INVENTORY DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20090091442A1
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miriyala, Prasad, Howarth, Arthur G., Prasad, Chandrodaya
• Granted Patent: US 8,212,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

In one implementation, a method includes reading first component data from a first tag associated with a first component of a device. The device may be powered on or off. The first component data indicate components associated with the first component at a first time. The method may involve obtaining second component data from a second tag associated with a support structure. The second component data may indicate components disposed in the support structure at a second time. The method may also involve comparing the first component data with the second component data and determining whether the first component data match the second component data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

reading first component data from a first tag associated with a first component of a device, the first component data indicating components associated with the first component at a first time;

obtaining, from a second tag associated with a support structure, second component data indicating components disposed in the support structure at a second time;

comparing the first component data with the second component data; and

determining whether the first component data match the second component data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the reading and obtaining steps comprises reading a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time is a time at which the device was last powered on.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second time is a time at which the device was prepared for shipment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing an action according to whether the first component data match the second component data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading third component data from a third tag associated with a second component of the device, the third component data indicating device components associated with the second component at a third time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first component data indicate components disposed in the support structure at a first time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second component data indicate components disposed in a device chassis at the second time.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the action comprises determining whether to accept delivery of the device.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a device chassis;

a plurality of device components disposed within the device chassis; and

a first aggregation device associated with a first device component, the first aggregation device comprising a wireless interface and a logic device configured to do the following when the apparatus is powered off;

determine first component data at a first time, the first component data comprising identification data regarding at least a second device component that is currently disposed within the device chassis;

store the first component data;

receive a component request via the wireless interface; and

provide the first component data via the wireless interface in response to the component request.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first aggregation device comprises a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an RFID tag associated with the second device component, the RFID tag having second component data stored thereon, the second component data indicating at least one other component associated with the second component.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a motherboard configured for communication with the plurality of device components, the motherboard comprising a second aggregation device configured to obtain current component data from each of the plurality of device components when the apparatus is powered on.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a chassis RFID tag associated with the chassis, the chassis RFID tag indicating chassis component data regarding components associated with the chassis.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first aggregation device is further configured to obtain current component data from the second aggregation device.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader; and

a logic system configured to do the following;

read first component data from a first RFID tag associated with a first component of a device that is powered off, the first component data indicating components associated with the first component at a first time;

read, from a second RFID tag affixed to a support structure enclosing the device, second component data indicating components disposed in the support structure at a second time;

compare the first component data with the second component data; and

determine an extent to which the first component data match the second component data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a network interface, wherein the logic system is further configured to do the following:

query a component database via the network interface;

determine stored component data indicating components of the device at a third time; and

compare the stored component data with the first component data or the second component data.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the logic system is further configured to do the following:

read second through N^th component data from second through N^th tags associated with a first component of a device that is powered off, the first component data indicating components associated with the first component at a first time;

compare the first through N^th component data; and

determine whether there is an inconsistency in the first through N^th component data.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the network interface is a wireless interface.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the logic device is further configured to determine whether the stored component data match at least one of the first component data or the second component data.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

means for reading first component data from a first tag associated with a first component of a device, the first component data indicating components associated with the first component at a first time;

means for obtaining, from a second tag associated with a support structure, second component data indicating components disposed in the support structure at a second time;

means for comparing the first component data with the second component data; and

means for determining whether the first component data match the second component data.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least one of the reading means and the obtaining means comprises means for reading a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag.