Abstract:
A system and method identifies a mobile unit in a cradle. The method comprises deactivating power to the cradle. The cradle is capable of recharging the mobile unit. After the cradle is deactivated, the method comprises determining one of (a) if a signal is received from the mobile unit indicating recharging power to the mobile unit has been deactivated and (b) if the mobile unit discontinues an identification transmission. The method comprises determining an identity of the mobile unit in the cradle as a function of one of the received signal and the discontinued identification transmission.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority to the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/884,673, entitled “System and Method for Identifying a Mobile Device,” filed Jan. 12, 2007. The specification of the above-identified application is incorporated in its entirety herewith by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to identifying location data regarding mobile devices disposed in an area. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A mobile unit may be used in a variety of environments. The mobile unit may include a communication device to notify a server (i.e., central processing unit) of the mobile unit&#39;s current state. The mobile unit may periodically or continuously send a signal to the server to perform this notification. When a plurality of mobile units is disposed in an area, the server may maintain a database logging each mobile unit&#39;s current state. For example, the server may update a spreadsheet containing location data of the plurality of mobile units contained in a network in which the server operates. 
         [0004]    A problem arises when the mobile unit disposed in the network is incapable of notifying the server of its current state. This problem may occur when, for example, the mobile unit does not have enough power to make the transmission. Furthermore, this problem may occur when, for example, the mobile unit is recharging. The mobile unit may be recharged when it is placed within a cradle. The cradle may contain a first set of electrical contacts that couple to a corresponding set of contacts on the mobile unit to achieve the charging. A conventional method for the server to ascertain a recharging mobile unit&#39;s location is to utilize a second set of contacts on a cradle. The second set of contacts couples to another corresponding set of contacts on the mobile unit and is used to transmit a signal to the server. However, this requires that the mobile unit and the cradle to further include this second set of contacts. Thus, there is a need for updating the mobile unit&#39;s location without utilizing the second set of contacts. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to a system and method for identifying a mobile unit in a cradle. The method comprises deactivating power to the cradle. The cradle is capable of recharging the mobile unit. After the cradle is deactivated, the method comprises determining one of (a) if a signal is received from the mobile unit indicating recharging power to the mobile unit has been deactivated and (b) if the mobile unit discontinues an identification transmission. 
         [0006]    The method comprises determining an identity of the mobile unit in the cradle as a function of one of the received signal and the discontinued identification transmission. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a system for identifying mobile units according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2   a  shows a mobile unit that is part of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 2   b  shows a cradle that is part of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a second cradle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a method for identifying mobile units in a cradle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention describe a system and method for identifying a mobile unit (e.g., computing device, personal computer, laptop, pager, mobile device, cell phone, radio frequency identification device, scanner, etc.), particularly while the mobile unit is recharging. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, components of the mobile unit may be used for identification without a need for a further communication contact (i.e., second set of contacts). 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a system  100  for identifying mobile units (MU)  130 - 145  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A server  105  may be disposed in the system  100 . The server  105  may be connected to a database  110 . The database  110  may be a memory used to store identification and location data associated with the MUs  130 - 145 . The server  105  may also be connected to a network management arrangement (NMA)  115 . The NMA  115  may cooperate with the server  105  to operate a network  120 . 
         [0014]    In the exemplary embodiment, the NMA  115  may further be connected to the network  120 . The network  120  includes an operating area  125 . The operating area  125  may be, for example, a warehouse, a store, a building, etc. The server  105  and/or the NMA  115  may, via the network  120 , be in communication with the MUs  130 - 145  using wireless communications (e.g., 802.11x, WiFi, etc.) and/or hardwired communications. Cradles  150 - 165  may also be disposed in the operating area  125 . The cradles  150 - 165  may be used to recharge a power supply of the MUs  130 - 145  via a recharging arrangement. For example, as illustrated, the MU  145  is inserted in the cradle  165 . The cradles  150 - 165  may be in communication with the network  120  using wireless and/or hardwired communications. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the cradles  150 - 165  may be operated (e.g., activated/deactivated) via the server  105 . The MU  145 , the cradle  165 , and the recharging arrangement will be discussed in more detail below with reference to  FIGS. 2   a - b.    
