EA040965B1 - POSITIONING BASED ON THE TRANSMISSION OF BEACON RADIO SIGNALS TO DEVICES WITH THE SUPPORT OF APPROPRIATE CAPABILITIES - Google Patents

Description

State of the art

Electronic devices, and in particular portable electronic devices, become extremely powerful and useful, in particular, when the use of such devices is connected and adapts to the advantage and uses wireless technology, such as short-range wireless technology (for example, wireless transmissions via Bluetooth protocol), technology cellular communication and technology based on global positioning system (GPS). In fact, one or more of the predominant features and uses of electronic devices is to facilitate the location of a user or object. Location technology can be used for a variety of purposes, including, but not limited to, general convenience, tactical purposes, and personal security purposes.

With regard to tracking the location of people and objects such as a car or a product, the effort required to accurately track the location of an object may be too high in terms of cost and time. To perform such tracking by conventional means, a powerful transmitter may be included with the object or person, as well as a plurality of receivers at any point where the object or person may move.

Regarding personal safety and security, for example, when the user is in an emergency or other stressful situation, the time required to access a portable electronic device having location capabilities such as a mobile smartphone and then access the relevant application communication available on the portable electronic device may present an unacceptable delay. In some situations, the user may not be able to initiate communication at all, for example, due to a restriction in the right or as a result of some other limiting factor. Specialized transmitters that pair and communicate over relatively short distances with a portable electronic device can reduce this latency or allow communication automatically. However, if the paired PED is out of range (i.e., not near or near the user and dedicated transmitter within range), the dedicated transmitter cannot communicate with its intended receiver or recipient.

Brief description of the drawings

The features and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, the features, and in which:

fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary server-client system for enabling appropriate capabilities for a personal electronic device for emergency use in accordance with an example of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for enabling communication between a low power electronic device and a portable electronic device, in accordance with some examples; FIG. 3 is a block diagram further illustrating a server-client system, in accordance with some examples, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a system for communicating information from a low power electronic device through a portable electronic device and a server system to a plurality of portable electronic devices associated with a group of users, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments, FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process for enabling communication between a low power electronic device and one or more receivers, in accordance with some examples; FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a low power electronic device communicating with portable electronic devices over a given range, in accordance with some examples, FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a method in a server system for estimating the location of a low power electronic device based on the locations of portable electronic devices that transmit a user identity to the server system, in accordance with some examples, FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments, for responding to a paired or unpaired low power electronic device, FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments, for transmitting emergency information from a user to a group of predefined users,

- 1 040965 fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating machine components according to some examples.

Reference will now be made to the illustrated exemplary embodiments, and specific language is used herein to describe them. However, it should be understood that this does not impose a limitation on the scope of application.

Detailed description of embodiments

Before the embodiments of the technology are described, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but extends to their equivalents, as will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is only used to describe specific examples or embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. Identical reference numbers in the various drawings represent the same element. The numbers provided in the flowcharts and processes are provided for clarity in illustrating the steps and operations and do not necessarily indicate a specific order or sequence.

In addition, the features, structures, or characteristics described may be combined in any appropriate manner in one or more embodiments. In the description below, many specific details are provided, such as examples of layouts, distances, examples of networks, etc., in order to convey a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the technology. However, those skilled in the art should recognize that such detailed embodiments do not limit the general inventive inventive ideas expressly set forth herein, but merely represent them.

When used in this written description, the singular forms include explicit support for multiple referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to a mechanism includes a plurality of such mechanisms.

Reference in this detailed description to an example means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Thus, occurrences of phrases in an example or one embodiment at various places in this detailed description do not necessarily refer to an identical embodiment.

As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, components, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as if each element of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique element. Thus, the individual elements of such a list should not be construed as a de facto equivalent of other elements of an identical list solely on the basis of their representation in the general group, unless otherwise indicated. In addition, various embodiments of the invention and examples may be mentioned in this document along with alternatives for their various components. It should be understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives should not be construed as actual equivalents of each other, but should be considered separate and standalone representations according to the present disclosure.

In addition, the features, structures, or characteristics described may be combined in any appropriate manner in one or more embodiments. In the description below, many specific details are provided, such as examples of layouts, distances, examples of networks, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, those skilled in the art should recognize that the technology may be practiced without one or more specific details, or with other methods, components, layouts, and so on. In other instances, known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail so as to avoid obscuring aspects of the disclosure.

In this disclosure, contains, containing (comprising), containing (containing) and having, etc. may have the meaning assigned to them in US patent law, and may mean includes, includes, and the like. and, in general, are interpreted as multivariate terms. The terms consisting of or consists of are closed terms and include only the components, structures, steps, and the like specifically listed in conjunction with such terms, as well as the components, structures, steps, and the like that are consistent with the patent law (USA). Essentially consisting of or essentially consisting of have the meaning assigned to them generally by means of US patent law. In particular, such terms are, in general, closed terms, except for the possibility of including additional items, materials, components, steps or elements that do not significantly affect the basic and new characteristics or function of the item(s) used in connection with them. . For example, elements in small quantities that are present in the composition, but do not affect the character

- 2 040965 or characteristics of the composition, must be allowed if they are present according to the wording essentially consisting of, even if not explicitly listed in the list of items according to such terminology. When using a multivariate term in this written description, such as containing or including, it should be understood that immediate support is also provided for the wording essentially consisting of, as well as the wording consisting of, as if explicitly stated, and vice versa.

The terms first, second, third, fourth, etc. in the description and in the claims, if any, are used to distinguish between like elements and not necessarily to describe a particular sequential or chronological order. It should be understood that any such terms used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein, for example, allow operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Similarly, if a method is described herein as comprising a sequence of steps, the order of such steps presented herein does not necessarily represent the only order in which such steps may be performed, and some of the established steps may possibly be omitted, and/or some other steps not described herein may possibly be added to the method.

As used herein, comparative terms such as increased, reduced, better, worse, higher, lower, improved, minimized, maximized, increased, reduced, and the like, mean a property of a device, component, function, or activity that, in differs to a certain extent from other devices, components or activities in the surrounding or adjacent area, in one device or in several comparable devices, in a group or class, in several groups or classes, in related or similar processes or functions, or in comparison with prior art technology. For example, a data area that has an increased risk of corruption may mean an area of a storage device that is more likely to have write errors to it than other areas in an identical storage device. A number of factors may cause this increased risk, including location, manufacturing process, number of programming pulses applied to the area, etc.

As used herein, the term practically means the complete or nearly complete coverage or extent of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, subject matter, or result. For example, an object that is practically enclosed means that the object is either completely enclosed or almost completely enclosed. The exact degree of deviation from absolute completeness allowed in some cases may depend on the particular context. However, generally speaking, closeness of completion is that which has the same overall result as if absolute and complete completion is obtained. The usage is practically equally applicable when used in a negative connotation as meaning the complete or almost complete absence of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, subject or result. For example, a composition that is substantially free of particles is either completely free of particles or almost completely free of particles, which has the same effect as having no particles at all. In other words, a composition that contains substantially no ingredient or element may still actually contain such an item, provided that there is no measurable effect of what is meant.

As used herein, the term is roughly used to provide flexibility for the endpoint of a range of numeric values by allowing a given value to be slightly above or slightly below the endpoint. However, it should be understood that even when the term is approximately used herein in connection with a specific numerical value, such support is also provided for the precise numerical value set forth outside the scope of the terminology approximately.

The term connected, as used herein, is defined as being directly or indirectly connected in an electrical or non-electrical manner. Directly connected items or objects are in physical contact and attached to each other. Objects or elements described herein as adjacent to each other may be in physical contact with each other, in close proximity to each other, or in an identical common area or zone with respect to each other, as appropriate for the context in which the phrase.

Numeric values and data may be expressed or represented herein in a range definition format. It should be understood that such a range definition format is used merely for convenience and brevity and should therefore be interpreted flexibly as including not only the numeric values explicitly stated as range limits, but also including all individual numeric values or subranges falling within within this range, as if each numerical value and subrange is explicitly stated. By way of illustration, the range of numerical values from about 1 to about 5 is to be interpreted as including not only the explicitly stated values from about 1 to about 5, but also to include

- 3 040965 including individual values and sub-ranges within the specified range. Thus, this range of numerical values includes individual values, for example, 2, 3 and 4 and subranges, for example, from 1-3, from 2-4 and from 3-5, etc., as well as 1, 1.5, 2, 2.3, 3, 3.8, 4, 4.6, 5 and 5.1 separately. The same principle applies to ranges stating only one numeric value as the minimum or maximum. In addition, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the width of the described range or characteristics.

