Method and system for tracking an electronic device at an electronic device docking station
First Claim
1. A system for identifying an electronic device user and tracking an electronic device at an electronic device docking station, the electronic device having a port for charging and data transfer, comprising:
- a central processing unit (CPU), the CPU having access to a database, the database containing identification data corresponding to individual device users;
a user identification station, the user identification station being communicatively linked to the CPU;
at least one electronic docking station for docking an electronic device, the docking station having electrical contacts corresponding to the port of the electronic device when the electronic device is docked, the docking station being communicatively linked to the CPU, the docking station having an indicator;
the electrical contacts configured to enable the electronic device to be charged, allow transfer of data to and from the electronic device, and allow application updates to the electronic device based upon the electronic device being docked in the docking station;
an identifying feature on a device user corresponding to the identification data in the database;
the user identification station being configured to sense the identifying feature of the device user;
the user identification station being further configured to send information on the sensed identifying feature to the CPU;
the CPU being configured to compare the information on the sensed identifying feature to identification data in the database;
the CPU being further configured to instruct the docking station to activate the indicator based upon the information on the sensed identifying feature matching user identification data in the database;
the docking station being configured to send docking and undocking information to the CPU based upon the electrical contacts being in contact and not being in contact with the electronic device; and
the CPU being configured to send a timestamp to the database indicating docking status of the electronic device with respect to the device user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for identifying an electronic device user and tracking the electronic device at a docking station is provided. The system includes a CPU, a database containing data corresponding to individual device users, a user identification station, and docking stations. The CPU has access to the database and is communicatively linked to the user identification station and the docking stations. The docking stations have indicators. A device user has an identifying feature corresponding to data for the user in the database. The user identification station is configured to sense the identifying feature of the device user and send this information to the CPU. The CPU is configured to compare the information on the identifying feature to data in the database, and if matching, to instruct one of the docking stations to activate the indicator.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for identifying an electronic device user and tracking an electronic device at an electronic device docking station, the electronic device having a port for charging and data transfer, comprising:
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a central processing unit (CPU), the CPU having access to a database, the database containing identification data corresponding to individual device users; a user identification station, the user identification station being communicatively linked to the CPU; at least one electronic docking station for docking an electronic device, the docking station having electrical contacts corresponding to the port of the electronic device when the electronic device is docked, the docking station being communicatively linked to the CPU, the docking station having an indicator; the electrical contacts configured to enable the electronic device to be charged, allow transfer of data to and from the electronic device, and allow application updates to the electronic device based upon the electronic device being docked in the docking station; an identifying feature on a device user corresponding to the identification data in the database; the user identification station being configured to sense the identifying feature of the device user; the user identification station being further configured to send information on the sensed identifying feature to the CPU; the CPU being configured to compare the information on the sensed identifying feature to identification data in the database; the CPU being further configured to instruct the docking station to activate the indicator based upon the information on the sensed identifying feature matching user identification data in the database; the docking station being configured to send docking and undocking information to the CPU based upon the electrical contacts being in contact and not being in contact with the electronic device; and the CPU being configured to send a timestamp to the database indicating docking status of the electronic device with respect to the device user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for identifying an authorized electronic device user and for tracking the docking and undocking of an electronic device at a docking station, comprising the steps of:
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providing at least two electronic devices in at least two docking stations, the at least two docking stations communicatively linked to a CPU; providing a database with identification data on authorized electronic device users; providing the authorized electronic device users with an identifier corresponding to the identification data in the database; approaching a user identification station by an authorized electronic device user, the user identification station being communicatively linked to the CPU; collecting user identifier information at the user identification station; sending the collected user identifier information to the CPU, the CPU having access to the database; comparing the collected user identifier information to the user identification data in the database by the CPU; deciding which electronic device should be undocked by the authorized electronic device user based upon the electronic device charging level and applicability of the electronic devices to the authorized user; sending, by the CPU to the docking station holding the electronic device to be undocked, instructions to begin indicating; indicating at the docking station the electronic device should be undocked by the authorized electronic device user based upon the sending of instructions step; undocking the indicated electronic device by the authorized user; and recording a time stamp in the database with the user identification data of the time of the undocking step. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification