Tracking memory modules within a computer system

• US 6,170,059 B1
• Filed: 07/10/1998
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pruett, Gregory B., Kilmer, Gregory W., Ward, James Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Iqbal, Nadeem
• Application Number:
  US09/113,831
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 380/3, 380/4, 380/10, 380/19, 380/23, 380/25, 380/49, 380/20, 340/825.34, 340/825.31, 235/382.5, 235/382
• US Class Current: 726/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a method, system and computer readable medium (the present invention) for tracking memory modules in a computer system. The present invention includes identifying each of the memory modules based upon identification information added to each of the memory modules by their manufacturer to provide a unique serial number by each of the memory modules; and providing the unique serial number to a display via a browser. The identification information comprises electronically readable information which is preferably stored in an electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) and from which the unique serial numbers are generated for identifying the memory modules. One aspect of the present invention further includes comparing the unique serial numbers with corresponding last known serial numbers, wherein a mismatch in the serial numbers indicates that the corresponding memory modules have been replaced. Another aspect of the present invention further includes copying the unique serial numbers to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the unique serial numbers can be logged utilizing an RF reader means. 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 memory modules as they pass through the RF gate in or out of a portal.

Claims

1. A method for tracking memory modules in a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

a) identifying each of the memory modules based upon identification information added to each of the memory modules by their manufacturer to provide a unique serial number by each of the memory modules, the unique serial number being generated at the time of tracking by a user; and

b) providing the unique serial number to a display via a browser.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the memory modules comprises a dual in-line memory module (DIMM).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises electronically readable information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the identification information is stored in an electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) within each of the memory modules.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further includes the step of:

c) copying the unique serial numbers to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the unique serial numbers can be logged utilizing an RF reader means.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifying step (a) further includes the step of:

a1) electronically obtaining the unique serial number of each of the memory modules.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the electronically obtaining step (a1) further includes the step of;

a1a) executing a sequence including a power-up sequence during which the identification information is retrieved from each of the memory modules.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronically obtaining step (a1) further includes the step of:

a1b) generating the unique serial number from the identification information for each of the memory modules.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identification information includes a first and second identification information and wherein the generating step (a1b) further includes the step of:

a1b1) determining if a particular header comprising a particular set of characters exists in the first identification information;

a1b2) determining the validity of a checksum at the end of the first identification information if the particular header exists; and

a1b3) providing the unique serial number if the particular header exists and the checksum is valid, wherein the serial number comprises the first identification information and wherein the first identification information is unique.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the identification information includes a first and second identification information and wherein the generating step (a1b) further includes the step of:

a1b1) determining if a particular header comprising a particular set of characters exists at the head of the first identification information;

a1b2) determining the validity of a checksum at the end of the first identification information if the particular header exists; and

a1b3) forming the unique serial number from the second identification information if the particular header exists and the checksum is invalid.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the identification information includes a first and second identification information and wherein the generating step (a1b) further includes the step of:

a1b1) determining if a particular header comprising a particular set of characters exists in the first identification information; and

a1b2) forming the unique serial number from the second identification information if the particular header does not exist.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronically obtaining step (a1) further includes the step of:

a1b) comparing the unique serial numbers with corresponding last known serial numbers, wherein a mismatch in the serial numbers indicates that the corresponding memory modules have been replaced.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the browser includes a desktop management interface (DMI) browser.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the DMI browser is used for local viewing of the serial numbers on the display.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the browser further includes a DMI protocol compatible system management means for viewing the serial numbers across a network.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the RF enabled memory comprises an RF identification (RFID) EEPROM.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the RFID EEPROM comprises a dual-ported non-volatile memory with both digital serial and RF interfaces, and wherein the RFID EEPROM can be updated via both a digital serial and RF interfaces.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein, the RF-enabled memory is linked to an RF reader through an antenna, and wherein the memory modules identification can be electronically monitored without having to form a direct physical contact with the memory modules.

19. A method for tracking memory modules in a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

a) identifying each of the memory modules based upon identification information added to each of the memory modules by their manufacturer to provide a unique serial number by each of the memory modules, the unique serial number of each of the memory modules being generated from the identification information obtained electronically from each of the memory modules, the identification information including a first and second identification information, wherein if in the first identification information a particular set of characters and a valid checksum are present then the unique serial number is generated from the first identification information, the particular set of characters comprising a header, and wherein if either one of the header and a valid checksum is not present then the unique serial number is formed from the second identification information, the unique serial number being compared with a corresponding last known serial number to determine if the corresponding memory module has been changed; and

b) providing the unique serial number to a display via a browser.

