Patent · US Expired

Asset management methods and apparatus

US7180422B2 · kind B2 · utility

70Cited by
6References
54Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 29, 2003
Grant dateFeb 20, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 7, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06Q10/087
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for correlating physical and logical attributes of devices include associating logical-tags (L-tags) and physical-tags (P-tags) with target devices. A P-tag includes a P-tag identifier, which can be read by a P-tag reading device, regardless of whether power is applied to the target device. The P-tag identifier and other information can be sent to an asset manager, which can determine a location of the device. An L-tag includes an L-tag identifier and may include other L-tag information describing logical attributes of the device. The L-tag information also can be sent to an asset manager. The asset manager maintains a tracking record for the device, which may include the P-tag identifier, the L-tag identifier, information regarding the asset's logical attributes, and information regarding the asset's physical attributes. By maintaining similar tracking records for a plurality of devices, the asset manager can track and manage the plurality of devices.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.