         [0015]    It should be noted that the use of the NMA  115  is only exemplary and the server  105  alone may contain the functionalities to operate the system  100 . Furthermore, the use of a single network  120  is only exemplary. The present invention may utilize multiple networks, thereby function in multiple, distinct operating areas. The present invention may also increase the operating area  125  using, for example, access points. The access points may be used to communicate with the MUs and/or cradles, via wireless and/or wired communications. In addition, it should be noted that the server  105 , the database  110 , and the NMA  115  disposed outside the operating area  125  is only exemplary and these components may be present within the operating area  125 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 2   a  shows the mobile unit  145  that is part of the system  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2   b  shows the cradle  165  that is part of the system of  FIG. 1 . The MU  145  may include a processor  205  connected to a radio  210  and a power supply  220 . The processor  205  may perform the functionalities of the MU  145 . The radio  210  is a communication device used to transmit/receive data via an antenna  215 . The power supply  220  may be, for example, a rechargeable battery that includes contacts  225 - 230 . It should be noted that the contacts  225 - 230  being separate from the power supply  220  is only exemplary and the contacts  225 - 230  may be part of the power supply  220 . 
         [0017]    The cradle  165  may include a back support  235 , a cavity  240 , corresponding contacts (c-contact)  245 - 250 , and locks  270 - 275 . The back support  235  may be used to provide a resting surface for the MU  145  upon insertion of the MU  145  by sliding in a direction d into the cradle  165 . It should be noted that the use of the back support  235  is only exemplary and the cradle  165  may include side supports, an enclosure support, windows on any of the supports, or may not include any support. The cavity  240  may be used to provide a storing area for the MU  145  upon insertion of the MU  145  in the cradle  165 . It should be noted that the use of the cavity  240  is only exemplary and the cradle  165  may be designed without the cavity  240 . 
         [0018]    The c-contacts  245 - 250  may provide a coupling site for the contacts  225 - 230  where the electrical connection between the MU  145  and the cradle  165  is established. As illustrated, the contact  225  may couple with the c-contact  245  while the contact  230  may couple with the c-contact  250 . It should be noted that the use of two pairs of coupling contacts is only exemplary and the recharging of the power supply  220  may require fewer or more electrical couplings. The c-contacts  245 - 250  may have wire leads  255 - 260 , respectively, to an electrical power outlet via cord  265 . 
         [0019]    The locks  270 - 275  may be used to hold the MU  145  in the cradle  165  while the MU  145  is not in use, the power supply  220  is recharging, etc. The MU  145  may contain corresponding locks (not shown) if the locks  270 - 275  are of a coupling type. It should be noted that the use of the locks  270 - 275  may allow the cradle  165  to not require a back support  235  or a cavity  240 . However, it should also be noted that the use of the locks  270 - 275  is only exemplary and the cradle  165  may not have the locks  270 - 275 . Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of two locks  270 - 275  is only exemplary and the present invention may utilize a single lock, a circular lock, more than two locks, etc. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows a cradle  300  according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The cradle  300  may be an array of cups  305 - 309 , where each of the cups  305 - 309  substantially resembles the cradle  165  of  FIG. 2   b . As illustrated, the cups  305 - 309  may be arranged in a linear form. It should be noted that the linear form is only exemplary and the array of the cradle  300  may take any form such as a two dimensional matrix. The cups  305 - 309  may include back supports  310 - 314 , cavities  315 - 319 , contacts  320 - 324 , and locks  325 - 329 , respectively. The functionalities of the components for the cups  305 - 309  are substantially similar to the components of the cradle  165 . One contact of each pair of contacts  320 - 324  is connected to a first wire lead  330  while the other contact of each pair of contacts  320 - 324  is connected to a second wire lead  331 . The recharging takes place through these wire leads  330 - 331  via cord  332  connecting to a power source. In contrast to the server  105  controlling the cradle  165 , because the cradle  300  includes multiple cups  305 - 309 , the server  105  may operate the cradle  300  as a singular unit or operate the individual cups  305 - 309  on a per need basis. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  shows a method  400  for identifying mobile units according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method  400  will be described with reference to the system  100  of  FIG. 1 . It should be noted that the method  400  may be used with the cradle  165  of  FIG. 2   b  or with the cradle  300  of  FIG. 3 . Thus, the following description will incorporate the components of both the cradle  165  and the cradle  300 . 
         [0022]    The method  400  is directed toward identifying MUs that are being recharged, whether the MU has been recharging or just placed/loaded into the cradle. The method  400  assumes that the MUs with sufficient power are continuously communicating with the network, whether recharging in a cradle or in use within the operating area  125 . MUs with insufficient power (e.g., dead battery) are unable to communicate and would, therefore, be in a recharging cradle. When the MU is not being recharged and is in use, the MU is in communication with the network  120  and, therefore, the server  105  may directly communicate with the MU to identify that MU. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the server  105  may determine that MUs  130 - 140  are in use as they are wirelessly communicating with the server  105  via the network  120 . Thus, through direct communication with MUs in use (e.g., MUs  130 - 140 ) and identifying MUs not in use (e.g., MU  145 ), a complete tally of all MUs disposed in the operating area  125  may be determined. 
