FIEED OF THE PRESENT DISCEOSURE

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to wireless tracking devices, and more particularly to a method of configuring a wireless tracking device using a mobile device, and further to a mobile application, installed on the mobile device, for configuring the wireless tracking device.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Air travel has become an increasingly more convenient and cost effective mode of travel over the last several decades, and, with the proliferation of such travel, there have been many advances in corresponding methods and technologies to make the travel experience more enjoyable and satisfactory for the customer. However, with all of the advances of the past decades, there still exists the all too frequent incidents of lost luggage. Tracking luggage through airports is often difficult and inconvenient. Often times, bags or other pieces of luggage are lost or damaged and thus need to be monitored or tracked for liability purposes. It is useful to those burdened with the responsibility of monitoring or tracking these pieces of luggage to have real time information about the status and location of the luggage.

[0003] Numerous solutions have been proposed to facilitate tracking or locating persons or assets, such as luggage, leveraging cellular and wireless devices. The most widely employed systems involve using a tracking device which may be attached to the luggage, or may even be integrated with the luggage. The tracking device is configured to establish a radio connection with a mobile device of the user. For example, US Patent Publication Number 20160189507A1 discloses an electronic luggage tag which includes an attachment mechanism for attaching the electronic luggage tag to luggage, a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a computer processor, a battery, and a housing. The wireless receiver is configured for wirelessly receiving a trigger signal when the electronic luggage tag is in proximity to luggage handling equipment. The wireless transmitter is configured for wirelessly transmitting an electronic notification message in response to receiving the trigger signal at the wireless receiver. The computer processor is in communication with the wireless receiver and the wireless transmitter. The battery powers at least one of the wireless receiver, the wireless transmitter, and the computer processor.

[0004] Generally, there is constant radio communication between the tracking device and the mobile device, and therefrom the user may be able to track the location of the luggage with ease. However, devices that transmit wireless signals are typically restricted while on an airplane. Usually a user can easily switch off his/her mobile device, or may put his/her mobile device in an “airplane mode” while on the airplane. However, in addition to that, the user may also be required to switch off the tracking device to prevent emission of wireless signals therefrom as per the regulation. Oftentimes, the user may forget to switch off the tracking device and/or it may be inconvenient for the user to switch off the tracking device due to the luggage to which it is attached being located and stored in an overhead bin or the like. Further, as an example, when a user possesses multiple tracking devices on their person and needs to set each and every device off (if the user is travelling, for instance), it may become cumbersome and tedious to set each and every device individually off. Such inaction from the user may result in continuous emission of wireless signals from the tracking device while in the airplane, which is undesirable and may also be a punishable offense in some instances.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of such considerations, and it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a wireless tracking device which may be configured to be put in sleep state thereof conveniently.

SUMMARY

[0006] In an aspect, a method of configuring a wireless tracking device using a mobile device is disclosed. Herein, the wireless tracking device is adapted to be in bi-directional communication with the mobile device utilizing a short-range wireless communication standard. The method comprises providing a mobile application, on the mobile device, operable to generate a communication signal for causing activation of a sleep state of the wireless tracking device. The method further comprises sending the communication signal by the mobile application from the mobile device, using the short-range wireless communication standard, to instruct the wireless tracking device to activate the sleep state thereof when the mobile application is triggered.

[0007] In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises providing a graphical user interface for the mobile application, with a sleep state activation button; and sending the communication signal when the sleep state activation button is triggered.

[0008] In one or more embodiments, the mobile application is operable to determine whether an airplane mode of the mobile device is activated or deactivated.

[0009] In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises providing a first notification if it is determined that the airplane mode of the mobile device is changed from deactivated to activated.

[0010] In one or more embodiments, the first notification instructs a user of the mobile device to activate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device.

[0011] In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises providing a second notification if it is determined that the airplane mode of the mobile device is changed from activated to deactivated.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, the second notification instructs a user of the mobile device to deactivate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises providing a third notification if the short-range wireless communication standard of the mobile device is changed from activated to deactivated in a case where the airplane mode of the mobile device is deactivated and providing no notification if the short-range wireless communication standard of the mobile device is changed from activated to deactivated in a case where the airplane mode of the mobile device is activated.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, the third notification instructs a user of the mobile device to activate the short-range wireless communication standard of the mobile device.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, the mobile device utilizes two or more long- range wireless communication standards for functioning thereof, and wherein the mobile application is operable to determine whether the two or more long-range wireless communication standards of the mobile device are activated or deactivated.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises providing a fourth notification if it is determined that at least one of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards is changed from activated to deactivated such that each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards of the mobile device is deactivated.

