Finding lost devices has always been a problem, and as we collect more and more smart devices and electronic gadgets, the risk of losing a device increases and the cost of replacing them goes up. GPS trackers are expensive and difficult to work with. However, with the proliferation of mobile phones in the World, there are now multiple crowdsourced networks consisting of many millions of devices that can be used to find lost devices.

Apple and Google both provide extensive crowdsourced networks that we can tap into when we are locating a device, and the key common element here is Bluetooth. With a tag or device that is enabled with Bluetooth LE, we can connect into the Apple Find My® or Find My network and use one of these networks to communicate the location of the device back to an app on the owner’s mobile phone. By supporting more than one network, we not only provide support for more phones, but we also increase the chance that a lost device can connect to some other device that is part of one of these networks, providing a medium for the information to get back to the owner.

Apple and Google both have specifications or SDKs that enable devices to communicate with their networks to allow the owner of the device to locate their device using Find My or Find My networks. The Apple Find My® network consists of iOS, iPadOS and mac OS devices with the Find My feature enabled. The Find My network consists of Android devices with the Find My feature enabled.

The location of the tracked item is displayed in the owner’s app for whichever of the ecosystems is applicable. These apps may have additional functionality to locate and protect the users’ devices and prohibit unwanted tracking, such as the option to play a sound on the tracked device. These networks use Bluetooth LE to broadcast a signal that can be picked up by nearby Apple or Android phone on the relevant network.

The networks cannot be enabled simultaneously, as for example, the user will have either an Android or Apple smart phone, so that would dictate which of those Find My networks could be used. Apple specifically disallows registration on another tracking network when using their Find My service.

Infineon has software released to support both device tracking networks on its Bluetooth MCUs, in particular the CYW20829, PSOC 63 Bluetooth LE MCU, CYW5591x, and CYW5551x and PSOC™ 63 parts. Some of this software can only be made available directly to customers due to licencing conditions, so please contact us if you are interested. More details on this can be found in the links below, as well as how to get development kits.

To learn more about CYW20829, PSOC 63 Bluetooth LE MCU, CYW5591x, and CYW5551x, click here.

To learn more about CYW5591x, click here.

To learn more about CYW5551x, click here.

To learn more about PSOC™ 63, click here.

To learn more about Apple Find My®, click here.

To learn more about Find My, click here.