System and method for tracking assets incorporating wireless network

• US 9,642,112 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vertiv IT Systems, Inc. (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: Avocent Huntsville, LLC (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Inventors: Costa, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): MEHRA, INDER P
• Application Number:
  US14/434,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20150282113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561, 4554042, 455 412, 4554141
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A system is disclosed for tracking assets in a facility. The system may have at least one asset having a service processor containing identification information which uniquely identifies the at least one asset among a group of assets. The at least one asset may further have a module for reporting the identification information to a gateway device. A data center infrastructure management system may be used which is in communication with the gateway device for receiving the identification information. The identification information may subsequently be used with an asset tracking system.

Claims

1. A system for tracking assets in a facility, the system comprising:

at least one asset having an internally housed service processor which is separate from a main processor of the asset, and wherein the service processor contains identification information which uniquely identifies the at least one asset among a group of assets;

the at least one asset further including a module in communication with the service processor for reporting the identification information contained by the service processor to a gateway device; and

a data center infrastructure management system in communication with the gateway device for receiving the identification information for subsequent use with an asset tracking system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the module for reporting the identification information comprises a radio frequency (RF) module for transmitting the identification information in wireless form to the gateway device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the RF module is integrated into the service processor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the module is integrated into the service processor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the module is configured to be connected via a connector to a port of the asset, and wherein the port is associated with a service processor of the asset.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the module comprises a radio frequency (RF) module for wirelessly communicating the identification information to the gateway device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the module is connected via a cable to a port of the asset, and wherein the port is associated with a service processor of the asset.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the module comprises a radio frequency (RF) module for wirelessly communicating the identification to the gateway device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset comprises at least one of:

a server;

a power distribution unit (PDU); and

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification information of the asset comprises at least one of:

a serial number;

a model number;

configuration information;

operating system and version number;

warranty information; and

power requirements.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the module is able to relay the identification information to the gateway device by transmitting the identification information to an intermediate asset located in a vicinity of the asset, and then having the intermediate asset relay the identification information to the gateway device.

12. A system for tracking assets in a facility, the system comprising:

at least one asset having a service processor housed within the asset, and which is separate from a main processor of the asset, and which contains identification information which uniquely identifies the at least one asset among a group of assets;

a gateway device for receiving wireless signals transmitted within the facility;

the at least one asset further including a radio frequency (RF) module in communication with the service processor for reporting the identification information contained by the service processor to the gateway device via wireless signals; and

a data center infrastructure management system in communication with the gateway device for receiving the identification information for subsequent use with an asset tracking system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the RF module is integrated with the service processor.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the RF module is coupled via a cable to a port associated with the service processor.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the RF module is coupled via a connector to a port associated with the service processor.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the identification information comprises at least one of:

a serial number;

a model number;

configuration information;

operating system and version number;

warranty information; and

power requirements.

17. A method for tracking assets in a facility, the method comprising:

providing at least one asset with a service processor housed within the asset, the service processor being separate from a main processor of the asset, and the asset containing identification information available from the service processor which uniquely identifies the at least one asset among a group of assets;

placing a module in communication with the service processor, the module configured to report the identification information contained in the service processor to a gateway device; and

using a data center infrastructure management system in communication with the gateway device for receiving the identification information for subsequent use with an asset tracking system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the operation of placing a module in communication with the service processor comprises placing a radio frequency (RF) module in communication with the service processor, the RF module configured to wirelessly transmit the identification information to the gateway device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising integrating the module with the service processor.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the integrating the module with the service processor comprises integrating a radio frequency (RF) module with the service processor, and storing at least one of a serial number, a model number and warranty information in the service processor.