[0017] In one or more embodiments, the fourth notification instructs a user of the mobile device to activate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device.

[0018] In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises providing a fifth notification if it is determined that at least one of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards is changed from deactivated to activated in a case where each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards of the mobile device is deactivated.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the fifth notification instructs a user of the mobile device to deactivate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device.

[0020] In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises providing a sixth notification if it is determined that the short-range wireless communication standard of the mobile device is changed from activated to deactivated in a case where at least one of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards of the mobile device is activated, and providing no notification if it is determined that the short-range wireless communication standard of the mobile device is changed from activated to deactivated in a case where each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards of the mobile device is deactivated.

[0021] In one or more embodiments, the sixth notification instructs a user of the mobile device to activate the short-range wireless communication standard of the mobile device.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises emitting, by the wireless tracking device, connecting signal periodically in non-sleep state, receiving, by the mobile device, the connecting signal from the wireless tracking device so as to make pairing between the mobile device and the wireless tracking device, when the mobile device and the wireless tracking device are located within a certain distance, stopping to emit, by the wireless tracking device, the connecting signal in sleep state, making alarming, by the mobile device, when the pairing between the mobile device and the wireless tracking devise is disconnected by separating the mobile device from the wireless tracking device by over the certain distance.

[0023] In another aspect, a mobile application installed on a mobile device for configuring one or more wireless tracking devices is disclosed. Herein, the one or more wireless tracking devices are adapted to be in bi-directional communication with the mobile device utilizing a short-range wireless communication standard. The mobile application when executed interacts with one or more access application programming interface of an operating system of the mobile device and is operable to provide a graphical user interface having one or more sleep state activation buttons corresponding to each of the one or more wireless tracking devices. The mobile device is further operable to send a communication signal, using the short-range wireless communication standard of the mobile device, when any of the one or more sleep state activation buttons is triggered by a user of the mobile device, to instruct the corresponding wireless tracking device to activate the sleep state thereof.

[0024] In one or more embodiments, the mobile application is further operable to display respective statuses of the sleep state of each of the one or more wireless tracking devices, in the graphical user interface.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the one or more wireless tracking devices includes two or more wireless tracking devices. Herein, the mobile application is further operable to determine at least one of whether an airplane mode of the mobile device is activated or deactivated, and whether the one or more long-range wireless communication standards of the mobile device are activated or deactivated; and determine whether the sleep state of each of the two or more wireless tracking devices is deactivated or activated, if it is determined that either one of the airplane mode of the mobile device is changed from activated to deactivated, or at least one of the one or more long-range wireless communication standards of the mobile device is changed from deactivated to activated in a case where each of the one or more long-range wireless communication standards of the mobile device is deactivated, send a seventh notification in a case where the sleep state of at least one of the two or more wireless tracking devices is activated, and send no notification in a case where the sleep states of all of the two or more wireless tracking devices are deactivated.

[0026] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a wireless tracking device, in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an environment utilizing the wireless tracking device along with a mobile device, in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIGS. 3-5 are schematic illustrations of various interfaces provided by graphical user interface of mobile application provided on the mobile device for configuring the wireless tracking device, in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0031] FIGS. 6-8 are illustrations of different flowcharts depicting steps involved in a method of configuring a wireless tracking device using a mobile device, in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to these specific details.

[0033] Reference in this specification to“one embodiment” or“an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearance of the phrase“in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Further, the terms“a” and“an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not for other embodiments.

[0034] The present disclosure provides a wireless tracking device, a method of configuring the wireless tracking device using a mobile device, and a mobile application installed on the mobile device therefor. FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless tracking device (generally referenced by the numeral 100), in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The wireless tracking device 100 is configured for monitoring, tracking, and/or controlling of personal effects of a user. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term“personal effects” can include one or more items, animals, persons, or the like for which or for whom the responsible person has an ownership, possession, or other responsibility relationship. Items can include things such as luggage, backpacks, messenger bags, purses, wallets, electronic devices, such as computers, tablets, phones, and the like, small modes of transportation (e.g. bicycles or skateboards), and the like. Animals can include pets and livestock. Persons for whom the responsible person has a responsibility relationship can include any of children, adults who are afflicted by dementia, other cognitive illnesses, diseases, and the like. Herein, the luggage may be any type of luggage, such as, for example, suitcase, carry bag, duffle bag, etc., that are commonly known in the art. The luggage may include any suitable securing mechanism for allowing removable attachment of the wireless tracking device 100 therewith. In one example, the wireless tracking device 100 may include a keyring adapted to be coupled with any hole provided in the luggage. In other examples, the wireless tracking device 100 may be integrated with the luggage, for example, the luggage may be provided with a housing to allow for insertion of the wireless tracking device 100 therein and further allow for charging of battery of the wireless tracking device 100, as and when required, by providing a charging port or the like.