As used herein, the term circuit may mean, be part of, or include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or grouped), and/or a storage device (shared, dedicated, or grouped) that execute one or more software or firmware programs, combinational logic, and/or other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality. In some aspects, the circuit may be implemented, or functions associated with the circuit, may be implemented in/via one or more software or firmware modules. In some aspects, the circuitry may include logic at least partially implemented in hardware. Various technologies, or specific aspects or parts thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) implemented on tangible media such as floppy disks, compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), hard drives, volatile or non-volatile a computer-readable storage medium, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein when the program code is loaded and executed by a machine such as a computer, the machine becomes equipment for practicing various technologies. The circuitry may include hardware, firmware, program code, executable code, computer instructions, and/or software. The non-volatile computer-readable storage medium may be a computer-readable storage medium that does not include a signal. In the case of executing program code on programmable computers, the computing device may include a processor, a storage medium readable by the processor (including volatile and nonvolatile memory and/or data storage elements), at least one input device, and at least at least one output device. The volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements may be a random access memory (RAM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a flash drive, an optical disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, a semiconductor drive, or other storage media for storing electronic data. The node and the wireless device may also include a transceiver module (i.e., a transceiver), a counter module (i.e., a counter), a processing module (i.e., a processor), and/or a clock module (i.e., a clock module). clock generator) or a timer module (i.e. timer). One or more programs that may implement or use the various technologies described herein may use an application programming interface (API), reusable controls, and the like. Such programs may be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language to communicate with a computer system. However, if necessary, programs can be implemented in assembly or machine language. In any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language and may be combined with hardware implementations.

As used in this document, the term processor may include general purpose processors, specialized processors such as central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontrollers (MCUs), embedded controllers (ECs) , field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other types of specialized processors, as well as baseband processors used in transceivers to send, receive, and process wireless communications.

It should be noted that when a plurality of similar objects are illustrated (for example, FIG. 1 shows three portable electronic devices (114A-114C) and two low power electronic devices (120A and 120B), the base number for that object may be used to means the generic version of that object. Thus, if 120 is used to refer to a low power electronic device, it should be understood to refer to low power electronic devices in general and not to the specific illustrated subject matter.

Exemplary Embodiments

An initial overview of the technology embodiments is provided below, and specific technology embodiments are described in more detail below. This initial summary is intended to assist readers in a faster understanding of the technology, but is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the technology, nor

- 4 040965 it does not intend to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Aspects of the present technology are directed to enabling appropriate capabilities for a low power electronic device in order to reliably communicate with a variety of other devices. In some examples, a low power electronic device may comprise a portable, self-contained (i.e., having a housing with components including a power source enabling operation) low power electronic device that can be worn by a user and used during emergencies or other stressful situations. situations, and which may contain a housing for providing operation of the transceiver, a user interface or input configured to initiate a user input or user input, a power source and a processing unit operating with the user interface and the transceiver with the ability to control the transceiver. The user interface may comprise an electromechanical user interface (eg, a button), an electronic user interface (eg, a touch screen), a biometric user interface, and the like, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In some examples, when a user activates a low power electronic device via a user interface or input, the processing unit sets or switches the transceiver to a one-way communication mode and starts signaling.

In some examples, a low power electronic device is a device that has a power consumption of less than 0.5 W and a peak current consumption of less than 15 milliamps (mA). In some examples, the average current draw of a low power electronic device is less than 500 microamps (µA).

In some examples, the one-way communication mode transmits a general wake-up signal for a first period of time, which may be any desired duration (eg, 1-5 seconds, etc.). The one-way communication mode may use a communication protocol based on a beacon communication protocol. One prior communication protocol based on beacons typically includes the broadcast of a unique identifier for the device, as well as two auxiliary values (called the major and minor values). However, the present technology uses a beacon-based communication protocol different from beacon-based communication protocols, which is customized according to the specific needs of the present technology.

In one example, all low power electronic devices that implement this unique beacon communication protocol may have an identical source identifier (which may contain a 16-byte value, also referred to as a universally unique identifier (UUID)). Thus, with respect to the receiver, each low power electronic device has and transmits to the receiver an identical source identifier. In addition, the common wake-up ID and the user ID, which are 32-bit values of the auxiliary values, are increased (eg, to 16-bit each for a total of 32-bit), which can be used to convey additional information. For example, a generic wake-up signal includes a source identifier (eg, UUID) and a generic wake-up identifier (32-bit value) in major and minor values.

The common wake-up call allows current technology to resolve various problems associated with current existing solutions. In particular, existing solutions require a paired device (eg, an electronic device capable of communicating over long distances over a network) to ensure that a low power personal electronic device can communicate with a server system. As a result, when the low power personal electronic device is separated from the paired electronic device, the low power personal electronic device cannot communicate with the remote server, effectively causing it to be inoperable.

The present technology overcomes this problem, as described above, by allowing each low power electronic device to communicate with any portable electronic device that has an associated application installed by enabling a common wake-up signal. Thus, all users who have the application installed act as a network, with each one allowing others to send messages through their respective portable electronic devices. This solution has the advantage of providing much greater utility to each low power electronic device without the additional cost of purchasing or otherwise enabling the appropriate capabilities for multiple portable electronic devices.

In some examples, the communication protocol may comprise a low power technology-based contactless reading protocol that may enable appropriate capabilities for portable electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones, tablet computers).

- 5 040965 ter, etc.) within short range (for example, within 70 m, but this should certainly not be limiting in any way) in order to receive transmissions. Thus, when the general wake-up signal is transmitted, any portable electronic device within range can receive the signal.

Any such portable electronic device that has an installed application associated with the low power electronic device may be configured such that each time it receives a communication that includes both the source identifier associated with the low power electronic device, as well as a general wake-up identifier, it instructs the associated application to wake up in one or more ways. Thus, the low power electronic device is not limited to only communicating with a paired portable electronic device such as a particular smartphone of an identical user owning the low power electronic device. Instead, it can communicate with any portable electronic device within range that has an associated application installed. Thus, a user with a low power electronic device can still send messages even if the actual paired portable electronic device (eg, the user's own mobile phone) is out of range.

In some examples, when a portable electronic device, with an application installed, receives a generic wake-up signal, the portable electronic device recognizes a source identifier value (which is common to all emergency personal devices that implement the protocol disclosed herein), and general wake-up ID in auxiliary values. In response, the receiving portable electronic device (or any electronic device with an installed application and the ability to receive a signal) activates the application, even if the application is in a disabled or inactive, or dormant state.

Once an associated application on a particular portable electronic device is activated, the application must monitor for future communications from the low power electronic device. After the first period of time, the processing unit (eg, signal controller) of the low power electronic device stops instructing the transceiver to transmit the general wake-up signal and instructs the transceiver to start transmitting the user ID signal. The user ID signal includes a source ID that is transmitted with each outgoing signal from the low power electronic device and a user ID associated with the particular low power electronic device transmitting the signal. The user ID is a value associated with a particular low power electronic device and may be preset, for example, by a server system, when the user installs the low power electronic device. Similar to the general wake-up ID, the user ID can be a 32-bit value.

The portable electronic device may store one or more user identifiers. The user ID is stored in the portable electronic device when the low power electronic device is registered or otherwise configured. After the portable electronic device registers a user ID associated with the low power electronic device, the portable electronic device and the low power electronic device are considered to be paired. In general, users pair a low power electronic device they own with a portable electronic device they also own.

When the portable electronic device receives a user ID signal (including a user ID) from a low power electronic device, the portable electronic device compares the received user ID with one or more stored user IDs. If the received user ID matches the stored user ID, the low power electronic device from which the user ID is received is determined to be paired with the receiving portable electronic device.

When the portable electronic device determines that the low power electronic device is paired with the portable electronic device, the portable electronic device can perform a foreground function. The foreground function may comprise an action taken by the portable electronic device from an activated feature on the portable electronic device and is or becomes the primary function of the portable electronic device, the function or action being perceptible and observable. In contrast, a background function is a function that runs in the background of a portable electronic device and is invisible and most of the time.

- 6 040965 inconspicuous.

In one example, the foreground function may comprise activating a camera or microphone, or both, of the portable electronic device to record visual or audio data, or both, in and around the portable electronic device for a predetermined period of time. Other foreground functions are provided as explained in this document. The portable electronic device may send the recorded visual and/or audio data, as well as the user ID and location of the portable electronic device, to the server system. This can be done over a wireless connection to the server, such as over a cellular network. The predetermined time period may be any desired time period. For example, the time period may be less than one minute, greater than one minute, may include different intervals or periods, or any other time period or sequence of times.

Initiating a foreground function on a paired portable electronic device, such as recording visual and/or audio data from the portable electronic device's camera and/or microphone, resolves various problems associated with existing technologies. In particular, existing systems that notify users as to when a particular user activates their low power electronic device send very little information that is useful to the receiving user, or that may provide a benefit or help to the notifying user. This lack of information makes it difficult for receiving users to respond correctly to the situation.

Unlike existing systems, using the present technology, the paired portable electronic device, through or through an installed application, sends the current location of the paired portable electronic device to the server system, and also collects video and audio data, such as the user, in and around the portable electronic device. The ability to see and hear a situation that may cause a user to activate a low power electronic device provides a much greater amount of information to the receiving user(s), allowing them to respond correctly to, for example, what could be an emergency or stressful situation. This provides distinct advantages over other prior art systems and methods, including systems and methods that only send text messages in the event of an emergency. Existing solutions relay very little information, take extra time to activate, or both. The technology disclosed in this document has the advantage of being considerably quick to activate and provide as much information as possible.

