sensors  508  or the GPS  510 , or based on any other suitable criteria. 
     The controller  506  can manage the power consumption of the tracking device  106  based on conditions detected by the controller or instructions received from a mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104 . The power consumption of the tracking device  106  can be managed by increasing, reducing, or disabling the transmission power of the communicative functionality of the tracking device  106  (thereby increasing, reducing, or disabling the transmission range of the tracking device). For example, the controller  506  can modify the transmission power of communication hardware such as a Bluetooth or GSM radio of the tracking device  106 , a GPS or Wi-Fi antenna of the tracking device, or any other suitable functionality of the tracking device. 
     The sensors  508  can include motion sensors (such as gyroscopes or accelerators), altimeters, orientation sensors, proximity sensors, light sensors, or any other suitable sensor configured to detect an environment of the tracking device  106 , a state of the tracking device  106 , a movement or location of the tracking device  106 , and the like. The sensors  508  are configured to provide information detected by the sensors to the controller  506 . The GPS unit  510  is configured to detect a location of the tracking device  106  based on received GPS signals, and is configured to provide detected locations to the controller  506 . In some embodiments, the sensors  508  can operate using reduced power, for example, operating with a reduced sampling frequency or transmission power, for example based on instructions from the controller  506 . 
     Power Preservation 
     In some embodiments, the power consumption of a tracking device  106  can be managed by the tracking device  106 , for example based on the instructions of a mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104  connected to the tracking device. For example, the power consumption of a tracking device  106  can be managed based on the detection of an edge of range state between the tracking device and one or more mobile devices  102  or community mobile devices  104 . As used herein, an “edge of range state” refers to a mobile device  102  (or a community mobile device  104 ) and a tracking device  106  when the mobile device is at or close to the edge or periphery of the effective range of the tracking device. The detection of an edge of range state can indicate an inability of the tracking device  106  to maintain a stable connection with the mobile device  102  or the community mobile device  104 . In some embodiments, an edge of range state is detected by the mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104 , but an edge of range state can also be detected by the tracking device  106 . Similarly, once detected, an edge of range state can be determined to have ended based on conditions detected by either the tracking device  106  or the mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104 . 
     When an edge of range state exists between a tracking device  106  and a mobile device, fluctuations in the effective range of the tracking device  106  or fluctuations in the distance between the tracking device and the connected mobile device can result in the tracking device repeatedly connecting and reconnecting with the mobile device. In some embodiments, the tracking device  106  can consume additional power when connecting to a mobile device  102  or a community mobile device  104  relative to maintaining a steady connection to the same mobile device or community mobile device. As the repeated connection and reconnection with a mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104  can result in additional power consumption, the tracking device can implement power preservation methods to reduce unnecessary power consumption while an edge of range state is detected (for instance, in response to an instruction from the mobile device). 
     In some embodiments, an edge of range state can be detected based on a signal strength of the tracking device  106  detected by a mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104 . For example, an edge of range state can be detected when the signal strength of a tracking device  106  detected by a mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104  falls below a given threshold. An edge of range state can also be detected based on a high rate of connections between the tracking device  106  and the mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104 . For example, a mobile device can determine that a tracking device  106  is in an edge of range state when the number of unique or different connections (and/or disconnections) to a tracking device  106  by the mobile device exceeds a threshold number of connections in a given period of time. For instance, if four or more connections between the same tracking device  106  and the community mobile device  104  are detected within 90 seconds, the tracking device can be considered to be in an edge of range state. 
     When in an edge of range state, the tracking device  106  can temporarily operate with a reduced effective transmission range, for example by reducing the transmission power of the tracking device&#39;s transmitter. Intentionally reducing the effective range of the tracking device  106  can cause the mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104  previously located at the periphery of the transmission range of the tracking device to be outside the now-reduced effective range of the tracking device. Therefore, reducing the transmission power of the tracking device  106  while in an edge of range state can eliminate repeated connection and reconnection with the same mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104  and reduce the power consumption of the tracking device by preventing the tracking device from being able to connect to the mobile device or community mobile device. In some embodiments, the transmission power of the tracking device  106  is reduced gradually until the connection between the tracking device and the mobile device is severed, but the transmission power of the tracking device can also be reduced by a fixed amount when an edge of range state is detected. In some embodiments, transmission power will not be reduced while the tracking device  106  detects it is in motion, for example by an accelerometer, GPS, or other sensor of the tracking device, despite the detection of an edge of range state. 