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the wireless tracking device 100 of the present disclosure may be configured as a tag that attaches or affixes to a personal effect. Such a tag may be fabricated from any suitable material such as a plastic, a metal, a ceramic, a cloth, a natural plant-based material, a composite material, or any combination thereof. A natural plant-based material may be bamboo, wood, resin, or the like. A composite material may include glass reinforced polymer composites, carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites, polyimide-fiber reinforced polymer composites, metal reinforced ceramic composites (cermets), and the like. In certain embodiments, the tag may be fabricated from metal, such as aluminum, steel, copper, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, a combination thereof and the like; or a rigid or semi-rigid plastic, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, polypropylene, PVC, polycarbonate; or a rubber in accordance with fabrication processes well known in the art such as machining, welding, casting, molding, and the like. Accordingly, such a tag may be formed using one or more of heat or chemical welding, die casting, injection molding, sewing, riveting, vacuum molding, spin coating, hand lay up, mechanical or electronic machining, and the like.

[0036] In the present implementations, such a tag may be of any suitable shape and of any suitable size dependent on the shape and size of the personal effect to be monitored, modulated, tracked, and/or controlled. In the illustrated examples, the wireless tracking device 100 has been shown to be of square shape; however, in other examples, the wireless tracking device 100, in the form of a suitable tag, may be circular, tubular, conical, triangular, pyramidal, rectangular, a cube, or the like without any limitations. Further, the dimensions may be of any suitable extension, such as having sides with length from about 2 to 6 centimeters or less; and a thickness from about 2 to 6 millimeter or less. For example, a suitable tag, such as for use with a personal effect such as luggage, may have the dimensions of about 4 by 4 square centimeters. It may be appreciated that the given dimensions are exemplary only and shall not be construed as limiting to the present disclosure in any manner.

[0037] The wireless tracking device 100 of the present disclosure is designed to be a portable, readily available device which provides an ability to keep track of personal effects. The wireless tracking device 100 can be desirable for modulating, tracking, and/or controlling the personal effect thereby easing the mind of a person responsible for the personal effect. The wireless tracking device 100 provides the user, having a personal effect that is to be monitored, tracked, and/or controlled, with the ability to know, or to be able to find out with minimal effort, one or more of where the personal effect is, what state it is in, how it is being or has been handled or treated, and the like. As an illustrative example, when traveling, a user might like to know when luggage or another personal effect leaves his or her vicinity prior to checking-in or stowing the items. The user might also like to know what is happening or what has happened to the personal effect when it is out of his or her sight, such as whether or not it is opened or unlocked, dropped, placed under something heavy, exposed to extreme temperatures, ultraviolet light, exposed to moisture, and the like. The wireless tracking device 100 provides the user with ability to perform such tasks related to monitoring of the personal effects with ease and convenience.

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates an environment utilizing the wireless tracking device 100 along with a mobile device, such as a mobile device 200. The mobile device 200 may be any suitable device capable of communicating with the wireless tracking device 100. For example, the mobile device 200 may be any general purpose communication device, like a home or portable computing device, such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a mini-tablet device, or the like. The mobile device 200 may be a single device, or the user may switch between two or more same or different types of mobile devices for communication with the wireless tracking device 100. In some implementations, features and functions described elsewhere herein as part of the mobile device 200 can be provided by one of a plurality of devices capable of communication with the wireless tracking device 100 using the implemented standards, as discussed in the subsequent paragraphs in detail.

[0039] In the present embodiments, the wireless tracking device 100 is adapted to be in bi-directional communication with the mobile device 200 utilizing a short-range wireless communication standard. The short-range wireless communication standard for wireless communication between the wireless tracking device 100 and the mobile device 200 is represented in FIG. 2 by communication signals and further referred by the numeral 202. In addition, the mobile device 200 in itself may utilize long-range wireless communication standards for functioning thereof. In the present examples, the mobile device 200 utilizes two or more long- range wireless communication standards for functioning thereof. In particular, the two or more long-range wireless communication standards utilized by the mobile device 200 include two long- range wireless communication standards. The long-range wireless communication standard utilized by the mobile device 200 is represented in FIG. 2 by communication signals and further referred by the numeral 204. In the present examples, the utilized short-range wireless communication standard 202 is Bluetooth® based communication standard. It may be appreciated that the wireless tracking device 100, as well as the mobile device 200, may include respective Bluetooth® modules (not shown) for the purpose. In particular, the short-range wireless communication standard 202 is Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) standard, or Bluetooth 5.0 or Bluetooth 5.1 standard. Also, in particular, the two long-range wireless communication standards 204 utilized by the mobile device 200 may include a cellular communication standard and a Wi Fi communication standard as known in the art, and the wireless tracking device 100 may include a communication chip (not shown) for the purpose. It may be appreciated that the listed communication standards are exemplary only, and other communication standards, such as Infrared as short-range wireless communication standard, may be implemented without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0040] The wireless tracking device 100 and the mobile device 200 are paired with each other using the bi-directional short-range wireless communication standard 202 to provide encoded signals to each other. In an example, the wireless tracking device 100 emits connecting signal periodically when is switched on, i.e. in non-sleep state thereof. The mobile device 200 receives the connecting signal from the wireless tracking device 100 so as to enable pairing between the mobile device 200 and the wireless tracking device 100, when the mobile device 200 and the wireless tracking device 100 are located within a certain distance

