System and method for a distributed search for a lost asset
First Claim
1. A method of searching for an asset lost by one party using mobile entities of other parties, the asset being provided with a short-range wireless transceiver operative to respond to receipt of an enquiry transmission including an identifier of the asset, the method comprising:
- storing an indication of user agreement for their mobile entity to be used in lost-asset searching, each such mobile entity being equipped both with a radio transceiver for communicating with a mobile radio infrastructure, and with a short-range wireless transceiver;
sending out from a finder service a search request including the identifier of a lost asset, this request being sent over the mobile radio infrastructure to at least some of the mobile entities for which a said indication of user agreement for lost asset searching has been stored;
locally transmitting from mobile entities that have received the search request, a search enquiry incorporating the lost-asset identifier, this enquiry being transmitted using the short-range wireless transceivers of the mobile entities;
upon a mobile entity receiving back a response from the lost asset, returning a found message over the mobile radio infrastructure to the finder service, this message either including location data concerning the whereabouts of the lost asset or enabling such data to be obtained by the finder service.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for searching for a lost asset equipped with a short-range wireless transceiver includes a finder service sending out a search request including a lost-asset identifier, this request being sent over a mobile radio infrastructure to a plurality of mobile devices. These devices transmit on the request in their immediate vicinity using short-range wireless transceivers. Upon a mobile device receiving back a response from the lost asset, it returns a found message over the mobile radio infrastructure to the finder service. This message includes location data concerning the whereabouts of the lost asset or the message enables such data to be obtained by the finder service.
58 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of searching for an asset lost by one party using mobile entities of other parties, the asset being provided with a short-range wireless transceiver operative to respond to receipt of an enquiry transmission including an identifier of the asset, the method comprising:
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storing an indication of user agreement for their mobile entity to be used in lost-asset searching, each such mobile entity being equipped both with a radio transceiver for communicating with a mobile radio infrastructure, and with a short-range wireless transceiver;
sending out from a finder service a search request including the identifier of a lost asset, this request being sent over the mobile radio infrastructure to at least some of the mobile entities for which a said indication of user agreement for lost asset searching has been stored;
locally transmitting from mobile entities that have received the search request, a search enquiry incorporating the lost-asset identifier, this enquiry being transmitted using the short-range wireless transceivers of the mobile entities;
upon a mobile entity receiving back a response from the lost asset, returning a found message over the mobile radio infrastructure to the finder service, this message either including location data concerning the whereabouts of the lost asset or enabling such data to be obtained by the finder service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A service system for searching for an asset lost by one party by using mobile entities of other parties, the asset being provided with a short-range wireless transceiver operative to respond to receipt of an enquiry transmission including an identifier of the asset;
- the system comprising;
a finder-service arrangement for sending out search requests over a mobile radio infrastructure and for receiving back found messages over that infrastructure; and
a plurality of mobile entities each equipped both with a radio transceiver for communicating with the mobile radio infrastructure and with a short-range wireless transceiver, a said mobile entity being operative upon receiving a said search request over the mobile radio infrastructure to locally transmit a search enquiry incorporating the lost-asset identifier using its short-range wireless transceiver, and being further operative upon receiving back a response from the lost asset, to return a said found message to the finder service arrangement via the mobile radio infrastructure;
the finder-service arrangement comprising; storage means for storing data indicating mobile entities for which user agreement has been given for their use in lost-asset searching;
search-request sending means for ascertaining from said data, appropriate mobile entities for participating in searching for a particular lost asset and for sending out to these entities a search request including the identifier of the lost asset; and
receiving means for receiving back a said found message from a said mobile entity, this message either including location data concerning the whereabouts of the lost asset or enabling such data to be obtained. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- the system comprising;
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18. A service system for searching for an asset lost by one party by using mobile entities of other parties, the asset being provided with a short-range wireless transceiver operative to respond to receipt of an enquiry transmission including an identifier of the asset;
- the system comprising;
a finder-service arrangement for sending out search requests over a mobile radio infrastructure and for receiving back found messages over that infrastructure; and
a plurality of mobile entities each equipped both with a radio transceiver for communicating with the mobile radio infrastructure and with a short-range wireless transceiver, a said mobile entity being operative upon receiving a said search request over the mobile radio infrastructure to locally transmit a search enquiry incorporating the lost-asset identifier using its short-range wireless transceiver, and being further operative upon receiving back a response from the lost asset, to return a said found message to the finder service arrangement via the mobile radio infrastructure;
the finder-service arrangement comprising; a data store storing data indicating mobile entities for which user agreement has been given for their use in lost-asset searching;
search-request sending subsystem operative to ascertain from said data, appropriate mobile entities for participating in searching for a particular lost asset and to send out to these entities a search request including the identifier of the lost asset; and
a receiving subsystem operative to receive back a said found message from a said mobile entity, this message either including location data concerning the whereabouts of the lost asset or enabling such data to be obtained.
- the system comprising;
Specification