Method and apparatus for automatically tracking and communicating data storage device information using RF tags: operating condition, configuration and location

• US 7,478,758 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2003
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LSI Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pate, James
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/620,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20050011948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/376, 235383-385, 340/572.4, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/5.92
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for automatically tracking and communicating data storage device information using RF (radio frequency) tags. An apparatus includes a data storage device and a RF tag attached to the data storage device, wherein the RF tag contains information about the data storage device. Using such an apparatus, assembling, selecting, logging and maintaining a data storage device may be done automatically.

Claims

1. A method for tracking and utilizing a data storage device, comprising:

tracking a physical location of said data storage device based on a RF tag placed on said data storage device before said data storage device reaches a customer;

entering information about said data storage device into a database through reading said RF tag when the customer receives said data storage device from a manufacturer;

storing said data storage device in an inventory based on said RF tag;

retrieving said data storage device from said inventory based on said RF tag;

placing said data storage device into service based on said RF tag; and

communicating a location and hardware and software configuration information of said data storage device to said manufacturer via the RF tag and a remote monitoring system utilizing an electronic data interchange (EDI), the remote monitoring system being outfitted with an RF reader;

wherein said RF tag contains the hardware and software configuration information about said data storage device, and said data storage device is a drive tray or a controller.