[0041] In the present embodiments, a location of the wireless tracking device 100 may be shown in a GUI 208 by taking a location data of the mobile device 200 in communication therewith. That is, the location of the wireless tracking device 100 may be shown in the GUI 208 by utilizing the location data available from a location assessment component of the mobile device 200. It may be appreciated that the mobile device 200 may typically already have the location assessment component, and may share the location data with the wireless tracking device 100, because the wireless tracking device 100 and the mobile device 200 which have been paired together have almost same location. In an alternate embodiment, the wireless tracking device 100 may include a standalone location assessment component (not shown) for determining the location thereof. The location assessment component may utilize any one of GPS (Global Positioning System), GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), GALILEO, BDS (BeiDou Navigation Satellite System) and IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System), or techniques like triangulation using mobile network signals, for determining the location thereof. Further, the wireless tracking device 100 may include motion detection component (not shown), such as a motion sensor, as known in the art. In some examples, the wireless tracking device 100 may also include temperature sensor, humidity sensor and the like for providing temperature and humidity information, and the like. The wireless tracking device 100 may include a signaling component for performing at least one of providing information regarding the personal effect associated therewith to and for receiving information and/or commands from a controlling device, such as a mobile device of the user, as discussed in the subsequent paragraphs. The wireless tracking device 100 may include a rechargeable battery (not shown) to power the said various components therein.

[0042] Referring back to FIG. 1, as illustrated, the wireless tracking device 100 may further include a control button, such as a physical control button 102 (as shown). The physical control button 102 may be implemented for various control purposes of the wireless tracking device 100. The physical control button 102 may be configured to provide various functions based on interaction therewith, such as single-press (one press only), multi-press (pressing multiple times, like 3 or more times, consecutively), short-press (press continuously for a short duration, like 2 seconds), long-press (press continuously for a relatively long duration, like 5 seconds). In one example, the multi-press of the physical control button 102 may be configured to activate a sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100. Further, in the present examples, the long-press of the physical control button 102 may be configured to deactivate a sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100. Herein, the sleep state is defined as a state of the wireless tracking device 100 which stops emission of connecting signal. In such state, the component(s) responsible for providing short-range wireless communication standard 202 and other components of the wireless tracking device 100 are deactivated. For instance, the user may choose to implement such option of multi-press of the physical control button 102 to activate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100, when needed to save battery and/or when in an airplane or the like. Further, the user may choose to implement option of long-press of the physical control button 102 to deactivate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100, when moved to outside an airplane or the like. In some examples, the wireless tracking device 100 may also include a light indicator (not shown) to indicate about a current status thereof.

[0043] Again referring to FIG. 2, it may be seen that the wireless tracking device 100 may be associated with a personal effect or object to be tracked. In one instance, as shown in illustrated example, the user may choose to associate the wireless tracking device 100 with keys, such as house keys. Also, as seen, the mobile device 200 may execute a mobile application (generally referred by the numeral 206) therein. The mobile application 206 when executed interacts with one or more access application programming interface of an operating system of the mobile device 200. The mobile application 206 is operable to provide a graphical user interface (GUI), as referred by the numeral 208, on display screen of the mobile device 200. As shown, the GUI 208 may provide information about current status of the wireless tracking device 100 paired with the mobile device 200. For example, the GUI 208 may provide information like whether the wireless tracking device 100 is connected with the mobile device 200 or is disconnected. The GUI 208 may further display information about a current location of the wireless tracking device 100, as received therefrom.