In some examples, the server system determines, based on the user ID, a preset group of users associated with the user ID. For example, a user may link their profile to profiles of family members or friends of the user, or any other person or group of people. These people are then associated or otherwise associated with a user ID on the back-end system. In some examples, the server system transmits the location of the user's portable electronic device and any recorded audio or video data to a pre-established group of associated users. In other examples, the server system transmits the estimated location of the low power electronic device to a predetermined group of users associated with the user ID.

Using the locations of multiple portable electronic devices to estimate the location of a low power electronic device solves a significant problem with services that require a user's location. In particular, if the low power electronic device does not know its own location, the location of the connected device can be used as an approximate location. However, depending on the specific range of the low power electronic device, the possible area in which the low power electronic device can be located is still likely to be quite large. On the contrary, the present technology enables the location of a low power electronic device to be estimated with greater accuracy by being based on more than one portable electronic device regarding a potential location. This has the advantage of improving accuracy without additional costs for the user to purchase additional portable electronic devices or the like.

Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary server-client system 100 for enabling appropriate capabilities for a low power electronic device, such as a personal emergency (or other stressful) device (e.g., emergency button/device, medical call device, or others), in in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. In some examples, server-client system 100 may include

- 7 040965 one or more low power electronic devices (eg, see low power electronic devices 120A and 120B, each containing identical or similar components and function), one or more portable electronic devices 114A-114C having application 116A -116C stored therein and associated with the low power electronic devices 120A and 120B and the server system 102. In some examples, the low power electronic device(s) may communicate with one or more portable electronic devices via a short range wireless connection. e.g. via a Bluetooth connection. One or more communications networks 110 interconnect the portable electronic devices (116A-116C) and server system 102. Communication networks 110 may be any of a variety of network types, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), wireless networks, wired networks, the Internet, personal area networks (PANs), or a combination of these networks, and the like, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In some examples, low power electronic device 120A may include a transceiver 122, a signal processor or controller 124, a user interface or input 126, or an identifier store 128. In some examples, transceiver 122 is capable of transmitting in both one-way and two-way modes. In some examples, the signal controller 124 has logic and/or circuitry that controls the transmission mode and the content to be transmitted. For example, in the one-way mode, the signal controller 124 may use a communication protocol based on a beacon communication protocol to broadcast information. In addition, the low power electronic device 120A may include a power source such as a battery and any components required in order to use the battery that are not illustrated. In some examples, low power electronic device 120 may activate and deactivate transceiver 122 for small amounts of time to extend battery life.

One conventional beacon-based communication protocol involves broadcasting a unique device identifier (UUID) for a beacon generator or group of beacon generators with a common owner (eg, a 16-byte string) and two ancillary values. Auxiliary values are a major value (eg, two strings of bytes, generally used to distinguish between a smaller subset of beacon generators in a larger group) and a minor value (eg, a two-byte identifier used to identify individual beacon generators). beacon signals).

Unlike the traditional beacon protocol, the beacon protocol explained herein has been modified or customized to better meet the needs of the disclosed system. A plurality of low power electronic devices 120A and 120B (although any number of low power electronic devices are contemplated) implementing the beacon protocol discussed herein may contain an identical source identifier. In other words, the device identifier for the plurality of low power electronic devices 120A and 120B is not unique for each of the plurality of low power electronic devices 120A and 120B. When using this beacon-based protocol, the common wake-up ID and user ID, which are 32-bit values from the auxiliary values (major and minor values), are extended by 16 bits each (to a total of 32 bits). Some values in the 32-bit range may be assigned as a user ID in order to identify corresponding specific low power electronic devices, as described in more detail below. In addition, one value in the 32-bit range can be set as a common wake-up ID that all portable electronic devices that install the application can receive and recognize and respond to.

In some examples, user interface or input 126 allows a user to interact with low power electronic device 120A in a manner that initiates user input to signal controller 124. For example, the user interface or input 126 may be one of an electromechanical user interface (eg, a button), an electronic user interface (eg, a touch screen, a microphone), a biometric user interface, and the like, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art. . The user may interact with the user input in such a manner as to trigger a user input to instruct low power electronic device 120A to wake up. For example, if the low power electronic device contains a low power personal and portable electronic device (for example, an emergency button to use

- 8 040965 in emergency or other stressful situations) and the user input 126 includes a button, the user can activate the low power electronic device 120A by pressing the button, which generates a user input signal to be sent to the signal controller 124.

In response to activation of the low power electronic device 120 by the user, the signal controller 124 places or switches the transceiver 122 into a one-way communication mode (eg, from off mode or sleep mode). In the one-way mode, the transceiver 122 transmits what may be referred to as a common wake-up signal for a first period of time. As noted above, the common wake-up signal includes a source identifier (16 bytes) and a general wake-up identifier (a 32-bit value from the major and minor values). Unlike traditional low power electronic devices, each low power electronic device of the present disclosure is configured to wake up an application in response to an identical common wake-up ID. As a result, any low power electronic device (for example, low power electronic device 120A or low power electronic device 120V, or both) can wake up any portable electronic device (for example, portable electronic devices 114A, 114B, or 114C, or any of them). combination) that has an associated application installed and that is within range of the low power electronic device to receive a common wake-up signal with a common wake-up ID.

In some examples, portable electronic device 114 uses a radio receiver to receive multiple signals. Portable electronic device 114 may analyze some or all of the signals it detects. Portable electronic device 114, with application 116 installed, can recognize a common wake-up signal from one or more low power electronic devices. In response, the portable electronic device 114 may activate the associated application 116 in one or more ways. In some examples, application 116 is activated without otherwise activating portable electronic device 114, such as in the background.

For example, a smartphone detecting a generic wake-up signal may activate an application to perform a passive or background function, but the application does not instruct the portable electronic device to perform any active or foreground functions, such as turning on its screen or unlocking the device, or performing any other foreground functions. . Instead, the application runs its processes passively in the background with no other indication that the application 116 is running. In other examples, in particular if the portable electronic device is paired with a particular low power electronic device whose general wake-up signal is received, the application may instruct the portable electronic device to wake up and perform other more active foreground functions, as explained herein.

A single low power electronic device (eg, low power electronic device 120A) may send a signal that is received by a plurality of portable electronic devices 114A-114C. In addition, each low power electronic device 120A and 120B can be paired with a corresponding specific portable electronic device (eg, a user's phone of low power electronic devices 120). For example, low power electronic device 120A may pair with portable electronic device 114A, which may include a smartphone of a user of electronic device 120A, and low power electronic device 120B may pair with portable electronic device 114B, which may include a smartphone of a user of electronic device. 120V with low power consumption.

While each low power electronic device 120 is paired with one or more specific portable electronic devices 114, each of the low power electronic devices 120A and 120B is configured to wake up any portable electronic device (e.g., portable electronic devices 114A, 114B, or 114C) at within the range that the installed associated application has due to the fact that the common wake-up identifier is identical for low power electronic devices 120A and 120B (or any others using the technology explained herein). It should be noted that although only two low power electronic devices are shown in FIG. 1, any number of low power electronic devices are provided, each of which must have an identical common wake-up ID. In fact, any low power electronic device configured in accordance with the ideas disclosed in this document can be used to send a common wake-up signal, each of which must contain an identical common wake-up identifier, in

- 9 040965 any number of portable electronic devices within range, and which have an associated application installed to instruct the portable electronic devices to be activated in one or more ways, the particular way in which the portable electronic device is activated depends on the particular low power electronic device, signal which is accepted.

In some examples, after the first period of time has elapsed, the signal controller 124 changes the outgoing signal from a general wake-up signal to a user ID signal to be transmitted by the transceiver 122. The user ID signal includes a source ID and a user ID. As noted above, the user ID may be a 32-bit value uniquely associated with the low power transmitting electronic device 120. In some examples, the signal controller 124 continues to instruct the transceiver 122 to transmit the user ID signal for a second period of time. The user ID signal can be received by any portable electronic device within range.

In some examples, setting up low power electronic device 120A (e.g., initializing the device and/or registering it with server system 102) includes pairing low power electronic device 120A with a specific portable electronic device (e.g., portable electronic device 114A) and registering the low power electronic device 120A with the server system 102. As part of the process for registering the low power electronic device 120, the low power electronic device 120 may send a device registration request to the server system 102 via a particular portable electronic device 114. In some examples, the portable electronic device 114 stores a user ID for the low power electronic device.

In some examples, the server system 102 generates a user ID during the registration process. In other examples, the user ID and device ID for the paired portable electronic device are stored by the server system 102, but the user ID is initiated in the low power electronic device 120A (e.g., as part of preparing the low power electronic device for sale)). In some examples, low power electronic device 120A stores a source ID, a shared wakeup ID, and a user ID in ID store 128. It should be noted that the same process may be performed in order to initialize and register a 120V low power electronic device or the like in a particular portable electronic device.

After the second period of time has elapsed, the signal controller 124 may switch the transceiver 122 to a talkback mode. In some examples, this talkback mode may comprise a type based on proximity or short range protocol, such as the Bluetooth communication protocol. In this mode, transceiver 122 may receive an acknowledgment signal from one or more portable electronic devices 114A, 114B, and 114C. As explained below, the acknowledgment signal may notify the low power electronic device 120A that the user ID has been received and transmitted to the server system 102. In response to receiving the acknowledgment signal, the low power electronic device 120A may enter a sleep mode and extend battery life until the next activation.

