Locating and provisioning devices in a network

• US 20050253718A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Droms, Ralph, Saville, Roland, Vogel, Gary Dennis Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,789,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for locating, identifying and provisioning devices in a network. According to some implementations of the invention, a combination of EPC code information and existing networking standards form the basis of identifying and provisioning methods. For example, location information included in a DHCPDISCOVER request can be used to determine appropriate configurations for networked devices. In some such implementations, the location information is read from an RFID tag near the networked device and is inserted in the DHCPDISCOVER request. The location information may include any type of absolute or relative coordinate, positioning, cartographic or similar information and/or information from which such information may be derived.

Claims

1. A method of provisioning a device, the method comprising:

initializing a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) device;

reading RFID tag data from an RFID tag;

inserting the RFID tag data in an option field of a DHCPDISCOVER request; and

sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

)server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of determining, based in part on the RFID tag data, an appropriate configuration for the RFID device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag data comprise location data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a location determining step of determining, based at least in part on the RFID tag data, a location of the RFID device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID device is a wireless RFID device.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of provisioning the RFID device according to the appropriate configuration.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining step comprises accessing a data structure that includes locations and corresponding RFID device configurations.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining step is performed by the DHCP server.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of sending the RFID tag data from the DHCP server to a device, wherein the determining step is performed by the device.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the location determining step comprises accessing a data structure that includes RFID tag data and corresponding location data.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the device is a lightweight directory access protocol (“

LDAP”

) server.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the location determining step is performed by the DHCP server.

13. A method of provisioning a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving IEEE 802.11b location data from a plurality of wireless access points;

determining, based at least in part on the IEEE 802.11b location data, a location of a wireless device; and

determining an appropriate configuration for the wireless device according to the location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless device comprises one of a manufacturing device, a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) device, a portable digital assistant and a laptop computer.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the IEEE 802.11b location data comprise one of time data and signal strength data.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the IEEE 802.11b location data reference system map data.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the appropriate configuration comprises a device personality.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of configuring the wireless device according to the appropriate configuration.

19. A method of determining a device configuration, the method comprising:

receiving a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

) request;

determining a location of a device according to information in the DHCP request; and

determining, based at least in part on the location, an appropriate configuration for the device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising configuring the device according to the appropriate configuration.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the location determining step comprises determining a location encoded in the DHCP request.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the location determining step comprises:

accessing a data structure; and

mapping the information in the DHCP request to corresponding location data.

23. A method for deploying a uniquely-provisioned radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) device in a network, the method comprising;

reading location information from a first RFID tag;

forming a DHCPDISCOVER request that includes an electronic product code (“

EPC”

) of an RFID reader and the location information;

sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

) server;

receiving provisioning information from the DHCP server that enables a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID reader; and

provisioning the RFID reader according to the provisioning information, thereby enabling the RFID reader to read nearby RFID tags and to transmit RFID tag information to an RFID network.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the location information indicates that the RFID reader is positioned near an exit door of a retail store and wherein the RFID tag information comprises information regarding products.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the location information indicates that the RFID reader is positioned near a door of a warehouse and wherein the RFID tag information comprises information regarding products.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag information to automatically update a database maintained by the retail store.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag information to cause a financial account to be debited for a cost of the products.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag information to automatically update a database maintained by a manufacturer of at least one of the products.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag information to automatically update a database maintained by a distributor of at least one of the products.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag information to update a business plan.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the RFID tag information comprises shopper information.

32. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag information to automatically update a database maintained by a manufacturer of at least one of the products.

33. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag information to automatically update a database maintained by a distributor of at least one of the products.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the business plan comprises at least one of a marketing plan, a manufacturing plan, a distribution plan and a sales plan.

35. A network, comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) devices;

a plurality of switches connecting the RFID devices to the network; and

a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

) server, wherein at least some of the RFID devices comprise;

means for reading location information from a first RFID tag;

means for forming a DHCPDISCOVER request that includes an electronic product code (“

EPC”

) of an RFID reader and the location information;

means for sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

) server;

means for receiving provisioning information from the DHCP server that enables a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID reader; and

means for provisioning the RFID reader according to the provisioning information, thereby enabling the RFID reader to read nearby RFID tags and to transmit RFID tag information to an RFID network; and

wherein the DHCP server comprises;

means for receiving the DHCPDISCOVER request; and

means for automatically identifying an RFID device according to a media access control (“

MAC”

) address and an EPC included in the DHCPDISCOVER request and for locating the RFID device according to the location information included in the DHCPDISCOVER request; and

means for providing the RFID device with a desired functionality according to a device location and identity.

36. A method of provisioning a device, the method comprising:

initializing a device;

obtaining location data;

inserting the location data in an option field of a DHCPDISCOVER request; and

sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

)server.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the device includes global positioning system (“

GPS”

) capability and wherein the location data comprise GPS data.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the device is a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) device.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

determining provisioning information based at least in part on the location data; and

providing provisioning information to the device.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

receiving provisioning information from the DHCP server; and

provisioning the device according to the provisioning information.

41. An RFID reader, comprising:

means for initializing a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) device;

means for reading RFID tag data from an RFID tag;

means for inserting the RFID tag data in an option field of a DHCPDISCOVER request; and

means for sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

)server.

42. An apparatus for determining a device configuration, comprising:

means for receiving a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

) request;

location determining means for determining a location of a device according to information in the DHCP request; and

means for determining, based at least in part on the location, an appropriate configuration for the device.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the location determining means comprises means for querying one of a management server and a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol server.

44. An RFID reader, comprising:

means for reading location information from a first RFID tag;

means for forming a DHCPDISCOVER request that includes an electronic product code (“

EPC”

) of an RFID reader and the location information;

means for sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

) server;

means for receiving provisioning information from the DHCP server that enables a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID reader; and

means for provisioning the RFID reader according to the provisioning information, thereby enabling the RFID reader to read nearby RFID tags and to transmit RFID tag information to an RFID network.