[0044] FIGS. 3-5 illustrate various exemplary interfaces as may be provided by the GUI 208 for providing information about the wireless tracking device 100. The various depicted interfaces may also provide some control means for configuring, and thereby controlling functioning of the wireless tracking device 100, as discussed in detail later in the description. According to an embodiment, the GUI 208 provide one or more sleep state activation buttons corresponding to each of the one or more wireless tracking devices 100. In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the GUI 208 may provide a sleep state activation button 210 in corresponding control interface or menu for each of the one or more wireless tracking devices 100. It may be appreciated that the various interfaces as provided by the GUI 208 may include many other options and control buttons to configure the wireless tracking device 100 as per different needs and scenarios. Many such options may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art from the associated drawings and the same have not been described herein for the brevity of the present disclosure.

[0045] As discussed, the user may be required to switch off, i.e. to activate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100 to prevent emission of wireless signals therefrom in certain situations. For instance, devices that transmit wireless signals are typically restricted while on an airplane. Thus when the user may board an airplane, they may be required to put all their electronic devices in mode such that no wireless signals may be emitted therefrom as per typical regulations. Usually users can easily switch off or may put their mobile device, such as the mobile device 200, in an“airplane mode” while on the airplane as the same is generally always handy to the user. However, in addition to that, the user may also be required to switch off any wireless tracking device, such as the wireless tracking device 100, to prevent any possible emission of wireless signals therefrom as per the regulation. Physically accessing the wireless tracking device 100, when attached to, say, the luggage and the luggage being stored in an overhead bin or the like, may be cumbersome and somewhat inconvenient to the user.

[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart depicting steps involved in a method 600 of configuring the wireless tracking device 100 using the mobile device 200, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Herein, as discussed, the wireless tracking device 100 is adapted to be in bi-directional communication with the mobile device 200 utilizing the short-range wireless communication standard 202. At step 602, the method 600 includes providing the mobile application (such as the mobile application 206), on the mobile device 200, operable to generate a communication signal for causing activation of the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100. It may be appreciated that the communication signal herein may represent a signal emitted from the mobile device 200, utilizing the short-range wireless communication standard 202, to be received by the wireless tracking device 100, and configuring the wireless tracking device 100 to activate the sleep state thereof. For this purpose, the embedded electronics (not shown) in the wireless tracking device 100 may be programmed/encoded to deactivate various components thereof on receiving the encoded communication signal, from the mobile device 200 paired therewith. Such control arrangement by transmission of signal may be contemplated and thus have not been described in more detail herein.

[0047] Further, at step 604, the method 600 includes sending the communication signal by the mobile application 206 from the mobile device 200, using the short-range wireless communication standard 202, to instruct the wireless tracking device 100 to activate the sleep state thereof when the mobile application 206 is triggered. In one example, the mobile application 206 may be triggered by a physical action of the user. For such purpose, the method 600 includes providing the GUI 208 for the mobile application 206, with the sleep state activation button 210 (as discussed earlier). The method 600 further includes sending the communication signal when the sleep state activation button 210 is triggered. That is, when the user selects the particular wireless tracking device 100 in the GUI 208, and may further tap the corresponding sleep state activation button 210, the communication signal encoded for that particular wireless tracking device 100 is generated and is transmitted to the wireless tracking device 100 to instruct the embedded electronics therein to switch off all the components to activate the sleep state thereof. Alternatively, or additionally, in other examples, the mobile application 206 may be triggered by some predefined conditions as discussed in the subsequent paragraphs. In the present embodiment, the sleep state activation button 210 is shown by“Sleep State”. It may be shown in various other name, such as“Airplane mode” without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0048] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the mobile application 206 is operable to determine whether an airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is activated or deactivated. Herein, the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 represents an option in the operating system of the mobile device 200 to deactivate each of the long-range communication standards 204 thereof. In order to determine whether the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is activated or deactivated, the mobile application 206 may utilize APIs for extracting such information from the operating system of the mobile device 200, as may be understood by a person reasonably skilled in the art of programming. If it is determined that the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 has been changed from deactivated to activated, the user may be provided with a notification. The notification reminds the user of the mobile device that the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100 should be switched from deactivated to activated. The user changes the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 from activated to deactivated again so as to enable communication using the short-range wireless communication standard 202. The user opens the GUI 208 and taps on the sleep state activation button 210 to generate the communication signal and change the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 200 from deactivated to activated. Optionally, the GUI 208 with the sleep state activation button 210 may be readily available for activating the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100. It may be appreciated that for activating the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100 with the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 being activated, the mobile application 206 may temporarily activate the short-range wireless communication standard 202 to send the communication signal to the wireless tracking device 100, and subsequently deactivate the short-range wireless communication standard 202 to put back the mobile device 200 in airplane mode. Since, generally when the mobile device 200 may be put in the airplane mode thereof, it may also be generally required to active the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100 paired therewith; therefore, the techniques provided by the present method 600 may help the user to save hassle of physically accessing and activating the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100, as otherwise would be required by using the physical control button 102, in such situations.