In some examples, one or more portable electronic devices 114A, 114B, 114C receive a user ID from low power electronic devices 120. Each respective portable electronic device that receives the user ID then determines whether or not the user ID comes from the low power electronic device that is paired with the respective portable electronic device. This determination is made, as noted above, based on a comparison of the received user ID with one or more user IDs stored in portable electronic device 114 (eg, in application 116). The user ID may be stored in the portable electronic device 114 during registration of the low power electronic device 120.

In accordance with the determination by the portable electronic device 114 that the low power electronic device is pairing (or interfacing) with the portable electronic device 114, the portable electronic device 114 activates a foreground function such as activating a camera and/or microphone and a recording function to capture their. The camera and/or microphone captures local video and audio data for a predetermined amount of time. In some examples, the predetermined amount of time is 20 seconds, but can be anything as described above. In some examples, the user

- 10 040965 may indicate a specific predetermined amount of time.

After the camera and microphone are activated, the portable electronic device 114 can determine the order and time that data is transmitted to the server system 102. This determination can be made based on user settings or in accordance with pre-established data processing policies. In some examples, the portable electronic device waits until the camera and microphone have completed recording and then transmits the recorded audio and visual data along with the user ID, device ID, and location of the portable electronic device 114.

In other examples, the portable electronic device 114 transmits the user ID, device ID, and location of the portable electronic device 114 to the server system 102 first and then transmits the recorded audio and visual data when the portable electronic device 114 finishes recording it. In still other examples, portable electronic device 114 sends the user ID, device ID, and location of portable electronic device 114 initially and then streams audio and visual data as it is recorded. Portable electronic device 114 may use communication network 110 to transmit audio and visual data, user ID, device ID, and location of portable electronic device 114 to server system 102.

In accordance with the determination by the portable electronic device 114 that the low power electronic device is not pairing with the portable electronic device 114, the foreground function on the portable electronic device is not activated (e.g., the portable electronic device 114 does not activate the camera and/or microphone). Thus, the portable electronic device does not have to perform a foreground function for any low power electronic device 120 except for devices that pair with the portable electronic device 114.

In some examples, the portable electronic device may include a location module or system configured to determine the location of the portable electronic device. In one example, the location module may comprise a GPS enabled device or system. Other systems and methods include control plane positioning, in which the portable electronic device enables the service provider to obtain its position based on the radio signal delay of nearby cell towers (for situations in which the GPS signal is not available or the GPS service is turned off). In addition, the portable electronic device may use crowdsourced Wi-Fi data to identify the location of the portable electronic device. These methods have the advantage of working well in indoor environments. In other examples, a portable electronic device may use a combination of these technologies in order to identify its location. There are a number of additional methods that can enable location information based services that a portable electronic device can use to determine its location that should be obvious to those skilled in the art.

A plurality of different portable electronic devices (114A-114C) may receive a user identifier and, in response, transmit their respective locations to the server system 120. Thus, the server system 102 may receive a user identifier from one or more portable electronic devices 114 and the corresponding location of each portable electronic device 114.

Server system 102 includes a signal processing engine 104 . The signal processing engine 104 may receive data from one or more respective portable electronic devices 114A-114C. In some examples, the received data may include, but is not limited to, a user identifier, the location of the respective portable electronic device 114A-114C, a device identifier for the respective portable electronic device, an indication of whether or not the respective portable electronic device is paired with the electronic device 120c. low power consumption associated with the user ID, audio data recorded by the corresponding portable electronic device, and visual data recorded by the corresponding portable electronic device.

The signal processing engine 104 may determine whether or not to transmit any or all of the received data to one or more other users (eg, to devices associated with other users). In some examples, this determination may be made on the server system by determining which users are listed in the user profile associated with the user ID as grouped with the user profile.

In some examples, the signal processing engine 104 determines what data should be

- 11 040965 Edit to the list of users, based on the received indicator of whether or not the sending portable electronic device 114 is paired with the user ID. In accordance with the determination that the sending portable electronic device 114 is paired with the user ID, the signal processing engine 104 can send the location of the sending portable electronic device 114 and any recorded audio, visual or other data, for example, to those users who are in the group. . In accordance with the determination that the sending portable electronic device 114 does not pair with the user ID, the signal processing engine 104 can send the estimated location of the low power electronic device 120. The process for estimating the location of the low power electronic device 120 is explained in more detail below.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating communication between low power electronic device 120 and portable electronic device 114, in accordance with one example. In this example, communication is shown between one low power electronic device 120 (as shown in FIG. 1) and one portable electronic device 114. With reference to FIG. 1 and 2, low power electronic device 120 transmits a message in a one-way or messaging mode 140. In some examples, low power electronic device 120 sends a generic wakeup signal 150 to portable electronic device 114. The generic wakeup signal 150 includes a source ID and a generic wakeup ID. As noted above, the source identifier is a 16-byte value that is sent by all low power electronic devices 120 associated with the disclosed technology. The common wake-up identifier may be a 32-bit value preset with the ability to activate the associated application on each portable electronic device 114 that has the application installed.

The low power electronic device 120 continues to broadcast the general wake-up signal 150 during the first time period 160. After the first time period 160 has elapsed, the low power electronic device 120 switches the transmitted message from the general wake-up signal 150 to the user ID signal 152. The user identifier signal includes a source identifier and a user identifier, which may be a 32-bit value that identifies a particular low power electronic device 120, and which may also be associated with a particular user.

In some examples, the low power electronic device 120 continues to transmit the user ID signal 152 during the second time period 162. After the second time period 162 has elapsed, the low power electronic device 120 changes to a two-way communication or messaging mode 142 during the third time period 142. In talkback mode 408, low power electronic device 120 may receive an acknowledgment signal 158 from portable electronic device 114 upon successful receipt of user ID 152.

When the low power electronic device 114 receives an acknowledgment signal 158 from the portable electronic device 114, the low power electronic device 120 may switch to a sleep mode or other dormant state. This ability to quickly return to a dormant state allows the low power electronic device 114 to consume much less power than conventional near field communication technologies. In some examples, the number of cycles 154 represents the number of times the low power electronic device 120 completes three time periods and transmits its associated signals.

In some examples, low power electronic device 120 may enter a repetitive broadcast mode in response to user input or failure to receive an acknowledgment. After the third time period has elapsed, the low power electronic device 120 may be configured to return to broadcasting a common wake-up signal and restart and cycle through the three time periods. Multiple broadcast signaling may be useful in cases where low power electronic device 120 does not receive an acknowledgment from portable electronic device 114.

The low power electronic device 120 may allow the user to provide input as to whether or not a repeated broadcast is required. For example, a low power electronic device may have two predefined types of user input. The first type of user input instructs the low power electronic device 120 to complete three time periods (one cycle) once, as explained herein. Thus, the low power electronic device 120 must broadcast a common wake-up signal, the

- 12 040965 user ID and then wait for confirmation in two-way confirmation mode. This first user input can extend battery life and prevent too many portable electronic devices from receiving a signal. The first type of input may be a single button press. However, any other user input can serve as the first type of input.

The second type of user input may instruct the low power electronic device to continue broadcasting signals in three time periods in a repeating loop (continuous or repeating cycles). This may be referred to as the repetitive broadcast mode. In this example, low power electronic device 120 broadcasts a general wake-up signal for a first time period and then a user ID signal for a second time period. The low power electronic device 120 switches to the talkback mode during the third time period. After the third period of time has elapsed, the low power electronics 120 restarts transmission of the common wake signal and the cycle repeats. Thus, a user who wants to ensure that he reaches the maximum possible number of different portable electronic devices 114 can instruct the low power electronic device 120 to initiate a second type of user input in order to repeat transmissions continuously. In some examples, the second type of user input may be initiated by the user in accordance with the type of low power electronic device. In one example, when the low power electronic device comprises a portable standalone device, the user may initiate a second user input by pressing the enter button multiple times (e.g., three times) in succession, which switches the low power electronic device into a repetitive broadcast mode, for example, for use in emergency or emergency situations. After entering the repetitive broadcast mode, the low power electronic device may signal to the user that the repetitive broadcast mode has been initiated. For example, the low power electronic device may comprise a haptic feedback device (e.g., a vibration or other similar haptic device) that the processor instructs to initiate in response to receiving a second type of user input (i.e., the low power electronic device may vibrate in over a predetermined period of time, or a specific number of times (e.g., three times)). This can confirm to the user that the low power electronic device is in a repetitive broadcast mode. In some examples, each time the low power electronic device 120 completes a cycle, a cycle number 154 is transmitted to the portable electronic device 114 indicating how many cycles have been completed.

When the low power electronic device 120 is in a repetitive broadcast mode, the server system 102 can track the location of the low power electronic device 120 over time by transmitting repeated signals for appropriate time periods to multiple portable electronic devices equipped with an associated application. Thus, multiple detected locations and the resulting generated user or object path with the low power electronic device can be stored on the server system 102 based on each location sent by the portable electronic device 114 that has an associated user identifier. In some examples, server system 102 may predict future path and potential locations for low power electronic device 120 based on previous locations.

