Tool tracking device with multiple and application settable beacon transmission rates

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11879987-B2
Application number	US-202017051502-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2020
Priority date	Aug 13, 2019
Publication date	Jan 23, 2024
Grant date	Jan 23, 2024

Abstract

A method for modifying a repeat interval of a locator beacon is described. The method includes transmitting repeatedly, by a beacon transmitter, a first advertising beacon signal through a first number of transmission repetitions spaced at a first repeat interval. The method further includes transmitting repeatedly, by the beacon transmitter, a second advertising beacon signal through a second number of transmission repetitions at a second repeat interval, wherein the second advertising beacon signal includes an identifier that provides identification of the beacon transmitter and user information. The method further includes receiving a modification instruction from a user device. The modification instruction is configured to modify the first repeat interval into a third repeat interval. The method also includes transmitting repeatedly, by a beacon transmitter, the first beacon signal through the first number of transmission repetitions spaced at the third repeat interval.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for modifying a repeat interval of a locator beacon, the method comprising:
transmitting repeatedly, by a beacon transmitter of the locator beacon, a first advertising beacon signal through a first number of transmission repetitions spaced at a first repeat interval;
transmitting repeatedly, by the beacon transmitter, a second advertising beacon signal through a second number of transmission repetitions at a second repeat interval, wherein the second advertising beacon signal includes an identifier that provides identification of the locator beacon and user information;
receiving a modification instruction from a user device via the beacon transmitter, the locator beacon configured to modify the first repeat interval into a third repeat interval based on the received modification instruction;
transmitting repeatedly, by the beacon transmitter, the first advertising beacon signal spaced at the third repeat interval;
activating, at a wireless device and in response to the first advertising beacon signal being received by the wireless device, a location logging application including a location application function;
logging, at the wireless device, a location of the locator beacon by the location application function in response to the second advertising beacon signal being received by the wireless device; and
returning the location logging application to a dormant state in response to determining that a dormancy timer has elapsed without the first advertising beacon signal being received from the locator beacon or from another locator beacon;
wherein a second location of the locator beacon or the another locator beacon is not logged by the location logging application until the location logging application returns to the dormant state and receives, when in the dormant state, another first advertising beacon signal from the locator beacon or the another locator beacon.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first repeat interval is of a first length different from a second length of the second repeat interval.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first advertising beacon signal is a signal alerting the location logging application on the wireless device to a presence of the locator beacon.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of user contact information and a user identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first advertising beacon signal is a first signal using a first open protocol for alerting the location logging application to a presence of the locator beacon; and
the second advertising beacon signal is a second signal using a second proprietary protocol for providing the identification of the locator beacon.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locator beacon is integrated within a power tool.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locator beacon is a standalone device configured to be mechanically coupled to an object.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locator beacon transmits using a wireless communication protocol.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the wireless communication protocol is a Bluetooth communication protocol.

10. A system comprising:
a locator beacon including
a first wireless transmitter; and
one or more first electronic processors, the one or more first electronic processors configured to:
transmit repeatedly, via the first wireless transmitter, a first advertising beacon signal through a first number of transmission repetitions spaced at a first repeat interval,
transmit repeatedly, via the first wireless transmitter, a second advertising beacon signal through a second number of transmission repetitions at a second repeat interval, wherein the second advertising beacon signal includes an identifier that provides identification of the locator beacon and user information,
receive a modification instruction from a user device via the first wireless transmitter,
modify the first repeat interval into a third repeat interval based on the received modification instruction, and
transmit repeatedly, by the first wireless transmitter, the first advertising beacon signal spaced at the third repeat interval; and

a wireless device including
a second wireless transmitter, and
one or more second electronic processors, the one or more second electronic processors configured to:
activate, in response to the first advertising beacon signal being received by the wireless device, a location logging application including a location application function;
log a location of the locator beacon by the location application function in response to the second advertising beacon signal being received by the wireless device; and
return the location logging application to a dormant state in response to determining that a dormancy timer has elapsed without the first advertising beacon signal being received from the locator beacon or from another locator beacon;
wherein a second location of the locator beacon or the another locator beacon is not logged by the location logging application until the location logging application returns to the dormant state and receives, when in the dormant state, another first advertising beacon signal from the locator beacon or the another locator beacon.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first repeat interval is of a duration different from a duration of the second repeat interval.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the user information includes at least one of user contact information and a user identifier.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first advertising beacon signal is a first signal using a first open protocol for alerting the location logging application to a presence of the locator beacon, and the second advertising beacon signal is a second signal using a second proprietary protocol for providing the identification of the locator beacon.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the locator beacon is integrated into a power tool.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first wireless transmitter is a Bluetooth transmitter.

16. A method for modifying a repeat interval of a locator beacon, the method comprising:
transmitting repeatedly, by a wireless beacon transmitter of the locator beacon, a first advertising beacon signal through a first number of transmission repetitions spaced at a first repeat interval;
transmitting repeatedly, by the wireless beacon transmitter, a second advertising beacon signal through a second number of transmission repetitions at a second repeat interval, wherein the second advertising beacon signal includes an identifier that provides identification of the locator beacon and user information;
receiving a modification instruction via the wireless beacon transmitter, locator beacon configured to modify the first repeat interval into a third repeat interval based on the received modification instruction;
transmitting repeatedly, by the wireless beacon transmitter, the first advertising beacon signal spaced at the third repeat interval, wherein the third repeat interval is a longer duration than the first repeat interval;
receiving, at a wireless device, the first advertising beacon signal;
activating, at the wireless device and in response to receiving the first advertising beacon signal, a location logging application including a location application function;
receiving, at the wireless device, the second advertising beacon signal;
logging, at the wireless device, a location of the locator beacon based on the second advertising beacon signal; and
returning, with t

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Davis Anthony
• Jefferson Erik W
• Perreault David R
• Gellings Mark A
• Burkhardt Christopher J

Classifications

• G01S5/0027 Primary

  of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile · CPC title

• G01S2205/008

  using a mobile telephone network · CPC title

• H04W4/029 Primary

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title

• H04W4/025 Primary

  using location based information parameters · CPC title

• H04W8/24

  Transfer of terminal data · CPC title