Patent Publication Number: US-2019174265-A1

Title: Method and Apparatus for Locating a Device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/867,578, having a filing date of Jan. 10, 2018, and titled “Method and Apparatus for Locating a Device,” which claims the benefits of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/444,466, having a filing date of Jan. 10, 2017, and titled “Method and Apparatus for Locating a Device.” The contents of the above-identified Applications are relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a method and apparatus for locating a device. 
     It is a common problem that items are misplaced, moved by another individual or pet, fallen in between furniture cushions, or otherwise are lost and unable to be located. Typically, the current solution to such a problem is retracing one&#39;s steps, searching an area, and/or inquiring with individuals as to the item&#39;s last known location. 
     Previous work has attempted to address this issue with remote controls which, when activated, sends a signal to a remote device and instructs that device to make an audible noise in order to help the user find the lost remote device. However, for users who have hearing impairments or do not want to wake other individuals in the vicinity, this method can be limiting. This method is even more limiting when the lost device is out of earshot of the user. 
     Others have used a remote device and paired it with the user&#39;s cell phone using short wave Bluetooth®, and once the remote device leaves the Bluetooth range of the user&#39;s cell phone the last known location of the device is generally recorded and given to the user. However, if the remote device is moved from this location, the new or current location of the lost device is typically unknown to the user. Additionally, generally the location given to the user is a relatively broad area based off of the errors of the GPS or other tracking methods used to identify the location of the cell phone, and so even though the user may be able to find a general location, locating the lost device within that location is typically still challenging and time consuming. 
     These solutions require an undue amount of time and frequently result in the item being permanently lost. Additionally, these solutions have various limitations which hinder the user&#39;s ability to find the lost device. Thus, what is needed is a new and efficient method for locating missing items which overcomes these limitations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a locating device system which comprises two main components, a tracking device and a target electronic device. Both of these components in various embodiments have a variety of signals which they emit and receive, as well as in many embodiments have one or more users which interact with the components. In many embodiments the tracking device guides the user of the tracking device to the lost target electronic device. 
     In some embodiments guiding the user of the tracking device involves the tracking device notifying the user that they are moving closer to or farther away from the lost target electronic device. 
     In some embodiments the tracking device and target electronic device emit either GPS signals, cellular signals, Wi-Fi signals, or combinations thereof, and guiding the user of the tracking device involves displaying a map which shows the location of the tracking device as well as the location of the lost target electronic device. 
     In some embodiments the devices use an indoor position system and guiding the user of the tracking device involves using the indoor positioning system to direct the user of the tracking device to the indoor location of the target electronic device. 
     In some embodiments the tracking and target electronic devices further comprise a camera and a gyroscope, and guiding the user of the tracking device involves correlating the visual and gyroscopic data from the movement of the target electronic device with the visual and gyroscopic data of the tracking device as a means of directing the user of the tracking device which direction to travel. 
     In some embodiments the target electronic device and the tracking device run off of a battery, and the device(s) notify the user of the device(s) when the battery is running low. 
     In some embodiments the target electronic device notifies the user of its location via an audible noise, vibrations, or combinations thereof. 
     In some embodiments the various signals emitted by the target electronic device and/or the tracking device can be turned on and off, and in other embodiments the signals are constantly emitting. In some embodiments where the target electronic device has signals which can be turned on and off, the tracking device emits a first signal which instructs the tracking device to turn its signals on and the tracking device emits a second signal which instructs the tracking device to turn its signals off. 
     In some embodiments billing servers are used in conjunction with the various signals emitted by the devices, and in other embodiments a database of information is used which stores signal data. In some embodiments with a database of information, a specific geofence is designated which defines a region, which, if the target electronic device deviates from the region, the device is considered lost. In some embodiments the geofence is created automatically by the database and in other embodiments it is created by the user. 
     In some embodiments a user account is connected with the tracking device and target electronic device such that a user can sign into the account from a third device such as a computer or mobile phone and view the locations of the tracking and target electronic devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a method and apparatus for locating a device in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a example of how the invention of  FIG. 1  helps the user find a device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows locating device system  1  consisting of three main components, target electronic device  10 , tracking device  20 , and transmission medium  30 . Target electronic device  10  and tracking device  20  include software in communication with hardware. The hardware on devices  10  and  20  are equipped to receive and transmit signals  40 - 70 , and communicate via signals  40  and  50 . Signals  40 - 70  are any signaling method, such as electromagnetic waves, audible waves, or mechanical waves. 
