Locator for physically locating an electronic device in a communication network

• US 6,868,265 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Accelerated Performance Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Accelerated Performance Incorporated
• Inventors: Zodnik, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, David Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/122,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20020169873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/223, 455/404.1, 455/404, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/738 Interface circuits for coupling substations to external telephone lines H04M1/78 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/229 Wire identification arrangements; Number assignment determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A locator that can be mounted to an outlet box of a network and connected to a peripheral device. The locator includes a first connector and a second connector that are attached to a housing. The locator also includes a circuit that can transmit a stored physical address data to the network. The stored physical address data corresponds to a physical location of the outlet box.

Claims

1. A method for locating an electronic device coupled, to an outlet box that is mounted to a wall, and a packet switched network, the outlet box containing a box address that corresponds to a physical location of the outlet box, comprising:

connecting an electronic device to the outlet box, the electronic device having a device identification;

transmitting the device identification to the outlet box;

reading the device identification within the outlet box;

transmitting the box address and the device identification from the outlet box to a server through the packet switched network; and

,

correlating the device identification with the box address and corresponding physical location of the outlet box in a relational database of the server.

2. The method of claim 1, further entering a phone number that is read by the outlet box and is transmitted to the server through the packet switched network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the box address includes a locator address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the box address is transmitted in response to the entering of a 9-1-1 phone number through the peripheral device.