Patents by Inventor Steven R. Klinkner

Steven R. Klinkner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11979502
    Abstract: A tracking device can use a permanent encryption key pair to encrypt one or more temporary encryption key pairs, which can then be provided to a central tracking system. When a community mobile device subsequently detects the tracking device, the central tracking system provides an encrypted temporary encryption key pair to the community mobile device. The community mobile device uses the encrypted temporary encryption key pair to encrypt location data representative of a location of the community mobile device, and provides the encrypted location data to the central tracking system. When a user subsequently requests a location of the tracking device from the central tracking system, the central tracking system provides the encrypted location data, and a device of the user can decrypt the encrypted temporary encryption key pair using the permanent encryption key pair, and can decrypt the location data using the decrypted temporary encryption key pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Tile, Inc.
    Inventors: Rafael Marques Martins, Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Ian Thomas Meyer
  • Publication number: 20240129109
    Abstract: A tracking device can use a permanent encryption key pair to encrypt a temporary private key that corresponds to a set of diversified temporary public keys. When a community mobile device subsequently detects the tracking device, the central tracking system provides a diversified temporary public key to the community mobile device. The community mobile device uses the diversified temporary public key to encrypt location data representative of a location of the community mobile device, and provides the encrypted location data to the central tracking system. When a user subsequently requests a location of the tracking device from the central tracking system, the central tracking system provides the encrypted temporary private key and the encrypted location data to a device of the user, and the device can decrypt the encrypted temporary private key using the permanent encryption key pair, and decrypt the encrypted location data using the decrypted temporary private key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Ian Thomas Meyer
  • Patent number: 11943680
    Abstract: A tracking system determines a location of a tracking device associated with a user using one or more access points at the location. Each access point at the location is configured to detect and couple with the tracking device when the tracking device is within a communicative range of the access point. An access point provides updates on the tracking device's presence, as well as the tracking device's arrival to and departure from the communicative range of the access point, to a tracking server. The tracking server determines, from these updates, whether the tracking device is at the location. The user may be notified, via a mobile device, of the tracking device's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Tile, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise
  • Publication number: 20240056774
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method implemented by a computing device includes receiving a tracking signal from a tracking device, and determining an identification of the tracking device based on the tracking signal. The identification includes a unique identifier associated with the tracking device. The method further includes receiving, from a tracking system server, a device identifier and a device command associated with the tracking device. The device command corresponds to a feature of the tracking device. The method further includes determining whether the unique identifier determined by the computing device matches the device identifier received from the tracking system server, and in response to determining that the unique identifier matches the device identifier, transmitting the device command to the tracking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Jossie Haines, Josselin de la Broise, Steven R. Klinkner, Dan Danknick
  • Publication number: 20240048943
    Abstract: A tracking system determines a location of a tracking device associated with a user using one or more access points at the location. Each access point at the location is configured to detect and couple with the tracking device when the tracking device is within a communicative range of the access point. An access point provides updates on the tracking device's presence, as well as the tracking device's arrival to and departure from the communicative range of the access point, to a tracking server. The tracking server determines, from these updates, whether the tracking device is at the location. The user may be notified, via a mobile device, of the tracking device's location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise
  • Patent number: 11876892
    Abstract: A tracking device can use a permanent encryption key pair to encrypt a temporary private key that corresponds to a set of diversified temporary public keys. When a community mobile device subsequently detects the tracking device, the central tracking system provides a diversified temporary public key to the community mobile device. The community mobile device uses the diversified temporary public key to encrypt location data representative of a location of the community mobile device, and provides the encrypted location data to the central tracking system. When a user subsequently requests a location of the tracking device from the central tracking system, the central tracking system provides the encrypted temporary private key and the encrypted location data to a device of the user, and the device can decrypt the encrypted temporary private key using the permanent encryption key pair, and decrypt the encrypted location data using the decrypted temporary private key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Tile, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Ian Thomas Meyer
  • Publication number: 20230388408
    Abstract: An electronic device with a primary functionality and a tracking functionality can be used in a centralized tracking system. A controller configures the electronic device to operate in one of a set of: an “on” mode, an “off” mode, a first standby mode, and a tracking standby mode. While configured to operate in the “on” mode, the primary and tracking functionality of the electronic device are enabled, and while configured to operate in the “off” mode, both are disabled. While configured to operate in the first standby mode, the tracking functionality is enabled and the primary functionality is limited. While configured to operate in the tracking standby mode, the primary functionality is disabled but the tracking functionality is enabled, enabling the electronic device to be located while the primary functionality is disabled and saving power relative to the first standby mode and the “on” mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Michael George Farley
