Inventory devices and methods

• US 8,212,674 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howarth, Arthur G., Miriyala, Prasad, Prasad, Chandrodaya
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US11/867,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20090091442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/539.11, 340/5.92, 340/5.1, 235/380, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

In one implementation, a method includes reading first component data from a first tag associated with a first component of a device. The device may be powered on or off. The first component data indicate components associated with the first component at a first time. The method may involve obtaining second component data from a second tag associated with a support structure. The second component data may indicate components disposed in the support structure at a second time. The method may also involve comparing the first component data with the second component data and determining whether the first component data match the second component data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

reading first component data by a processor from a first tag associated with a first component of a device, the first component data indicating components associated with the first component at a first time;

obtaining, from a second tag associated with a support structure, second component data indicating components disposed in the support structure at a second time;

comparing the first component data with at least a portion of the second component data; and

determining whether the first component data match the at least a portion of the second component data;

wherein the first time is a time at which the device was last powered on;

wherein the second time is a time at which a power supply of the device is switched off.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the reading and obtaining steps comprises reading a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing an action according to whether the at least a portion of the first component data match the at least a portion of the second component data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the action comprises determining whether to accept delivery of the device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first component data indicate components disposed in the support structure at the first time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a device chassis, wherein the second component data indicate components disposed in the device chassis at the second time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the components associated with the first component at the first time include sub-components of the first component, and wherein the second component data indicates sub-components disposed in the support structure at the second time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a device chassis.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a container.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a device chassis, wherein the first component data indicate components disposed in the device chassis at the first time, and wherein the second component data indicate components disposed in the device chassis at the second time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second tag associated with the support structure is affixed to the support structure.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader; and

a logic system including a processor and a memory, the logic system being configured to do the following;

read first component data from a first RFID tag associated with a first component of a device that is powered off, the first component data indicating components associated with the first component at a first time, wherein the device is disposed within a support structure, wherein the first component is an aggregation device;

read, from a second RFID tag affixed to the support structure enclosing the device, second component data indicating components disposed in the support structure at a second time;

compare the first component data with at least a portion of the second component data; and

determine an extent to which the first component data match the at least a portion of the second component data.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second time is a time at which the device was prepared for shipment.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the logic system is further configured to do the following:

read second through N^th component data from second through N^th tags associated with the first component of a device that is powered off, the Nth component data indicating components associated with the Nth component at the first time;

compare the first through N^th component data with the second component data; and

determine whether there is an inconsistency in the first through N^th component data based upon the comparison.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader; and

a logic system including a processor and a memory, the logic system being configured to do the following;

read first component data from a first RFID tag associated with a first component of a device that is powered off, the first component data indicating components associated with the first component at a first time;

read, from a second RFID tag affixed to a support structure enclosing the device, second component data indicating components disposed in the support structure at a second time;

compare the first component data with at least a portion of the second component data;

determine an extent to which the first component data match the at least a portion of the second component data;

query a component database via a network interface;

determine stored component data indicating components of the device at a third time; and

compare the stored component data with the first component data or the second component data.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the network interface is a wireless interface.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the logic system is further configured to determine whether at least a portion of the stored component data match at least one of the first component data or the second component data.

18. A method, comprising:

reading first component data by a processor from a first tag associated with at least a first component of a device disposed within a support structure, the first component data indicating components associated with the first component at a first time, wherein the first time is a time at which a power supply of the device is off;

obtaining, from a second tag associated with the support structure, second component data indicating components disposed in the support structure at a second time;

comparing the first component data with at least a portion of the second component data; and

determining whether the first component data match the at least a portion of the second component data;

wherein the first component is an aggregation device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the components associated with the first component at the first time comprise one or more components within the support structure.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the aggregation device comprises an radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader; and

a logic system including a processor and a memory, the logic system being configured to do the following;

read first component data by a processor from a first tag associated with a first component of a device, the first component data indicating components associated with the first component at a first time;

obtain, from a second tag associated with a support structure, second component data indicating components disposed in the support structure at a second time;

compare the first component data with at least a portion of the second component data; and

determine whether the first component data match the at least a portion of the second component data;

wherein the first time is a time at which the device was last powered on, wherein the second time is a time at which a power supply of the device is switched off.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, the logic system being further configured to perform the following steps, comprising:

performing an action according to whether the at least a portion of the first component data match the at least a portion of the second component data.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first component data indicate components disposed in the support structure at the first time.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the support structure is a device chassis, wherein the second component data indicate components disposed in the device chassis at the second time.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the action comprises determining whether to accept delivery of the device.

26. A method, comprising:

reading first component data by a processor from a first tag associated with at least a first component of a device disposed within a support structure, the first component data indicating components associated with the first component at a first time;

obtaining, from a second tag associated with the support structure, second component data indicating components disposed in the support structure at a second time;

comparing the first component data with the second component data;

determining whether the first component data match the second component data; and

reading third component data from a third tag associated with a second component of the device, the third component data indicating device components associated with the second component at a third time.