Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of commissioning a third-party electronic device of a user for use with a tracking service includes detecting, by an application executing on the computing device of the user, the third-party electronic device within a communicative range of the computing device of the user. The third-party electronic device is not associated with the tracking service and is not communicatively coupled with the tracking service. The method includes initiating a commissioning exchange with the third-party electronic device. The method includes providing an output of the commissioning exchange to a tracking system server associated with the tracking service. The method includes receiving an acknowledgement that the third-party electronic device has been commissioned for use with the tracking service. The method includes providing, in response to the acknowledgement, a location associated with the third-party electronic device to the tracking system server.

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, a method includes storing, by a tracking system server, information identifying each of multiple first computing devices and a location of each computing device. The method includes receiving a request including an identifier for a second computing device and configuration instructions executable by the second computing device. The method includes determining a most recent location associated with the second computing device. The method includes identifying a computing device from the first computing devices based at least in part on the stored location of the computing device and the most recent location associated with the second computing device. The method includes sending, to the identified computing device, a forwarding request including the identifier for the second computing device and the configuration instructions. The identified computing device is configured to send the configuration instructions to the second computing device.

Abstract: An electronic device can be commissioned with an identifier for use in a centralized tracking system. The electronic device is assigned an interim unique identifier and authentication key, for instance by a manufacturer of the electronic device. The electronic device and the centralized tracking system each separately generate a permanent unique identifier and a permanent authentication key based on the interim unique identifier and interim authentication key, without requiring the permanent unique identifier and permanent authentication key from being transmitted between the electronic device and the central tracking server. Upon generating the permanent unique identifier and permanent authentication key, tracking device functionality can be enabled within the electronic device, enabling the electronic device to function as a tracking device within the centralized tracking system.

Abstract: A mobile phone connected to a tracking system detects the presence of a nearby tracking device. If the tracking device is detected for more than a threshold amount of time, the tracking system can instruct the mobile phone to generate a user notification prompting a user to claim ownership of the tracking device. After the user claims ownership of the tracking device, the mobile device provides the ownership claim to the tracking system which can associate the tracking device with that user's account in the tracking system, enabling the user to access features of the tracking device and tracking system reserved for owners of that tracking device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing, by a tracking system server, information identifying each of multiple first computing devices and a location of each computing device. The method includes receiving a request including an identifier for a second computing device and configuration instructions executable by the second computing device. The method includes determining a most recent location associated with the second computing device. The method includes identifying a computing device from the first computing devices based at least in part on the stored location of the computing device and the most recent location associated with the second computing device. The method includes sending, to the identified computing device, a forwarding request including the identifier for the second computing device and the configuration instructions. The identified computing device is configured to send the configuration instructions to the second computing device.

Abstract: A mobile phone connected to a tracking system detects the presence of a nearby tracking device. If the tracking device is detected for more than a threshold amount of time, the tracking system can instruct the mobile phone to generate a user notification prompting a user to claim ownership of the tracking device. After the user claims ownership of the tracking device, the mobile device provides the ownership claim to the tracking system which can associate the tracking device with that user's account in the tracking system, enabling the user to access features of the tracking device and tracking system reserved for owners of that tracking device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing, by a tracking system server, information identifying each computing device of multiple computing devices and a location of each computing device. The method includes receiving, by the tracking system server from a first computing device, a tracking device request including an identifier for a tracking device and instructions for the tracking device. The method includes identifying, by the tracking system server, a second computing device based on a location of the second computing device and a most recent location associated with the tracking device. The method includes sending, by the tracking system server to the second computing device, a tracking device forwarding request including the identifier for the tracking device and the instructions for the tracking device, wherein the second computing device is configured to send the instructions for the tracking device to the tracking device.

Abstract: A mobile phone connected to a tracking system detects the presence of a nearby tracking device. If the tracking device is detected for more than a threshold amount of time, the tracking system can instruct the mobile phone to generate a user notification prompting a user to claim ownership of the tracking device. After the user claims ownership of the tracking device, the mobile device provides the ownership claim to the tracking system which can associate the tracking device with that user's account in the tracking system, enabling the user to access features of the tracking device and tracking system reserved for owners of that tracking device.

Abstract: An electronic device can be commissioned with an identifier for use in a centralized tracking system. The electronic device is assigned an interim unique identifier and authentication key, for instance by a manufacturer of the electronic device. The electronic device and the centralized tracking system each separately generate a permanent unique identifier and a permanent authentication key based on the interim unique identifier and interim authentication key, without requiring the permanent unique identifier and permanent authentication key from being transmitted between the electronic device and the central tracking server. Upon generating the permanent unique identifier and permanent authentication key, tracking device functionality can be enabled within the electronic device, enabling the electronic device to function as a tracking device within the centralized tracking system.

