Systems and methods for asset tracking with grouped associated tracking devices

A server for tracking assets, the server being coupled to a wireless communication system and comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed, are to cause the processor to:
• receive at a server, via wireless communication, from each of a plurality of tracking devices, adjacent device data for that tracking device regarding one or more detected nearby tracking devices and an estimated distance measurement to each detected nearby tracking device;
• determine from the adjacent device data that a subset of the plurality of tracking devices are in a group associated with a multi-unit vehicle;
• select at least one of the tracking devices in the subset as a master device;
• and
• transmit, via wireless communication, instructions to the subset of tracking devices designating the at least one of the tracking devices as the master device and other tracking devices in the subset as slave devices, wherein the master device is to send location data to the server via its wireless data connection, and wherein the slave devices are to forego sending communications to the server via their respective wireless data connections.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, storing processor-executable instructions to:

• receive at a server, via wireless communication, from each of a plurality of tracking devices, adjacent device data for that tracking device regarding one or more detected nearby tracking devices and an estimated distance measurement to each detected nearby tracking device;
• determine from the adjacent device data that a subset of the plurality of tracking devices are in a group associated with a multi-unit vehicle;
• select at least one of the tracking devices in the subset as a master device;
• and
• transmit, via wireless communication, instructions to the subset of tracking devices designating the at least one of the tracking devices as the master device and other tracking devices in the subset as slave devices, wherein the master device is to send location data to the server via its wireless data connection, and wherein the slave devices are to forego sending communications to the server via their respective wireless data connections.