Inventory devices and methods

• US 8,581,728 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• 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): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US13/495,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20120262278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1
• 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 determining first component data by a first aggregation device at a first time, the first aggregation device being associated with a first one of a plurality of device components of a device, the first component data comprising identification data regarding at least a second one of the plurality of device components of the device. The first component data may be stored. A component request may be received

• • storing the first component data;
  • receiving a component request; and
  • providing the first component data via the wireless interface in response to the component request;
  • wherein the determining, storing, receiving, and providing steps are performed when the device is powered off.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining first component data by a first aggregation device at a first time, the first aggregation device being associated with a first one of a plurality of device components of a device, the first component data comprising identification data regarding at least a second one of the plurality of device components of the device;

storing the first component data;

receiving a component request; and

providing the first component data in response to the component request;

wherein the determining, storing, receiving, and providing steps are performed when the device is powered off;

wherein the plurality of device components are disposed within a device chassis;

wherein the device chassis has associated therewith a chassis RFID tag, the chassis RFID tag indicating chassis component data regarding the plurality of device components disposed within the device chassis, wherein the first aggregation device is separate from the chassis RFID tag.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first aggregation device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second one of the plurality of device components has associated therewith a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag having second component data stored thereon, the second component data indicating at least one other component associated with the second one of the plurality of device components.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a motherboard is configured for communication with the plurality of device components, the motherboard comprising a second aggregation device configured to obtain current component data from each of the plurality of device components when the device is powered on.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

obtaining by the first aggregation device current component data from the second aggregation device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first aggregation device comprises a wireless interface, wherein the component request is received via the wireless interface, and wherein the first component data is provided via the wireless interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the chassis RFID tag is affixed to the chassis.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

checking that the chassis component data is consistent with the first component data.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a device chassis;

a plurality of device components disposed within the device chassis; and

a first aggregation device associated with a first device component, the first aggregation device comprising a wireless interface and a logic device configured to do the following when the apparatus is powered off;

determine first component data at a first time, the first component data comprising identification data regarding at least a second device component that is currently disposed within the device chassis;

store the first component data;

receive a component request via the wireless interface; and

provide the first component data via the wireless interface in response to the component request;

wherein the device chassis has a chassis RFID tag associated therewith, the chassis RFID tag indicating chassis component data regarding the plurality of device components disposed within the chassis, wherein the first aggregation device is separate from the chassis RFID tag.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first aggregation device comprises a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an RFID tag associated with the second device component, the RFID tag having second component data stored thereon, the second component data indicating at least one other component associated with the second component.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a motherboard configured for communication with the plurality of device components, the motherboard comprising a second aggregation device configured to obtain current component data from each of the plurality of device components when the apparatus is powered on.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first aggregation device is further configured to obtain current component data from the second aggregation device.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the chassis RFID tag is affixed to the device chassis.

15. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions for performing a method, comprising:

determining first component data by a first aggregation device at a first time, the first aggregation device being associated with a first one of a plurality of device components of a device, the first component data comprising identification data regarding at least a second one of the plurality of device components of the device;

storing the first component data;

receiving a component request via a wireless interface; and

providing the first component data via the wireless interface in response to the component request;

wherein the determining, storing, receiving, and providing steps are performed when the device is powered off;

wherein the device chassis has a chassis RFID tag associated therewith, the chassis RFID tag indicating chassis component data regarding the plurality of device components disposed within the chassis, wherein the first aggregation device is separate from the chassis RFID tag.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first aggregation device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the second one of the plurality of device components has associated therewith a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag having second component data stored thereon, the second component data indicating at least one other component associated with the second one of the plurality of device components.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

instructions for obtaining by a second aggregation device current component data from each of the plurality of device components when the device is powered on.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

instructions for obtaining by the first aggregation device current component data from the second aggregation device.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

means for determining first component data by a first aggregation device at a first time, the first aggregation device being associated with a first one of a plurality of device components of a device, the first component data comprising identification data regarding at least a second one of the plurality of device components of the device;

means for storing the first component data;

means for receiving a component request via a wireless interface; and

means for providing the first component data via the wireless interface in response to the component request;

wherein the determining, storing, receiving, and providing means are performed when the device is powered off;

wherein the plurality of device components are disposed within a device chassis;

wherein the device chassis has associated therewith a chassis RFID tag, the chassis RFID tag indicating chassis component data regarding the plurality of device components disposed within the device chassis, wherein the first aggregation device is separate from the chassis RFID tag.