Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing the deployment of a reader network infrastructure

• US 20070050370A1
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Denny, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/211,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20070050370A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing deployment of a reader network infrastructure are provided. The method includes searching a database of records for a location corresponding with an event. The searching is performed in response to receiving a query for information relating to the event. The records link the location to the event. The method also includes contacting the location and requesting event data. In response to receiving the event data from the location, the method includes filtering the event data based upon the query, formatting the event data to coincide with the query, and transmitting a response to a source of the query, the response resulting from the filtering and formatting.

Claims

1. A method for managing deployment of a reader network infrastructure, comprising:

searching a database of records for a location corresponding with an event, the searching performed in response to receiving a query for information relating to the event, the records linking the location to the event;

contacting the location and requesting event data; and

in response to receiving the event data from the location;

filtering the event data based upon the query;

formatting the event data to coincide with the query; and

transmitting a response to a source of the query, the response resulting from the filtering and formatting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location is a computer device that collects raw data from at least one reader, the at least one reader collecting identification information from at least one inventory article.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving event data includes receiving raw data from the computer device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the reader collects information from the at least one inventory article via a radio frequency identification tag on the at least one inventory article.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the event data includes at least one of:

inventory status information; and

a production trigger.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the records link the location to a tag type that specifies an inventory article via a radio frequency designated for the inventory article.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

aggregating event information received from multiplication locations in response to a query for event information.

8. A system for managing deployment of a reader network infrastructure, comprising:

a host system;

a database of records stored on the host system;

an information services application executing on the host system; and

an aggregator application executing on the host system, the aggregator application including an application programming interface for enabling information exchange between the information services application and the aggregator application;

wherein

in response to receiving a query from the information services application for information relating to an event, the aggregator application performs;

searching the database of records for a location corresponding with the event, the reader network records linking the location to the event;

contacting the location via the host system and requesting event data relating to the query;

in response to receiving the event data from the location;

filtering the event data based upon the query;

formatting the event data to coincide with the query; and

transmitting a response to the information services application, the response resulting from the filtering and formatting.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the location is a computer device that collects raw data from at least one reader, the at least one reader collecting identification information from at least one inventory article.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the receiving event data includes receiving raw data from the computer device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the reader collects information from the at least one inventory article via a radio frequency identification tag on the at least one inventory article.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the event data includes at least one of:

inventory status information; and

a production trigger.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the records link the location to a tag type that specifies an inventory article via a radio frequency designated for the inventory article.

14. A computer program product for managing deployment of a reader network, the computer program product including instructions for implementing a method, comprising the steps of:

searching a database of records for a location corresponding with an event, the searching performed in response to receiving a query for information relating to the event, the records linking the location to the event;

contacting the location and requesting event data; and

in response to receiving the event data from the location;

filtering the event data based upon the query;

formatting the event data to coincide with the query; and

transmitting a response to a source of the query, the response resulting from the filtering and formatting.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the location is a computer device that collects raw data from at least one reader, the at least one reader collecting identification information from at least one inventory article.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the receiving event data includes receiving raw data from the computer device.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the reader collects information from the at least one inventory article via a radio frequency identification tag on the at least one inventory article.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the event data includes at least one of:

inventory status information; and

a production trigger.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the records link the location to a tag type that specifies an inventory article via a radio frequency designated for the inventory article.

20. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising instructions for implementing a method, comprising:

aggregating event information received from multiplication locations in response to a query for event information.