Method and system for tracking an electronic device at an electronic device docking station

• US 10,313,340 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2018
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wolski, Matthew, Mielke, Eric P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shayanfar, Ali
• Application Number:
  US15/938,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20180219860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/47 using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

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.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a database comprising identification data corresponding to device users;

a docking station comprising;

first electrical contacts corresponding to a port of an electronic device for transferring data and power to the electronic device; and

a first indicator;

a user identification station configured to;

sense an identifying feature on a device user;

transmit information corresponding to the sensed identifying feature to a central processing unit;

the central processing unit configured to;

compare the information transmitted by the user identification system to identification data in the database; and

instruct the docking station to activate the first indicator based on the identification data in the database that corresponds to the information transmitted by the user identification system;

wherein the docking station is configured to;

activate the first indicator in response the instructions from the docking station to activate the first indicator; and

transmit docking information to the central processing unit; and

wherein the central processing unit is configured to transmit timestamps to the database based on the docking information transmitted by the docking station.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user identification station is configured to sense the identifying feature of the device user based upon the device user making a specific gesture in proximity to the user identification station.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user identification station is configured to sense the identifying feature of the device user based upon the device user touching the user identification station, entering a pin number on a keypad on the user identification station, swiping an id card in proximity to a card reader on the user identification station, sending a wireless signal from an electronic device to the user identification station, and/or submitting to a biometric scan by a biometric scanner on the user identification station.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user identification station is configured to sense the identifying feature of the device user based upon a retinal scan.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the docking station comprises second electrical contacts corresponding to a port of an electronic device for transferring data and power to the electronic device and a second indicator; and

the central processing unit is configured to;

compare the information transmitted by the user identification system to identification data in the database; and

instruct the docking station to activate the first indicator or the second indicator based on;

the identification data in the database that corresponds to the information transmitted by the user identification system;

the charge status of an electronic device connected to the first electrical contacts as compared to the charge status of an electronic device connected to the second electrical contacts; and

/or

applications loaded onto an electronic device connected to the first electrical contacts as compared to applications loaded onto an electronic device connected to the second electrical contacts.

6. A method, comprising:

sensing an identifying feature on a device user;

comparing information corresponding to the sensed identifying feature to data in a database;

based on the data in the database, activating a first indicator on a docking station having first electrical contacts corresponding to a port of an electronic device for transferring data and power to the electronic device, the activated first indicator being configured to indicate to the device user that the electronic device is assigned to the device user; and

updating the database with timestamps based on docking information from the docking station.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising, based on the data in the database, activating a second indicator on the docking station corresponding to second electrical contacts on the docking station.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising activating the first indicator or a second indicator on the docking station corresponding to second electrical contacts on the docking station based on:

the identification data in the database that corresponds to the information transmitted by the user identification system;

the charge status of an electronic device connected to the first electrical contacts as compared to the charge status of an electronic device connected to the second electrical contacts; and

/or

applications loaded onto an electronic device connected to the first electrical contacts as compared to applications loaded onto an electronic device connected to the second electrical contacts.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein sensing an identifying feature on a device user comprises sensing a device user making a specific gesture in proximity to a user identification station.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein sensing an identifying feature on a device user comprises:

sensing a device user touching a user identification station;

sensing a device user entering a pin number on a keypad;

sensing a device user swiping an id card in proximity to a card reader;

sensing a wireless signal from an electronic device; and

/or;

biometrically scanning a device user.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein sensing an identifying feature on a device user comprises performing a retinal scan on a device user.

12. The method of claim 6, comprising, based on the data in the database and the information corresponding to the sensed identifying feature, activating a security mechanism on the docking station.

13. A system, comprising:

a central processing unit configured for;

sensing an identifying feature on a device user;

comparing information corresponding to the sensed identifying feature to data in a database;

based on the data in the database, activating a first indicator on a docking station having first electrical contacts corresponding to a port of an electronic device for transferring data and power to the electronic device, the activated first indicator being configured to indicate to the device user that the electronic device is assigned to the device user; and

updating the database with timestamps based on docking information from the docking station.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit is configured for, based on the data in the database, activating a second indicator on the docking station corresponding to second electrical contacts on the docking station.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit is configured for, activating the first indicator or a second indicator on the docking station corresponding to second electrical contacts on the docking station based on:

the identification data in the database that corresponds to the information transmitted by the user identification system;

the charge status of an electronic device connected to the first electrical contacts as compared to the charge status of an electronic device connected to the second electrical contacts; and

/or

applications loaded onto an electronic device connected to the first electrical contacts as compared to applications loaded onto an electronic device connected to the second electrical contacts.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit is configured for sensing an identifying feature on a device user by sensing a device user making a specific gesture in proximity to a user identification station.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit is configured for sensing an identifying feature on a device user by:

sensing a device user touching a user identification station;

sensing a device user entering a pin number on a keypad;

sensing a device user swiping an id card in proximity to a card reader;

sensing a wireless signal from an electronic device; and

/or;

biometrically scanning a device user.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit is configured for sensing an identifying feature on a device user by performing a retinal scan on a device user.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit is configured for, based on the data in the database and the information corresponding to the sensed identifying feature, activating a security mechanism on the docking station.

20. The system of claim 13, comprising:

a user identification station, wherein the central processing unit is configured for sensing an identifying feature on a device user with the user identification station;

the database; and

the docking station.