20. A system for tracking memory modules in a computer, the system comprising:

means for electronically generating a unique serial number of each of the memory modules at the time of tracking by a user;

means coupled to the generating means for providing the unique serial number of each of the memory modules to a display via a browser; and

means coupled to the providing means for copying the unique serial number of each of the memory modules to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the serial numbers can be logged utilizing an RF reader means.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the memory modules include an electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) for storing the unique serial numbers.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the memory modules comprises a dual in-line memory module (DIMM).

23. A system for automated electronic tracking and protection of memory modules in a computer, the computer having a last known configuration including last known serial numbers corresponding to each of memory modules, the system comprising:

means for retrieving identification information from a designated memory space in each of the memory modules;

means coupled to retrieving means for generating current serial numbers from the identification information, wherein the current serial numbers are unique;

a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory coupled to the generating 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 generating means.

24. A computer readable medium including program instructions for tracking memory modules in a computer, the program instructions for:

a) identifying each of the memory modules based upon identification information added to each of the memory modules by their manufacturer to provide a unique serial number by each of the memory modules;

the unique serial number being generated at the time of tracking by a user; and

b) providing the unique serial number to a display via a browser.

25. A computer readable medium including program instructions for tracking memory modules in a computer, the program instructions for:

a) electronically generating the unique serial number of each of the memory modules;

the unique serial number being generated at the time of tracking by a user;

b) providing the unique serial number of each of the memory modules to a display via a browser; and

c) copying the serial number of each of the memory modules to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the serial numbers can be logged utilizing an RF reader means.

26. A method for tracking memory modules in a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying each of the memory modules based upon identification information added to each of the memory modules by their manufacturer to provide a unique serial number by each of the memory modules;

wherein the identification information comprises electronically readable information and the identification information is stored in an electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) within each of the memory modules;

wherein the identifying step(a) further includes;

a1) electronically obtaining the unique serial number of each of the memory modules;

wherein the electronically obtaining step (a1) further includes the step of;

a1a) executing a sequence including a power-up sequence during which the identification information is retrieved from each of the memory modules;

wherein the electronically obtaining step (a1) further includes the step of;

a1b) generating the unique serial number from the identification information for each of the memory modules;

wherein the identification information includes a first and second identification information and wherein the generating step (a1b) further includes the step of;

a1b1) determining if a particular header comprising a particular set of characters exists in the first identification information;

a1b2) determining the validity of a checksum at the end of the first identification information if the particular header exists; and

a1b3) providing the unique serial number if the particular header exists and the checksum is valid, wherein the serial number comprises the first identification information and wherein the first identification information is s unique;

(b) providing the unique serial number to a display via a browser; and

(c) copying the unique serial numbers to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the unique serial numbers can be logged utilizing an RF reader means.

27. A method for tracking memory modules in a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying each of the memory modules based upon identification information added to each of the memory modules by their manufacturer to provide a unique serial number by each of the memory modules;

wherein the identification information comprises electronically readable information and the identification information is stored in an electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) within each of the memory modules;

wherein the identifying step(a) further includes;

a1) electronically obtaining the unique serial number of each of the memory modules;

wherein the electronically obtaining step (a1) further includes the step of;

a1a) executing a sequence including a power-up sequence during which the identification information is retrieved from each of the memory modules;

a1b) generating the unique serial number from the identification information for each of the memory modules;

wherein the identification information includes a first and second identification information and wherein the generating step (a1b) further includes the step of;

a1b1) determining if a particular header comprising a particular set of characters exists at the head of the first identification information;

a1b2) determining the validity of a checksum at the end of the first identification information if the particular header exists; and

a1b3) forming the unique serial number from the second identification information if the particular header exists and the checksum is invalid;

(b) providing the unique serial number to a display via a browser; and

(c) copying the unique serial numbers to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the unique serial numbers can be logged utilizing an RF reader means.

28. A method for tracking memory modules in a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying each of the memory modules based upon identification information added to each of the memory modules by their manufacturer to provide a unique serial number by each of the memory modules;

wherein the identification information comprises electronically readable information and the identification information is stored in an electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) within each of the memory modules;

wherein the identifying step(a) further includes;

a1) electronically obtaining the unique serial number of each of the memory modules;

wherein the electronically obtaining step (a1) further includes the step of,

a1a) executing a sequence including a power-up sequence during which the identification information is retrieved from each of the memory modules;

a1b) generating the unique serial number from the identification information for each of the memory modules;

wherein the identification information includes a first and second identification information and wherein the generating step (a1b) further includes the step of;

a1b1) determining if a particular header comprising a particular set of characters exists in the first identification information; and

a1b2) forming the unique serial number from the second identification information if the particular header does not exist;

(b) providing the unique serial number to a display via a browser; and

(c) copying the unique serial numbers to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the unique serial numbers can be logged utilizing an RF reader means.