IP Library Granted Patent US 8,244,178
Granted Patent B2
US 8,244,178 · App. 13/195,602 · Granted Aug 14, 2012

Intelligent device integration using RFID technology

Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,244,178
App. No.
13/195,602
Granted
Aug 14, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of integrating devices using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology can include tracking movement of an RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag is associated with a user, and determining proximity of the RFID tag to a communication device. The method also can include initiating a programmatic action with the communication device according to the proximity of the RFID tag to the communication device, wherein the programmatic action is associated with the user.

Claims (24)

1. A method of integrating devices using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, the method comprising:

determining that the RFID tag is no longer proximate to a first communication device; tracking movement of an RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag is associated with a user; determining proximity of the RFID tag to a second communication device; initiating a programmatic action with the second communication device according to the proximity of the RFID tag to the second communication device, wherein the programmatic action is associated with the user; receiving, from a communication system, a notification of an incoming communication directed to a first communication address associated with the first communication device; identifying an intended recipient of the communication according to the first communication address, wherein the intended recipient is associated with the RFID tag; determining a communication address for the second communication device; and instructing the communication system to route the communication to the communication address for the second communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second communication device is a printer, wherein initiating a programmatic action further comprises:

queuing a print job originated by the user while the RFID tag is not proximate to the printer; and

releasing the print job when the RFID tag is proximate to the printer.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising deleting the print job from a print queue if the RFID tag is not proximate to the printer within a predetermined amount of time from when the print job originated.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating a programmatic action further comprises logging the user into the second communication device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing the user to be logged off of the first communication device.

6. A non-transitory computer program product for integrating devices using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology comprising:

a computer readable storage having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising:

computer usable program code configured to determine that the RFID tag is not proximate to a first communication device;

computer usable program code configured to track movement of an RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag is associated with a user;

computer usable program code configured to determine proximity of the RFID tag to a second communication device;

computer usable program code configured to initiate a programmatic action with the second communication device according to the proximity of the RFID tag to the second communication device, wherein the programmatic action is associated with the user;

computer usable program code configured to receive, from a communication system, a notification of an incoming communication directed to a first communication address associated with the first communication device;

computer usable program code configured to identify an intended recipient of the communication according to the first communication address, wherein the intended recipient is associated with the RFID tag;

computer usable program code configured to determine a communication address for the second communication device; and

computer usable program code configured to instruct the communication system to route the communication to the communication address for the second communication device.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein the second communication device is a printer, wherein the computer usable program code configured to initiate a programmatic action further comprises:

computer usable program code configured to queue a print job originated by the user while the RFID tag is not proximate to the printer; and

computer usable program code configured to release the print job when the RFID tag is proximate to the printer.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , further comprising computer usable program code configured to delete the print job from a print queue if the RFID tag is not proximate to the printer within a predetermined amount of time from when the print job originated.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the computer usable program code configured to initiate a programmatic action further comprises computer usable program code configured to log the user into the second communication device.

10. The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising computer usable program code configured to cause the user to be logged off of the first communication device.

Continuity (2)
Division 11539870 · Oct 9, 2006
Related Publication 20110279243A1 · Nov 17, 2011