Extrema-retentive data buffering and simplification

Methods and devices for asset tracking are provided. An example method involves obtaining a stream of raw data, adding data points from the stream of raw data to a data buffer in a first cycle of data, performing a dataset simplification algorithm on the first cycle of data to determine whether one or more data points from the first cycle of data are to be recorded, preparing the data buffer for a second cycle of data, including determining a group of carry-over data points to be included in the second cycle of data, and continuing to add data points from the stream of raw data to the data buffer in the second cycle of data.