Asset apparency method and apparatus

• US 8,064,841 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Fetzer, Dudley, Doyle, Thomas Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN HOANG
• Application Number:
  US10/782,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20050181738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,834 Days
• Field of Search: 455/69, 455/70, 455/456.1, 455/457, 340/539.13, 340/572.1, 340/989
• US Class Current: 455/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for making as asset apparent. An individual wishing to locate an asset uses an apparatus to enter an identification code corresponding to the asset. The identification code is transmitted in a request to the asset, where it is processed to determine how to make the asset apparent. The asset then makes itself apparent to the individual, typically by audio or visual means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for making an asset apparent to an individual, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a request from a wireless communication system for having the asset make itself apparent and providing the request to a processor, wherein the asset comprises equipment;

the processor for receiving the request, wherein the processor generates a list of available apparency actions in response to receiving the request;

a transmitter for transmitting the list of available apparency actions to a remote entity, wherein the receiver receives a second request for making the asset apparent, the second request comprising a selected apparency action from the list of available apparency actions;

the processor for receiving the second request and for generating a command to make the asset apparent based on the selected apparency action; and

an interface for providing the command to a device on the asset, the device for making the asset apparent to the individual in response to the command.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device comprises illumination circuitry.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device comprises audio control circuitry.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a timer for providing an elapsed time to said processor, said processor for determining whether the asset was located prior to expiration of a predetermined amount of time for locating the asset.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said processor generates a message indicative of whether the asset was located prior to expiration of the predetermined amount of time, wherein said apparatus further comprises a transmitter for transmitting the message to a remote entity.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a timer for determining the current time of day and providing the current time of day to the processor; and

said processor for using the current time of day for determining a way in which to make the asset apparent.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a position sensor for determining a location of the asset,

wherein said request comprises a location of an individual requesting that the asset make itself apparent, and said processor is further for using the location of the asset and the location of the individual for determining a way in which to make the asset apparent.

8. An apparatus for making an asset apparent to an individual, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a request directly from a wireless communication device for having the asset make itself apparent and providing the request to a processor, wherein the asset comprises equipment;

the processor for receiving the request and for determining how to make the asset apparent, wherein the processor generates a list of available apparency actions in response to receiving the request;

a transmitter for transmitting the list of available apparency actions to a remote entity, wherein the receiver receives a second request for making the asset apparent, the second request comprising a selected apparency action from the list of available apparency actions;

the processor for receiving the second request and for generating a command to make the asset apparent based on the selected apparency action; and

an interface for providing the command to a device on the asset, the device for making the asset apparent to the individual in response to the command.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the device comprises illumination circuitry.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the device comprises audio control circuitry.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a timer for providing an elapsed time to said processor, said processor for determining whether the asset was located prior to expiration of a predetermined amount of time for locating the asset.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said processor generates a message indicative of whether the asset was located prior to expiration of the predetermined amount of time, wherein said apparatus further comprises a transmitter for transmitting the message to a remote entity.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a timer for determining the current time of day and providing the current time of day to the processor; and

said processor for using the current time of day for determining a way in which to make the asset apparent.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a position sensor for determining a location of the asset,

wherein said request comprises a location of an individual requesting that the asset make itself apparent, and said processor is further for using the location of the asset and the location of the individual for determining a way in which to make the asset apparent.

15. A computer readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for making an asset apparent, said method comprising operations of:

receiving a request from a wireless communication system for having the asset make itself apparent, wherein the asset comprises equipment;

generating a list of available apparency actions in response to receiving the request;

transmitting the list of available apparency actions to a remote entity;

receiving a second request for making the asset apparent, the second request comprising a selected apparency action from the list of available apparency actions;

generating a command to make the asset apparent, the command comprising the selected apparency action; and

providing the command to a device on the asset, the device for making the asset apparent to the individual in response to the command.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 further comprising operations of:

determining an elapsed time since the request was received; and

determining whether the asset was located prior to expiration of a predetermined amount of time.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 further comprising operations of:

determining an elapsed time since the request was generated; and

determining whether the asset was located prior to expiration of a predetermined amount of time.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 further comprising operations of:

generating a message indicative of whether the asset was located prior to expiration of the predetermined amount of time; and

transmitting the message to a remote entity.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 further comprising operations of:

determining the current time of day; and

determining how to make said asset apparent using said current time of day.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein said request comprises a location of an individual requesting that the asset make itself apparent, further comprising operations of:

determining a location of the asset; and

using the location of the asset and the location of the individual for determining a way in which to make the asset apparent.

21. A method for making an asset apparent, comprising:

receiving a request from a wireless communication system for having the asset make itself apparent, wherein the asset comprises equipment;

generating a list of available apparency actions in response to receiving the request;

transmitting the list of available apparency actions to a remote entity;

receiving a second request for making the asset apparent, the second request comprising a selected apparency action from the list of available apparency actions;

generating a command to make the asset apparent, the command comprising the selected apparency action; and

providing the command to a device on the asset, the device for making the asset apparent to the individual in response to the command.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

determining an elapsed time since the request was received; and

determining whether the asset was located prior to expiration of a predetermined amount of time.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

determining an elapsed time since the request was generated; and

determining whether the asset was located prior to expiration of a predetermined amount of time.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

generating a message indicative of whether the asset was located prior to expiration of the predetermined amount of time; and

transmitting the message to a remote entity.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

determining the current time of day; and

determining how to make said asset apparent using said current time of day.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein said request comprises a location of an individual requesting that the asset make itself apparent, and further comprising:

determining a location of the asset; and

using the location of the asset and the location of the individual for determining a way in which to make the asset apparent.

27. An apparatus for making an asset apparent to an individual, comprising:

means for receiving a request from a wireless communication system to have the asset make itself apparent, wherein the asset comprises equipment;

means for generating a list of available apparency actions in response to receiving the request;

means for transmitting the list of available apparency actions to a remote entity;

means for receiving a second request for making the asset apparent, the second request comprising a selected apparency action from the list of available apparency actions;

means for generating a command to make the asset apparent, the command comprising the selected apparency action; and

means for providing the command to a device on the asset, the device for making the asset apparent to the individual in response to the command.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising:

means for determining an elapsed time since the request was received; and

means for determining whether the asset was located prior to expiration of a predetermined amount of time.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising:

means for determining an elapsed time since the request was generated; and

means for determining whether the asset was located prior to expiration of a predetermined amount of time.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising:

means for generating a message indicative of whether the asset was located prior to expiration of the predetermined amount of time; and

means for transmitting the message to a remote entity.

31. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising:

means for determining the current time of day; and

means for determining how to make said asset apparent using said current time of day.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said request comprises a location of an individual requesting that the asset make itself apparent, and further comprising:

means for determining a location of the asset; and

means for using the location of the asset and the location of the individual for determining a way in which to make the asset apparent.