Systems and methods for network inventory management utilizing mobile technology

• US 9,123,017 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rayes, Ammar, Ukhalkar, Sanjeev, Vasireddy, Anil, Hinnant, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US14/053,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20140089148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/375, 235/380, 235/383, 235/462.01, 235/472.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/00 Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information

Abstract

A system for streamlining a network management system (NMS) includes scanning, via a mobile device, a code on a hardware or software component; and determining, via the mobile device, whether the hardware or software component is a network component (NC), based on the scanned code. The hardware or software component may be a call manager, server, client device, interface card, repeater, hub, bridge, switch, router, or firewall, for example.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a mobile device, an input of a code associated with an electronic component;

determining, by the mobile device, whether the electronic component is a component of a network, based on comparing the code against inventory data associated with the network;

assigning the electronic component to the network, in response to determining that the electronic component is not a network component of the network; and

receiving a notification regarding operating conditions of the electronic component with respect to the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input of the code includes audio information representative of the code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input of the code includes graphical information representative of the code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the input of the code includes receiving a voice command including the code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the input of the code includes receiving a photographed image including the code.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the input of the code includes receiving a scanned image including the code.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning comprises identifying the electronic component as a component of the network by the code and logically linking the electronic component to the network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting at least one of operational parameters or characteristics of the electronic component, by the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning at least one of operational parameters or characteristics of the electronic component, by the mobile device.

10. A system comprising:

a processing device configured to;

read an inputted code associated with an electronic component, the electronic component being one or more of a software component or hardware component, the inputted code derived from a voice command;

determine whether the electronic component is a network component of a network, based on the inputted code;

assign the electronic component to the network, in response to determining that the electronic component is not a network component of the network; and

receive a notification regarding operating conditions of the electronic component with respect to the network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing device is further configured to:

validate the inputted code against service level agreement information.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing device is further configured to:

validate the inputted code against intellectual capital information.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing device is further configured to:

validate the inputted code against social media information.

14. A non-transitory memory device having stored thereon processor executable instructions that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying an electronic component;

assigning the electronic component to a network, in response to determining that the electronic component is not a network component of the network;

assigning a network code associated with the network to the electronic component;

assigning a unique inventory code to the electronic component;

generating a graphic corresponding to the network code and the unique inventory code; and

receiving a notification regarding operating conditions of the electronic component with respect to the network.

15. The non-transitory memory device of claim 14, wherein the executable instructions, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

associating the network code and the unique inventory code with contract and intellectual capital information.

16. The non-transitory memory device of claim 14, wherein the executable instructions, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

associating the graphic with inventory data associated with the network.

17. The non-transitory memory device of claim 14, wherein the graphic includes text corresponding to the network code and the unique inventory code.

18. The non-transitory memory device of claim 14, wherein the graphic includes a barcode corresponding to the network code and the unique inventory code.