System and method to determine fibre channel device locations using GPS
First Claim
1. A method for identifying a device location in a computer network that includes a Fibre Channel fabric, said method comprising:
- receiving, at a first device, a Fibre Channel request from a second device;
identifying one or more GPS coordinates in response to receiving the request;
writing the GPS coordinates and device identification information corresponding to the first device to a response payload; and
transmitting the response payload through the computer network to the second device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A GPS device is used in conjunction with a device, such as a SAN device, to record and track the device'"'"'s location. A device can periodically report its location to one or more computer systems that track device locations. Another device can send a request to other devices requesting the devices'"'"' geographic location. The devices, in turn, respond with data corresponding to their geographic location. In the event of a catastrophe or other event rendering devices in one area inoperable, one of the computer systems can be used to identify a location of another device that includes similar data. The GPS data corresponding to a device can also be used to identify a technician that should respond to a device maintenance or repair event.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for identifying a device location in a computer network that includes a Fibre Channel fabric, said method comprising:
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receiving, at a first device, a Fibre Channel request from a second device;
identifying one or more GPS coordinates in response to receiving the request;
writing the GPS coordinates and device identification information corresponding to the first device to a response payload; and
transmitting the response payload through the computer network to the second device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
identifying a requestor identifier corresponding to the second device;
comparing the requester identifier to one or more authorized requester identifiers; and
validating the GPS event in response to the comparison.
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5. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:
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repeatedly identifying the GPS coordinates on a time interval basis;
comparing the identified GPS coordinates with one or more previously stored GPS coordinates;
determining whether the device has been moved based on the comparison; and
transmitting the response payload in response to determining that the device has been moved.
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6. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:
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retrieving an encryption method; and
encrypting the response payload upon the retrieved encryption method.
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7. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:
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receiving the response payload at the second device;
storing the response payload in a GPS storage area accessible to the second device, wherein the GPS storage area includes coordinates for a plurality of devices;
receiving catastrophe data, the catastrophe data including a catastrophe area defined by a plurality of catastrophe GPS coordinates;
comparing the catastrophe GPS coordinates to the plurality of packaged coordinates stored in the GPS storage area;
determining which of the devices are within the catastrophe area based on the comparison; and
determining which of the devices are outside the catastrophe area based on the comparison.
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8. An information handling system comprising:
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one or more processors;
a memory accessible by the processors;
a nonvolatile storage device accessible by the processors;
a GPS receiving device accessible by the processors;
a network adapter operable to connect the information handling system to a computer network that includes a Fibre Channel fabric;
a Fibre Channel adapter connecting the information handling device to the Fibre Channel fabric; and
a device identification tool for locating a device in a computer network, the device identification tool including;
means for receiving, at the information handling system, a Fibre Channel request from a second device;
means for identifying one or more GPS coordinates from the GPS receiving device in response to receiving the request;
means for writing the GPS coordinates and device identification information corresponding to the first device to a response payload; and
means for transmitting the response payload through the computer network to the second device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
means for identifying a requestor identifier corresponding to the second device;
means for comparing the requestor identifier to one or more authorized requestor identifiers; and
means for validating the GPS event in response to the comparison.
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12. The information handling system as described in claim 8 further comprising:
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means for repeatedly identifying the GPS coordinates on a time interval basis;
means for comparing the identified GPS coordinates with one or more previously stored GPS coordinates;
means for determining whether the device has been moved based on the comparison; and
means for transmitting the response payload in response to determining that the device has been moved.
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13. The information handling system as described in claim 8 further comprising:
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means for receiving the response payload at the second device;
means for storing the response payload in a GPS storage area accessible to the second device, wherein the GPS storage area includes coordinates for a plurality of devices;
means for receiving catastrophe data, the catastrophe data including a catastrophe area defined by a plurality of catastrophe GPS coordinates;
means for comparing the catastrophe GPS coordinates to the plurality of packaged coordinates stored in the GPS storage area;
means for determining which of the devices are within the catastrophe area based on the comparison; and
means for determining which of the devices are outside the catastrophe area based on the comparison.