         [0023]    In step  405 , the activated cradles are determined. As discussed above, the cradles  150 - 165  are connected to the network  120 . The server  105  may determine the activated cradles using a variety of methods. For example, the cradles  150 - 165  may include functionality to indicate to the server  105  that there is a MU inserted therein or the MU is being recharged. The server  105  may also determine power consumption by the cradles  150 - 165 . That is, if the cradle  165  is recharging the power supply  220  of the MU  145 , energy consumption data may be used. If the consumption is beyond a threshold value, the server  105  may recognize that the cradle is currently in use. It should be noted that the server  105  may not be required to determine activated cradles and still perform the identification of MUs. 
         [0024]    In step  410 , power may be deactivated to a specific cradle among the active cradles. With reference to  FIG. 3 , power may be deactivated to a specific cup of the cradle  300 . Once the cradle or cup is deactivated, a determination is made in step  415  whether the MU being recharged returned a signal. The signal may be, for example, a one bit signal to indicate that recharging power was terminated. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the MU may send any type of signal to indicate the termination of charging power. 
         [0025]    If the MU being recharged has sufficient power after the cradle is deactivated, a signal may be returned. Thus, in step  420 , the MU returned a signal to indicate the deactivation of recharging power and the MU identity is stored. Akin to an MU in use and directly communicating with the server  105  via the network  120 , upon deactivation of the cradle, the MU may directly communicate with server  105  by sending the above described signal. Thus, the identity of the MU and the specific cradle in which it is being charged are identified by the server  105 . 
         [0026]    If the MU being recharged has insufficient power and cannot return a signal, the server  105  is still aware that the cradle is in use. Thus, in step  425 , the identity of the MU may still be determined. In the exemplary embodiments, the MU with insufficient power may use the external power source (i.e., power received from recharging) to send transmissions, thereby enabling a continuous communication with the network. Therefore, the server  105  is receiving a signal from the MU. A deactivation of the cradle in which the insufficiently powered MU sits discontinues the transmissions from the MU. The server  105  subsequently determines that the MU that discontinued transmitting is present in the cradle that was deactivated. Thus, the identity of the MU and the specific cradle in which it is being charged are identified by the server  105 . 
         [0027]    In step  430 , the database  110  is updated to store the identification and location data associated with the MU identified in either step  420  or step  425 . Once the recharging MU is identified and the database  110  is updated, power is reactivated to the deactivated cradle in step  435 . 
         [0028]    In step  440 , a determination is made whether to continue updating the database. If further updates are required, the method returns to step  405  where activated cradles are again identified. Those skilled in the art will understand that the method  400  may be used to continuously update the database  110  to show within which cradle each MU is located. Thus, in one example, the method  400  may be executed each time the server  105  detects that a cradle has been activated. In another example, the method  400  may continuously be executed to maintain a real-time catalog of the MUs present in cradles. 
         [0029]    With the database  110  including the identification and location data for all the MUs within cradles in an operating area  125 , other features may be implemented within the system  100 . For example, the server  105  may further include functionality to activate/deactivate the locking mechanisms of the cradles. Thus, an MU locked in a cradle may only be used upon proper authentication and release by the server  105 . For example, a user such as an employee or customer may arrive at the operating area  125  that includes a plurality of cradles or an array of cups having locked MUs. The user may swipe a credit card, employee badge, etc. through a swipe device that sends the user identification data to the server  105 . The server  105  may then unlock a specific cradle allowing the user to take an identified MU. The server  105  may also associate the user identification with the MU identification and store the association in the database  110  to know which user has a specific MU. 
         [0030]    Another example includes identifying misplaced MUs within the operating area. If a MU is misplaced and cannot respond to a query by the server  105 , the server  105  may determine all other MUs in the operating area  125  and compare to a complete list of MUs that are supposed to be present in the operating area  125 . A prompt may be issued to, for example, an administrator concerning the lost MU. The prompt may also include the identification of the user that unlocked the MU from the cradle. 
         [0031]    It should be noted that the method  400  may include a checking step to determine that the MU which discontinued transmitting is present at the cradle (i.e., the MU identified in step  425 ). Upon reactivating power (step  435 ) to the deactivated cradle, the server  105  may determine that a signal is again being received from the MU. If a signal is being received from the MU that discontinued transmitting, the server  105  may authenticate that the identified MU is located in the specific cradle. 
         [0032]    The present invention affords further advantages over conventional identification of mobile units. Conventional mobile units include recharging contacts (e.g., contacts  225 - 230 ) and a separate communication contact. In contrast, the present invention may eliminate the communication contact because identification may be accomplished through the method  400 . The elimination of components of the MU also allows the design of the MU to be smaller, compact, etc. It also provides for less parts that may break and less possible environmental damage because there are fewer openings in the housing. It should be noted that the above described advantages are only exemplary and that other advantages exist for the system and method described above. 
         [0033]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.