Locating, provisioning and identifying devices in a network
First Claim
1. A method of provisioning a device, the method comprising:
- initializing a radio frequency identification (“
RFID”
) device;
reading RFID tag data from an RFID tag;
inserting the RFID tag data in an option field of a DHCPDISCOVER request;
sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“
DHCP”
)server;
ascertaining, based at least in part on the RFID tag data, a location and a logical name of the RFID device;
determining, based in part on the location of the RFID device, an appropriate configuration for the RFID device; and
provisioning the RFID device according to the appropriate configuration, wherein the provisioning step comprises provisioning the RFID device with a logical name.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for locating, identifying and provisioning devices in a network. According to some implementations of the invention, a combination of EPC code information and existing networking standards form the basis of identifying and provisioning methods. For example, first location information included in a DHCPDISCOVER request can be used to determine appropriate configurations for networked devices. In some such implementations, the first location information is read from an RFID tag near the networked device and is inserted in the DHCPDISCOVER request. The first location information may include any type of absolute or relative coordinate, positioning, cartographic or similar information and/or information from which such information may be derived. Second location information, which may be a logical name, is provided to the device. If the device is an RFID reader, the second location information may be included with reads from RFID tags that are transmitted from the RFID reader.
145 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of provisioning a device, the method comprising:
-
initializing a radio frequency identification (“
RFID”
) device;reading RFID tag data from an RFID tag; inserting the RFID tag data in an option field of a DHCPDISCOVER request; sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“
DHCP”
)server;ascertaining, based at least in part on the RFID tag data, a location and a logical name of the RFID device; determining, based in part on the location of the RFID device, an appropriate configuration for the RFID device; and provisioning the RFID device according to the appropriate configuration, wherein the provisioning step comprises provisioning the RFID device with a logical name. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of provisioning a wireless device, the method comprising:
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receiving IEEE 802.11b location data from a plurality of wireless access points; ascertaining, based at least in part on the IEEE 802.11b location data, a location and a logical name of a radio frequency identification wireless device; determining an appropriate configuration for the wireless device according to the location; and provisioning the wireless device, wherein the configuring step comprises supplying the wireless device with the appropriate configuration and with a logical name. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A method for deploying a uniquely-provisioned radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) device in a network, the method comprising;reading first location information from a first RFID tag; forming a DHCPDISCOVER request that includes an electronic product code (“
EPC”
) of an RFID reader and the first location information;sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“
DHCP”
) server;receiving provisioning information from the DHCP server that enables a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID reader, the provisioning information including second location information; and provisioning the RFID reader according to the provisioning information, thereby enabling the RFID reader to read nearby RFID tags and to transmit RFID tag information and second location information to an RFID network. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
- RFID”
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11. A network, comprising:
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a plurality of radio frequency identification (“
RFID”
) devices;a plurality of switches connecting the RFID devices to the network; and a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“
DHCP”
) server, wherein at least some of the RFID devices comprise;one or more RF radios configured for reading first location information from a first RFID tag; a network interface; a central processing unit configured to do the following; form a DHCPDISCOVER request that includes an electronic product code (“
EPC”
) of an RFID reader and the first location information;send the DHCPDISCOVER request to the DHCP server via the network interface; receive, via the network interface, provisioning information from the DHCP server that enables a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID reader, the provisioning information including second location information; and
provision the RFID reader according to the provisioning information, thereby enabling the RFID reader to read nearby RFID tags and to transmit RFID tag information and second location information to an RFID network; andwherein the DHCP server comprises; an interface for receiving the DHCPDISCOVER request; and a processor configured to do the following; automatically identify an RFID device according to a media access control (“
MAC”
) address and an EPC included in the DHCPDISCOVER request;locate the RFID device; determine the second location information according to the first location information included in the DHCPDISCOVER request; and provide, via the interface, the RFID device with a desired functionality and the second location information.
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12. A method of provisioning a device, the method comprising:
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initializing an RFID device; obtaining first location data; inserting the first location data in an option field of a DHCPDISCOVER request; and sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“
DHCP”
)server;determining provisioning information, including a logical name, based at least in part on the first location data; providing the provisioning information to the device; configuring the device according to the provisioning information; reading RFID tag data from RFID tags; and transmitting the RFID tag data to a middleware server along with the logical name. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A network for provisioning a device, the network comprising:
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means for initializing a radio frequency identification (“
RFID”
) device;means for reading RFID tag data from an RFID tag; means for inserting the RFID tag data in an option field of a DHCPDISCOVER request; means for sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“
DHCP”
)server;means for ascertaining, based at least in part on the RFID tag data, a location and a logical name of the RFID device; means for determining, based in part on the location of the RFID device, an appropriate configuration for the RFID device; and means for providing the RFID device with provisioning information comprising a logical name and an appropriate configuration.
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15. A radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) device, comprising;one or more RF radios configured for reading first location information from a first RFID tag; a network interface; a central processing unit configured to do the following; form a DHCPDISCOVER request that includes an electronic product code (“
EPC”
) of an RFID reader and the first location information;send the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“
DHCP”
) server;receive, via the network interface, provisioning information from the DHCP server that enables a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID reader, the provisioning information including second location information; and provision the RFID reader according to the provisioning information, thereby enabling the RFID reader to read nearby RFID tags and to transmit RFID tag information and second location information to an RFID network.
- RFID”
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16. A network for provisioning a device, the network comprising:
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a radio frequency identification (“
RFID”
) device, comprising;a memory having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program containing instructions for initializing the RFID device; a network interface; and a central processing unit configured to do the following; obtain first location data; insert the first location data in an option field of a DHCPDISCOVER request; and send, via the network interface, the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“
DHCP”
) server; anda DHCP server, comprising; an interface configured to receive the DHCPDISCOVER request; and a processor configured to do the following; determine provisioning information, including a logical name, based at least in part on the first location data in the DHCPDISCOVER request; and provide the provisioning information to the RFID device via the interface; wherein the RFID device is further configured to do the following; configure the device according to the provisioning information; read RFID tag data from RFID tags; and transmit the RFID tag data to a middleware server along with the logical name.
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Specification