Automatic registration of asset tags based on crowd sourcing asset context

• US 10,332,070 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2018
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mulaosmanovic, Jasmin, Lombardi, Robert Joseph, Smadi, Mohammed Nawaf
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Seung H
• Application Number:
  US15/958,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20180240064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10376 the interrogation device being adapted for being moveable
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A server-implemented method for automatically registering an asset tag in a database is disclosed. One or more asset tag collision reports are received from at least one mobile device connected to the server, each report including a tag identifier of the asset tag that is wirelessly broadcast by the asset tag. A location of the asset tag is determined based on the one or more received asset tag collision reports. A first asset is selected from a set of unregistered assets that are identified as being deployed in the indoor facility based on determining that there is a match between the location of the asset tag and location information associated with the first asset. The asset tag is then registered in association with the first asset in the database.

Claims

1. A method for registering an asset tag in a database, the method comprising:

receiving, from at least one mobile device, one or more asset tag collision reports, each of the one or more asset tag collision reports including a tag identifier of the asset tag, wherein the tag identifier is transmitted to the at least one mobile device in wireless signals broadcast by the asset tag;

determining a location of the asset tag based on the one or more received asset tag collision reports; and

registering the asset tag in association with the tag identifier and the determined location in the database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on the location, one or more classes of assets, and wherein registering further includes registering the asset tag in association with said one or more classes of assets.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining the one or more classes of assets is based on the determined location and contextual data regarding the location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determined location includes a determined height and wherein the contextual data includes data per class prescribing likely height of an asset of that class.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the asset tag includes identifying a defined area of the indoor facility in which the asset tag is located.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein registering the asset tag further includes identifying an unregistered asset having associated location information, determining that the location information for the unregistered asset matches the determined location, and registering the unregistered asset in association with the asset tag in the database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more asset tag collision reports indicates an identity of a reporting mobile device from which the asset tag collision report originated.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the asset tag collision report identifies a location of the reporting mobile device within the indoor facility at a time when a wireless signal from the asset tag was detected by the reporting mobile device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the location of the reporting mobile device within the indoor facility is determined by the reporting mobile device using an indoor positioning application.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the asset tag collision report includes a timestamp indicating a time at which the wireless signal from the asset tag was detected by the reporting mobile device.

11. A server for registering an asset tag in a database, the server comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing processor executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to

receive, from at least one mobile device, one or more asset tag collision reports, each of the one or more asset tag collision reports including a tag identifier of the asset tag, wherein the tag identifier is transmitted to the at least one mobile device in wireless signals broadcast by the asset tag,

determine a location of the asset tag based on the one or more received asset tag collision reports, and

register the asset tag in association with the tag identifier and the determined location in the database.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to determine, based on the location, one or more classes of assets, and wherein registering further includes registering the asset tag in association with said one or more classes of assets.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor is to determine the one or more classes of assets based on the determined location and contextual data regarding the location.

14. The server of claim 13, wherein the determined location includes a determined height and wherein the contextual data includes data per class prescribing likely height of an asset of that class.

15. The server of claim 11, wherein the processor is to determine the location of the asset tag by identifying a defined area of the indoor facility in which the asset tag is located.

16. The server of claim 11, wherein the processor is to register the asset tag by identifying an unregistered asset having associated location information, determining that the location information for the unregistered asset matches the determined location, and registering the unregistered asset in association with the asset tag in the database.

17. The server of claim 11, wherein each of the one or more asset tag collision reports indicates an identity of a reporting mobile device from which the asset tag collision report originated.

18. The server of claim 17, wherein the asset tag collision report identifies a location of the reporting mobile device within the indoor facility at a time when a wireless signal from the asset tag was detected by the reporting mobile device.

19. The server of claim 18, wherein the location of the reporting mobile device within the indoor facility is determined by the reporting mobile device using an indoor positioning application.

20. The server of claim 17, wherein the asset tag collision report includes a timestamp indicating a time at which the wireless signal from the asset tag was detected by the reporting mobile device.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a server to register an asset tag in a database, wherein the instructions comprise:

instructions to receive, from at least one mobile device, one or more asset tag collision reports, each of the one or more asset tag collision reports including a tag identifier of the asset tag, wherein the tag identifier is transmitted to the at least one mobile device in wireless signals broadcast by the asset tag;

instructions to determine a location of the asset tag based on the one or more received asset tag collision reports; and

instructions to register the asset tag in association with the tag identifier and the determined location in the database.