ASSET APPARENCY METHOD AND APPARATUS

• US 20100156603A1
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Doyle, Thomas F., Fetzer, Dudley K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,078,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Abstract

A method and apparatus making an asset apparent. The method and apparatus may be configured to obtain an asset apparency request to locate an asset, wherein the asset apparency request includes an identification code corresponding to the asset, to generate an asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message includes an identification code corresponding to the user, the identification code corresponding to the asset, and one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent, and to transmit, to a central processing facility wherein the asset apparency message is processed by the central processing facility by: determining a unique identifying value for the asset from the identification codes corresponding to the user and the asset, and transmitting the one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent.

Claims

1. A method for making an asset apparent, the method comprising:

obtaining, from a user, an asset apparency request to locate an asset, wherein the asset apparency request includes an identification code corresponding to the asset;

generating an asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message includes an identification code corresponding to the user, the identification code corresponding to the asset, and one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent; and

transmitting, to a central processing facility, the asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message is processed by the central processing facility by;

determining a unique identifying value for the asset from the identification codes corresponding to the user and the asset; and

transmitting the one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset, identified by the unique identifying value, apparent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining further comprises:

receiving the asset apparency request from at least one of;

a user selection to a wireless communications device, or from a wireless communications system, or from a central processing facility.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification code corresponding to the asset includes at least one of:

an electronic serial number, or a mobile identification number, or a username and password, or an alpha-numeric code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification code corresponding to the user includes at least one of:

a code supplied by a requesting user, or a username and password, or a social security number, or an alpha-numeric code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more functionalities includes at least one of:

illuminating the asset, or performing an audio alert by the asset or performing a mechanical movement by the asset.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more functionalities for the asset depends on a battery power value for the asset.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset apparency message further includes a location value for a wireless communications device transmitting the asset apparency message;

and

wherein the one or more functionalities for the asset depends on the location value for the wireless communications device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting further comprises transmitting using a network, wherein the network comprises at least one of:

a cellular network, an AMPS network, a satellite communication network, a wireless digital network, or a paging network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset includes at least one of:

a cellular telephone, or a satellite telephone, or a two-way pager, or a personal digital assistant, or a portable computer, or an asset finding device.

10. At least one processor configured for making an asset apparent:

a first module for obtaining, from a user, an asset apparency request to locate an asset, wherein the asset apparency request includes an identification code corresponding to the asset;

a second module for generating an asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message includes an identification code corresponding to the user, the identification code corresponding to the asset, and one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent; and

a third module for transmitting, to a central processing facility, the asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message is processed by the central processing facility by;

determining a unique identifying value for the asset from the identification codes corresponding to the user and the asset; and

transmitting the one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset, identified by the unique identifying value, apparent.

11. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to obtain, from a user, an asset apparency request to locate an asset, wherein the asset apparency request includes an identification code corresponding to the asset;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to generate an asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message includes an identification code corresponding to the user, the identification code corresponding to the asset, and one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent; and

a third set of code for causing the computer to transmit, to a central processing facility, the asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message is processed by the central processing facility by;

determining a unique identifying value for the asset from the identification codes corresponding to the user and the asset; and

transmitting the one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset, identified by the unique identifying value, apparent.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

means for obtaining, from a user, an asset apparency request to locate an asset, wherein the asset apparency request includes an identification code corresponding to the asset;

means for generating an asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message includes an identification code corresponding to the user, the identification code corresponding to the asset, and one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent; and

means for transmitting, to a central processing facility, the asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message is processed by the central processing facility by;

means for determining a unique identifying value for the asset from the identification codes corresponding to the user and the asset; and

means for transmitting the one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset, identified by the unique identifying value, apparent.

13. An apparatus for making an asset apparent, the apparatus comprising:

an asset apparency module for;

obtaining, from a user, an asset apparency request to locate an asset, wherein the asset apparency request includes an identification code corresponding to the asset; and

generating an asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message includes an identification code corresponding to the user, the identification code corresponding to the asset, and one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent; and

a transmitter for;

transmitting, to a central processing facility, the asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message is processed by the central processing facility by;

determining a unique identifying value for the asset from the identification codes corresponding to the user and the asset; and

transmitting the one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset, identified by the unique identifying value, apparent.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a receiver for receiving the asset apparency request from at least one of;

a user selection to the wireless communications device, or a wireless communications system, or a central processing facility.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the identification code corresponding to the asset includes at least one of:

an electronic serial number, or a mobile identification number, or a username and password, or an alpha-numeric code.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the identification code corresponding to the user includes at least one of:

a code supplied by a requesting user, or a username and password, or a social security number, or an alpha-numeric code.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more functionalities includes at least one of:

illuminating the asset, or performing an audio alert by the asset or performing a mechanical movement by the asset.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more functionalities for the asset depends on a battery power value for the asset.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the asset apparency message further includes a location value for a wireless communications device transmitting the asset apparency message;

and

wherein the one or more functionalities for the asset depends on the location value for the wireless communications device.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transmitter is further operable for:

transmitting using a network, wherein the network comprises at least one of;

a cellular network, an AMPS network, a satellite communication network, a wireless digital network, or a paging network.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprising at least one of:

a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone, a two-way pager, a personal digital assistant, a portable computer, or an asset finding device.

