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: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a first computing device from a user of the first computing device, a request to locate a tracking device associated with the first computing device. The method includes sending, by the first computing device to a tracking system server in response to receiving the request to locate the tracking device from the user of the first computing device, a request for a location of the tracking device. The method includes receiving, by the first computing device from the tracking system server, a location of the tracking device, the location of the tracking device being a location associated with the tracking device determined by a second computing device of the plurality of computing devices and provided by the second computing device in response to the second computing device receiving a signal from the tracking device.

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 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: 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 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: 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: 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: In one embodiment, techniques include a method that includes determining, based at least on historical usage information of a tracking device and tracking device diagnostic information, a length of time the tracking device can continue to operate. The method includes determining that the length of time does not satisfy a first power condition out of one or more power conditions. The method includes determining reconfiguration instructions for the tracking device based at least on the historical usage information, tracking device diagnostic information, and projected usage information of the tracking device. The reconfiguration instructions are selected to cause the tracking device to satisfy the one or more power conditions. The method includes storing the reconfiguration instructions for the tracking device in a database in association with a flag indicating that pending reconfiguration instructions are available for the tracking device.

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: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a tracking server, tracking device diagnostic information and user device diagnostic information. The method includes retrieving, by the tracking server, a power consumption model for a tracking device based on the tracking device diagnostic information. The method includes revising, by the tracking server, the power consumption model for the tracking device based on the tracking device diagnostic information and the user device diagnostic information. The method includes determining, by the tracking server, reconfiguration instructions for the tracking device based on the revised power consumption model. The reconfiguration instructions are selected to cause the tracking device to satisfy one or more power conditions. The method includes providing, by the tracking server, the reconfiguration instructions to the 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 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: In one embodiment, a method includes providing, by a tracking system, an application associated with the tracking system configured to cause a computing device to determine and send a location associated with a tracking device and an identity of the tracking device in response to the computing device receiving a signal from the tracking device. The method includes receiving, by a tracking system server, from a first computing device executing the application associated with the tracking system, a location associated with the tracking device and the identity of the tracking device. The method includes receiving, by the tracking system server from a second computing device, a request to locate the tracking device. The method includes providing, by the tracking system server to the second computing device, the location associated with the tracking device received from the first computing 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: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a first computing device from a tracking system server, a request to locate a tracking device, the request comprising an identifier for the tracking device. The method includes receiving a signal from a tracking device in an environment of the first computing device, the signal including an identifier for the tracking device in the environment of the first computing device. The method includes determining that the tracking device in the environment of the first computing device is the tracking device of the request to locate the tracking device by comparing the identifier for the tracking device received from the tracking system server and the identifier for the tracking device in the environment of the first computing device. The method includes providing, to the tracking system server, the location associated with the tracking device and the identifier for the tracking device.