[0049] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart depicting steps involved in a method 700 of configuring the wireless tracking device 100 using the mobile device 200. At step 702, the method 700 comprises determining whether the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is activated or not. In case of the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 not being activated, at step 704, it is checked, for example, by the mobile application 206, whether the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is changed; for example, either by an action of the user or automatically based on some predefined condition, like a predefined boarding time of the airplane or based on some request signals inside the airplane. At step 706, the method 700 comprises determining whether the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is activated after change in previous step 704. If not at step 706, again a check as in step 704 is made. At step 708, the method 700 comprises providing a first notification if it is determined that the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is changed from deactivated to activated at step 706. Herein, the first notification instructs a user of the mobile device 200 to activate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100. In such case, the first notification may read like, for example“ Mobile device’s airplane mode is activated. Wireless tracking device sleep state should be activated The first notification may act as a reminder for the user to activate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100. The user may choose to select the first notification (by tapping thereon) to be directed to an interface like that provided in FIG. 5 with the sleep state activation button 210 readily available for activating the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100.

[0050] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 7, in case of the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 being activated (as determined at step 702); at step 710, it is checked, for example, by the mobile application 206, whether the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is changed. At step 712, the method 700 comprises determining whether the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is deactivated in case a change in the previous step 710 is determined. If not at step 712, again a check, as in step 710, is made. At step 714, the method 700 comprises providing a second notification if it is determined that the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is changed from activated to deactivated at step 712. Herein, the second notification instructs a user of the mobile device 200 to deactivate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100. In such case, the second notification may read like, for example“ Mobile device’s airplane mode is deactivated. In order to track wireless tracking device, wireless tracking device sleep state should be deactivated. Please long press the physical control button The user may choose to physically deactivate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100, for example by long-pressing the physical control button 102. It may be appreciated that, herein, the second notification may act as a reminder for the user to re-activate the wireless tracking device 100, say when the user may have moved out of the airplane as determined by action of deactivation of the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 by the user.

[0051] In the present embodiment, the method 700 further comprises providing a third notification if the short-range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200 is changed from activated to deactivated in a case where the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is deactivated. Herein, the third notification instructs a user of the mobile device 200 to activate the short-range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200. In such case, the third notification may read like, for example “ Mobile device’s short-range wireless communication standard is deactivated. In order to track wireless tracking device, its short-range wireless communication standard should be activated Again, it may be appreciated that, herein, the third notification may act as a reminder for the user to re-activate the short-range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200, say when the user may have moved out of the airplane as determined by action of deactivation of the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 by the user, in order to allow the user to continuously track the associated personal effect with the wireless tracking device 100. Further, in an embodiment, the method 700 comprises providing no notification if the short-range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200 is changed from activated to deactivated in a case where the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is activated. That is, there is no need to intrude the user for activating the short-range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200, since the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is activated and thus there is no need to have communication with the wireless tracking device 100. In one or more embodiments, the method 700 further comprises removing the third notification if it is determined that the implemented short-range wireless communication standard 202 has been activated by the user.

[0052] It is to be understood that in some cases, it may not be possible for the mobile application 206 to determine whether an airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is activated or deactivated. This may be possible due to any number of factors, such as restriction from the operating system of the mobile device 200, lack of proper permissions to the mobile application 206, or the like. In such cases, it may be preferable that the mobile application 206 may be able to determine the status of the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 by indirect means.

[0053] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the mobile application 206 is operable to determine whether the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are activated or deactivated. Herein, status of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200, i.e. whether one or more of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are activated or deactivated, may represent corresponding state of the airplane mode of the mobile device 200. For instance, if each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are deactivated, then it may be considered that the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is activated. On the other hand, if one or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are activated, then it may be considered that the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is deactivated. In order to determine whether any of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is activated or deactivated, the mobile application 206 may have APIs for extracting such information from the operating system of the mobile device 200, as may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art of programming. If it is determined that each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are changed from activated to deactivated, the user may be provided with a notification. The notification reminds the user of the mobile device that the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100 should be switched from deactivated to activated. The user changes the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 from deactivated to activated again so as to enable communication using the short-range wireless communication standard 202. The user opens the GUI 208 and taps on the sleep state activation button 210 to generate the communication signal and change the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 200 from deactivated to activated. Optionally, the GUI 208 with the sleep state activation button 210 is readily available for activating the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100. It may be appreciated that for activating the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100 with each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 being deactivated, the mobile application 206 may temporarily activate the short-range wireless communication standard 202 (if not already deactivated) to send the communication signal to the wireless tracking device 100, and subsequently deactivate the short-range wireless communication standard 202 (again, if was not already deactivated). Since, generally when the long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are deactivated, it may also be required to active the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100 paired therewith; therefore, the techniques provided by the present method may help the user to save hassle of manually accessing and activating the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100, as otherwise would be required by using the physical control button 102, in such situations.