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14. A computer program product stored on a computer operable medium for identifying a device location in a computer network that includes a Fibre Channel fabric, said computer program product comprising:
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means for receiving, at a first device, a Fibre Channel request from a second device;
means for identifying one or more GPS coordinates in response to receiving the request;
means for writing the GPS coordinates and device identification information corresponding to the first device to a response payload; and
means for transmitting the response payload through the computer network to the second device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
means for identifying a requester identifier corresponding to the second device;
means for comparing the requester identifier to one or more authorized requester identifiers; and
means for validating the GPS event in response to the comparison.
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18. The computer program product as described in claim 14 further comprising:
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means for repeatedly identifying the GPS coordinates on a time interval basis;
means for comparing the identified GPS coordinates with one or more previously stored GPS coordinates;
means for determining whether the device has been moved based on the comparison; and
means for transmitting the response payload in response to determining that the device has been moved.
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19. The computer program product as described in claim 14 further comprising:
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means for retrieving an encryption method; and
means for encrypting the response payload based upon the retrieved encryption method.
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20. The computer program product as described in claim 14 further comprising:
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means for receiving the response payload at the second device;
means for storing the response payload in a GPS storage area accessible to the second device, wherein the GPS storage area includes coordinates for a plurality of devices;
means for receiving catastrophe data, the catastrophe data including a catastrophe area defined by a plurality of catastrophe GPS coordinates;
means for comparing the catastrophe GPS coordinates to the plurality of packaged coordinates stored in the GPS storage area;
means for determining which of the devices are within the catastrophe area based on the comparison; and
means for determining which of the devices are outside the catastrophe area based on the comparison.
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21. A method for identifying a device location in a computer network said method comprising:
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receiving a GPS event;
identifying one or more GPS coordinates in response to receiving the event;
packaging the GPS coordinates;
transmitting the packaged coordinates through the computer network to a second device;
receiving the packaged coordinates at the second device;
storing the packaged coordinates in a GPS storage area accessible to the second device, wherein the GPS storage area includes packaged coordinates for a plurality of devices;
receiving catastrophe data, the catastrophe data including a catastrophe area defined by a plurality of catastrophe GPS coordinates;
comparing the catastrophe GPS coordinates to the plurality of packaged coordinates stored in the GPS storage area;
determining which of the devices are within the catastrophe area based on the comparison; and
determining which of the devices are outside the catastrophe area based on the comparison.
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22. An information handling system comprising:
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one or more processors;
a memory accessible by the processors;
a nonvolatile storage device accessible by the processors;
a GPS receiving device accessible by the processors;
a network adapter operable to connect the information handling system to a computer network; and
a device identification tool for locating a device in a computer network, the device identification tool including;
means for receiving a GPS event;
means for identifying one or more GPS coordinates from the GPS receiving device in response to receiving the event;
means for packaging the GPS coordinates; and
means for transmitting the packaged coordinates through the computer network to a second device;
means for receiving the packaged coordinates at the second device;
means for storing the packaged coordinates in a GPS storage area accessible to the second device, wherein the GPS storage area includes packaged coordinates for a plurality of devices;
means for receiving catastrophe data, the catastrophe data including a catastrophe area defined by a plurality of catastrophe GPS coordinates;
means for comparing the catastrophe GPS coordinates to the plurality of packaged coordinates stored in the GPS storage area;
means for determining which of the devices are within the catastrophe area based on the comparison; and
means for determining which of the devices are outside the catastrophe area based on the comparison.
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23. A computer program product stored on a computer operable medium for identifying a device location in a computer network, said computer program product comprising:
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means for receiving a GPS event;
means for identifying one or more GPS coordinates in response to receiving the event;
means for packaging the GPS coordinates;
means for transmitting the packaged coordinates through the computer network to a second device;
means for receiving the packaged coordinates at the second device;
means for storing the packaged coordinates in a GPS storage area accessible to the second device, wherein the GPS storage area includes packaged coordinates for a plurality of devices;
means for receiving catastrophe data, the catastrophe data including a catastrophe area defined by a plurality of catastrophe GPS coordinates;
means for comparing the catastrophe GPS coordinates to the plurality of packaged coordinates stored in the GPS storage area;
means for determining which of the devices are within the catastrophe area based on the comparison; and
means for determining which of the devices are outside the catastrophe area based on the comparison.
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Specification