Methods and apparatus for determining the status of a device
US8249953B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 2004 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 27, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K17/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for determining the status of a networked device, e.g., a networked RFID device. In some embodiments of the invention, a customized packet is used to transmit a “heartbeat” from each of a plurality of networked devices to a server. Some such embodiments use a customized syslog packet for the heartbeats. The heartbeat includes identification information regarding the device, e.g., the unique electronic product code (“EPC”) of the device. The identification information may include other identification and/or authentication information, such as a shared secret and time data, which may be hashed with the identification information. The heartbeat may include information indicating the health, accuracy and/or reliability of the device and/or of the network that includes the device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.