Electronic Device Status Tracking via ERP, UEM, and MDM Data
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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 the device is in use, its physical location, and whether it is being repaired, at end of life, or awaiting disposal, which is difficult and time-consuming, often reducing productivity and leading to inaccurate decision-making.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for tracking multiple electronic devices by accessing external information via ERP, UEM, and MDM systems to determine device statuses, automatically updating a database with allowable status changes, preventing prohibited changes, and providing real-time status information to clients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual tracking methods are used to determine device status and location, then employees can provide information about their devices, but productivity is reduced and the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables devices to automatically report their own status, location, and connection information without requiring employee intervention. The device status determination system collects data directly from devices and external systems, allowing the tracking process to serve itself rather than relying on manual employee input, thus maintaining high accuracy while preserving employee productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual tracking mechanisms with an automated electronic system that collects device status information through computer processors, databases, and external system integrations. This substitution eliminates the need for employees to manually report device information, maintaining precise tracking while avoiding productivity loss
2Loss of information
If comprehensive device tracking is implemented across thousands of devices, then complete device status information is obtained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the device tracking functionality across multiple independent components: a device status determination system that collects information, a database system that stores data, external systems (ERP, UEM, MDM) that provide supplementary information, and a user interface system that presents data. This segmentation allows comprehensive tracking of thousands of devices while managing complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The device status determination system serves multiple functions simultaneously: tracking device location, determining connection status, monitoring device health, identifying employee assignments, and detecting status changes. By consolidating these diverse tracking functions into a single universal system, the patent achieves complete device information without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
3Reliability
If real-time status updates are implemented for all devices, then current device information is maintained, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic status determination by collecting device information at scheduled intervals rather than continuously monitoring all devices. The device status determination system periodically queries devices and external systems for status updates, maintaining reliable current information while reducing processing time and computational resource requirements compared to continuous real-time monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where devices report their own status changes, and the device status determination system compares current status against previous status to identify only actual changes. This feedback approach ensures reliable current device information is maintained while minimizing processing time by focusing computational resources only on devices with status changes rather than reprocessing all devices
4Reliability
If automated status change prevention is implemented for prohibited changes, then data integrity is maintained, but system automation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements preliminary action by pre-defining which status changes are prohibited before they occur. The device status determination system contains predefined rules that identify prohibited status transitions, and these rules are applied automatically when evaluating potential status changes. This preliminary configuration approach maintains data integrity through automated control while managing complexity by establishing clear predetermined guidelines rather than requiring complex real-time decision-making logic
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.