  • Publication number: 20230388800
    Abstract: A tracking device can provide a hashed identifier to a mobile device, for instance within an advertisement packet. The mobile device can query each of a plurality of entities with the hashed identifier to identify an entity associated with the hash key used to generate the hashed identifier. In some embodiments, the mobile device can query a centralized key server, which in turn can query the plurality of entities to identify the entity associated with the hash key. The mobile device can then receive a public key from the identified entity, can determine a location of the mobile device, and can encrypt the location with the public key. The mobile device can then provide the hashed identifier and the encrypted location to the identified entity, which can provide the encrypted location to an owner of the tracking device for decryption using a private key corresponding to the public key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise
  • Patent number: 11825382
    Abstract: A tracking system determines a location of a tracking device associated with a user using one or more access points at the location. Each access point at the location is configured to detect and couple with the tracking device when the tracking device is within a communicative range of the access point. An access point provides updates on the tracking device's presence, as well as the tracking device's arrival to and departure from the communicative range of the access point, to a tracking server. The tracking server determines, from these updates, whether the tracking device is at the location. The user may be notified, via a mobile device, of the tracking device's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Tile, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise
  • Patent number: 11800326
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a tracking system server, an instruction from relating to a feature of a second computing device. The method includes, in response to receiving a notification that a third computing device has received a tracking signal from the second computing device, transmitting an instruction for the second computing device relating to the feature to the third computing device. The method includes receiving a response message indicating that the second computing device has not received the instruction for the second computing device and transmitting a request to retransmit the instruction to the second computing device. The method includes receiving a response message from the third computing device indicating that the second computing device has acknowledged the instruction and transmitting a response message to the first computing device indicating that the second computing device has acknowledged the instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Tile, Inc.
    Inventors: Jossie Haines, Josselin de la Broise, Steven R. Klinkner, Dan Danknick
  • Patent number: 11770711
    Abstract: A tracking device can provide a hashed identifier to a mobile device, for instance within an advertisement packet. The mobile device can query each of a plurality of entities with the hashed identifier to identify an entity associated with the hash key used to generate the hashed identifier. In some embodiments, the mobile device can query a centralized key server, which in turn can query the plurality of entities to identify the entity associated with the hash key. The mobile device can then receive a public key from the identified entity, can determine a location of the mobile device, and can encrypt the location with the public key. The mobile device can then provide the hashed identifier and the encrypted location to the identified entity, which can provide the encrypted location to an owner of the tracking device for decryption using a private key corresponding to the public key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Tile, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise
  • Patent number: 11765263
    Abstract: An electronic device with a primary functionality and a tracking functionality can be used in a centralized tracking system. A controller configures the electronic device to operate in one of a set of: an “on” mode, an “off” mode, a first standby mode, and a tracking standby mode. While configured to operate in the “on” mode, the primary and tracking functionality of the electronic device are enabled, and while configured to operate in the “off” mode, both are disabled. While configured to operate in the first standby mode, the tracking functionality is enabled and the primary functionality is limited. While configured to operate in the tracking standby mode, the primary functionality is disabled but the tracking functionality is enabled, enabling the electronic device to be located while the primary functionality is disabled and saving power relative to the first standby mode and the “on” mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Tile, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Michael George Farley
  • Publication number: 20230283992
    Abstract: Communication between an owner of a lost tracking device and a finder of a lost tracking device is established. A tracking system receives an identifier of a tracking device and a request for a web page from a mobile device that has captured an image of a smart code on the tracking device. The smart code is embedded with a URL to the web page. The system displays the web page on the mobile device and prompts the user to provide a location of the mobile device. The location is associated with the identifier of the tracking device. A notification indicating the location of the tracking device is generated for the owner. The owner is prompted to provide information to establish contact with the finder of the device, and the web page is populated with the owner's provided information for display on the finder's mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Omar Leyva, Christopher Brooks, Steven R. Klinkner, Cihang Yang, Eric Chiquillo, Andre Gatti
  • Publication number: 20230260384