In addition, when the low power electronic device 120 is in a repetitive broadcast mode, the low power electronic device 120 may transmit a common wake-up signal and a user ID signal to a plurality of portable electronic devices 114. Each time the corresponding portable electronic device 114 receives these signals , the corresponding portable electronic device 114 should respond with an acknowledgment signal 158 notifying the low power electronic device 120 that the signals have been received and the user ID has been sent to the server system 102 (along with the location of the corresponding portable electronic device 114). Upon receipt of an acknowledgment signal 158 from the unpaired portable electronic device 114, the low power electronic device 120 signals to the user that the portable electronic device 114 transmits the user ID and location of the portable electronic device 114 to the server system 102. For example, an electronic device with may cause the haptic feedback device to vibrate for a predetermined period of time or a specific number of times (e.g., vibrate once) to notify the user that the portable electronic device 114 is receiving signals and is transmitting a field identifier.

- 13 040965 caller to the server system 102. Thus, the user can know if and when the low power electronic device 120 in a repetitive broadcast mode is connected to the portable electronic device 114. In an emergency, an alert that the electronic device 120 is low power connected to the portable electronic device, and therefore, that an alarm is sent to the server system 102 may enable the user to respond appropriately to this information.

The repeating broadcast mode may operate until further user input (eg, pressing a button) causes the repeating to stop or the low power electronic device 120 runs out of power. In some examples, low power electronic device 120 may broadcast on repeat for a maximum of five days or more, depending on the power source. In another example, the repetitive broadcast mode may terminate if the paired portable electronic device receives repetitive signals. In this case, the paired portable electronic device may be operable to send an acknowledgment signal to the low power electronic device 120. Upon receipt of the acknowledgment signal, the low power electronic device 120 switches to a doze or sleep mode and also signals to the user that the broadcast repetitive mode has ended. For example, the low power electronic device may trigger the haptic feedback device to vibrate for a predetermined period of time or a specified number of times (e.g., vibrate twice) to notify the user that the low power electronic device 120 power consumption is not in repetitive broadcast mode.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram further illustrating a server-client system, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments. In some examples, the server/client system 300 includes a server system 102, a portable electronic device 114, and a communication network 110 to connect the server system 102 and the portable electronic device 114. The server system 102 may include a signal receiver 310, a signal processing unit 104 , a profile matching module 314, a group manager 316, a location estimation module 114, a media transmission module 322, and a message transmission module 324. In some examples, server system 102 may include a user profile database 330 and associated group data 332.

In some examples, portable electronic device 114 includes an application 116, a camera 204, and a microphone 206. Portable electronic device 114 receives a generic wake-up signal having a generic wake-up ID from the low power electronic device, as discussed above, and as shown in FIG. 1. In response, personal portable electronic device 114 activates application 116. After that activation, application 116 receives the user ID from the low power electronic device as it is also transmitted with the user ID signal. Upon receipt, the portable electronic device 114 transmits the user ID and location of the portable electronic device 114 to the server system 102.

In some examples, for example, if the user ID matches a stored user ID in portable electronic device 114, application 116 may activate one or more components of portable electronic device 114, such as to activate camera 304, microphone 306, or both. both for the purposes of recording audio data, visual data, or both. The application 116 transmits the recorded audio and/or visual data to the server system 102.

In some examples, signal receiver 310 receives communications from portable electronic device 114 via communication network 110. In some examples, communication includes receiving user IDs and locations from one or more portable electronic devices 114. In addition, signal receiver 310 may receive audio and video data from portable electronic device 114.

In some examples, signal processing unit 312 analyzes the received communication (eg, data packets) and extracts relevant information (eg, user ID, location, and device ID from the sending portable electronic device).

In some examples, the profile matching module 314 accesses the user profile database 230 to identify the user profile associated with the received user profile. The user profile database 230 includes a plurality of user profiles. Each user profile stores at least one user ID for a particular user and group data 332. In some examples, group data 332 may contain a list of user IDs, each user ID is a 32-bit value representing con

- 14 040965 specific low power electronic device 120 and the user associated with this device. The list of user IDs in a particular user profile in group data 332 may represent users connected to a user associated with a particular user profile.

In some examples, the user may link his user profile to the profiles of his friends and family, and the like, as needed or desired. In addition, the user can define the connection level with each other member. The connection layer may determine what information is sent to the user when the user's low power electronic device is activated. For example, the server system 102 may receive recorded video and audio data from a portable electronic device 114 associated with the user. The server system 102 may send the recorded video and audio data only to users who have a sufficient connection level or are otherwise indicated with the ability to receive such data from the user. In addition, the user may designate one or more other users as the connected user with the key. In some examples, the server system 102 initiates one of an audio call, a video call, a live streaming based conference, or a similar live communication event with a connected key user after receiving a user ID for a user with a selected key connected user.

When server system 102 receives location data from more than one portable electronic device 114, location estimation module 114 may use the location of one or more portable electronic devices 114 to estimate the current location of low power electronic device 120.

In some examples, group manager 316 accesses group data 332 to identify one or more users in a group with a user associated with a user ID. If portable electronic device 114 is paired with a low power electronic device, media transfer module 322 transmits audio and visual data to user portable electronic devices in group data 332. As noted above, in some examples, only members that are specifically selected by the user should receive recorded video and audio data. In some examples, the messaging module 324 transmits the estimated location to one or more users in the group data list 332.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a system for transmitting information from a low power electronic device through a portable electronic device and a server system to a plurality of portable electronic devices associated with a group of users, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments. In some examples, low power electronic device 120 communicates with portable electronic device 114. Initially, upon receiving user input, low power electronic device 120 transmits a generic wake-up signal 150 containing a generic wake-up identifier to portable electronic device 114. As noted above, the low power electronic device 120 uses a one-way protocol to broadcast the common wake-up signal 150.

In response, the portable electronic device 120 activates the associated application in response to the general wake-up signal 150. In some examples, after a period of time, the low power electronic device 102 stops broadcasting the general wake-up signal 150 and starts broadcasting the user ID signal 152. In some examples, the user ID in the user ID signal 152 is associated with a specific user and a specific portable electronic device 120.

It should be noted that communications from the low power electronic device 120 (general wake-up tone, user ID signal, location information, and any recorded video and audio data) can be encrypted between the low power electronic device 102 and the portable electronic device, and between portable electronic device 114 and server system 102. In some examples, the encryption key may be generated based on the MAC address of the low power electronic device 120 or portable electronic device 114. Encryption may be performed using any appropriate encryption algorithm (e.g., symmetric encryption algorithms, asymmetric encryption algorithms, etc.). In addition, the specific algorithm may be modified as needed to provide secure communication. Any keys can also be changed as needed.

After the user ID signal 152 is transmitted, the low energy electronic device 120 switches to a two-way communication mode (eg, to the Bluetooth communication protocol). In the talkback mode, low power electronic device 120 may receive communications from portable electronic device 114. For example, low power electronic device 120 receives an acknowledgment signal 158 from portable electronic device 120 that the user ID signal 152 has been received. As explained above

- 15 040965 with respect to FIG. 2, the acknowledgment signal 158 may instruct the low power electronic device to enter a sleep mode or other dormant state.

In some examples, the portable electronic device 114 transmits the user ID signal 152 and the location associated with the portable electronic device 114 to the server system 102. In some examples, the portable electronic device 114 may not have access to a computer network (for example, a cell phone may be out of range of a cell tower). In this case, the portable electronic device 114 may store relevant data (eg, user ID, location, and potentially recorded video and audio data) and then transmit it when the network becomes available. This situation may occur during flight (when the Internet connection is not available), whereby the portable electronic device 114 may transmit the accumulated location and other data when the Internet connection becomes available again. The set of locations should represent the path that the user is following in flight.

In some examples, server system 102 includes a group manager 316 that uses a user ID signal 152 to identify a group of users. In some examples, the user group is stored in a user profile database (eg, database 330 in FIG. 3). The user profile for a respective user may include a user group field for that respective user. The user group field for the corresponding user may include a list of user IDs, with each user ID associated with a user connected to the corresponding user.

In some examples, group manager 316 determines, for each corresponding user ID in the list of user IDs, a device ID associated with the corresponding user ID. The device ID for the corresponding user ID represents the portable electronic device paired with the corresponding user. The server system 102 may use the identified device identifiers to communicate data to the electronic device associated with the device identifier. Thus, the group manager 316 sends data to each of the identified one or more users via the paired devices listed in their respective user profiles (eg, see portable electronic devices 430A-430E).

