A real-time method and system for locating a mobile object or person in a tracking environment while conserving electrical energy in a battery-operated tracking tag associated with the object or person are provided. The method includes modulating a first carrier signal with a first packet including a first set of identification data having a first length to obtain a first modulated signal. The first set of data identifies the tag associated with the object or person. The method also includes transmitting the first modulated signal containing the first packet. Transmission of the first modulated signal consumes a first amount of electrical energy. The first modulated signal has a first precision and a first range within the environment. The method further includes modulating a second carrier signal with a second packet including a second set of identification data reduced in length from and based on the first set of identification data. The method still further includes transmitting the second modulated signal containing the second packet. Transmission of the second modulated signal consumes an amount of electrical energy reduced from an amount of electrical energy consumed if the second set of identification data was not reduced in length. The method further includes receiving and demodulating the first and second modulated signals to obtain the first and second packets. Finally, the method includes processing the first and second packets of the received demodulated signals to obtain location of the tag within the tracking environment wherein total transmission energy is reduced.