Automatic registration of asset tags based on crowd sourcing asset context

• US 9,953,289 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2016
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mulaosmanovic, Jasmin, Lombardi, Robert Joseph, Smadi, Mohammed Nawaf
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US15/229,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20180039934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 235383, 235385
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10376 the interrogation device being adapted for being moveable
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A server-implemented method for automatically registering an asset tag in a database is disclosed. One or more asset tag collision reports are received from at least one mobile device connected to the server, each report including a tag identifier of the asset tag that is wirelessly broadcast by the asset tag. A location of the asset tag is determined based on the one or more received asset tag collision reports. A first asset is selected from a set of unregistered assets that are identified as being deployed in the indoor facility based on determining that there is a match between the location of the asset tag and location information associated with the first asset. The asset tag is then registered in association with the first asset in the database.

Claims

1. A server-implemented method for registering an asset tag in a database, the asset tag being used to track a location of an asset in an indoor facility, the method comprising:

receiving, from at least one mobile device connected to the server via a wireless communication network, one or more asset tag collision reports, each of the one or more asset tag collision reports including a tag identifier of the asset tag, wherein the tag identifier is transmitted to the at least one mobile device in wireless signals broadcast by the asset tag;

determining a location of the asset tag based on the one or more received asset tag collision reports;

selecting a first asset from a set of one or more unregistered assets that are identified as being deployed in the indoor facility based on determining that there is a match between the location of the asset tag and location information associated with the first asset; and

registering the asset tag in association with the first asset in the database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information associated with the first asset is retrieved from an assets database storing information associated with the one or more unregistered assets that are identified as being deployed in the indoor facility.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the asset tag comprises identifying a defined area of the indoor facility in which the asset tag is located.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the defined area is a room in the indoor facility.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the location of the asset tag comprises identifying a three-dimensional location of the asset tag within the defined area and wherein selecting the first asset comprises determining a probable three-dimensional location of the first asset based on a type associated with the first asset.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the probable three-dimensional location of the first asset indicates a probable height of the first asset above ground and wherein determining that there is a match comprises determining that the probable height of the first asset above ground matches a height of the asset tag above ground within the defined area.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more asset tag collision reports indicates an identity of a reporting mobile device from which the asset tag collision report originated.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the asset tag collision report identifies a location of the reporting mobile device within the indoor facility at a time when a wireless signal from the asset tag was detected by the reporting mobile device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the location of the reporting mobile device within the indoor facility is determined by the reporting mobile device using an indoor positioning application.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the identified location specifies a defined area of the indoor facility.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the asset tag collision report includes a timestamp indicating a time at which the wireless signal from the asset tag was detected by the reporting mobile device.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the asset tag collision report includes a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the wireless signal detected by the reporting mobile device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a pairing of the first asset with the asset tag does not meet a predefined confidence threshold; and

in response, transmitting messages to one or more user devices to request users of the user devices to confirm whether the pairing is correct.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more user devices comprise devices which are determined to be in close proximity to the asset tag.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more user devices comprises devices which are determined to be in a defined area of the indoor facility in which the asset tag is located.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more user devices comprise devices from which one or more of the asset tag collision reports originated.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, from at least one of the one or more user devices, a message indicating that the pairing is incorrect;

in response,

selecting a second asset from the set of one or more unregistered assets that are identified as being deployed in the indoor facility; and

registering the asset tag in association with the second asset in the database.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a record of the one or more received asset tag collision reports.

19. A system comprising:

an asset tag for use in tracking a location of an asset in an indoor facility;

at least one mobile device configured to detect wireless signals broadcast by the asset tag; and

a server connected to the at least one mobile device via a wireless communication network, wherein the server is configured to;

receive, from the at least one mobile device, one or more asset tag collision reports, each of the one or more asset tag collision reports including a tag identifier of the asset tag, wherein the tag identifier is transmitted to the at least one mobile device in wireless signals broadcast by the asset tag;

determine a location of the asset tag based on the one or more received asset tag collision reports;

select a first asset from a set of one or more assets that are identified as being deployed in the indoor facility based on determining that there is a match between the location of the asset tag and location information associated with the first asset; and

register the asset tag in association with the first asset in a database.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions for a server to register an asset tag in a database, wherein the instructions comprise:

instructions to receive, from at least one mobile device connected to the server via a wireless communication network, one or more asset tag collision reports, each of the one or more asset tag collision reports including a tag identifier of the asset tag, wherein the tag identifier is transmitted to the at least one mobile device in wireless signals broadcast by the asset tag;

instructions to determine a location of the asset tag based on the one or more received asset tag collision reports;

instructions to select a first asset from a set of one or more unregistered assets that are identified as being deployed in an indoor facility based on determining that there is a match between the location of the asset tag and location information associated with the first asset; and

instructions to register the asset tag in association with the first asset in the database.