Patent Application
20080171576
The present invention relates generally to identifying location data regarding mobile devices disposed in an area.
A mobile unit may be used in a variety of environments. The mobile unit may include a communication device to notify a server (i.e., central processing unit) of the mobile unit's current state. The mobile unit may periodically or continuously send a signal to the server to perform this notification. When a plurality of mobile units is disposed in an area, the server may maintain a database logging each mobile unit's current state. For example, the server may update a spreadsheet containing location data of the plurality of mobile units contained in a network in which the server operates.
A problem arises when the mobile unit disposed in the network is incapable of notifying the server of its current state. This problem may occur when, for example, the mobile unit does not have enough power to make the transmission. Furthermore, this problem may occur when, for example, the mobile unit is recharging. The mobile unit may be recharged when it is placed within a cradle. The cradle may contain a first set of electrical contacts that couple to a corresponding set of contacts on the mobile unit to achieve the charging. A conventional method for the server to ascertain a recharging mobile unit's location is to utilize a second set of contacts on a cradle. The second set of contacts couples to another corresponding set of contacts on the mobile unit and is used to transmit a signal to the server. However, this requires that the mobile unit and the cradle to further include this second set of contacts. Thus, there is a need for updating the mobile unit's location without utilizing the second set of contacts.
The present invention relates to a system and method for identifying a mobile unit in a cradle. The method comprises deactivating power to the cradle. The cradle is capable of recharging the mobile unit. After the cradle is deactivated, the method comprises determining one of (a) if a signal is received from the mobile unit indicating recharging power to the mobile unit has been deactivated and (b) if the mobile unit discontinues an identification transmission.
The method comprises determining an identity of the mobile unit in the cradle as a function of one of the received signal and the discontinued identification transmission.
a shows a mobile unit that is part of the system of
b shows a cradle that is part of the system of
The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention describe a system and method for identifying a mobile unit (e.g., computing device, personal computer, laptop, pager, mobile device, cell phone, radio frequency identification device, scanner, etc.), particularly while the mobile unit is recharging. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, components of the mobile unit may be used for identification without a need for a further communication contact (i.e., second set of contacts).
In the exemplary embodiment, the NMA 115 may further be connected to the network 120. The network 120 includes an operating area 125. The operating area 125 may be, for example, a warehouse, a store, a building, etc. The server 105 and/or the NMA 115 may, via the network 120, be in communication with the MUs 130-145 using wireless communications (e.g., 802.11x, WiFi, etc.) and/or hardwired communications. Cradles 150-165 may also be disposed in the operating area 125. The cradles 150-165 may be used to recharge a power supply of the MUs 130-145 via a recharging arrangement. For example, as illustrated, the MU 145 is inserted in the cradle 165. The cradles 150-165 may be in communication with the network 120 using wireless and/or hardwired communications. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the cradles 150-165 may be operated (e.g., activated/deactivated) via the server 105. The MU 145, the cradle 165, and the recharging arrangement will be discussed in more detail below with reference to
It should be noted that the use of the NMA 115 is only exemplary and the server 105 alone may contain the functionalities to operate the system 100. Furthermore, the use of a single network 120 is only exemplary. The present invention may utilize multiple networks, thereby function in multiple, distinct operating areas. The present invention may also increase the operating area 125 using, for example, access points. The access points may be used to communicate with the MUs and/or cradles, via wireless and/or wired communications. In addition, it should be noted that the server 105, the database 110, and the NMA 115 disposed outside the operating area 125 is only exemplary and these components may be present within the operating area 125.
a shows the mobile unit 145 that is part of the system 100 of
The cradle 165 may include a back support 235, a cavity 240, corresponding contacts (c-contact) 245-250, and locks 270-275. The back support 235 may be used to provide a resting surface for the MU 145 upon insertion of the MU 145 by sliding in a direction d into the cradle 165. It should be noted that the use of the back support 235 is only exemplary and the cradle 165 may include side supports, an enclosure support, windows on any of the supports, or may not include any support. The cavity 240 may be used to provide a storing area for the MU 145 upon insertion of the MU 145 in the cradle 165. It should be noted that the use of the cavity 240 is only exemplary and the cradle 165 may be designed without the cavity 240.
The c-contacts 245-250 may provide a coupling site for the contacts 225-230 where the electrical connection between the MU 145 and the cradle 165 is established. As illustrated, the contact 225 may couple with the c-contact 245 while the contact 230 may couple with the c-contact 250. It should be noted that the use of two pairs of coupling contacts is only exemplary and the recharging of the power supply 220 may require fewer or more electrical couplings. The c-contacts 245-250 may have wire leads 255-260, respectively, to an electrical power outlet via cord 265.
The locks 270-275 may be used to hold the MU 145 in the cradle 165 while the MU 145 is not in use, the power supply 220 is recharging, etc. The MU 145 may contain corresponding locks (not shown) if the locks 270-275 are of a coupling type. It should be noted that the use of the locks 270-275 may allow the cradle 165 to not require a back support 235 or a cavity 240. However, it should also be noted that the use of the locks 270-275 is only exemplary and the cradle 165 may not have the locks 270-275. Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of two locks 270-275 is only exemplary and the present invention may utilize a single lock, a circular lock, more than two locks, etc.
The method 400 is directed toward identifying MUs that are being recharged, whether the MU has been recharging or just placed/loaded into the cradle. The method 400 assumes that the MUs with sufficient power are continuously communicating with the network, whether recharging in a cradle or in use within the operating area 125. MUs with insufficient power (e.g., dead battery) are unable to communicate and would, therefore, be in a recharging cradle. When the MU is not being recharged and is in use, the MU is in communication with the network 120 and, therefore, the server 105 may directly communicate with the MU to identify that MU. For example, as illustrated in
In step 405, the activated cradles are determined. As discussed above, the cradles 150-165 are connected to the network 120. The server 105 may determine the activated cradles using a variety of methods. For example, the cradles 150-165 may include functionality to indicate to the server 105 that there is a MU inserted therein or the MU is being recharged. The server 105 may also determine power consumption by the cradles 150-165. That is, if the cradle 165 is recharging the power supply 220 of the MU 145, energy consumption data may be used. If the consumption is beyond a threshold value, the server 105 may recognize that the cradle is currently in use. It should be noted that the server 105 may not be required to determine activated cradles and still perform the identification of MUs.
In step 410, power may be deactivated to a specific cradle among the active cradles. With reference to
If the MU being recharged has sufficient power after the cradle is deactivated, a signal may be returned. Thus, in step 420, the MU returned a signal to indicate the deactivation of recharging power and the MU identity is stored. Akin to an MU in use and directly communicating with the server 105 via the network 120, upon deactivation of the cradle, the MU may directly communicate with server 105 by sending the above described signal. Thus, the identity of the MU and the specific cradle in which it is being charged are identified by the server 105.
If the MU being recharged has insufficient power and cannot return a signal, the server 105 is still aware that the cradle is in use. Thus, in step 425, the identity of the MU may still be determined. In the exemplary embodiments, the MU with insufficient power may use the external power source (i.e., power received from recharging) to send transmissions, thereby enabling a continuous communication with the network. Therefore, the server 105 is receiving a signal from the MU. A deactivation of the cradle in which the insufficiently powered MU sits discontinues the transmissions from the MU. The server 105 subsequently determines that the MU that discontinued transmitting is present in the cradle that was deactivated. Thus, the identity of the MU and the specific cradle in which it is being charged are identified by the server 105.
In step 430, the database 110 is updated to store the identification and location data associated with the MU identified in either step 420 or step 425. Once the recharging MU is identified and the database 110 is updated, power is reactivated to the deactivated cradle in step 435.
In step 440, a determination is made whether to continue updating the database. If further updates are required, the method returns to step 405 where activated cradles are again identified. Those skilled in the art will understand that the method 400 may be used to continuously update the database 110 to show within which cradle each MU is located. Thus, in one example, the method 400 may be executed each time the server 105 detects that a cradle has been activated. In another example, the method 400 may continuously be executed to maintain a real-time catalog of the MUs present in cradles.
With the database 110 including the identification and location data for all the MUs within cradles in an operating area 125, other features may be implemented within the system 100. For example, the server 105 may further include functionality to activate/deactivate the locking mechanisms of the cradles. Thus, an MU locked in a cradle may only be used upon proper authentication and release by the server 105. For example, a user such as an employee or customer may arrive at the operating area 125 that includes a plurality of cradles or an array of cups having locked MUs. The user may swipe a credit card, employee badge, etc. through a swipe device that sends the user identification data to the server 105. The server 105 may then unlock a specific cradle allowing the user to take an identified MU. The server 105 may also associate the user identification with the MU identification and store the association in the database 110 to know which user has a specific MU.
Another example includes identifying misplaced MUs within the operating area. If a MU is misplaced and cannot respond to a query by the server 105, the server 105 may determine all other MUs in the operating area 125 and compare to a complete list of MUs that are supposed to be present in the operating area 125. A prompt may be issued to, for example, an administrator concerning the lost MU. The prompt may also include the identification of the user that unlocked the MU from the cradle.
It should be noted that the method 400 may include a checking step to determine that the MU which discontinued transmitting is present at the cradle (i.e., the MU identified in step 425). Upon reactivating power (step 435) to the deactivated cradle, the server 105 may determine that a signal is again being received from the MU. If a signal is being received from the MU that discontinued transmitting, the server 105 may authenticate that the identified MU is located in the specific cradle.
The present invention affords further advantages over conventional identification of mobile units. Conventional mobile units include recharging contacts (e.g., contacts 225-230) and a separate communication contact. In contrast, the present invention may eliminate the communication contact because identification may be accomplished through the method 400. The elimination of components of the MU also allows the design of the MU to be smaller, compact, etc. It also provides for less parts that may break and less possible environmental damage because there are fewer openings in the housing. It should be noted that the above described advantages are only exemplary and that other advantages exist for the system and method described above.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
This application claims the priority to the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/884,673, entitled “System and Method for Identifying a Mobile Device,” filed Jan. 12, 2007. The specification of the above-identified application is incorporated in its entirety herewith by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60884673 | Jan 2007 | US |