[0054] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart depicting steps involved in a method 800 of configuring the wireless tracking device 100 using the mobile device 200. At step 802, the method 800 comprises determining whether the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are activated or not. In case of at least one of the two or more long- range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 being activated, at step 804, it is checked, for example, by the mobile application 206, whether status of the two or more long- range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is changed. At step 806, the method 800 comprises determining whether each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are deactivated or not after change in previous step 804. If not at step 806, again a check as in step 804 is made. At step 808, the method 800 comprises providing a fourth notification if it is determined that at least one of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards is changed from activated to deactivated such that each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is deactivated at step 806. Herein, the fourth notification instructs a user of the mobile device 200 to activate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100. In such case, the fourth notification may read like, for example“ Mobile device’s Airplane mode seems to be activated. Wireless tracking device sleep state should be activated The user may choose to select the fourth notification (by tapping thereon) to be directed to an interface like that provided in FIG. 5 with the sleep state activation button 210 readily available for activating the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100.

[0055] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 8, in case of each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 being deactivated (as determined at step 802), at step 810, it is checked, for example, by the mobile application 206, whether each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is changed. At step 812, the method 800 comprises determining whether at least one of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is activated in case a change in previous step 810 is determined. If not at step 812, again a check, as in step 810, is made. At step 814, the method 800 comprises providing a fifth notification if it is determined that at least one of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 is changed from deactivated to activated in a case where each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is deactivated at step 812. For instance, in one example, the mobile device 200 may utilize two long-range wireless communication standards 204, namely a first long-range wireless communication standard and a second long-range wireless communication standard. Further, initially, the mobile device 200 is set with both the first and second long-range wireless communication standards in deactivated state. Under this state, when the user changes either the first or the second long-range wireless communication standard, or the both the first and second long-range wireless communication standards at some instant from deactivated state to activated state, the user receives the fifth notification in the mobile device 200. Herein, the fifth notification instructs a user of the mobile device 200 to deactivate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100. In such case, the fifth notification may read like, for example “ Mobile device’s Airplane mode seems to be deactivated. In order to track wireless tracking device, wireless tracking device sleep state should be deactivated. Please long press the physical control button The user may choose to physically deactivate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100, for example by long-pressing the physical control button 102. It may be appreciated that, herein, the fifth notification may act as a reminder for the user to re-activate the wireless tracking device 100, say when the user may have moved out of the airplane as determined by action of re-activation of one or more of the long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 by the user.

[0056] In the present embodiment, the method 800 further comprises providing a sixth notification if the short-range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200 is changed from activated to deactivated in a case where at least one of the two long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is activated. Herein, the sixth notification instructs a user of the mobile device 200 to activate the short-range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200. In such case, the sixth notification may read like, for example“ Mobile device’s short-range wireless communication standard is deactivated. In order to track wireless tracking device, its short-range wireless communication standard should be activated Again, it may be appreciated that, herein, the sixth notification may act as a reminder for the user to re-activate the short-range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200, say when the user may have moved out of the airplane as determined by action of re- activation of the one or more of the long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 by the user, in order to allow the user to continuously track the associated personal effect with the wireless tracking device 100. Further, in an embodiment, the method 800 comprises providing no notification if it is determined that the short-range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200 is changed from activated to deactivated in a case where each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is deactivated. That is, there is no need to intrude the user for activating the short-range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200, since the user may have intentionally deactivated the short-range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200 for any reason. In one or more embodiments, the method 800 further comprises removing the sixth notification if it is determined that the implemented short-range wireless communication standard 202 has been activated by the user.

[0057] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the mobile application 206 is further operable to determine at least one of whether an airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is activated or deactivated, and whether the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are activated or deactivated. The mobile application 206 is further operable to send the communication signal if it is determined that either one of the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is changed from deactivated to activated, or the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are changed from activated to deactivated such that each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is deactivated.

[0058] In one or more examples, the present methods further comprise providing no notification when it is determined that the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is activated, and the short-range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200 is changed from activated to deactivated or from deactivated to activated in a case where it is determined that the wireless tracking device 100 is in sleep state thereof. Additionally, the present methods further comprise providing no notification when it is determined that each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are deactivated, and the short- range wireless communication standard 202 of the mobile device 200 is changed from activated to deactivated or from deactivated to activated, in a case where it is determined that the wireless tracking device 100 is in sleep state thereof. This helps to limit undue signals being generated which may otherwise put strain on a battery of the mobile device 200.

