Method and system for tracking computer hardware and software assets by allocating and tagging the asset with an asset tag barcode having a software distribution system (SDS) number and verifying the asset tag barcode upon entry of the asset at a destination site
First Claim
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1. A method for tracking computer-related assets, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting each asset of said assets independently from the group consisting of a computer hardware asset and a computer software asset;
allocating a Software Distribution System (SDS) number associated with a tag;
tagging a first asset of said assets with the tag, said first asset being a computer software asset, said tag comprising an asset tag barcode, a part number or serial number barcode, and the SDS number, said SDS number comprising first, second, and third contiguously sequenced fields, said first field consisting of a venue code identifying a first destination site of the plurality of sites for the first asset, said second field consisting of a software type of the first asset, said third field consisting of a consecutive number index of the software type that makes the first asset unique for the software type at the first destination site;
moving said assets from a first site to a second site of the plurality of sites only by being routed through a central site, said assets are not to be moved directly from the first site to the second site;
recording the location of each said asset with respect to said central site in an electronic database;
recording exit of each asset from a current site in said database;
recording an intended destination site in said database;
receiving the tagged first asset at the destination site, said receiving comprising capturing the asset tag barcode and the SDS number from the tag of the tagged first asset; and
verifying, based on the tag, entry of the first asset at the destination site, being a new current location, in said database.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for tracking physical assets between a central site and other sites is disclosed. Assets are received at the central site and receive a unique identification number. Their location, at the central site, is recorded in a database. On each movement of an asset, exit of the asset is recorded in the database, as is the intended destination. When the asset arrives at the intended destination, its entry thereto is verified and its current location updated accordingly. In addition to the location information, configuration information (e.g. software build), specific to each asset, is recorded in the database.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for tracking computer-related assets, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting each asset of said assets independently from the group consisting of a computer hardware asset and a computer software asset; allocating a Software Distribution System (SDS) number associated with a tag; tagging a first asset of said assets with the tag, said first asset being a computer software asset, said tag comprising an asset tag barcode, a part number or serial number barcode, and the SDS number, said SDS number comprising first, second, and third contiguously sequenced fields, said first field consisting of a venue code identifying a first destination site of the plurality of sites for the first asset, said second field consisting of a software type of the first asset, said third field consisting of a consecutive number index of the software type that makes the first asset unique for the software type at the first destination site; moving said assets from a first site to a second site of the plurality of sites only by being routed through a central site, said assets are not to be moved directly from the first site to the second site; recording the location of each said asset with respect to said central site in an electronic database; recording exit of each asset from a current site in said database; recording an intended destination site in said database; receiving the tagged first asset at the destination site, said receiving comprising capturing the asset tag barcode and the SDS number from the tag of the tagged first asset; and verifying, based on the tag, entry of the first asset at the destination site, being a new current location, in said database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A tracking system for computer-related assets, comprising:
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an electronic database for storage or current and intended location information relating to said assets, said assets being moveable between a plurality of sites only by being routed through a central site and are not to be moved directly from a first site to a second site of the plurality of sites, each asset of said assets being independently selected from the group consisting of a computer hardware asset and a computer software asset; and a central receiving and storage site where new assets are received and stored, and where assets returning from other sites are stored, said central site having data entry means, linked to said database and, upon a movement of a said asset, by which exit or entry of the asset is recorded such that both the respective current and intended location information is updated in said database, wherein a Software Distribution System (SDS) number is associated with a tag, wherein a first asset of said assets is a computer software asset that is tagged with the tag, said tag comprising an asset tag barcode, a part number or serial number barcode, and a the SDS number, said SDS number comprising first, second, and third contiguously sequenced fields, said first field consisting of a venue code identifying a first destination site for the first asset, said second field consisting of a software type of the first asset, said third field consisting of a consecutive number index of the software type that makes the first asset unique for the software type at the first destination site, and wherein the tracking system further comprises means for verifying, based on the tap, entry of the first asset at the first destination site, being a new current location, in said database. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer program product, carried on a storage medium, for the tracking of computer-related assets, between a central site and a plurality of sites, comprising:
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first program means to record data for each said asset, said assets being moveable between said plurality or sites only by being routed through said central site and are not to be moved directly from a first site to a second site of the plurality of sites, each asset of said assets being independently selected from the group consisting of a computer hardware asset and a computer software asset; second program means to record the location of an asset; third program means to record exit from a current site; fourth program means to record an intended destination; and fifth program means to verify entry of an asset being moved at the destination site, whereupon said second program means updates the current location of the asset, wherein a Software Distribution System (SDS) number is associated with a tag, wherein a first asset of said assets is a computer software asset that is tagged with the tag, said tag comprising an asset tag barcode, a part number or serial number barcode, and the SDS number, said SDS number comprising first, second, and third contiguously sequenced fields, said first field consisting of a venue code identifying a first destination site for the first asset, said second field consisting of a software type of the first asset, said third field consisting of a consecutive number index of the software type that makes the first asset unique for the software type at the first destination site, wherein the fifth program means comprises means for capturing the asset tag barcode and the SDS number from the tag of the tagged first asset to verify, based on the tag, entry of the first asset at the destination site, being a new current location, in an electronic database when the first asset is received at the destination site. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification