Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

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: 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 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: 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.

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: 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.

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 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 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.

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 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 device can use a permanent encryption key pair to encrypt one or more temporary encryption key pairs, which can then be provided to a central tracking system. When a community mobile device subsequently detects the tracking device, the central tracking system provides an encrypted temporary encryption key pair to the community mobile device. The community mobile device uses the encrypted temporary encryption key pair 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 location data, and a device of the user can decrypt the encrypted temporary encryption key pair using the permanent encryption key pair, and can decrypt the location data using the decrypted temporary encryption key pair.

Abstract: A tracking system can provide smart alerts based on a user's location. The tracking system can receive a location of a user's mobile device and establish a geographic boundary around the location if the mobile device remains at the location for a threshold amount of time. The tracking system can receive a new location of the mobile device outside of the geographic boundary and configure the mobile device to scan for a tracking device associated with the user for an interval of time. If the tracking system detects the tracking device within the interval, the tracking system stores information indicating that the user possesses the tracking device. Otherwise, the tracking system sends an indication to the mobile device indicating that the user has left behind 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: 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 smart alerts based on a user's location. The tracking system can receive a location of a user's mobile device and establish a geographic boundary around the location if the mobile device remains at the location for a threshold amount of time. The tracking system can receive a new location of the mobile device outside of the geographic boundary and configure the mobile device to scan for a tracking device associated with the user for an interval of time. If the tracking system detects the tracking device within the interval, the tracking system stores information indicating that the user possesses the tracking device. Otherwise, the tracking system sends an indication to the mobile device indicating that the user has left behind the tracking device.

Abstract: A tracking device can use a permanent encryption key pair to encrypt one or more temporary encryption key pairs, which can then be provided to a central tracking system. When a community mobile device subsequently detects the tracking device, the central tracking system provides an encrypted temporary encryption key pair to the community mobile device. The community mobile device uses the encrypted temporary encryption key pair 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 location data, and a device of the user can decrypt the encrypted temporary encryption key pair using the permanent encryption key pair, and can decrypt the location data using the decrypted temporary encryption key pair.

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.