    Abstract: Unauthorized tracking devices, including those that change their identification information periodically, are detected to protect an individual's privacy. A privacy system can implement a number of anti-stalking features to protect against such unauthorized tracking devices. The privacy system, upon determining that an unauthorized tracking device is mirroring a user's movements, can enable the user to “ring” the tracking device in order to allow the user to locate the unauthorized device. The privacy system, in response to determining that the tracking device or the owner of the tracking device satisfy one or more stalking conditions, can notify a user that the tracking device satisfies the stalking conditions. Finally, the privacy system enables users to disable access to location information from the tracking device to owners of the tracking device in the event that the tracking device is deemed unauthorized by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Jossie Haines, Josselin de la Broise, Steven R. Klinkner, Dan Danknick
  • Publication number: 20230231710
    Abstract: A tracking device can use a permanent encryption key pair to encrypt a temporary private key that corresponds to a set of diversified temporary public keys. When a community mobile device subsequently detects the tracking device, the central tracking system provides a diversified temporary public key to the community mobile device. The community mobile device uses the diversified temporary public key to encrypt location data representative of a location of the community mobile device, and provides the encrypted location data to the central tracking system. When a user subsequently requests a location of the tracking device from the central tracking system, the central tracking system provides the encrypted temporary private key and the encrypted location data to a device of the user, and the device can decrypt the encrypted temporary private key using the permanent encryption key pair, and decrypt the encrypted location data using the decrypted temporary private key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Ian Thomas Meyer
  • Patent number: 11689891
    Abstract: Communication between an owner of a lost tracking device and a finder of a lost tracking device is established. A tracking system receives an identifier of a tracking device and a request for a web page from a mobile device that has captured an image of a smart code on the tracking device. The smart code is embedded with a URL to the web page. The system displays the web page on the mobile device and prompts the user to provide a location of the mobile device. The location is associated with the identifier of the tracking device. A notification indicating the location of the tracking device is generated for the owner. The owner is prompted to provide information to establish contact with the finder of the device, and the web page is populated with the owner's provided information for display on the finder's mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Tile, Inc.
    Inventors: Omar Leyva, Christopher Brooks, Steven R. Klinkner, Cihang Yang, Eric Chiquillo, Andre Gatti
  • Publication number: 20230147188
    Abstract: Unauthorized tracking devices, including those that change their identification information periodically, are detected to protect an individual's privacy. A mobile device of a user detects a first advertisement signal from an unknown wireless device, the first advertisement signal containing information representative of the unknown device. Multiple advertisement signals may be received as the mobile device moves a distance greater than a broadcast range away from the location where the first signal was detected. Responsive to detecting a second advertisement signal containing the same identity information after the mobile device has moved at least the distance greater than the broadcast range away from the location where the first signal was detected, the system generates an interface on the mobile device. The generated interface indicates to a user of the mobile device the presence of an unknown device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventor: Steven R. Klinkner
  • Publication number: 20230136581
    Abstract: A tracking system can provide configuration instructions to an electronic device based on user presence. The tracking system can determine a user’s location relative to a geographic boundary surrounding a geographic area associated with the user. Depending on the user’s location, the tracking system may send instructions to configure an electronic device to send a notification or change the operating mode of the electronic device in response to the user’s presence. The electronic device may be a scanning device that is configured to have a higher or lower scanning frequency, depending on the presence or absence of the user relative to the scanning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise
  • Patent number: 11641270
    Abstract: A tracking device can use a permanent encryption key pair to encrypt a temporary private key that corresponds to a set of diversified temporary public keys. When a community mobile device subsequently detects the tracking device, the central tracking system provides a diversified temporary public key to the community mobile device. The community mobile device uses the diversified temporary public key to encrypt location data representative of a location of the community mobile device, and provides the encrypted location data to the central tracking system. When a user subsequently requests a location of the tracking device from the central tracking system, the central tracking system provides the encrypted temporary private key and the encrypted location data to a device of the user, and the device can decrypt the encrypted temporary private key using the permanent encryption key pair, and decrypt the encrypted location data using the decrypted temporary private key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Tile, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Ian Thomas Meyer
  • Publication number: 20230132081
    Abstract: An electronic device with a primary functionality and a tracking functionality can be used in a centralized tracking system. A controller configures the electronic device to operate in one of a set of: an “on” mode, an “off” mode, a first standby mode, and a tracking standby mode. While configured to operate in the “on” mode, the primary and tracking functionality of the electronic device are enabled, and while configured to operate in the “off” mode, both are disabled. While configured to operate in the first standby mode, the tracking functionality is enabled and the primary functionality is limited. While configured to operate in the tracking standby mode, the primary functionality is disabled but the tracking functionality is enabled, enabling the electronic device to be located while the primary functionality is disabled and saving power relative to the first standby mode and the “on” mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Michael George Farley