Tracking device distress mode configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10015839-B1
Application number	US-201715494350-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2017
Priority date	Apr 21, 2017
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

A tracking device can be configured to operate in a distress mode in response to receiving an input pattern associated with the distress mode from a user. Once configured to operate in distress mode, the tracking device modifies connection properties of the tracking devices, for example by connecting to additional mobile devices, and sends a message indicating that the tracking device is in distress mode to a connected mobile device. Based on connecting to a tracking device in distress mode, a mobile device can send a distress message to emergency services or to a predetermined emergency contact. After a threshold amount of time passes, the tracking device can exit distress mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for placing a tracking device in a distress mode, the method comprising:
receiving, at a tracking device comprising a button accessible from a surface of the tracking device, a user input at the tracking device button from a user of the tracking device, the tracking device configured to operate in a normal mode;
configuring, based on the user input, the tracking device to operate in a distress mode;
responsive to the tracking device being configured to operate in the distress mode:
modifying the communicative properties of a wireless transmitter of the tracking device; and
transmitting, from the tracking device to a connected mobile device, a message indicating the tracking device is configured to operate in the distress mode; and

in response to a set of conditions associated with operation in the distress mode being satisfied, configuring the tracking device to operate in the normal mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the user input comprises receiving a specific pattern of input through the tracking device button.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the specific pattern of input comprises a series of consecutive button presses.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the specific pattern of input is selected by the user in advance.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connected mobile device is configured to send a distress message responsive to receiving the message indicating that the tracking device is configured to operate in the distress mode.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the connected mobile device is associated with the user and wherein the distress message is selected in advance by the user.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the connected mobile device is a community mobile device associated with a second user.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the connected mobile device is configured to send the distress message to one or more of an emergency contact, a local police entity, an emergency hotline, or mobile devices within a threshold proximity of the connected mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tracking device, when configured to operate in the distress mode, is configured to automatically connect to additional mobile devices within a threshold proximity of the tracking device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of conditions associated with operation in the distress mode comprises one or more of: a threshold of time passing, an input received at the tracking device, and an input received at the connected mobile device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing instructions, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform steps comprising:
receiving, at a tracking device comprising a button accessible from a surface of the tracking device, a user input at the hardware input from a user of the tracking device, the tracking device configured to operate in a normal mode;
configuring, based on the user input, the tracking device to operate in a distress mode;
responsive to the tracking device being configured to operate in the distress mode:
modifying the communicative properties of a wireless transmitter of the tracking device; and
transmitting, from the tracking device to a connected mobile device, a message indicating the tracking device is configured to operate in the distress mode; and

in response to a set of conditions associated with operation in the distress mode being satisfied, configuring the tracking device to operate in the normal mode.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein receiving the user input comprises receiving a specific pattern of input through the tracking device button.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the specific pattern of input comprises a series of consecutive button presses.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the specific pattern of input is selected by the user in advance.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the connected mobile device is configured to send a distress message responsive to receiving the message indicating that the tracking device is configured to operate in the distress mode.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the connected mobile device is associated with the user and wherein the distress message is selected in advance by the user.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the connected mobile device is a community mobile device associated with a second user.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the connected mobile device is configured to send the distress message to one or more of an emergency contact, a local police entity, an emergency hotline, or mobile devices within a threshold proximity of the connected mobile device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the tracking device, when configured to operate in the distress mode, is configured to automatically connect to additional mobile devices within a threshold proximity of the tracking device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the set of conditions associated with operation in the distress mode comprises one or more of: a threshold of time passing, an input received at the tracking device, and an input received at the connected mobile device.

Assignees

• Tile Inc

Inventors

• Depew John Mathew

Classifications

• H04W4/22

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04W4/02

  Services making use of location information · CPC title

• H04W4/90 Primary

  Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS] · CPC title

• G08B25/10

  using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• H04W76/50 Primary

  for emergency connections · CPC title