Electronic Device Status Tracking for Real-Time Asset Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Companies face challenges in efficiently tracking and determining the status of thousands of electronic devices, including which employee has each device, whether it is in use, its physical location, and whether it is being repaired, retired, or awaiting disposal, which is time-consuming and affects decision-making.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for tracking multiple electronic devices using a device tracking database and computer processors to automatically determine and update device statuses based on external information, preventing prohibited status changes, and providing real-time status updates to clients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If employees are requested to provide information regarding device use, then device status information can be obtained, but productivity is reduced and results are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables devices to self-report their status information automatically through integration with device management systems and network protocols. Devices transmit their own operational state, location, and usage data without requiring employee intervention, thereby eliminating the productivity loss while ensuring complete and accurate information collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of employees reporting device status with an automated electronic information system. Through APIs, device management systems, and network communication protocols, the system automatically collects and processes device status data, substituting human effort with automated technological mechanisms.
2Loss of information
If manual tracking methods are used to determine device locations and statuses, then device information can be collected, but the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous automated tracking of device locations and statuses through persistent network connections and periodic status reports. Device management systems continuously monitor device states, and the automated pipeline ensures uninterrupted data flow from devices to the tracking database, eliminating the intermittent and time-consuming nature of manual tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces automated device management systems and network infrastructure as intermediaries between devices and the tracking database. These intermediaries automatically collect, process, and transmit device information, replacing manual tracking actions and significantly reducing the time required to obtain comprehensive device location and status data.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive device tracking is implemented, then accurate device status information is obtained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages multi-functional device management systems that already perform device provisioning, configuration, and maintenance. By integrating tracking capabilities into these existing universal systems, the patent achieves comprehensive device status monitoring without adding separate complex tracking infrastructure, thereby maintaining accuracy while minimizing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs automated device management systems as intermediaries that handle the complexity of data collection, validation, and processing. These intermediaries abstract the complex tracking operations from the core system, providing accurate device status information through standardized interfaces while containing system complexity within the intermediary layer.
4Reliability
If real-time status determination is performed for all devices, then current device statuses are accurately identified, but computational resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs real-time status determination selectively based on device criticality, usage patterns, and change frequency. Instead of uniformly processing all devices at maximum frequency, the patent applies differentiated monitoring strategies that maintain high reliability for critical devices while reducing computational overhead for less critical devices, thereby balancing accuracy with resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic status determination with varying intervals based on device characteristics and operational context. Devices undergo status assessment at optimized frequencies that ensure reliability while avoiding unnecessary computational resource consumption, with intervals adjusted according to device importance, usage patterns, and environmental factors.
Data Source
AI summary
An example method of tracking multiple electronic devices is described herein that can include accessing first information regarding the multiple electronic devices with the first information including a connection state for a first plurality of electronic devices of the multiple electronic devices representative of a most recent timestamp that each of the first plurality of electronic devices was active and concurrently determining a first status for each applicable electronic device of the multiple electronic devices dependent upon the first information. The method can further include assigning the first status as a current status for each of the multiple devices in a device tracking database, accessing second information regarding the multiple electronic devices with the second information including the connection state for a second plurality of electronic devices of the multiple electronic devices, and concurrently determining a second status for each of the multiple electronic devices dependent upon the second information.