Abstract: Power can be preserved in a tracking device equipped with a GPS receiver and a transceiver by evaluating the proximity of the tracking device to a mobile device and enabling the GPS receiver and transceiver only in the event that the tracking device is out of the range of the mobile device. Once enabled, the location of the tracking device can be determined based on location information received from the GPS receiver. The determined location can be provided to a tracking system associated with the tracking device. The tracking system can then inform an owner of the tracking device of the determined location. Once the tracking device has been found, the GPS receiver and the transceiver can be disabled to save additional power.

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.

Abstract: A tracking device can be reconfigured after an amount of operation to preserve the battery capacity of the tracking device and to ensure that the tracking device can be operated for a pre-determined threshold period of time. The tracking device can provide diagnostic information representative of a state of the tracking device, such as a current power capacity of the tracking device's battery, to a mobile device within a threshold proximity of the tracking device. The mobile device can then provide the diagnostic information to a tracking server, which in turn can provide reconfiguration instructions to the mobile device. The mobile device can then pass on the reconfiguration instructions to the tracking device, in response to which the tracking device can reconfigure itself.

Abstract: A mobile device determines based on a signal strength threshold when tracking devices communicatively coupled to the mobile device are lost or left behind. The mobile device communicatively couples to a tracking device and receives a first signal transmitted by the tracking device with a signal strength greater than a signal strength threshold. The mobile device receives a second signal transmitted by the tracking device and determines a measure of signal strength based on the second signal. While the mobile device is still communicatively coupled to the tracking device, and responsive to determining that the measure of signal strength of the second signal is less than the signal strength threshold, the mobile device generates a notification that the tracking device may be lost or left behind to alert the user of the mobile device.

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.

Abstract: A method comprises accessing historical signal and other information received from a tracking device configured to scan for signals transmitted by local devices and record other data as the tracking device moves within the geographic area during each of a plurality time intervals. A training dataset is generated based on the historical signal and other information and used to train a machine learning model configured to predict tracking device movement patterns. The machine learning model is applied to current signal and other information to detect a variance from one or more predefined routines associated with the tracking device. A notification is sent to a monitoring device associated with the tracking device in response to detecting the variance from the one or more predefined routines associated with the tracking device.

Abstract: A method for reducing power consumption of a mobile computing device is provided. The method includes receiving a signal from a tracking device associated with the mobile computing device indicating a detected movement of the tracking device. The method includes activating a location-detection receiver of the mobile computing device. The location-detection receiver is configured to indicate a location of the mobile computing device and a first location of the tracking device based on a proximity of the tracking device to the mobile computing device. The method includes determining, based on the proximity of the tracking device to the mobile computing device, an identity information of the tracking device, and providing, to a tracking system server, the first location and the identity information. In response to receiving a confirmation that the tracking system server has received the first location and the identity information, the method includes deactivating the location-detection receiver.

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.

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.

Abstract: A method includes providing, by a first computing device, and to a tracking device, a first request to locate the tracking device. The first request is provided via a first wireless communication network associated with the first computing device and the tracking device. The method includes receiving, from the tracking device, a first response via the first wireless communication network, determining that the tracking device is not within a threshold proximity of the first computing device, and providing, to a tracking system server, a second request to locate the tracking device. The second request is provided via a second wireless communication network associated with the first computing device and the tracking system server. The method includes receiving, by the first computing device, from the tracking system server, a second response via the second wireless communication network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, techniques include a method for preserving battery power in a tracking device that includes a first communication module, a second communication module, and a location determination unit where the first communication module, second communication module, and location determination unit are initially disabled. The method includes determining that lost conditions are satisfied. The method includes enabling the first communication module and determining that a wireless network compatible with the first communication module is not available before disabling the first communication module. The method includes enabling the second communication module and the location determination unit and determining a location of the tracking device based on location information received from the location determination unit.

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.

Abstract: A lost tracking device associated with a tracking system can be located by leveraging one or more community members by inviting these members to join a search party. Search party criteria can be identified and candidate search party members can be selected and invited based on the search party criteria. When invited candidate search party members accept the invitations, they are added to the search party. A last known location of the tracking device can be provided to the search party members, and the search party can remain in effect until the lost tracking device is located. The location of the lost tracking device is provided to the tracking system, which forwards it to the owner of the lost tracking device. A reward can be provided by the owner of the lost tracking device to the tracking system, which releases the reward to the search party member that located the lost tracking device.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a tracking system server, and from a first computing device of a plurality of computing devices, a request to locate a tracking device associated with the tracking system server. The request includes reward information for locating the tracking device. The method includes establishing, by the tracking system server, a search party for locating the tracking device in response to the request. The established search party includes one or more second computing devices of the plurality of computing devices. The method includes receiving, by the tracking system server, and from at least one of the one or more second computing devices, location information associated with the tracking device, and in response to receiving the location information associated with the tracking device, transmitting, by the tracking system server, the reward information to the at least one of the one or more second computing devices.

Abstract: A tracking device can securely communicate with a secondary device by generating a hash value based on the identity of the tracking device. If the secondary device cannot resolve the hash value, the hash value can be provided to a tracking server, such as a cloud server, for resolving the hash value. Upon resolving the hash value, the tracking server can store a location of the tracking device in association with the identity of the tracking device. To preserve power, the secondary device can activate location-detection functionality (such as a GPS receive) only in response to the detection of movement of the tracking device, can obtain location information, and can de-activate the location-detection functionality upon providing the location information to the tracking server. The tracking server can associate one or both of a previous location and the current location information based on movement of the tracking device.

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.

Abstract: A tracking system can provide intervention notifications to a user to notify the user that a tracking device is potentially lost or is in a predicted state. The tracking system may notify the user that a tracking device is potentially lost or in a predicted state based on a number of factors, including: a proximity of a tracking device to other tracking devices or a user's mobile device, a movement of a tracking device to more than a threshold distance away from a mobile device or other tracking devices, a location of a tracking device relative to a geographic location or to geographic boundaries, a usage or movement behavior of the tracking device, a usage or movement behavior of a user or owner of a tracking device, information received from an external source, or information received from sensors within the tracking device or a user's mobile.