     In some embodiments target electronic device  10  is equipped with a sticker or electronic chip ( 90 ), the sticker or electronic chip further including software for communicating with hardware. In some embodiments the hardware is configured to receive and recognize signal  50 . In other embodiments the hardware is configured to emit signal  40 , in other embodiments the hardware is configures to emit signal  60 , and in other embodiments the hardware is configured to emit both of these signals. In one embodiment there is a plurality of target electronic devices  10 . Target electronic device  10  may be placed on any one or a number of commonly lost articles such as keys, wallets, purses, TV remotes, medicine bottles, cell phones, or the like. 
     In some embodiments, tracking device  20  includes hardware configured to receive and recognize signal  40  and also to emit a signal. In some embodiments the hardware is configured to emit signal  50 , in other embodiments signal  70 , and in other embodiments the hardware is configured to emit both of these signals. In some embodiments tracking device  20 &#39;s hardware is configured to emit signal  50  when prompted by user  80 , typically when target electronic device  10  is misplaced. In some embodiments, signal  50  is then received by the hardware of target electronic device  10 . In one embodiment there may be a plurality of tracking devices  20 . In some embodiments tracking device  20  comprises an application installed a device, such as a personal computer or cell phone, and in other embodiments tracking device  20  is a remote control or other similar stand-alone device. 
     In some embodiments, transmission medium  30  is included to facilitate communication ( 40  and  50 ) between target electronic device  10  and tracking device  20 . Transmission medium  30  may be any means of facilitating communication, such as electromagnetic waves, audible waves, mechanical waves, or the like. Transmission medium  30  also includes the devices used to propagate the signals  40 - 70 , such as satellites, cell towers, radio wave towers, or the like. In some embodiments communication occurs directly between target electronic device  10  and tracking device  20  without interception by any other devices therebetween. In other embodiments, transmission medium  30  includes one or more access points, computers, servers, networks, cellular networks, intranets, or the Internet. In other embodiments, target electronic device  10  is able to communicate with other target electronic devices  10 , or other tracking devices  20 , and tracking device  20  is able to communicate with other tracking devices  20  or other target electronic devices  10 . In some embodiments, all devices are able to communicate with one another over transmission medium  30 . In some embodiments transmission medium  30  facilitates communication according to any one or multiple communication protocols or standards such as 802.11, RFID, Bluetooth®, CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, infrared, Z-Wave®, 3G, 4G, or LTE. In some embodiments transmission medium  30  communicates over any one or multiple public or privately licensed communication bands such as 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, or 5 GHz. 
     In some embodiments, when signal  50  is received by target electronic device  10 &#39;s hardware, the hardware communicates with target electronic device  10 &#39;s software that a wireless signal has been received. If target electronic device  10 &#39;s hardware does not recognize signal  50 , it does nothing. If target electronic device  10 &#39;s hardware does recognize signal  50 , it communicates with target electronic device  10 &#39;s software which in turn instructs the hardware to emit a signal which aids in discovering the location of the target electronic device  10 . 
     In some embodiments user  80  interacts or communicates with and instructs or informs devices  10  and/or  20 . In some embodiments this interaction is via physical buttons located on the devices, in other embodiments a digital screen is provided. In some embodiments the digital screen is a visualization tool and interaction is still with physical buttons, keyboards, mice, or other similar input methods. In other embodiments the digital screen is touch sensitive and is equipped with virtual buttons, keyboards, mice, or other similar input methods. In some embodiments with a touch sensitive screen, user  80  still has the option to use physical input methods. In some embodiments separate devices are used to communicate with devices  10  and/or  20 . These other devices comprise other electronic devices such as computers or cell phones, other devices  10  and/or  20 , and the like. 
