Tracking asset computing devices

• US 9,641,217 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2014
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: D'Amico, Alessio M., Ribechini, Fausto, Trinchini, Patrizio, Villani, Massimo
• Primary Examiner(s): SIVJI, NIZAR N
• Application Number:
  US14/541,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20160142881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/46 Monitoring; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

One or more processors send a signal from a first computing device to a second computing device through a hardwire connection. One or more processors determine a change between the signal as sent by the first computing device and the signal as received by the second computing device. The change is caused, at least in part, by the distance the signal travels. One or more processors determine a geo-location of the second computing device based, at least in part, on the change.

Claims

1. A computer program product for tracking asset computing devices comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to send an analog signal from a first computing device to a second computing device through a hardwire connection;

program instructions to determine a change between the analog signal as sent by the first computing device and the analog signal as received by the second computing device, the change being caused, at least in part, by an attenuation of the analog signal caused by a distance the analog signal traveled through the hardwire connection; and

program instructions to determine a geo-location of the second computing device based, at least in part, on the change.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the program instructions to determine the change between the analog signal as sent by the first computing device and the analog signal as received by the second computing device, the change being caused, at least in part, by the distance the analog signal traveled further comprise:

program instructions to determine the change between the analog signal as sent by the first computing device and the analog signal as received by the second computing device, the change being caused, at least in part, by a propagation delay in the analog signal.

3. The computer program product of claim 1 further comprising:

program instructions to apply one or both of time domain reflectometry and time domain missometry simulations to the hardwire connection to estimate, at least in part, the distance the analog signal traveled.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the program instructions to send the analog signal from the first computing device to the second computing device through the hardwire connection further comprise:

program instructions to send an electronic analog signal from the first computing device to the second computing device through the hardwire connection.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the program instructions to send the analog signal from the first computing device to the second computing device through the hardwire connection further comprise:

program instructions to send a light analog signal from the first computing device to the second computing device through the hardwire connection.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the program instructions to send the analog signal from the first computing device to the second computing device through the hardwire connection further comprise:

program instructions to send the analog signal from the first computing device to the second computing device through the hardwire connection, wherein the first computing device is a low voltage concentrator.

7. A computer system for tracking asset computing devices comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage medium; and

program instructions stored on the computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to send an analog signal from a first computing device to a second computing device through a hardwire connection;

program instructions to determine a change between the analog signal as sent by the first computing device and the analog signal as received by the second computing device, the change being caused, at least in part, by an attenuation of the analog signal caused by a distance the analog signal traveled through the hardwire connection; and

program instructions to determine a geo-location of the second computing device based, at least in part, on the change.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the program instructions to determine the change between the analog signal as sent by the first computing device and the analog signal as received by the second computing device, the change being caused, at least in part, by the distance the analog signal traveled further comprise:

program instructions to determine the change between the analog signal as sent by the first computing device and the analog signal as received by the second computing device, the change being caused, at least in part, by a propagation delay in the analog signal.

9. The computer system of claim 7 further comprising:

program instructions to apply one or both of time domain reflectometry and time domain missometry simulations to the hardwire connection to estimate, at least in part, the distance the analog signal traveled.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the program instructions to send the analog signal from the first computing device to the second computing device through the hardwire connection further comprise:

program instructions to send an electronic analog signal from the first computing device to the second computing device through the hardwire connection.

11. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the program instructions to send the analog signal from the first computing device to the second computing device through the hardwire connection further comprise:

program instructions to send a light analog signal from the first computing device to the second computing device through the hardwire connection.