Electronic leash

An electronic leash is the pairing (“leashing”) of one or more wireless devices to a host device that allows the user to find misplaced or out-of-sight objects by activating the host device such that the “leashed” object identifies itself. The system is identical in concept to a key pager, but offers multiple codes that allow a single user-operated device to send codes to a large number of objects. Leash systems generally also offer a form of distance measurement that raises an alarm if the leashed object travels more than a selected distance from the operator. An electronic leash with a paired devices usually includes a power source, transmitter and receiver. Optional elements can include tactile, auditory, or visual indicators to help the user realize the distance traveled from the object is past the maximum. Along with the physical elements, it is very common to have a computer program or mobile application to allow for modification of factory settings of distance allowed from source to receiver and the indication of this event occurring.

Modes of operation

Different vendors may implement the concept in various ways. A code transmission in conjunction with a distance measurement raises an alarm as soon as a predetermined distance between the paired devices is exceeded. Receivers may be borne by the owner of an object, whereas the other transmitting item gets attached to the object for virtually leashing it to the owner.

The transmission distance is adjusted to the intention of keeping the leashed object in contiguity to the bearer's body or workdesk or mobile-workplace environment: that is a distance usually as short as the visually controlled ambience, i.e. no more than about five metres.

Four different methods may implement measuring the required distance to raise the alarm:

  • conventional RSSI concept as defined by the WLAN IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth IEEE 802.15.1 standards
  • transmission power variation without breaking connection
  • transmission power variation provoking breaking connection
  • transmission power polarisation segregating direct and indirect path signalling

The four options make use of various physical phenomena and thus offer a variety of signal processing to overcome:

  • multipath propagation,
  • crinked and direct paths
  • multipath fading
  • excess reach of nearby colliding transmitters
  • higher populations of transmitters

The two-factor concept fails if both items get lost at the same time without raising an alarm, or if one of the batteries is below operational stage or is simply inactive.

Usage principle

Basic electronic gadget is a wireless token that communicates with a counterpart attached to the object to be leashed wirelessly. User guides for mode of operation recommend to bear a very light designed alarm token with a necklace, a wristband or similarly directly bound to the body.

After initially pairing the chosen two wireless token devices with each other or one of that type with a distinct mobile phone or smart phone, either one or both raise an alarm when exceeding the set distance. As long as the two items are in reach of the wireless link, the metrics may be applied to support retrieval. After the reach of the wireless link is exceeded, there is no chance to make use of the signalling for retrieval of the lost object.

Advanced solutions offer communications with GSM or LTE mobile phone of any brood, thus requiring just one transmission unit and using the phone as the receiver. However, none of the leashing functions makes use of the networking function of the mobile phone.

The electronic leash is sensitive to a set distance, whereas the concept of the electronic key pager or electronic key fob just responds to any received and properly coded signal when emitted and disregarding variation in dístance.

Applications

Object leashing works with the phone at hands working as a receiver. Mobile phone leashing works the other way round. Then the receiver is born with the owner, whereas the phone as transmitter gets virtually leashed. A mandatory feature beyond frequency and modulation discrimination is a code selectivity to prevent from responses to any received signal.

Currently, some similar applications are offered:

  • Initial pairing of items
  • Alarm on separation of paired items
  • Forwarding phone ringing
  • Forwarding motion detection
  • Alarm on low battery condition
  • Alarm on key break attack
  • Notification on similar nodes transmitting in vicinity

Possible combinations depend on the application on the phone.

Standardization

A relevant existing standard for such application is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) with the profiles Find Me and Proximity.[1] Due to this standardized technology, many devices are electronically leashed without significantly depleting the power source of the main device or the wireless token that is near or worn on the body. The goal is to have the first ever device to be attached to be worn on an article of clothing or be a utility or keychain. This way users can use this low power technology to keep track of their devices and belongings.

Advantages

Transmission power of the wireless token for the object may be very low in the 1 mW range, as just the distance between the bearer and the item to be leashed shall be bridged. That is a level causing no harm in any environment and electromagnetic interference to sensitive, i.e. medical devices may be neglected.

With highly advanced communication protocols, as with Bluetooth V4.0 low energy protocol, the battery exhaust is significantly lower than with other modes of operation in WPAN (IEEE 802.15) or WBAN (IEEE 802.16) standards. Electronic leashing can increase in productivity and efficiency of workers and decrease the chance of ever losing a belonging if the receiver or transmitter is worn on the body. The low power Bluetooth technology can make this link between device and receiver longer and not worry about the misplacement of personal articles.

Disadvantages

Respective power consumption with the receiver depends on the mode of communication. With international standard WLAN (IEEE 802.11) and with industrial standard Bluetooth V2.0 (international standard IEEE 802.15.1) the battery of the phone used as receiver may be exhausted much faster than without leashing. Power consumption with the mobile phone unit is comparable to wireless headset operation. However, for phones with better advanced standard Bluetooth V4.0 low energy protocol has just started in 2011Q2 and or future international standard WBAN (IEEE 802.16) will not be in market before 2012 after publishing the new standard.

All known other approaches are either proprietary or just industrial standard, as e.g. ZigBee, ANT of others, hence requiring special pairing of transmitter and receiver resp. Clear specification of battery wear is not published with all known vendors' offerings.

Basics

The owner of any mobile phone still shall keep addicted to the basics: Written down IMEI, MEID or ESN number (as generally printed on a sticker placed by manufacturer under the battery of any phone) kept somewhere safe. That is a unique identifier to be taken as a proof of ownership in case of loss. The other is written down PIN code, super PIN code etc. to be kept safely far apart from the phone. And finally, it helps to remember from safely kept notice the own phone number, the subscribers password and the service phone number of the provider.

Informational self determination

The offered service as e.g. with Apple(R)'s products for tracking the current whereabouts of potentially lost items always includes the permanent tracking of the bearers' whereabouts as a severe limitation to informational self-determination beyond the legal requirements yet set for the telephone network operators.

Trade Marks

Currently (2011-04-17) for the generic term of electronic leash no US trade mark[2] nor UK trade mark[3] is valid or otherwise pending for this generic term of product.

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gollark: I already have potatos.madefor.cc.
gollark: As planned.
gollark: Also, potatOS is perfect and without flaw.
gollark: PotatoNET is already in use. You CANNOT have the name. I'm using it twice.

References
  1. Report on Bluetooth V4.0 Low Energy Standardisation
  2. US PTO trade mark query entry
  3. "UK IPO trade mark query entry". Archived from the original on 2011-07-04. Retrieved 2011-04-17.

See also
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