Life360 has filed a patent for a method that enables communication between the owner and finder of a lost tracking device. The system uses a smart code embedded with a URL to prompt the finder to provide the location of the device. The owner is then notified of the device’s location and can establish anonymous communication with the finder. GlobalData’s report on Life360 gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
According to GlobalData’s company profile on Life360, Vehicle telematics based risk analysis was a key innovation area identified from patents. Life360's grant share as of September 2023 was 81%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
A method for establishing communication between a lost tracking device owner and finder
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230283992A1) describes a method for tracking devices using smart codes and mobile devices. The method involves a tracking system receiving an identifier of a tracking device and a request for a web page from a mobile device that captures an image of a smart code on the tracking device. The smart code contains a URL for the web page. The tracking system then provides the web page to the mobile device, prompting the user to provide the location of the mobile device to the tracking system via a web browser. Once the location is received, the tracking system populates the web page with an interface element that allows the owner of the mobile device to establish an anonymous communication session with the owner of the tracking device.
The method described in the patent does not require the mobile device to have a specific application installed for the tracking system. The smart code can be in the form of a QR code, bar code, or image. The web page provided to the mobile device also includes an interface element that enables the user to enable the GPS receiver of the mobile device. Additionally, the web page includes a second interface element that allows the user to share the location of the mobile device with the owner of the tracking device. The anonymous communication session facilitated by the tracking system allows the user of the mobile device to identify the location where the tracking device has been left.
The patent also includes claims for a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions and a tracking system comprising a hardware processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. These claims describe the same method as mentioned above, with the additional detail that the tracking system performs the steps using the hardware processor and the stored instructions.
Overall, this patent describes a method for tracking devices using smart codes and mobile devices, allowing for anonymous communication between the owners of the devices. The method does not require a specific application to be installed on the mobile device and provides various interface elements to enable location sharing and GPS functionality.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Life360, buy the report here.
Premium Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