     In some embodiments, when prompted by user  80  to emit signal  50 , tracking device  20  will continually emit signal  50  until target electronic device  10  is found and user  80  prompts tracking device  20  to stop emitting signal  50 . In these embodiments target device  10  will emit signal(s)  40  and/or  60  the entire time it receives signal  50 . In other embodiments, when prompted by user  80  to emit signal  50 , tracking device  20  will emit a single pulse of signal  50 . Once target electronic device  10  is found and user  80  instructs tracking device  20  of this fact, tracking device  20  will emit a second single pulse of signal  50 . In these embodiments, signal  50  acts as an “on/off” switch for target electronic device  10 , which will emit signal(s)  40  and/or  60  after receiving the initial pulse of signal  50  and will continue to emit until it receives the second pulse of signal  50 . In some embodiments, target electronic device  10  is equipped with a way for user  80  to communicate that the device is found. In some of these embodiments, when prompted by user  80 , target electronic device  10  will emit signal  40  which will instruct tracking device  20  to either stop emitting signal  50  or to emit the second pulse of signal  50 , depending on the embodiments discussed above. In other embodiments target electronic device  10  is directly shut off via communication with user  80 , and does not depend on communication with tracking device  20 . 
     In another embodiment, multiple target electronic device  10   s  are each equipped with a sticker or electronic chip ( 90 ) that is unique to that electronic device. In some embodiments, software is configured on the sticker or electronic chip for altering the association of the specific target electronic device  10  with the specific sticker or electronic chip  90  so that any sticker or electronic chip  90  can be paired with any target electronic device  10  and any tracking device  20 . In some embodiments each unique target electronic device  10  is configured to emit unique signals  40  or  60  when that specific target electronic device  10  receives and recognizes the unique signal  50  from tracking device  20 . In some embodiments tracking device  20  is configured to store in memory the unique signal  50  that is associated with each unique target electronic device  10 . 
     In some embodiments, tracking device  20  has the option of being utilized to locate multiple target electronic devices  10  individually. These embodiments are useful as it allows a single tracking device  20  to track and help locate multiple target electronic devices  10 . This saves user  80  from having to own an individual tracking device  20  for each target electronic device  10 , saving them the cost of purchasing multiple unnecessary tracking devices as well as the hassle of remembering and finding the specific tracking device  20  which syncs with the desired target electronic device  10 . In other embodiments a single target electronic device  10  can be paired with multiple tracking device  20   s . These embodiments are useful as multiple family members often want to track and locate a single target electronic device  10 , such as a shared item like car keys, garage door opener, or TV remote. This way each family member can have their own tracking device  20 , limiting the possibility that tracking device  20  gets lost or misplaced while being shared among different individuals. 
     In some embodiments, if a desired target electronic device  10  is out of range of a requesting tracking device  20 , transmission medium  30  senses this and recruits further devices, towers, or servers to propagate the signal until the desired target electronic device  10  is reached. In some embodiments transmission medium  30  detects when target electronic device  10  has responded either by sensing signal  40  directly, or by receiving signal  40  from another device, including another target electronic device  10 , the requesting tracking device  20 , another tracking device  20 , or any other device connected to transmission medium  30 . In such a way, transmission medium  30  may be organized according to any one or multiple network topologies such as hub-and-spoke, ring, star, or full mesh. 
     In some embodiments target electronic device  10  emits an audible noise as signal  60  such that user  80  within earshot of target electronic device  10  can hear and find the lost device. In some embodiments where user  80  can directly interact with target electronic device  10 , user  80  can inform target electronic device  10  that tracking device  20  is misplaced. In these embodiments, target electronic device  10  will emit signal  40  and instruct tracking device  20  to emit an audible noise as signal  70 . In other embodiments, signals  60  and  70  are vibrations of devices  10  or  20 , respectively. This embodiments is useful for those with hearing impairments who may not be able to hear but could see or feel the movement of the nearby devices. 
     The above embodiments are useful when user  80  is located near where the lost target electronic device  10  is located and would be able to audibly or physically detect the proximal device. However, in many instances target electronic device  10  is lost at an unknown or distant place, thus simply having an auditory or vibration signal would not aid user  80  in finding the lost device. Thus, in some embodiments, tracking device  20  is equipped with a screen which shows or otherwise guides user  80  to the location of target electronic device  10 . 
