Electronic Device Status Tracking with Automated Validation Rules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Companies face challenges in efficiently tracking and managing the status and location of thousands of electronic devices, including determining which employee has each device, whether it is in use, being repaired, or at the end of its life, due to the difficulty in obtaining accurate and timely information from employees and external sources.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for tracking electronic devices that utilize 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 without additional software installation on devices.
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 employee productivity is reduced and the process is time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically collects device status information through machine-to-machine communication between device management systems and tracking systems, eliminating the need for employee manual reporting. Devices and management systems self-report their status, location, and usage information automatically, freeing employees from administrative burdens while maintaining complete information accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of employee reporting with an automated electronic information exchange system. Computer processors automatically query device management systems, receive status data, update tracking databases, and generate reports without human intervention, substituting manual administrative work with automated computational processes.
2Loss of information
If manual tracking methods are used to determine device locations and statuses, then device information can be gathered, but the process is difficult and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously and automatically maintaining updated device status information in a tracking database through automated information exchange. Device locations, statuses, and usage information are proactively collected and stored before any queries are made, enabling instant retrieval and eliminating time-consuming manual tracking when information is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where device management systems automatically report status changes to the tracking system, which updates the database and generates notifications. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures information remains current without manual intervention, providing accurate, up-to-date device tracking data instantly when needed.
3Reliability
If comprehensive device tracking is implemented, then device status information is obtained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal tracking system that handles multiple device types (computers, mobile devices, tablets, IoT devices), multiple statuses (in use, available, repaired, lost, stolen), and multiple information sources through a single integrated platform. The system performs diverse functions including status tracking, location monitoring, loss/theft detection, and automated reporting within one unified system, reducing overall complexity through consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary automated tracking platform that mediates between diverse device management systems and client users. This intermediary layer standardizes information exchange protocols, translates different device data formats into unified tracking records, and manages complex queries automatically, simplifying the interface between heterogeneous systems while maintaining comprehensive tracking capabilities.
4Productivity
If automated status determination is implemented, then tracking efficiency is improved, but prohibited status changes may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback validation where automated status determinations are checked against predefined business rules and prohibited status change lists. When a status change is detected, the system automatically verifies whether it violates any constraints, provides feedback to the user, and prevents invalid changes while allowing compliant changes, ensuring both efficiency and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by pre-defining prohibited status changes and validation rules before automated processing occurs. The system proactively checks proposed status changes against these predetermined constraints, blocking invalid transitions before they can compromise data integrity, while still allowing efficient automated processing of valid changes.
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.