The data transmitted by the server system 102 may vary based on the data received from the portable electronic device. For example, if portable electronic device 114 transmits recorded or streamed video and audio data to server system 102, server system 102 may relay this data to electronic devices associated with each user in the group of identified user 440A440E. However, if the server system 102 does not receive such data (eg, because the sending portable electronic device is not paired with the low power electronic device from which it receives the user ID), then the server system 102 need only transmit the location of the portable electronic device 114, or estimated location of a low power electronic device.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process for enabling communication between a low power electronic device and one or more receiver devices, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present technology is not limited to a low power personal or portable electronic device (eg, a device that is worn), such as the above-described emergency button, worn by a user for use in emergency or other stressful situations. In fact, in some examples, a low power electronic device may be configured to be turned on in one of several possible locations, such as aboard a vehicle 502 or a storage platform 504. Initially, and without explicit user input or prompting, an electronic device with low power transmits a general wake-up signal 506. This generic wake-up signal 506 may be received by any nearby or nearby portable electronic devices within range of the low power electronic device, such as by portable electronic device 516. If portable electronic device 516 has an application associated with the installed low power electronic device, then the application is activated and the portable electronic device 516 can transmit information to the server system 102.

After the first period of time, the low power electronic device may begin transmitting identifying information 508 to the portable electronic device 516 associated with the object or product with which the low power electronic device 120 is associated. For example, in the case of a vehicle 502, the on-board electronic device

- 16 040965 low power may transmit the vehicle identification number to the portable electronic device 516. Similarly, in the case of the warehouse platform 504, the low power electronic device may transmit the inventory tracking number to the portable electronic device 516 depending on the specific item being tracked.

In some examples, the portable electronic device 516 forwards the identifying information 508 to the server system 102 along with the current location of the portable electronic device 516, similar to the above. The location tracking engine 520 updates the current location of the low power electronic device based on the received location and identifying information 508 (eg, VINs/stock tracking numbers). Thus, the location of objects can be tracked at a much lower cost than with a traditional Bluetooth device or other near field communication devices. In particular, devices based on Bluetooth low energy technology are inexpensive to manufacture and use a very small amount of energy. So small that a low power electronic device can last up to 4 or 5 years without the need for a new battery.

In some examples, the portable electronic device 516 sends a confirmation and shutdown request dialog 510 to the low power electronic device. The confirmation dialog 510 is a signal sent from the portable electronic device to the low power electronic device 120 confirming that broadcast signals have been received. In some examples, the confirmation response further includes a dialog box 510 requesting a shutdown. The shutdown prompt dialog 510 is an instruction for the low power electronic device 120 to return to a doze or sleep mode. As noted above, a fast return to sleep mode allows a significant reduction in the amount of power consumed over time. In response, the low power electronic device transitions to non-transmission mode for a certain period of time. Thus, the low power electronic device reduces the total amount of energy used. After a predetermined time, the low power electronic device 120 starts the cycle again, allowing continuous monitoring of the location of an object or person.

In some examples, a car with a low power electronic device may be stolen. The server system may receive this identification VIN from one or more devices with the associated application installed. After the server system determines that the car is stolen, it can issue a lock command. The portable electronic device or other device may relay the command to the stolen vehicle and instruct the stolen vehicle to immediately lock down, allowing the vehicle to be recovered with minimal delay or danger.

Fig. 6A is a diagram illustrating low power electronic device 120 attempting to communicate with a plurality of portable electronic devices 602A-602G, where low power electronic device 120 is actually communicating with portable electronic devices 602A-602D within a given range, according to with some exemplary embodiments. In this example, low power electronic device 120 wakes up and starts broadcasting a general wakeup signal. As explained above in FIG. 1 and 2, low power electronic device 120 transmits a 16-byte common source identifier and a 32-bit common wake-up identifier as part of a common wake-up signal. Any portable electronic device with an associated application installed can activate the application in response to receiving a general wake-up signal. However, the range from which the low power electronic device 120 can broadcast is limited. In this example, the maximum broadcast transmission distance is represented by a dotted circle. In some examples, the maximum range of the low power electronic device may be 70-100 m, but this should not be limiting in any way. Depending on the user's power usage preferences, low power electronic device 120 may reduce the amount of power used by the transceiver, thereby reducing the effective range of the overall wakeup signal.

All portable electronic devices within effective range (602A-602D) can receive a common wake-up signal. In response, the devices (602A-602D) that receive the common wake-up signal activate their respective applications.

As noted above, each respective portable electronic device 602A-602D that receives the common wake-up signal must transmit the user ID received from the low power electronic device to the server system along with the location ID and device ID for the corresponding portable electronic device.

- 17 040965 Throne device. In this example, some portable electronic devices (e.g., 602E602G) are out of effective range and therefore do not receive a general wake-up signal, and therefore do not wake up at all in response to a transmitted signal, nor do they transmit signals or information. to the server system.

Fig. 6B is a diagram illustrating a server system and a method for estimating the location of a low power electronic device based on the locations of portable electronic devices 604A-604D that transmit a user identity to the server system, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments.

In this example, the server system receives the location and user ID from three portable electronic devices 604A-604C. Based on the determination that none of them are associated with the low power electronic device (none of the device IDs from the portable electronic devices 604A, 604B, or 604C pair with the user ID of the low power electronic device), the server system evaluates the probable the location of the low power electronic device. This estimation may be performed using the location of each portable electronic device that receives a user ID and transmits it to a server system (eg, system 102 in FIG. 1).

If only one portable electronic device transmits the user ID to the server system, the server system may use the location of that portable electronic device as the evaluation location. In other exemplary embodiments, two or more portable electronic devices transmit the user ID and location to the server. In this example, the backend system may use the average of their positions as the estimated location.

In the current example, the low power electronic device transmitted a general wake-up signal and then a user ID signal in an area with four portable electronic devices (604A-604D). The location of the low power electronic device is not shown because the server system does not know it. During the first time interval, the server system receives a user ID from three portable electronic devices, 604A, 604B, and 604C.

As illustrated, the server system may use an estimated range within which the portable electronic devices should receive the signal of the low power electronic device and determine at least one position that should allow the low power electronic device to reach all three portable electronic devices. 604A-604C. In this example, during the first time interval, the server system judges that the low power electronic device is at location 610, since it is only at this location that all three portable electronic devices can receive a signal.

After the server system generates a first estimate for the location of the low power electronic device, the server system may receive a second set of user identities during a second time interval. The second set of signals comes from another set of portable electronic devices (604A, 604C and 604D). The server system may again use the positions of the portable electronic devices and the range of the low power electronic device in order to identify one or more locations where the low power electronic device 120 can transmit to devices that report a user ID. In this second time slot, low power electronic device 120 appears to have moved because portable electronic device 604B no longer receives signals or transmits a user ID, while portable electronic device 604D starts transmitting a user ID.

With the new set of portable electronic device locations, the server system identifies the new estimated location 612 as the estimated low power electronic device location. Using this updated estimated location, as well as additional updated estimated locations, the server system can potentially track the movement of the low power electronic device. This is especially useful if the low power electronic device is attached to a vehicle or other frequently moving object. As the vehicle or user moves, various devices may report receiving the user ID signal. Once the move pattern is determined, the server system can evaluate the future move. In other exemplary embodiments, portable electronic devices may use an internal accelerometer to estimate movement, turning on the GPS device only occasionally to correct incorrect assumptions. This allows portable electronic devices to exclude the use of a GPS device that uses more power than an accelerometer. It should be noted

- 18 040965 Note that the location of portable electronic devices can be received and transmitted through the installed application, even if the location functionality is not authorized or allowed in the settings of the portable electronic device.

It should be noted that each portable electronic device may include a radio module, and this radio module can generate a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the received signal. The RSSI value of the signal may allow the portable electronic devices to estimate the distance between the sending low power electronic device and the receiving portable electronic device. The portable electronic device may send the RSSI to the server system, and the server system may use this signal to generate a more accurate estimate.

For example, the maximum range for a low power electronic device can be 100 meters. If two portable electronic devices transmit a user ID for a low power electronic device to a server system, the zone size that is within 100 meters of each device can be quite large. However, if the RSSI value evaluates that the low power electronic device is within 40 meters of the first portable electronic device and is within 30 meters of the second portable electronic device, the size of the zone in which the low power electronic device can be power consumption is significantly reduced.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method, in accordance with exemplary embodiments, for responding to a paired or unpaired low power electronic device. Each of the operations shown in Fig. 7 may correspond to instructions stored in a computer storage device or a computer-readable storage medium. In some exemplary embodiments, the method described in FIG. 7 is performed by a portable electronic device (eg, devices 116A116C in FIG. 1). However, the described method can also be carried out by any other suitable configuration of electronic hardware. In some examples, when a new low power electronic device is purchased by a user, the user performs an initialization procedure. For this, the user may access the application on a portable electronic device such as a smartphone and start registration. During the registration process, the portable electronic device receives a device registration request from the low power electronic device.

The portable electronic device may receive a user identifier associated with a low power electronic device to be paired with the portable electronic device, wherein the user identifier may be referred to as a paired user identifier. As noted above, the paired user ID may contain a 32-bit value that is unique to the low power electronic device (and by extension, to the user). The portable electronic device stores a paired user ID associated with the low power electronic device. After the portable electronic device stores the paired user ID, the portable electronic device and the low power electronic device are considered to be paired.

The user can select which portable electronic device is paired with the low power electronic device by selecting which portable electronic device to use during registration. In other exemplary embodiments, the user may choose to pair the low power electronic device with more than one portable electronic device, or to pair more than one low power electronic device with a given portable electronic device.