[0059] As discussed, the wireless tracking device 100 and the mobile device 200 are paired with each other using the bi-directional short-range wireless communication standard 202 to provide encoded signals to each other. In an example, the wireless tracking device 100 emits connecting signal periodically in non-sleep state. The mobile device 200 receives the connecting signal from the wireless tracking device 100 so as to make pairing between the mobile device 200 and the wireless tracking device 100, when the mobile device 200 and the wireless tracking device 100 are located within a certain distance. The presently disclosed methods also comprises stopping emitting, by the wireless tracking device 100, the connecting signal in sleep state, and optionally making alarm, by the mobile device 200, when the pairing between the mobile device 200 and the wireless tracking devise 100 is disconnected by separating the mobile device 200 from the wireless tracking device 100 by over the certain distance. For example, the certain distance is a range from one meter to 100 meters. This may be helpful in case of the personal effect, such as the luggage being left behind or detection of any attempt of theft thereof.

[0060] In some examples, the user may employ multiple wireless tracking devices, similar to the wireless tracking device 100 The one or more wireless tracking devices 100 includes two or more wireless tracking devices. In such case, the mobile application 206 is further operable to determine at least one of whether an airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is activated or deactivated, and whether the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are activated or deactivated. If it is determined that either one of the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is changed from activated to deactivated, or at least one of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is changed from deactivated to activated in a case where each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is deactivated, the mobile application 206 sends a seventh notification in a case where the sleep state of at least one of the two or more wireless tracking devices 100 is activated. In such case, the seventh notification may read like, for example“ Mobile device’s airplane mode is deactivated. In order to trackwireless tracking device, wireless tracking device sleep state should be deactivated. Please long press the physical control button On the other hand, if it is determined that either one of the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is changed from activated to deactivated, or at least one of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is changed from deactivated to activated in a case where each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is deactivated, the mobile application 206 does not send the seventh notification in a case where the sleep states of all of the two or more wireless tracking devices 100 are deactivated. Instead of sending the seventh notification, the mobile application 206 sends no notification. Such a configuration may help to reduce the total number of notifications to be handled by the user, when the user possesses multiple wireless tracking devices 100. FIG. 4 illustrates an interface provided by the GUI 208 of the mobile application 206 depicting a list of various wireless tracking devices 100 registered in the corresponding mobile device 200. As shown, the user can change settings related to each of the registered wireless tracking devices 100 on an individual level, as desired. For instance, if the user may tap on the wireless tracking device 100 labelled as“House Keys” therein, the mobile application 206 displays the GUI 208 as shown in FIG. 5, where the user may individually control setting (including activation of sleep state of the corresponding wireless tracking device) therefrom. In this embodiment, three wireless tracking devices 100 are registered in the mobile device 200. Although the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100 labelled as“House Keys” is activated (“sleep state” is displayed), the sleep states of the wireless tracking devices 100 labelled as“Car Keys” and“Pet Dog” are deactivated. Thus, when, if it is determined that either one of the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is changed from activated to deactivated, or at least one of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is changed from deactivated to activated, the mobile application 206 sends the seventh notification.

[0061] The method of the present disclosure assists with activating the sleep states of the one or more wireless tracking devices 100 of the user, directly from the mobile device 200 of the user. The present method achieves the same automatically or semi-manually based on the change of state of the mobile device 200, for example when the airplane mode of mobile device 200 is changed from deactivated to activated, and/or when the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 are changed from activated to deactivated. This may particularly be helpful for a user travelling in an airplane where it is required to switch off all devices emitting wireless signals. With implementation of the present method, the user may be reminded via one or more notifications, such as the first notification or the fourth notification, to activate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100 in a case where it is determined that either one of the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is changed from deactivated to activated, or at least one of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is changed from activated to deactivated such that each of the two or more long-range wireless communication standards 204 of the mobile device 200 is deactivated. The user may then choose to act on it from the mobile device 200 itself. Alternatively, or additionally, the present method provide option to achieve the same without user intervention by automatically sending the communication signal, when any of the said predefined conditions is met. In addition, the present method also reminds the user to deactivate the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100 via one or more notifications, such as the second notification or the fifth notification, when the condition has changed, i.e. in a case where it is determined that the airplane mode of the mobile device 200 is changed from activated to deactivated and/or at least one of the two or more long- range wireless communication standards 204 is changed from deactivated to activated. Thus, the present method and the corresponding mobile application helps save the hassle of manually and physically activating the sleep state of the wireless tracking device 100, when boarding an airline or the like. The wireless tracking device 100 of the present disclosure, with the corresponding mobile application 206, may particularly be suitable for use with luggage or any other personal effect which is often carried during air travel.

[0062] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.