Abstract: An electronic device can be commissioned with an identifier for use in a centralized tracking system. The electronic device is assigned an interim unique identifier and authentication key, for instance by a manufacturer of the electronic device. The electronic device and the centralized tracking system each separately generate a permanent unique identifier and a permanent authentication key based on the interim unique identifier and interim authentication key, without requiring the permanent unique identifier and permanent authentication key from being transmitted between the electronic device and the central tracking server. Upon generating the permanent unique identifier and permanent authentication key, tracking device functionality can be enabled within the electronic device, enabling the electronic device to function as a tracking device within the centralized tracking system.

Abstract: An electronic device can be commissioned with an identifier for use in a centralized tracking system. The electronic device is assigned an interim unique identifier and authentication key, for instance by a manufacturer of the electronic device. The electronic device and the centralized tracking system each separately generate a permanent unique identifier and a permanent authentication key based on the interim unique identifier and interim authentication key, without requiring the permanent unique identifier and permanent authentication key from being transmitted between the electronic device and the central tracking server. Upon generating the permanent unique identifier and permanent authentication key, tracking device functionality can be enabled within the electronic device, enabling the electronic device to function as a tracking device within the centralized tracking system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of commissioning a third-party electronic device of a user for use with a tracking service includes detecting, by an application executing on the computing device of the user, the third-party electronic device within a communicative range of the computing device of the user. The third-party electronic device is not associated with the tracking service and is not communicatively coupled with the tracking service. The method includes initiating a commissioning exchange with the third-party electronic device. The method includes providing an output of the commissioning exchange to a tracking system server associated with the tracking service. The method includes receiving an acknowledgement that the third-party electronic device has been commissioned for use with the tracking service. The method includes providing, in response to the acknowledgement, a location associated with the third-party electronic device to the tracking system server.

Abstract: An electronic device can be commissioned with an identifier for use in a centralized tracking system. The electronic device is assigned an interim unique identifier and authentication key, for instance by a manufacturer of the electronic device. The electronic device and the centralized tracking system each separately generate a permanent unique identifier and a permanent authentication key based on the interim unique identifier and interim authentication key, without requiring the permanent unique identifier and permanent authentication key from being transmitted between the electronic device and the central tracking server. Upon generating the permanent unique identifier and permanent authentication key, tracking device functionality can be enabled within the electronic device, enabling the electronic device to function as a tracking device within the centralized tracking system.

Abstract: An electronic device can be commissioned with an identifier for use in a centralized tracking system. The electronic device is assigned an interim unique identifier and authentication key, for instance by a manufacturer of the electronic device. The electronic device and the centralized tracking system each separately generate a permanent unique identifier and a permanent authentication key based on the interim unique identifier and interim authentication key, without requiring the permanent unique identifier and permanent authentication key from being transmitted between the electronic device and the central tracking server. Upon generating the permanent unique identifier and permanent authentication key, tracking device functionality can be enabled within the electronic device, enabling the electronic device to function as a tracking device within the centralized tracking system.

Abstract: A mobile phone connected to a tracking system detects the presence of a nearby tracking device. If the tracking device is detected for more than a threshold amount of time, the tracking system can instruct the mobile phone to generate a user notification prompting a user to claim ownership of the tracking device. After the user claims ownership of the tracking device, the mobile device provides the ownership claim to the tracking system which can associate the tracking device with that user's account in the tracking system, enabling the user to access features of the tracking device and tracking system reserved for owners of that tracking device.

Abstract: A tracking server stores information identifying one or more community mobile devices and information identifying one or more tracking devices within a proximity of each of the one or more community mobile devices. The tracking server receives a tracking device request from a mobile device. The tracking device request includes information identifying a tracking device and configuration instructions for configuring the tracking device. The tracking server identifies a community mobile device from the one or more community mobile devices within a proximity of the tracking device. The tracking server sends the tracking device request to the identified community mobile device. The identified community mobile device is configured to forward the tracking device request to the tracking device and the tracking device is configured to re-configure the tracking device based on the configuration instructions included in the tracking device request.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing, by a tracking system server, information identifying each computing device of multiple computing devices and a location of each computing device. The method includes receiving, by the tracking system server from a first computing device, a tracking device request including an identifier for a tracking device and instructions for the tracking device. The method includes identifying, by the tracking system server, a second computing device based on a location of the second computing device and a most recent location associated with the tracking device. The method includes sending, by the tracking system server to the second computing device, a tracking device forwarding request including the identifier for the tracking device and the instructions for the tracking device, wherein the second computing device is configured to send the instructions for the tracking device to the tracking device.

Abstract: A tracking server stores information identifying one or more community mobile devices and information identifying one or more tracking devices within a proximity of each of the one or more community mobile devices. The tracking server receives a tracking device request from a mobile device. The tracking device request includes information identifying a tracking device and configuration instructions for configuring the tracking device. The tracking server identifies a community mobile device from the one or more community mobile devices within a proximity of the tracking device. The tracking server sends the tracking device request to the identified community mobile device. The identified community mobile device is configured to forward the tracking device request to the tracking device and the tracking device is configured to re-configure the tracking device based on the configuration instructions included in the tracking device request.