Asset guardian

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9813408-B2
Application number	US-201414309250-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2014
Priority date	Jun 19, 2014
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

An asset guardian system may comprise a server including a processor with memory and a database. The processor may be configured to receive asset information regarding a plurality of assets and update the database with the received asset information. A mobile device may be configured to change at least one of the assets from a disabled condition to an enabled condition in response to an asset code from the server. At least one of the plurality of assets may be configured to authenticate the asset code and register the asset code with the server thereby updating the asset information on the database. At least one of the plurality of assets may further be configured to be operatively paired with a respective socket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An asset guardian system, comprising:
a server including a server processor with server memory configured to store registered asset information including an asset code and an asset location;
an asset guardian program configured to communicate the registered asset information including the asset code and asset location; and
at least one asset including an asset processor and asset memory with local asset information, the asset processor configured to receive the asset code and asset location by way of the at least one asset being plugged into a power receptacle of a power socket having a power line transceiver in communication with the server by way of the asset guardian program and authenticate that the asset code and asset location according to the server matches the local asset information according to the at least one asset,
wherein the at least one asset is communicatively connected to the power socket having the power line transceiver in connection with a power-line network to authorize, with the server, a pairing between the at least one asset and the power socket, and
wherein the at least one asset is configured to change, based on the authentication of the asset code and asset location from the power socket, between a disabled condition with at least partially disabled power to inhibit use while monitoring and maintaining contents of the at least one asset and an enabled condition with full power.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a mobile device configured to provide the asset code, using the asset guardian program, to the at least one asset.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one asset includes an asset transceiver configured to send an updated asset location to the server, wherein the server is configured to update the registered asset information with the updated asset location.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one asset includes an asset transceiver configured to wirelessly receive the asset code and transmit an authenticated asset code to the server.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one asset is configured to communicatively connect to the power socket, wherein the asset code is received from the power line transceiver of the power socket.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one asset includes an asset transceiver configured to communicate, by the power line transceiver of the power socket, a health check to the server in response to being connected to the power-line network.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one asset communicates the authenticated asset code to the server.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the asset information is configured to be encrypted by the server using a secure key class and is unencrypted by the asset with a key as part of the asset memory.

9. An asset guardian device, comprising:
an asset having an asset processor and asset memory with local asset information, the asset processor being configured to receive registered asset information including an asset code and an asset location by way of the asset being plugged into a power receptacle of a power socket having a power line transceiver in communication with a server and authenticate that the asset code and asset location according to the server matches the local asset information according to the asset; and
an asset transceiver operatively connected to the asset processor and configured to send confirmation of the authenticated asset code and asset location to the server,
wherein the asset is communicatively connected to the power socket having the power line transceiver in connection with a power-line network to authorize, with the server, a pairing between the asset and the power socket, and
wherein the asset processor is configured to change, based on the authentication of the asset code and asset location from the power socket, the asset between a disabled condition with at least partially disabled power to inhibit use while monitoring and maintaining contents of the at least one asset and an enabled condition with full power.

10. The device of claim 9 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect movement of the asset relative to a movement threshold, wherein the asset transceiver is configured to send an indication of the detected movement to the server in response to the movement threshold being met.

11. The device of claim 9 , further comprising a power supply configured to provide power to the asset in response to the authenticated asset code.

12. The device of claim 9 , further comprising a power supply configured to reduce or limit power provided to the asset in response to a notification that the asset has been changed between the enabled condition and the disabled condition.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein an updated asset location of the asset is determined by the asset transceiver and transmitted to the server.

14. The device of claim 9 , wherein an updated asset location of the asset is determined by a global positioning system of a mobile device in proximity to the asset.

15. The device of claim 9 , wherein the power socket is configured to provide the asset code to the asset and provide power to the asset in response to authentication of the asset code.

16. The device of claim 9 , wherein the asset transceiver is configured to receive the asset code from a radio-frequency network with a mobile device and send the authenticated asset code to the server with a cellular network.

17. The device of claim 9 , wherein the asset transceiver is configured to communicate, by the power line transceiver of the power socket, a health check to the server in response being connected to the power-line network.

18. The device of claim 9 , wherein the asset transceiver is configured to communicate a health check to at least one wireless router of a Wi-Fi network.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium tangibly embodying computer-executable instructions of a software program, the software program being executable by a processor of a computing device to provide operations comprising:
receiving, by way of at least one asset being plugged into a power receptacle of at least one power socket with a power line transceiver in communication with a server including a processor and a database, asset information including an asset code and an asset location regarding the at least one asset from the at least one power socket, wherein the at least one asset is communicatively connected to the at least one power socket having the power line transceiver in connection with a power-line network to authorize a pairing between the at least one asset and the at least one power socket;
updating part of the database with asset information received by the server;
providing the asset code and asset location to the at least one asset having an asset processor and asset memory with local asset information, the asset processor being configured to authenticate that the asset code and asset location from the server matches the local asset information; and
changing, based on authentication of the asset code and asset location from the at least one power socket, the at least one asset, between a disabled condition with at least partially disabled power to inhibit use while monitoring and maintaining contents of the at least one asset and an enabled condition with full power.

20. The medium of claim 19 , further comprising: providing a notification to a user in response to the at least one asset being changed between the enabled conditi

Assignees

• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Hefter Jesse
• Chan Victor D

Classifications

• H04W12/06

  Authentication · CPC title

• H04L63/0428

  wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload · CPC title

• H04L63/083 Primary

  using passwords (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226) · CPC title

• G06F21/88

  Detecting or preventing theft or loss · CPC title

• H04L63/08

  for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32) · CPC title