Method for managing wireless devices using lifecycle analysis

• US 8,024,153 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Richards, Patrick J. Jr., Martin, Jeffrey H., Malkowski, Raymond T., Winkler, Duane L., Brink, Kenneth A. Jr., Johnson, Randy S., Northway, Tedrick N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano; Edward R
• Application Number:
  US11/734,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 702/1, 702/33, 702/34, 702/127, 702/182, 702/183, 702/184, 702/185, 702/186, 702/187, 702/189, 705/1.1, 705/7, 705/8, 705/11, 705/308, 705/7.11, 705/7.12, 705/7.22, 707/600, 707/899
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling

Abstract

An improved solution for managing wireless devices that uses lifecycle analysis is provided. In an embodiment of the invention, the method for managing wireless devices includes obtaining data regarding at least one new wireless device; automatically evaluating a feasibility of redeploying at least one of a plurality of pre-existing wireless devices, based on the data regarding the at least one new wireless device; and identifying a distribution for the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices, based on the automatically evaluating. In another embodiment, the distribution may include cascading and/or retiring the pre-existing wireless device(s).

Claims

1. A computerized method, implemented on at least one computing device, of managing a plurality of portable personal wireless devices of an entity, the method comprising:

obtaining, using the at least one computing device, data regarding at least one new wireless device in the plurality of portable personal wireless devices, wherein the new wireless device is to be deployed to a user;

automatically evaluating, in response to the obtaining, a feasibility of redeploying at least one of a plurality of pre-existing wireless devices of the plurality of portable personal wireless devices within the entity assigned to at least one of an employee, a position, or a unit to at least one of a different employee, a different position, or a different unit within the entity, based on the data regarding at least one new wireless device, wherein the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing devices is to be replaced by the at least one new wireless device;

identifying, in response to the evaluating, a distribution for the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices, based on the automatic evaluating; and

providing the identified distribution for use by a user.

2. The method of claim 1, the distribution including returning the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices to a wireless device provider.

3. The method of claim 1, the distribution including providing a forwarding address for a location of the distribution.

4. The method of claim 1, the distribution including forwarding the at least one of the plurality pre-existing wireless devices to a storage intermediary.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an inventory database in communication with a customer.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising updating the inventory database based on information from at least one of the obtaining, automatic evaluating, or identifying.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the distribution comprises at least one of cascading or retiring the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices.

8. The method of claim 7, the cascading including assigning the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices to at least one of an employee, a position, or a unit within the entity.

9. The method of claim 7, the cascading including at least one of:

clearing contents of the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices or refurbishing the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices.

10. The method of claim 7, the retiring including one of donating the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices to an entity or destroying the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices.

11. A computerized system for managing a plurality of portable personal wireless devices of an entity, the system comprising:

at least one computing device including;

a system for obtaining data regarding at least one new wireless device in the plurality of portable personal wireless devices, wherein the new wireless device is to be deployed to a user;

a system for automatically evaluating, in response to the obtaining, a feasibility of redeploying at least one of a plurality of pre-existing wireless devices of the plurality of portable personal wireless devices within the entity assigned to at least one of an employee, a position, or a unit to at least one of a different employee, a different position, or a different unit within the entity, based on the data regarding at least one new wireless device, wherein the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing devices is to be replaced by the at least one new wireless device;

a system for identifying, in response to the evaluating, a distribution for the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices, based on the automatic evaluating; and

a system for providing the identified distribution for use by a user.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

an inventory database in communication with a customer; and

a system for updating the inventory database based on information from at least one of the system for obtaining, system for automatic evaluating, or system for identifying.

13. The system of claim 11, the distribution including a system for returning the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices to a wireless device provider.

14. The system of claim 11, the distribution including a system for providing a forwarding address for a location of the distribution.

15. The system of claim 11, the distribution including a system for forwarding the at least one of the plurality pre-existing wireless devices to a storage intermediary.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the distribution comprises at least one of a cascading system or a retiring system for the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices.

17. The system of claim 16, the cascading system including a system for assigning the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices to at least one of an employee, a position, or a unit within the entity.

18. The system of claim 16, the cascading system including at least one of:

a system for clearing contents of the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices or a system for refurbishing the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices.

19. The system of claim 16, the retiring system including a system for donating the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices to an entity.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program comprising program code, which when executed, causes a computer system to implement a method of managing a plurality of portable personal wireless devices of an entity, the method comprising:

obtaining data regarding at least one new wireless device in the plurality of portable personal wireless devices, wherein the new wireless device is to be deployed to a user;

automatically evaluating, in response to the obtaining, a feasibility of redeploying at least one of a plurality of pre-existing wireless devices of the plurality of portable personal wireless devices within the entity assigned to at least one of an employee, a position, or a unit to at least one of a different employee, a different position, or a different unit within the entity, based on the data regarding at least one new wireless device, wherein the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing devices is to be replaced by the at least one new wireless device;

identifying, in response to the evaluating, a distribution for the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices, based on the automatic evaluating; and

providing the identified distribution for use by a user.

21. A method of generating a system for managing a plurality of portable personal wireless devices of an entity, the method comprising:

providing a computer system including at least one computing device, wherein the computer system performs the following;

obtain data regarding at least one new wireless device in the plurality of portable personal wireless devices, wherein the new wireless device is to be deployed to a user;

automatically evaluate, in response to the obtaining, a feasibility of redeploying at least one of a plurality of pre-existing wireless devices of the plurality of portable personal wireless devices within the entity assigned to at least one of an employee, a position, or a unit to at least one of a different employee, a different position, or a different unit within the entity, based on the data regarding at least one new wireless device, wherein the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing devices is to be replaced by the at least one new wireless device;

identify, in response to the evaluating, a distribution for the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices, based on the automatic evaluating; and

provide the identified distribution for use by a user.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the distribution comprises at least one of cascading or retiring the at least one of the plurality of pre-existing wireless devices.