Asset management for physical assets

• US 9,859,594 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PNC Bank National Association (The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Enovate Medical, LLC (Enovate Medical Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Miller, David R., Kilbourne, Allen, Metelko, Mary
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Assistant Examiner(s): MURPHY, JEROLD B
• Application Number:
  US14/323,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20150362333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/24 adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion thermal insulation H01M10/658
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/342 Non-re-sealable arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A technology is discussed for a wireless transfer station that is operable to communicate management information. Measurement information can be received from one or more other wireless transfer stations. The measurement information can be aggregated from the one or more other wireless transfer stations. The measurement information can be analyzed to determine a status of the one or more wireless transfer stations using the aggregated energy measurement information.

Claims

1. A wireless transfer station integrated into a plate mounted on a wall operable to communicate management information, the wireless transfer station configured to:

send an energy measurement information request to a plurality of other wireless transfer stations to request energy measurement information of the plurality of other wireless transfer stations, the energy measurement information request including a request for a charge level, an estimated battery life, and an operational status;

provide energy to at least one of the plurality of other wireless transfer stations;

receive the energy measurement information, including a charge level, an estimated battery life, and an operational status, from the plurality of other wireless transfer stations when the wireless transfer station provides energy to the at least one of the plurality of other wireless transfer stations;

aggregate the energy measurement information from the plurality of other wireless transfer stations;

analyze the energy measurement information from the plurality of other wireless transfer stations to determine a system operational status of all of the plurality of other wireless transfer stations, wherein the system operational status includes at least one of the following;

an all wireless transfer stations are working properly status, an all wireless transfer stations for selected uses are functioning status, a system wide error status, a communications network working properly status, or a communications network not working properly status; and

communicate the aggregated energy measurement information and the system operational status to a server.

2. The wireless transfer station of claim 1, wherein the operational status includes at least one of the following:

a functioning status, a malfunctioning status, a partially operational status, a non-operational status, an out of commission status, a needs repair status, a non-critical error status, a critical error status, a send a technician status, or a needs replacement status.

3. The wireless transfer station of claim 1, further configured to communicate with the plurality of other wireless transfer stations to determine when at least one of the plurality of other wireless transfer stations is available to provide energy to another of the plurality of other wireless transfer stations.

4. The wireless transfer station of claim 1, further configured to enter an energy saving mode when the wireless transfer station is not providing energy to at least one of the plurality of other wireless transfer stations or communicating with at least one of the plurality of other wireless transfer stations or the server.