22. A method for making an asset apparent, the method comprising:

receiving an asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message includes an identification code corresponding to the user, the identification code corresponding to the asset, and one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent;

determining a unique identifying value for the asset from the identification codes corresponding to the user and the asset;

selecting at least one of the one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent; and

transmitting the one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset, identified by the unique identifying value, apparent.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the identification code corresponding to the asset includes at least one of:

an electronic serial number, or a mobile identification number, or a username and password, or an alpha-numeric code.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the identification code corresponding to the user includes at least one of:

a code supplied by a requesting user, or a username and password, or a social security number, or an alpha-numeric code.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the one or more functionalities include at least one of:

illuminating the asset, or performing an audio alert by the asset, or performing a mechanical movement by the asset.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the selecting further includes selecting the at least one of the one or more functionalities for the asset depending on a battery power value for the asset.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the asset apparency message further includes a location value for a wireless communications device transmitting the asset apparency message;

further comprising determining a location value for the asset; and

wherein the selecting further includes selecting the at least one of the one or more functionalities for the asset depending on the distance between location value for the wireless communications device and the location value for the asset.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the receiving further comprises:

receiving using a network, wherein the network comprises at least one of;

a cellular network, an AMPS network, a satellite communication network, a wireless digital network, or a paging network.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining the asset has been located.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the determining includes at least one of:

monitoring a motion detector on the asset, or

monitoring an input interface of the asset for an input indicating the asset has been located, or

monitoring a position sensor on the asset.

31. At least one processor configured for making an asset apparent:

a first module for receiving, wherein the asset apparency message includes an identification code corresponding to the user, the identification code corresponding to the asset, and one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent;

a second module for determining a unique identifying value for the asset from the identification codes corresponding to the user and the asset;

a third module for selecting at least one of the one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent; and

a fourth module for transmitting the one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset, identified by the unique identifying value, apparent.

32. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive an asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message includes an identification code corresponding to the user, the identification code corresponding to the asset, and one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to determine a unique identifying value for the asset from the identification codes corresponding to the user and the asset;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to select at least one of the one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent; and

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to transmit the one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset, identified by the unique identifying value, apparent.

33. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving an asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message includes an identification code corresponding to the user, the identification code corresponding to the asset, and one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent;

means for determining a unique identifying value for the asset from the identification codes corresponding to the user and the asset;

means for selecting at least one of the one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent; and

means for transmitting the one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset, identified by the unique identifying value, apparent.

34. An apparatus for making an asset apparent, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver for;

receiving an asset apparency message, wherein the asset apparency message includes an identification code corresponding to the user, the identification code corresponding to the asset, and one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent;

an asset apparency module for;

determining a unique identifying value for the asset from the identification codes corresponding to the user and the asset

selecting at least one of the one or more functionalities to make the asset apparent; and

a transmitter for;

transmitting the one or more instructions to trigger the asset to perform one or more functionalities to make the asset, identified by the unique identifying value, apparent.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the identification code corresponding to the asset includes at least one of:

an electronic serial number, or a mobile identification number, or a username and password, or an alpha-numeric code.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the identification code corresponding to the user includes at least one of:

a code supplied by a requesting user, or a username and password, or a social security number, or an alpha-numeric code

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the one or more functionalities include at least one of:

illuminating the asset, or performing an audio alert by the asset, or performing a mechanical movement by the asset.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the asset apparency module is further operable for selecting the at least one of the one or more functionalities for the asset depending on a battery power value for the asset.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the asset apparency message further includes a location value for a wireless communications device transmitting the asset apparency message;

and

wherein the asset apparency module is further operable for;

determining a location value for the asset; and

selecting the at least one of the one or more functionalities for the asset depending on the distance between location value for the wireless communications device and the location value for the asset.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the receiver is further operable for:

receiving using a network, wherein the network comprises at least one of;

a cellular network, an AMPS network, a satellite communication network, a wireless digital network, or a paging network.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the asset apparency module is further operable for:

determining the asset has been located.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the asset apparency module is further operable for at least one of:

monitoring a motion detector on the asset to determine if the asset has been located, or

monitoring an input interface of the asset for an input indicating the asset has been located, or

monitoring a position sensor on the asset to determine if the asset has been located.

43. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the asset comprising at least one of:

a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone, a two-way pager, a personal digital assistant, and a portable computer.