In some examples, the paired user ID is received from a low power electronic device. For example, a low power electronic device may be manufactured with a unique user identifier already included in the storage device. In other exemplary embodiments, the portable electronic device receives the paired user ID by sending a registration request to the server system and receiving, from the server system, the generated user ID for the low power electronic device. The server system ultimately stores user profiles containing one or more corresponding user IDs for each user and can then ensure that the user IDs are not replicated. In some aspects, the user identifier(s) may be stored on the portable electronic device.

After the registration is completed, in some examples, the user may activate their low power electronic device, or in other examples, the low power device may be configured to automatically transmit. in response to ak

- 19 040965 activation of a low power electronic device, for example, when activated by the user (for example, by pressing a button or other input), the portable electronic device receives (702), from a paired low power electronic device, a common wake-up signal having a common wake-up identifier . The user's portable electronic device is further capable of receiving a common wake-up signal from other low power electronic devices not paired with the portable electronic device, as explained herein.

In response to receiving a common wake-up signal having a common wake-up identifier, the portable electronic device may activate (704) an application associated with the common wake-up identifier. In this context, waking up can mean moving from a disabled or dormant state to an active state. In some examples, the portable electronic device may activate an associated application in a discrete manner, eg, without causing other perceptible changes to the portable electronic device (eg, no sounds are generated and the screen does not change). Thus, the application can perform tasks in the background without interruption or other disturbance to the user.

The portable electronic device may be configured to receive (706) a user ID from paired and unpaired low power electronic devices. When receiving any user ID from any low power electronic device configured in accordance with the present technology, as explained herein, the portable electronic device can determine (708), based on the user ID, whether or not the low power electronic device is paired. whose signal is being received with a portable electronic device.

In some examples, determining whether or not a given low power electronic device is paired includes accessing a paired user ID stored in the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device may compare the paired user ID with the received user ID to determine whether or not there is a match. According to determining that the paired user ID and the received user ID match, the portable electronic device determines that the low power electronic device and the portable electronic device are paired, thereby simplifying some operations. If there is no match, other or different actions may be simplified.

In other exemplary embodiments, the portable electronic device determines whether or not the portable electronic device and the low power electronic device are paired by transmitting a received user ID and a device ID for the portable electronic device to the server system and then receiving, from the server system, a determination regarding whether or not the low power electronic device and the portable electronic device are paired based on the information stored in the user profile associated with the received user ID.

The portable electronic device may perform 710 at least one of a background function or a foreground function in response to determining whether or not the at least one low power electronic device pairs with the portable electronic device. In accordance with the determination that at least one low power electronic device is paired with a portable electronic device, and thereby contains a paired low power electronic device, the portable electronic device can be instructed to perform a foreground function, such as activation, by at least one of the camera or microphone to record at least one of the image data or audio data, respectively.

The portable electronic device may then transmit the user ID, any recorded image and audio data, and the location of the portable electronic device to the server system.

In accordance with the determination that at least one low power electronic device is not paired with a portable electronic device, and therefore contains an unpaired low power electronic device, the unpaired portable electronic device may be instructed to perform a background function of transmitting a user ID and the location of the portable electronic device to the server system.

In some examples, a portable electronic device may receive, at identical or different times, a plurality of common wake-up tones from a plurality of low-power electronic devices, each of the common wake-up tones containing an identical common wake-up ID (but different user IDs), and each of The plurality of low power electronic devices comprises one of a paired or unpaired (and therefore paired or unpaired) low power electronic device.

- 20 040965

After transmitting the user ID to the server system, the portable electronic device may transmit a non-pairing confirmation signal (if the low power electronic device is determined to be unpaired) to the low power electronic device. In some examples, the no-pair confirmation signal instructs the low power electronic device to perform the first response and then switch to sleep mode. In some examples, the first response is a single vibration or some other indicator of user feedback.

After transmitting the user ID to the server system, the portable electronic device may transmit a pairing confirmation signal (eg, if the low power electronic device is determined to be paired) to the low power electronic device. In some examples, the pairing confirmation signal instructs the low power electronic device to perform a second response and then switch to sleep mode. The second response could be two consecutive vibrations or some other user feedback.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method, in accordance with exemplary embodiments, for transmitting information (eg, emergency information and other types) from a user to a group of predefined users. Each of the operations shown in Fig. 8 may correspond to instructions stored in a computer storage device or a computer-readable storage medium. In some exemplary embodiments, the method described in FIG. 8 is performed by a portable electronic device (eg, devices 116A-116C in FIG. 1). However, the described method can also be carried out by any other suitable configuration of electronic hardware.

In some examples, the server system receives (802) situational data from a portable electronic device. The situational data may include, but is not limited to, the user ID and location of the portable electronic device.

In some examples, the server system identifies (804), based on the user ID, a group of users associated with the user ID. In some examples, the server system accesses the user profile associated with the received user ID. The user profile may include a list of connected users.

In some examples, the server system determines (806) whether or not the situational data additionally contains recorded image data and audio data. Thus, the server system does not need to determine whether or not the portable electronic device is paired with a particular low power electronic device. Instead, the portable electronic device makes this determination and only sends video and audio data if the portable electronic device and the low power transmitting electronic device are paired.

In accordance with the determination that the situational data further comprises recorded image data and audio data, the server system sends (808) the user ID, the location of the portable electronic device, and the recorded audio and visual data to the user group. Thus, the user can pre-select a group of users (eg, friends, family, etc.) who should receive this data if the user activates the low power electronic device. For example, if the user is the victim of a crime or attempted crime, the user can activate a low power electronic device and initiate a broadcast of their location and visual/audio data about their surroundings to the group, allowing the group members to take appropriate steps to assist the user.

In accordance with the determination that the situational data further does not contain recorded image data and audio data, the server system sends (810) the user ID and the location of the portable electronic device to the user group. Thus, when a low power electronic device is connected to a portable electronic device with which it is not paired, the application does not use additional device resources or bandwidth. Instead, it sends a minimal amount of payload and allows the unpaired portable electronic device to return to other tasks.

In some examples, the received situational data contains the locations of two or more portable electronic devices. As shown above in FIG. 6A and 6B, the server system may generate an estimated location for the low power electronic device based on the range of the low power electronic device and the location of two or more portable electronic devices. After the location is estimated, the server system transmits the estimated location of the low power electronic device to

- 21 040965 user group.

Exemplary machine architecture and computer-readable media.

Fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the components of a machine 900, according to some exemplary embodiments, having the ability to read instructions from a computer-readable medium (eg, computer-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the technologies discussed herein. In particular, FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of a machine 900 in an exemplary form of a computer system on which instructions 925 (e.g., software, program, application, applet, app, or other executable code) can be executed to cause machine 900 to execute any one or more technologies explained in this document. In alternative embodiments, machine 900 operates as a standalone device or can be connected (eg, over a network) to other machines. In a network deployment, machine 900 may operate as a server machine or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer network environment (or distributed network environment). Machine 900 may include, but is not limited to, a server computer, a client computer, a PC, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a multimedia entertainment system, a cellular phone, a smartphone, a mobile device, a wearable device (such as a smart watch), a smart home device (such as a smart appliance), other smart devices, a web appliance, a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of executing 925 instructions, sequentially or otherwise, that indicate actions to be performed by machine 900. Additionally, although only one machine 900 is illustrated, the term machine should also be considered to include a collection of machines that individually or collectively execute instructions 925 to perform any one or more of the technologies explained herein. .

Machine 900 may include processors 910, memory 930, and I/O components 950 that may be configured to communicate with each other via bus 905. In an exemplary embodiment, processors 910 (e.g., a CPU, a processor based reduced instruction set (RISC), full instruction set computing (CISC) processor, graphics processing unit (GPU), digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), other processor or any suitable combination of the foregoing) may include, for example, a processor 915 and a processor 920 that may execute instructions 925. The term processor is intended to include multi-core processors 910, which may include two or more independent processors 915, 920 (also referred to as cores) that can execute 925 instructions concurrently. Although FIG. 9 shows multiple processors, machine 900 may include one single-core processor 910, one multiple-core processor 910 (e.g., a multi-core processor), multiple single-core processors 910, multiple multiple-core processors 910, or any combination of the foregoing.

Memory 930 may include main storage 935, static storage 940, and storage 945 accessible to processors 910 via bus 905. Storage 945 may include computer-readable media 947 that stores instructions 925 that perform any one or more of the technologies or features described in this document. The instructions 925 may also reside, in whole or at least in part, in main storage 935, static storage 940, at least one of the processors 910 (e.g., a processor cache), or any suitable combinations of the above, as they are executed by machine 900. Accordingly, main storage 935, static storage 940, and processors 910 may be considered computer-readable media 947.

As used herein, the term memory means a computer-readable medium 947 having the ability to store data temporarily or permanently, and may be considered to include, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), buffered memory device, flash memory and cache. Although computer-readable media 947 is shown, in the exemplary embodiment, as a single medium, the term computer-readable medium should be considered to include one or more media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, or associated caches and servers) having the ability to store instructions 925. The term computer-readable medium should also be considered to include any medium, or a combination of multiple media, that is capable of storing instructions (eg, instructions 925) for execution by a machine (eg, machine 900) such that the instructions 925, when executed by one or more processors of machine 900 (e.g., processors 910) instruct machine 900 to perform any one or more of the techniques described in

- 22 040965 of this document. Accordingly, computer-readable media means a single storage device or storage device, as well as cloud storage systems or storage networks that include multiple pieces of equipment or storage devices. The term computer-readable medium is accordingly to be considered to include, but is not limited to, one or more data repositories in the form of semiconductor storage (e.g., flash memory), optical media, magnetic media, other non-volatile storage device (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM)) or any suitable combination of the above. The term computer-readable medium as such specifically excludes non-legal signals.

I/O components 950 may include a wide variety of components for receiving input, providing and/or generating output, transmitting information, exchanging information, capturing measurements, and so on. It should be appreciated that I/O components 950 may include many other components that are not shown in FIG. 9. In various exemplary embodiments, I/O components 950 may include output components 952 and/or input components 954. Output components 952 may include visual components (e.g., a display such as a plasma display panel (PDP), light emitting diode (LED) display, liquid crystal display (LCD), projector, or cathode ray tube (CRT)), acoustic components (eg speakers), tactile components (eg vibrating motor), other signal conditioners, etc. Input components 954 may include alphanumeric input components (e.g., a keyboard, a touch screen configured to receive alphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, or other alphanumeric input components), point input components (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad , trackball, joystick, motion sensor, and/or other pointing tools), haptic input components (e.g., a physical button, a touch screen that provides the location and strength of taps or touch gestures, and/or other haptic input components), audio input components ( e.g. microphone), etc.

In further exemplary embodiments, I/O components 950 may include biometric components 956, motion-based components 958, environment-based components 960, and/or position-based components 962, among a myriad of other components. For example, the biometric components 956 may include components for detecting expressions (e.g., hand gestures, facial expressions, vocal expressions, tracking body gestures or eye movements), measuring biosignals (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, temperature body, sweat, or brainwaves), identify a person (for example, voice identification, retinal identification, face identification, fingerprint identification, or electroencephalogram-based identification), etc. Motion based components 958 may include acceleration sensor based components (eg, an accelerometer), gravity sensor based components, rotation sensor based components (eg, a gyroscope), and so on. Environment based components 960 may include, for example, light sensor based components (eg, a photometer), acoustic sensor based components (eg, one or more microphones that detect background noise), temperature sensor based components (eg. , one or more thermometers that sense the ambient temperature), humidity sensor based components, pressure sensor based components (such as a barometer), non-contact sensor based components (such as infrared sensors that detect nearby objects), and/or other components that may provide indicators, measurements, and/or signals appropriate to the surrounding physical environment. Position-based components 962 may include location sensor-based components (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) receiver component), altitude sensor-based components (e.g., altimeters and/or barometers that detect pressure air from which altitude can be extracted), attitude sensor based components (e.g. magnetometers), etc.

Communication can be implemented using a wide range of technologies. I/O components 950 may include communication components 964 configured to connect machine 900 to network 980 and/or devices 970 via connection 982 and connection 972, respectively. For example, communication components 964 may include a network interface component or other suitable device for interacting with network 980. In additional examples, communication components 964 may include wired communication components, wireless communication components, cellular communication components, communication components near field (NFC), Bluetooth® components (eg, Bluetooth® low energy technology), Wi-Fi® components and other communication components to provide communication through other modalities. Devices 970 may be another machine 900 and/or any of a wide variety of peripherals (on

- 23 040965 example, peripheral device connected via USB).

In addition, communication components 964 may detect identifiers and/or include components configured to detect identifiers. For example, communication components 964 may include radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader components, smart NFC tag detection components, optical reader components (e.g., an optical sensor to detect one-dimensional barcodes such as a Universal Product Barcode (UPC), multidimensional barcodes such as Quick Response Code (QR), Aztec Code, Data Matrix Barcode, Dataglyph, MaxiCode, PDF417, Ultra Code, 2D UCC RSS Barcode and other optical codes) or acoustic detection components (e.g. microphones to identify tagged audio signals), etc. In addition, many kinds of information can be retrieved via communication components 962, such as location via Internet Protocol (IP) geolocation, location via triangulation of Wi-Fi® signals, location via NFC beacon detection that can indicate a particular location. , etc.

Transmission medium.

In various exemplary embodiments, one or more portions of network 980 may be an ad hoc network, intranet, extranet, virtual private network (VPN), LAN, wireless LAN (WLAN), WAN, wireless WAN (WWAN), MAN, Internet, part of the Internet, part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN), POTS, cellular telephone network, wireless network, Wi-Fi® network, other type of network, or a combination of two or more of these networks. For example, network 980 or part of network 980 may include a wireless or cellular network, and connection 982 may be a code division multiple access (CDMA) connection, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) connection, or another type of cellular or wireless connection. In this example, connection 982 may implement any of a variety of types of communication technology such as single carrier radio technology (1xRTT), High Speed Packet Data System (EV-DO) technology, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology. ), Enhanced Data Rate GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard including 3G, 4th generation wireless networks (4G), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), high-speed packet access (HSPA), Worldwide Interoperability Broadband Wireless Access (WiMax), Long Term Evolution (LTE), others specified by various standardizing organizations, other long distance protocols, or other data transmission technology.

Instructions 925 may be transmitted and/or received over network 980 using a transmission medium through a network interface device (eg, a network interface component included in communication components 964) and using any of a number of known transmission protocols (eg, HTTP). Likewise, instructions 925 may be transmitted and/or received using a media over a connection 972 (eg, a peer-to-peer connection) to devices 970. The term media should be considered to include any non-tangible medium that allows instructions to be stored, encoded, or carried. 925 for execution by machine 900 and includes digital or analog communication signals or other non-material media in order to facilitate the transfer of such software.

In addition, the computer readable medium 947 is non-volatile (in other words, has no volatile signals) in that it does not carry out a propagating signal. However, marking the computer-readable medium 947 as non-volatile should not be construed as meaning that the medium is not movable; the media should be considered as being transportable from one physical location to another. Additionally, since the computer-readable medium 947 is tangible, the medium may be considered a computer-readable device.

Although the disclosure may not explicitly disclose that some embodiments or features described herein may be combined with other embodiments or features described herein, this disclosure should be read as describing any such combinations that should be practicable by those skilled in the art. The use of or in this disclosure is to be understood to mean a non-exclusive or, i.e. and/or unless otherwise noted in this document.

In addition, the features, structures, or characteristics described may be combined in any appropriate manner in one or more examples. In the foregoing description, many specific details are provided, such as examples of various configurations, to provide a thorough understanding of examples of the described technology. However, it should be recognized that the technology may be practiced without one or more specific details, or with other methods, components, devices, etc. In other cases, well-known structures or operas

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Claims (11)

The functions are not shown or described in detail so as not to obscure aspects of the technology. While the subject matter is described in terms specific to structural features and/or operations, it should be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features and operations described above. Instead, the features and acts described above are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claims. Many modifications and alternative arrangements may be developed without departing from the spirit and scope of the described technology. CLAIM 1. A low power electronic device for transmitting identifying information to a nearby portable electronic device, the low power electronic device comprising: a transceiver device configured to transmit and receive signals; a processing unit in communication with the transceiver, the processing unit being configured to: switch the transceiver to a one-way communication mode in which the transceiver transmits a common wake-up signal containing a universally unique identifier (UUID) and a common wake-up identifier for a first period of time, and transmits a user ID signal containing a UUID and a user identifier associated with the user or by an object during a second time period after the first time period has elapsed; switch the transceiver to talkback mode after the second time period has elapsed to facilitate receiving an incoming acknowledgment signal. 2. The low power electronic device of claim 1, wherein the low power electronic device comprises a portable self-contained unit having a housing for operating a transceiver, a processing unit, and a user interface. 3. The low power electronic device of claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises one of a mechanical user interface, a biometric user interface, an electronic user interface, or an electromechanical user interface. 4. The low power electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one-way communication mode uses a low power technology beacon wireless communication protocol to transmit a common wake-up signal and a user ID signal to one or more nearby portable electronic devices. devices. 5. The low power electronic device of claim 1, wherein the UUID contains a 16-byte source identifier, and wherein the common wake-up identifier contains a 32-bit common wake-up identifier from ancillary values. 6. The low power electronic device of claim 1, wherein the UUID contains a 16-byte source ID and the user ID contains a 32-bit user ID of the auxiliary values. 7. The low power electronic device of claim 1, wherein the two-way communication mode uses a low power technology based proximity wireless communication protocol to send data to and receive data from/to one or more nearby portable electronic devices. . 8. The low power electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first time period comprises a predetermined duration of 1-5 seconds. 9. The low power electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second time period comprises a predetermined duration of 1-5 seconds. 10. The low power electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user identifier comprises a 32-bit value that is preset for association with the low power electronic device of at least one low power electronic device associated with the user or entity, or where the user ID associated with the object contains a VIN or inventory tracking number. 11. The low power electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least one low power electronic device operates in the system, the system comprising: a plurality of low power electronic devices, each low power electronic device comprising a transceiver, and a processing unit, wherein each low power electronic device in the plurality of low power electronic devices is configured to transmit an identical common identifier -