Abstract: A method for commissioning a third-party electronic device for use with a tracking service via an application associated with the tracking service and executing on a computing device of the user includes, in response to receiving the indication that a first permanent unique identifier matches to a second permanent unique identifier: providing, by the computing device, a location associated with the third-party electronic device to the tracking system server, in which, after the third-party electronic device is commissioned for use with the tracking service, the third-party electronic device ceases communicating directly with the tracking system server, and receiving, by the computing device, an updated location associated with the third-party electronic device from the tracking system server, in which the updated location was reported to the tracking system server by one of a plurality of other computing devices associated with the tracking server after communicatively coupling with the third-party electronic

Abstract: One or more features of a tracking device can be disabled if the tracking device is lost. A tracking device is associated with a first mobile device, which can remotely control the tracking device via a tracking server. The tracking server receives an instruction from the first mobile device to disable a feature of the tracking device. The tracking server also receives a notification from a second mobile device that the second mobile device is within a communication range of the tracking device. In response to receiving the instruction and the notification, the tracking server transmits the instruction for the tracking device to disable the feature to the second mobile device. The tracking device receives the instruction to disable the feature from the second mobile device. In response to receiving the instruction to disable the feature, the tracking device disables the feature according to the instruction.

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.

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: 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.

Abstract: One or more features of a tracking device can be disabled if the tracking device is lost. A tracking device is associated with a first mobile device, which can remotely control the tracking device via a tracking server. The tracking server receives an instruction from the first mobile device to disable a feature of the tracking device. The tracking server also receives a notification from a second mobile device that the second mobile device is within a communication range of the tracking device. In response to receiving the instruction and the notification, the tracking server transmits the instruction for the tracking device to disable the feature to the second mobile device. The tracking device receives the instruction to disable the feature from the second mobile device. In response to receiving the instruction to disable the feature, the tracking device disables the feature according to the instruction.

Abstract: One or more features of a tracking device can be disabled if the tracking device is lost. A tracking device is associated with a first mobile device, which can remotely control the tracking device via a tracking server. The tracking server receives an instruction from the first mobile device to disable a feature of the tracking device. The tracking server also receives a notification from a second mobile device that the second mobile device is within a communication range of the tracking device. In response to receiving the instruction and the notification, the tracking server transmits the instruction for the tracking device to disable the feature to the second mobile device. The tracking device receives the instruction to disable the feature from the second mobile device. In response to receiving the instruction to disable the feature, the tracking device disables the feature according to the instruction.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a tracking system server, an instruction from a first computing device relating to a feature of a second computing device having a tracking component and a functional component. The method includes receiving a notification from a third computing device that the second computing device has received a tracking signal from the tracking component. The method includes, in response to receiving the instruction and the notification, transmitting, by the tracking system server to the third computing device, an instruction for the second computing device relating to the feature, the third computing device configured to provide the instruction to the tracking component of the second computing device.

Abstract: One or more features of a tracking device can be disabled if the tracking device is lost. A tracking device is associated with a first mobile device, which can remotely control the tracking device via a tracking server. The tracking server receives an instruction from the first mobile device to disable a feature of the tracking device. The tracking server also receives a notification from a second mobile device that the second mobile device is within a communication range of the tracking device. In response to receiving the instruction and the notification, the tracking server transmits the instruction for the tracking device to disable the feature to the second mobile device. The tracking device receives the instruction to disable the feature from the second mobile device. In response to receiving the instruction to disable the feature, the tracking device disables the feature according to the instruction.

Abstract: One or more features of a tracking device can be disabled if the tracking device is lost. A tracking device is associated with a first mobile device, which can remotely control the tracking device via a tracking server. The tracking server receives an instruction from the first mobile device to disable a feature of the tracking device. The tracking server also receives a notification from a second mobile device that the second mobile device is within a communication range of the tracking device. In response to receiving the instruction and the notification, the tracking server transmits the instruction for the tracking device to disable the feature to the second mobile device. The tracking device receives the instruction to disable the feature from the second mobile device. In response to receiving the instruction to disable the feature, the tracking device disables the feature according to the instruction.

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 includes receiving, by a tracking system server, an instruction from a first computing device relating to a feature of a second computing device having a tracking component and a functional component. The method includes receiving a notification from a third computing device that the second computing device has received a tracking signal from the tracking component. The method includes, in response to receiving the instruction and the notification, transmitting, by the tracking system server to the third computing device, an instruction for the second computing device relating to the feature, the third computing device configured to provide the instruction to the tracking component of the second computing device.

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.