FACILITY MANAGEMENT USING MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20120280784A1
• Filed: 05/03/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Gaviria Velez, Rafael Andres, Goodman, Lee N., Eichen, Elliot G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,041,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A method includes docking a mobile device in a docking station and providing, by the mobile device, identification information to the docking station, where the identification information identifies a user associated with the mobile device. The method also includes forwarding, by the docking station, the identification information to a network device, and receiving, by the network device, the identification information. The method also includes updating, by the network device, a database based on the received identification information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

docking a mobile device in a docking station;

providing, by the mobile device, identification information to the docking station, the identification information identifying a user associated with the mobile device;

forwarding, by the docking station, the identification information to a network device;

receiving, by the network device, the identification information; and

updating, by the network device, a database based on the received identification information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the database includes information identifying a plurality of employees and corresponding locations associated with each of the plurality of employees, wherein the locations are based on locations associated with each of a plurality of docking stations in which a plurality of mobile devices associated with the plurality of employees are docked.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the forwarding further comprises:

forwarding information identifying the docking station or a location associated with the docking station to the network device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, to a plurality of employees, access to the database, wherein the database identifies work locations that are vacant, work locations that are occupied, and employee identification information associated with the work locations that are occupied.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing the database by at least one of a heating system, an air conditioning system, a lighting system, a security system or a time-keeping system; and

controlling at least one of the heating system, air conditioning system, lighting system, security system or time-keeping system based on information stored in the database.

6. The method of claim 1,

undocking the mobile device from the docking station;

and

updating the database to indicate that the user of the mobile device is no longer located at a location associated with the docking station.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing at least one of a call list or contact list stored in the mobile device; and

placing a telephone call to a party stored in the call list or contact list via the docking station.

15. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

a docking port configured to electrically connect with a docking station, and wherein the processing logic is further configured to;

provide identification information associated with a user of the mobile device in response to electrically connecting with the docking station via the docking port.

8. A device, comprising:

an interface configured to receive and dock a mobile device;

logic configured to;

receive information from the mobile device when the mobile device is docked, the information identifying a user of the mobile device; and

a communication interface configured to;

forward the information to a database system that stores information identifying a plurality of parties and location information associated with each of the plurality of parties.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the interface comprises a docking port configured to physically dock with the mobile device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the docking port comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port configured to electrically connect with the docked mobile device.

11. A mobile device, comprising:

a memory configured to store credential information associated with a user of the mobile device;

processing logic configured to;

determine whether the user is permitted to access a secured location, and

generate a code or signal to unlock an electronic locking mechanism associated with the secured location, in response to determining that access is permitted; and

a communication interface configured to transmit the code or signal to the electronic locking mechanism or to a device associated with the secured location to unlock the electronic locking mechanism.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein when transmitting, the communication interface is configured to:

transmit the code or signal using near field communications or a wireless protocol.

13. The mobile device of claim 11, further comprising:

a camera configured to capture an image associated with the secured location, wherein the processing logic is further configured to;

decode the captured image,

determine whether access is permitted based on the captured image, and

generate a second code or signal to unlock the electronic locking mechanism, based on the captured image and in response to determining that access is permitted.

14. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the processing logic is further configured to:

transmit information associated with obtaining access to the secured location to a central monitoring system.

16. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephone, a tablet computer, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

17. A system, comprising:

an access control device configured to control access to a secured location, the access control device including;

a memory configured to store access information associated with a plurality of users;

a processor configured to;

receive information transmitted from a mobile device or stored within the mobile device, and

determine whether access is permitted to the secured location based on information stored in the memory; and

a control interface configured to unlock a door associated with the secured location in response to the processor determining that access is permitted.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the access control device further comprises:

a near field communication device configured to read user credential information stored on the mobile device.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a central monitoring system, wherein when determining whether access is permitted, the processor is configured to communicate with the central monitoring system.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the access control device further comprises:

a communication interface configured to receive information transmitted from the mobile device via a wireless protocol.