     In some embodiments target electronic device  10  uses GPS as a means of denoting its location, in other embodiments Cell Tower Triangulation methods are used to triangulate its location, in other embodiments Wi-Fi Triangulation methods, and in other embodiments a combination of the above listed methods are used. In some embodiments the GPS and/or triangulation signals  40  are constantly on, and in other embodiments they only turn on when target electronic device  10  receives signal  50  from tracking device  20 . Similarly, in some embodiments tracking device  20  uses GPS as a means of denoting its location, in other embodiments Cell Tower Triangulation methods are used to triangulate its location, in other embodiments Wi-Fi Triangulation methods, and in other embodiments a combination of the above listed methods are used. In some embodiments the GPS and/or triangulation signals  50  are constantly on, and in other embodiments they only turn on when user  80  instructs tracking device  20  to turn the various signals on. In these embodiments transmission medium  30  consists of the various satellites, cell towers, radio towers, or other propagation methods that help transmit and spread signals  40  and/or  50 . In other embodiments internal gyroscopes are added to target electronic device  10 , in some embodiments internal accelerometers, and in other embodiments a combination of an internal gyroscope and accelerometer. In some embodiments one or both of the internal accelerometer and gyroscope are added to tracking device  20 . 
     While GPS and cell towers help in finding the general location of target electronic device  10  they often have a relatively large margin of error and have limitations within buildings. In order to overcome these limitations, in some embodiments target electronic device  10  and tracking device  20  are equipped with indoor positioning systems. In some embodiments the intensity of signal  40  received by tracking device  20  informs user  80  if they are moving closer to or farther away from target electronic device  10 . In some embodiments the direction of signal  40  also aids in locating target electronic device  10 . In some embodiments target electronic device  10  and tracking device  20  taps into the pre-determined signal area map of the location in which they are located. Based off of the unique Wi-Fi or other signal strength and additional factors, both device  20  and  10  will identify where in the building they are located and tracking devices  20  will guide user  80  to target electronic device  10 . In some embodiments user  80  has the ability to map a location themselves, such as a home or office, in order to use the pre-determined signal map area to find target electronic device  10  in a commonly visited location where things are more likely to be misplaced. 
       FIG. 2  shows how in some embodiments tracking device  20  guides user  80  to target electronic device  10 . In some embodiments, tracking device  20  will display on a map the current location of tracking device  20  ( 100 ) and the current location of target electronic device  10  ( 110 ). In other embodiments device  20  will give directions from its current location to the location of target electronic device  10 . For the example seen in  FIG. 2 , directions include: Enter street  120 , in 0.2 miles turn right on street  130 , in 0.3 miles turn left on street  140 , in 0.2 turn right on street  150 , and find device  10  on your left in 0.1 miles at location  110 . In some embodiments the general direction in which target electronic device  10  is located in relationship to tracking device  20  will be provided on tracking device  20 . 
     In other embodiments cameras are included on both device  20  and  10 . In some embodiments the camera function of target electronic device  10  is in a constantly monitoring state which aids user  80  in visually retracing their steps. For the purposes of this application, visual data includes both individual images as well as videos or multiple images converged into a video. In some embodiments tracking device  20  uses the visual data obtained by target electronic device  10  to guide user  80  to the location of target electronic device  10 . This is completed by correlating internal gyroscopic data with similar street signs, buildings, decorations, or other identifying information and instructing user  80  which direction to move which would be the same direction target electronic device  10  moved. For example, using  FIG. 2 , tracking device  20  would show user  80  that target electronic device  10  was moved from initial location  100  out left on street  120  (by correlating square  160  with internal gyroscopic data), then turned right on street  130  (correlating circle  170  with internal gyroscopic data), then turned left on street  140  (correlating triangle  180  with internal gyroscopic data), then turned right on street  150  (correlating cross  190  with internal gyroscopic data), and finally turned left and entered location  110 . 
     In other embodiments the camera function of target electronic device  10  turns on when it receives signal  50  from tracking device  20 . This embodiment is useful for conserving battery life and can be used to take an image or a video of the current location of target electronic device  10  which may help user  80  determine the location of the device based on its surroundings. 
     In some embodiments user  80  must create an online account and sync devices  10  and  20  to that account. In some of these embodiments, user  80  can sign in to their account from any internet accessible device and view the location of devices  10  and  20 . These embodiments help a user  80  who may have lost tracking device  20 , or both tracking device  20  and target electronic device  10 . 
     In further embodiments of the invention, transmission medium  30  includes any one or more enhancement devices such as billing servers, accounting servers, satellite uplinks, account-linked databases, or the like. In some embodiments, enhancement devices are able to provide enhanced services. In one embodiment, each time a target electronic device  10  is found, its location is entered into a server database. Discovery of the location may be by target electronic device  10 , tracking device  20 , or transmission medium  30  using a GPS, radio, or triangulation techniques. Once entered into the database, a history of each target electronic device  10  is stored and queried to determine a likely location of a lost article. In another embodiment, target electronic device  10  may intermittently report its location to the database in order to keep its history current. 
     In some embodiments the database may be accessed by an analytics server for providing a variety of different analysis algorithms. In some embodiments the analytics server may periodically or automatically determine when target electronic devices  10  is likely to be lost, for instance, by associating its location with being outside of the bounds of what is typical for its history. In some embodiments this determination occurs instantly and in other embodiments a variable timer is set to make such a determination after a given period elapses in the abnormal location. In some embodiments user  80  can set the given time period, and in others the given time period is automatically defined. In some embodiments the analytics server is configured to be in communication with user  80 &#39;s contact information in order to alert them when target electronic device  10  is believed to be lost, and in other embodiments the analytics server communicates directly through tracking device  20 . 
     In some embodiments user  80  can define a specific geofence, which, if target electronic devices  10  deviates outside of the defined geofence, target electronic device  10  is automatically defined as being lost. In some embodiments a geofence is a specific area within a latitude and longitude coordinates. In other embodiments a geofence is an area within the range of a specific Wi-Fi network, and in other embodiments an area within the range of a specific cellular network. In some embodiments, if target electronic device  10  is placed back inside of the defined geofence, target electronic device  10  is automatically defined as no longer being lost, and in other embodiments user  80  must specifically inform the database that target electronic device  10  was found. 
     In some embodiments the geofence is automatically defined by the analytics server. In some embodiments the geofence is set by typical locations for target electronic device  10 . In some embodiments multiple discrete geofence locations are possible. For example, using  FIG. 2 , if user  80 &#39;s briefcase or other work related item is typically located at user  80 &#39;s house ( 100 ) or office ( 110 ), in some embodiments the geofence would be defined as being the area that contains both of these locations (such as the entire map shown in  FIG. 2 ) and in other embodiments the geofence would be the area around  100  and the area around  110 . In some embodiments where there are two separate geofence locations, target electronic device  10  will not be marked as lost unless a certain amount of time passes when leaving a first geofence location to when it enters a second geofence location. 
     In one embodiment, transmission medium  30  may operate free of cost. In another embodiment, a billing server may be provided in order to provide a fee-for-service model. In some embodiments the billing server keeps track of the number of target electronic devices  10  owned by a given user  80  in order to charge a subscription based on the number of devices. In other embodiments the billing server charges user  80  based on the number of times they attempt to locate a lost item, in some embodiments referred to as lost item requests. In this way, a promotional number of target electronic devices  10  or lost item requests may be packaged with another retail device or service, such as a cell phone or a cell phone plan. In some embodiments user  80  is able to purchase a plan for further target electronic devices  10  or lost item requests. In some embodiments these billing servers will charge a flat rate based on the number of devices user  80  has in their possession, and in other embodiments a flat rate based on the amount of data generated or stored by user  80 . 
     In some embodiments target electronic devices  10  are placed on discoverable items similar to a scavenger hunt. When all or the required number of items have been found by a contestant, servers on the transmission medium  30  may declare a winner and award a prize. 
     In some embodiments devices  10  and  20  have batteries which are non-rechargeable and must be replaced when exhausted. In other embodiments devices  10  and  20  have rechargeable batteries. In some embodiments target electronic device  10  will notify tracking device  20  when it has a low battery which needs to be replaced or recharged. In some embodiments this notification is via direct communication with tracking device  20 . In other embodiments where user  80  creates an account, target electronic device  10  or tracking device  20  communicate with the account servers which send a notification to user  80 &#39;s contact information. In some embodiments target electronic device  10  or tracking device  20  will emit an audible sound as signal  60  or  70 , respectively, notifying user  80  that the batteries are low. 
     It will be appreciated that target electronic device  10 , tracking device  20 , and devices on transmission medium  30  may include any necessary hardware and/or software to communicate with one another. Such hardware and/or software may include a general purpose processor or CPU, an application specific integrated circuit or ASIC, and an antenna or antennas. 
     In some embodiments the default language is English. In other embodiments the default language can be set by the user. In other embodiments the language can be changed by the user. 
     These descriptions and drawings are exemplary of specific embodiments only and are not intended to be limiting to the scope of the invention defined in the claims.