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).
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Patent number: 11943680Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 17, 2020Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Tile, Inc.Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise
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Publication number: 20240056774Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: Jossie Haines, Josselin de la Broise, Steven R. Klinkner, Dan Danknick
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Publication number: 20240048943Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise
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Patent number: 11876892Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 17, 2023Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Tile, Inc.Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Ian Thomas Meyer
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Publication number: 20230388408Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Michael George Farley
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Publication number: 20230388800Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise
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Patent number: 11825382Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 18, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Tile, Inc.Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise
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Patent number: 11800326Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 10, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Tile, Inc.Inventors: Jossie Haines, Josselin de la Broise, Steven R. Klinkner, Dan Danknick
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Patent number: 11770711Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 21, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Tile, Inc.Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise
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Patent number: 11765263Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 22, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Tile, Inc.Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Michael George Farley
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Publication number: 20230283992Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2023Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventors: Omar Leyva, Christopher Brooks, Steven R. Klinkner, Cihang Yang, Eric Chiquillo, Andre Gatti
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Publication number: 20230260384Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2022Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: Jossie Haines, Josselin de la Broise, Steven R. Klinkner, Dan Danknick
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Publication number: 20230231710Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Ian Thomas Meyer
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Patent number: 11689891Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Tile, Inc.Inventors: Omar Leyva, Christopher Brooks, Steven R. Klinkner, Cihang Yang, Eric Chiquillo, Andre Gatti
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Publication number: 20230147188Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2023Publication date: May 11, 2023Inventor: Steven R. Klinkner
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Publication number: 20230136581Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise
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Patent number: 11641270Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 18, 2022Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: Tile, Inc.Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Ian Thomas Meyer
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Publication number: 20230132081Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Steven R. Klinkner, Josselin de la Broise, Michael George Farley
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Publication number: 20230058680Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: Jossie Haines, Josselin de la Broise, Steven R. Klinkner, Dan Danknick
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Publication number: 20230046992Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2021Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Omar Leyva, Christopher Brooks, Steven R. Klinkner, Cihang Yang, Eric Chiquillo, Andre Gatti