IP Library Granted Patent US 10,254,736
Granted Patent B2
US 10,254,736 · App. 15/700,110 · Granted Apr 9, 2019

Generating and tracking unique identifiers for programmable mobile machines

Inventors: Scott C. Wiley (Los Altos, CA); Michael Epstein (Danville, CA)
Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
G05B19/05G06K9/00496G05B19/048
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,254,736
App. No.
15/700,110
Granted
Apr 9, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for generating unique identifiers for programmable mobile machines may include (1) receiving data for generating a unique signature and (2) generating the unique signature based on the data. The unique signature may identify a programmable mobile machine from among a group of programmable mobile machines within a machine environment. A corresponding method for tracking unique identifiers for programmable mobile machines may include (1) receiving a unique signature generated by a programmable mobile machine, (2) associating the unique signature with metrics, in a database, that correspond to identification data for each of a group of programmable mobile machines, and (3) determining an identity of the programmable mobile machine based on the unique signature matching at least one of the metrics in the database. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Claims (55)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a programmable mobile machine comprising at least one physical processor and at least one memory device, data including instructions for generating a unique signature; and

generating, on the programmable mobile machine, the unique signature based on the instructions, wherein the unique signature comprises an identifier that identifies the programmable mobile machine from among a plurality of programmable mobile machines within a machine environment based on one or more detectable characteristics associated with the programmable mobile machine, wherein the identifier comprises an intrinsic pattern created by the programmable mobile machine.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more detectable characteristics comprises at least one of physical or ephemeral characteristics associated with the programmable mobile machine.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the physical or ephemeral characteristics comprises at least one of:

a tire tread pattern;

a synthetic fingerprint pattern;

a chemical formulation pattern; or

a symbol pattern.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the physical or ephemeral characteristics comprises at least one of:

a vibration pattern;

an acoustic pattern;

a temperature pattern;

a pressure pattern;

a light wave pattern;

a radiation pattern;

a chemical exhaust pattern; or

a wireless signal frequency pattern.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, from the programmable mobile machine, the unique signature to a detector.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

the detector comprises a primary programmable mobile machine within a group of programmable mobile machines; and

the programmable mobile machine comprises an assistant programmable mobile machine within the group of programmable mobile machines.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the detector comprises a computing device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the programmable mobile machine comprises a robot.

9. A system comprising:

a generation module that:

receives, by a programmable mobile machine comprising at least one physical processor and at least one memory device, data including instructions for generating a unique signature; and

generates, on the programmable mobile machine, the unique signature based on the instructions, wherein the unique signature comprises an identifier that identifies the programmable mobile machine from among a plurality of programmable mobile machines within a machine environment based on one or more detectable characteristics associated with the programmable mobile machine, wherein the identifier comprises an intrinsic pattern created by the programmable mobile machine.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more detectable characteristics comprises at least one of physical or ephemeral characteristics associated with the programmable mobile machine.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the physical or ephemeral characteristics

comprises at least one of:

a tire tread pattern;

a synthetic fingerprint pattern;

a chemical formulation pattern; or

a symbol pattern.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the physical or ephemeral characteristics comprises at least one of:

a vibration pattern;

an acoustic pattern;

a temperature pattern;

a pressure pattern;

a light wave pattern;

a radiation pattern;

a chemical exhaust pattern; or

a wireless signal frequency pattern.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the programmable mobile machine sends the unique signature to a detector.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the detector comprises a primary programmable mobile machine within a group of programmable mobile machines.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the programmable mobile machine comprises an assistant programmable mobile machine within a group of programmable mobile machines.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the detector comprises a computing device.

17. The system of claim 9 , wherein the programmable mobile machine comprises a robot.

18. A method comprising:

receiving, by a programmable mobile machine comprising at least one physical processor and at least one memory device, data including instructions for generating a unique signature;

generating, on the programmable mobile machine, the unique signature based on the instructions, wherein the unique signature comprises an identifier that identifies the programmable mobile machine from among a plurality of programmable mobile machines within a machine environment based on one or more detectable characteristics associated with the programmable mobile machine, wherein the identifier comprises an intrinsic pattern created by the programmable mobile machine; and

sending, from the programmable mobile machine, the unique signature to a detector.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more detectable characteristics comprises at least one of physical or ephemeral characteristics associated with the programmable mobile machine.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the detector comprises a primary programmable mobile machine within a group of programmable mobile machines.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 27, 2022
From: FACEBOOK, INC.
To: META PLATFORMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058871/0336 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2017
From: WILEY, SCOTT C.; EPSTEIN, MICHAEL
To: FACEBOOK, INC.
Reel/Frame 043581/0323 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190079484A1 · Mar 14, 2019