Locating networked devices based on usage

• US 6,470,387 B1
• Filed: 03/15/1999
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Fischer, Todd A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kupstas, Tod A
• Application Number:
  US09/268,241
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/225, 709/229, 709/231, 709/245, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A tool for locating a device on a network includes software for capturing information from the network or from devices on the network. The captured information includes user information relating to a user or users that use the device being located. The captured user information is cross referenced with a database having user location information. The user location information is then referenced to determine a physical location of the device. Typically, the physical location of the device is in the same general area as its users.

Claims

1. A method of locating a first device on a network, comprising:

(a) identifying user information from a data stream transmitted on the network to the first device and originating from a source device and pertaining to at least one user that uses or has used the first device, the source device being a second device;

(b) determining a reference location of the at least one user based on the user information identified; and

,

(c) determining a location of the first device based on the reference location of the at least one user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device is a host device, a peripheral device, or other computing device.

3. A method of locating a first device on a network, comprising:

(a) identifying user information originating from a source device and pertaining to at least one user that uses or has used the first device, the source device being a second device, and wherein the user information includes a network address of the source device which transmitted data to the first device either directly or indirectly;

(b) determining a reference location of the at least one user based on the user information identified; and

,

(c) determining a location of the first device based on the reference location of the at least one user.

4. A method of locating a first device on a network, comprising:

(a) identifying user information originating from a source device and pertaining to at least one user that uses or has used the first device, the source device being a second device, and wherein the user information includes a login name of the at least one user as associated with the source device which transmitted data to the first device either directly or indirectly;

(b) determining a reference location of the at least one user based on the user information identified; and

,

(c) determining a location of the first device based on the reference location of the at least one user.

5. A method of locating a first device on a network, comprising:

(a) identifying user information originating from a source device and pertaining to at least one user that uses or has used the first device, the source device being a second device, and wherein the user information includes location identification indicia for the source device which transmitted data to the first device either directly or indirectly;

(b) determining a reference location of the at least one user based on the user information identified; and

,

(c) determining a location of the first device based on the reference location of the at least one user.

6. A method of locating a first device on a network, comprising:

(a) identifying user information originating from a source device and pertaining to at least one user that uses or has used the first device, the source device being a second device;

(b) determining a reference location of the at least one user based on the user information identified, including cross referencing the user information with a reference location database that includes the reference location of the at least one user; and

,

(c) determining a location of the first device based on the reference location of the at least one user.

7. A method of locating a first device on a network, comprising:

(a) identifying user information originating from a plurality of source devices separate from the first device, the user information pertaining to a respective plurality of users that use or have used the first device;

(b) determining a respective reference location for each of the plurality of users based on the user information identified; and

,

(c) determining a location of the first device based on a collective of the reference locations for the plurality of users.

8. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for locating a first device on a network, the instructions configured to:

(a) identify user information from a data stream transmitted on the network to the first device and originating from a source device and pertaining to at least one user that uses or has used the first device, the source device being a second device;

(b) determine a reference location of the at least one user based on the user information identified; and

,

(c) determine a location of the first device based on the reference location of the at least one user.

9. An apparatus for locating a first device on a network, comprising:

(a) means for identifying user information from a data stream transmitted on the network to the first device and originating from a source device and pertaining to at least one user that uses or has used the first device, the source device being a second device;

(b) means for determining a reference location of the at least one user based on the user information; and

,

(c) means for determining a location of the first device based on the reference location of the at least one user.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first device is a host device, a peripheral device, or other computing device.

11. An apparatus for locating a first device on a network, comprising:

(a) means for identifying user information originating from a source device and pertaining to at least one user that uses or has used the first device, the source device being a second device, and wherein the user information includes a network address of the source device which transmitted data to the first device either directly or indirectly;

(b) means for determining a reference location of the at least one user based on the user information; and

,

(c) means for determining a location of the first device based on the reference location of the at least one user.

12. An apparatus for locating a first device on a network, comprising:

(a) means for identifying user information originating from a source device and pertaining to at least one user that uses or has used the first device, the source device being a second device, and wherein the user information includes a login name of the at least one user as associated with the source device which transmitted data to the fIrst device either directly or indirectly;

(b) means for determining a reference location of the at least one user based on the user Information; and

,

(c) means for determining a location of the first device based on the reference location of the at least one user.

13. An apparatus for locating a first device on a network, comprising:

(a) means for identifying user information originating from a source device and pertaining to at least one user that uses or has used the first device, the source device being a second device, and wherein the user information includes location identification indicia for the source device which transmitted data to the first device either directly or indirectly;

(b) means for determining a reference location of the at least one user based on the user information; and

,

(c) means for determining a location of the first device based on the reference location of the at least one user.

14. An apparatus for locating a first device on a network, comprising:

(a) means for identifying a plurality of users'"'"' information originating from a respective plurality of source devices, the user'"'"' information pertaining to a respective plurality of users that use or have used the first device;

(b) means for determining a respective reference location for each of the plurality of users based on the user information identified; and

,

(c) means for determining a location of the first device based on a collective of the reference locations for the plurality of users.