IP Library Granted Patent US 10,740,579
Granted Patent B2
US 10,740,579 · App. 15/480,517 · Granted Aug 11, 2020

Methods, systems, and products for tracking objects

Inventors: Robert A. Koch (Norcross, GA); Barrett Kreiner (Norcross, GA)
Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
G06K7/10386G06Q10/08G06Q10/087G06Q10/0833G06Q30/02G06Q30/0207G06Q30/06G08B21/0275G08B21/24H04M1/7253
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,740,579
App. No.
15/480,517
Granted
Aug 11, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Tags are used to recover lost objects. Each tag transmits identification information to passing communications devices, such as a cellular phone. The cellular phone then uploads the tag's identification information, along with a location, to a central network database. The central network database thus stores a central repository identifying locations associated with tags discovered by passing communications devices.

Claims (40)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a server, a locational request requesting a location associated with a tag;

determining, by the server, that the location associated with the tag is unknown;

identifying, by the server, a policy specifying a cellular device that searches for the tag;

sending, by the server, a search instruction to the cellular device, the search instruction instructing the cellular device to search for the tag;

receiving, by the server, a response from the cellular device instructed to search for the tag; and

determining, by the server, the location associated with the tag based on the response received from the cellular device instructed to search for the tag.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a locational response to the locational request, the locational response specifying the location associated with the tag.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the location associated with the tag.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the location associated with the tag in a database.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding an entry to a database, the entry associating the location with the tag.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing a time associated with the location.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a description associated with the tag.

8. A system, comprising:

a hardware processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing code, the code when executed causing the hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a locational request requesting a location associated with a tag;

determining that the location associated with the tag is unknown;

identifying a policy specifying a cellular device that searches for the tag;

sending a search instruction to the cellular device, the search instruction instructing the cellular device to search for the tag;

receiving a response from the cellular device instructed to search for the tag; and

determining the location associated with the tag based on the response received from the cellular device locating the tag.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a locational response to the locational request, the locational response specifying the location associated with the tag.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise storing the location associated with the tag.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise storing the location associated with the tag in a database.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise adding an entry to a database, the entry associating the location with the tag.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise storing a time associated with the location.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a description associated with the tag.

15. A memory device storing executable instructions that when executed cause a hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a locational request requesting a location associated with a tag;

determining that the location associated with the tag is unknown;

identifying a cellular device that searches for the tag;

sending a search instruction to the cellular device, the search instruction instructing the cellular device to search for the tag;

receiving a response from the cellular device instructed to search for the tag; and

determining the location associated with the tag based on the response received from the cellular device locating the tag.

16. The memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a locational response to the locational request, the locational response specifying the location associated with the tag.

17. The memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise storing the location associated with the tag.

18. The memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise storing the location associated with the tag in a database.

19. The memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise adding an entry to a database, the entry associating the location with the tag.

20. The memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise storing a time associated with the location.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2017
From: KOCH, ROBERT; KREINER, BARRETT
To: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041883/0357 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2017
From: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 041883/0548 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 6, 2017
From: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 042174/0567 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 6, 2017
From: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 042174/0784 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 6, 2017
From: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 042175/0138 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 14334721 · Jul 18, 2014
Continuation 12202517 · Sep 2, 2008
Continuation 11903818 · Sep 25, 2007
Continuation 11122342 · May 5, 2005
Continuation In Part 10283099 · Oct 30, 2002
Related Publication 20170213059A1 · Jul 27, 2017