Monitoring and reporting hard disk drives identification using radio frequency
First Claim
1. A method for retrieving and reporting serial numbers of hard disk drives in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) electronically obtaining the serial number of each of the hard disk drives;
b) providing the serial number of each of the hard disk drives to a display via a browser; and
c) copying the serial number of each of the hard disk drives to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the serial numbers can be logged utilizing an RF reader means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed towards a method and system for retrieving and reporting serial numbers of hard disk drives in a computer system. The method and system include electronically obtaining the serial number of each of the hard disk drives. The method and system also include providing the serial number of each of the hard disk drives to a display via a browser. The method and system additionally include copying the serial number of each of the hard disk drives to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the serial numbers can be logged utilizing an RF reader. The RF reader may be included in an RF gate and/or a hand held device. Computer systems with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology configured in accordance with the present invention enable automated electronic tracking of computer assets such as the hard disk drives as they pass through the RF gate in or out of a portal. Computer systems with the RFID technology also enable the automated electronic tracking of the hard disk drives or other computer assets via the hand held device. In either case, no direct contact with the hard disk drive is needed for the tracking and reporting.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for retrieving and reporting serial numbers of hard disk drives in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) electronically obtaining the serial number of each of the hard disk drives; b) providing the serial number of each of the hard disk drives to a display via a browser; and c) copying the serial number of each of the hard disk drives to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the serial numbers can be logged utilizing an RF reader means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for automated electronic tracking and protection of hard disk drives in a computer, the computer having a last known configuration including last known serial numbers corresponding to each of the hard disk drives, the method utilizing hard disk drives identification for monitoring and reporting the hard disk drives presence in the computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) performing a power-up sequence upon power-up of the computer; b) detecting the hard disk drives in the computer; c) identifying the type of each of the hard disk drives; d) issuing a system call to a device driver in order to retrieve the identification of each of the hard disk drives; e) forming a serial number for each of the hard disk drives from the identification retrieved from each of the hard disk drives; f) comparing the serial numbers with the corresponding last known serial numbers in order to determine if any of the hard disk drives has been replaced; g) providing the serial numbers to a display in order to alert a computer user of a change in the hard disk drives if a mismatch is found between the serial numbers and the corresponding last known serial numbers; and h) copying the serial numbers to an RF-enabled memory in order to log a current configuration of the computer if the mismatch between the serial numbers and the corresponding last known serial numbers is found. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A system for automated electronic tracking and protection of hard disk drives in a computer, the computer having a last known configuration including last known serial numbers corresponding to each of the hard disk drives, the system comprising:
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means for retrieving current serial numbers from the hard disk drives; a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory coupled to the retrieving means, the RF enabled memory for storing the last known serial numbers and for updating the last known serial numbers with the current serial numbers; an RF link from the RF enabled memory to an RF reader, the RF reader for receiving the updated last known serial numbers; and
means for reporting the serial numbers coupled to the retrieving means.
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15. A computer readable medium including program instructions for retrieving and reporting serial numbers of hard disk drives in a computer system, the program instructions for:
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a) electronically obtaining the serial number of each of the hard disk drives; b) providing the serial number of each of the hard disk drives to a display via a browser; and c) copying the serial number of each of the hard disk drives to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the serial numbers can be logged utilizing an RF reader means.
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16. A computer readable medium including program instructions for automated electronic tracking and protection of hard disk drives in a computer, the computer having a last known configuration including last known serial numbers corresponding to each of the hard disk drives, the method utilizing hard disk drives identification for monitoring and reporting the hard disk drives presence, the program instructions for:
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a) performing a power-up sequence upon power-up of the computer; b) detecting the hard disk drives in the computer; c) identifying the type of each of the hard disk drives; d) issuing a system call to a device driver in order to retrieve the identification of each of the hard disk drives; e) forming a serial number for each of the hard disk drives from the identification retrieved from each of the hard disk drives; f) comparing the serial numbers with the corresponding last known serial numbers in order to determine if any of the hard disk drives has been replaced; g) providing the serial numbers to a display in order to alert a computer user of a change in the hard disk drives if a mismatch is found between the serial numbers and the corresponding last known serial numbers; and h) copying the serial numbers to an RF-enabled memory in order to log a current configuration of the computer if the mismatch between the serial numbers and the corresponding last known serial numbers is found.
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Specification