     The transmission power of a tracking device  106  can be restored in response to a determination that the tracking device is no longer in an edge of range state, or in response to one or more factors being satisfied. One such factor is the passage of a threshold amount of time. Similarly, the tracking device  106  can be determined to no longer be in an edge of range state when a mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104  connects to the tracking device  106  while the tracking device  106  is operating with a reduced transmission range. In this case, a mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104  detecting and connecting to a tracking device  106  operating with a reduced transmission range can indicate that a reliable connection between the mobile device and the tracking device can be maintained at the full transmission range of the tracking device. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an environment for connecting to a tracking device, according to one embodiment. The environment  600  includes a central tracking device  106 , community mobile devices  104   e - 104   i  capable of connecting to the tracking device  106 , and transmission ranges  622 ,  623 ,  624 , and  626  representing various distances from the tracking device  106 . 
     The tracking device  106 , as described earlier, can communicatively connect with community mobile devices  104  through one or more wireless communications protocols, for example, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or Wi-Fi. In some embodiments, the effective transmission or communication range of a tracking device  106  is affected by multiple factors including the transmission strength of the tracking device, obstructions between the transmitter and receiver, interference from other wireless or RF emitting systems, and other environmental factors. Additionally, as described earlier, the effective transmission strength of the tracking device  106  can be increased or decreased by the tracking device  106  to change the effective transmission range of the tracking device  106 . 
     Transmission ranges  622 ,  623 ,  624 , and  626  represent example ranges from the tracking device  106 . Similarly, community mobile devices  104   e ,  104   f ,  104   g ,  104   h , and  104   i  represent example community mobile devices capable of connecting with the tracking device  106 . Each of the community mobile device  1043   e - i  is located at a different distance from the tracking device  106 , and may be inside one or more of the transmission ranges  622 ,  623 ,  624 , or  626  (e.g., the community mobile device is nearer to the tracking device than is the range). For example, ranges  624  and  626  represent example intermediate and close transmission ranges to the tracking device  106 . In some embodiments, a community mobile device  104  located inside the transmission range  626  can establish and maintain a consistent connection with the tracking device  106 , and a community mobile device located inside the transmission range  624  but outside of the transmission range  626  is still very likely to be able to establish and maintain a consistent connection with the tracking device, though less likely than if the community mobile device was located within the transmission range  626 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the community mobile devices  104   g  and  104   h  are both within either the range  624  or the range  626  and therefore are likely to be able to maintain a consistent connection with the tracking device  106 . 
     The transmission range  622  can represent an expected maximum range at which a community mobile device  104  can connect to the tracking device  106 , for example under average environmental conditions while the tracking device operates using normal transmission power. For example, the community mobile device  104   e  is outside of the maximum transmission range  622 , and therefore cannot detect or attempt to communicate with the tracking device  106  regardless of environmental conditions. 
     Similarly, the transmission range  623  is an example environmentally reduced range for the tracking device  106  and represents a situation where environmental factors, for example interference, reduce the transmission range of the tracking device  106  to less than the expected maximum range  622 . In some embodiments, the effects of environmental factors can fluctuate, causing the effective range of the tracking device  106  to fluctuate correspondingly, for example the effective maximum range of the tracking device can fluctuate between the expected maximum range  622  and the environmentally reduced range  623 . Fluctuation of effective range due to environmental factors can lead to a community mobile device  104  being placed in an edge of range state. 
     For example, the community mobile device  104   f  is located between the ranges  622  and  623  and can be alternately inside and outside the effective range of the tracking device  106  and correspondingly establish and lose connection with the tracking device. As described above, frequent connection and reconnection between a community mobile device  104  and a tracking device  106  can indicate that the tracking device  106  is in an edge of range state. Therefore, to mitigate the increased power consumption possible when an edge of range state exists between the tracking device  106  and the community mobile device  104   f , the tracking device  106  can operate at a reduced transmission power (for instance, in response to the detection of the edge of range state by the community mobile device  104   f  and a subsequent instruction by the community mobile device to the tracking device to reduce the transmission power of the tracking device). For example, the tracking device  106  can operate using reduced transmission power so that the transmission range  624  is now the effective range of the tracking device. In this example, after the transmission power of the tracking device  106  is reduced, the community mobile device  104   f  is outside the effective transmission range  624  and therefore cannot connect to the tracking device  106 , thereby saving tracking device power consumption otherwise allocated to the re-establishing of connections between the tracking device and the community mobile device. 
     In some embodiments, an edge of range state is detected based on relative motion between the tracking device  106  and a community mobile device  104 , even in the absence of environmental factors. For example, the community mobile device  104   i  is alternately inside and outside the range  622 . Similar to the situation described above, the repetitive motion of the community mobile device  104   i  causes the tracking device  106  to repeatedly connect and reconnect with the community mobile device causing an edge of range state to be detected, according to one embodiment. Similar to the example above, a temporary reduction in the transmission power of the tracking device  106  can reduce the likelihood of continuous connection and reconnection with the community mobile device  104   i.    
     According to some implementations, power preservation methods can also be employed when a steady connection is maintained between a tracking device  106  and a community mobile device  104 . For example, the community mobile device  104   h  is within the transmission range  626  and can maintain a steady connection with the tracking device  106 . If the community mobile device  104  detects a signal strength from the tracking device associated with the transmission range  622  that is greater than a threshold signal strength, for example a signal strength indicating that the community mobile device  104   h  is within the transmission range  626 , the tracking device  106  can be instructed to reduce transmission power. The transmission power of the tracking device  106  can be reduced so that the range  624  is the effective range of the tracking device. Because the community mobile device  104   h  is still well within the effective range of the tracking device  106  even when its effective range is reduced to the transmission range  624 , connectivity between the tracking device and the community mobile device will not be impacted, and power is preserved by the tracking device by reducing the transmission power from the transmission range  622  to the transmission range  624 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a process for managing a tracking device in an edge of range state, according to one embodiment. The process  700  begins when an edge of range state with a tracking device is detected  710 . For example if the process  700  is executing on a mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104 , the mobile device or community mobile device can detect an edge of range state between the tracking device and the mobile device. The tracking device can then be instructed  720  to temporarily reduce its maximum connection range, for example, by reducing transmission power. The tracking device can instruct itself to reduce transmission power (in response to the tracking device determining that a mobile device is in an edge of range state), or a mobile device can instruct the tracking device to reduce transmission power (in response to an instruction from a mobile device that detected an edge of range state of the mobile device). After the transmission power is reduced, if the tracking device is again detected  730 , for example by the mobile device  102  or community mobile device  104 , or by the tracking device itself, it can be inferred that the tracking device is no long in the edge of range state and that therefore the transmission range of the tracking device can be restored  750  (for instance, in response to an instruction from a mobile device or from the tracking device). Alternately, if no tracking device is detected  730 , the transmission range of the tracking device can be restored  750  after a threshold amount of time has passed  745 . In either situation, if the edge of range state is still detected, after the transmission range of the tracking device is restored, the process  700  can be repeated. Otherwise, the process  700  ends. 
     Additional Considerations 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. 
     Any of the devices or systems described herein can be implemented by one or more computing devices. A computing device can include a processor, a memory, a storage device, an I/O interface, and a communication interface, which may be communicatively coupled by way of communication infrastructure. Additional or alternative components may be used in other embodiments. In particular embodiments, a processor includes hardware for executing computer program instructions by retrieving the instructions from an internal register, an internal cache, or other memory or storage device, and decoding and executing them. The memory can be used for storing data or instructions for execution by the processor. The memory can be any suitable storage mechanism, such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, solid state memory, and the like. The storage device can store data or computer instructions, and can include a hard disk drive, flash memory, an optical disc, or any other suitable storage device. The I/O interface allows a user to interact with the computing device, and can include a mouse, keypad, keyboard, touch screen interface, and the like. The communication interface can include hardware, software, or a combination of both, and can provide one or more interfaces for communication with other devices or entities. 
     Some portions of this description describe the embodiments of the invention in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on information. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are commonly used by those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work effectively to others skilled in the art. These operations, while described functionally, computationally, or logically, are understood to be implemented by computer programs or equivalent electrical circuits, microcode, or the like. Furthermore, it has also proven convenient at times, to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules, without loss of generality. The described operations and their associated modules may be embodied in software, firmware, hardware, or any combinations thereof. 
     Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein may be performed or implemented with one or more hardware or software modules, alone or in combination with other devices. In one embodiment, a software module is implemented with a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code, which can be executed by a computer processor for performing any or all of the steps, operations, or processes described. 
     Embodiments of the invention may also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, and/or it may comprise a general-purpose computing device selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, which may be coupled to a computer system bus. Furthermore, any computing systems referred to in the specification may include a single processor or may be architectures employing multiple processor designs for increased computing capability. 
     Embodiments of the invention may also relate to a product that is produced by a computing process described herein. Such a product may comprise information resulting from a computing process, where the information is stored on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium and may include any embodiment of a computer program product or other data combination described herein. 
     Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.