# US 10,313,340 B2 · Method and system for tracking an electronic device at an electronic device docking station

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,313,340 B2
- Document ID: US10313340B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/938,089
- Filed: 2018-03-28
- Published: 2018-08-02
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-16
- Assignees: Hand Held Products, Inc.
- Applicants: Hand Held Products, Inc.
- Inventors: Matthew Wolski; Eric P. Mielke
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10313340B2

## CPC

- H04L 63/0861: {using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231)}
- G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations}
- H04L 63/083: {using passwords (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226)}
- H04L 63/10: {for controlling access to devices or network resources}
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04M 1/04: Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
- H04W 12/47: using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

A system and method for identifying an electronic device user and tracking the electronic device at a docking station is provided. The system includes a CPU, a database containing data corresponding to individual device users, a user identification station, and docking stations. The CPU has access to the database and is communicatively linked to the user identification station and the docking stations. The docking stations have indicators. A device user has an identifying feature corresponding to data for the user in the database. The user identification station is configured to sense the identifying feature of the device user and send this information to the CPU. The CPU is configured to compare the information on the identifying feature to data in the database, and if matching, to instruct one of the docking stations to activate the indicator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system, comprising:
a database comprising identification data corresponding to device users;
a docking station comprising:
first electrical contacts corresponding to a port of an electronic device for transferring data and power to the electronic device; and
a first indicator;
a user identification station configured to:
sense an identifying feature on a device user;
transmit information corresponding to the sensed identifying feature to a central processing unit;
the central processing unit configured to:
compare the information transmitted by the user identification system to identification data in the database; and
instruct the docking station to activate the first indicator based on the identification data in the database that corresponds to the information transmitted by the user identification system;
wherein the docking station is configured to:
activate the first indicator in response the instructions from the docking station to activate the first indicator; and
transmit docking information to the central processing unit; and
wherein the central processing unit is configured to transmit timestamps to the database based on the docking information transmitted by the docking station.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the user identification station is configured to sense the identifying feature of the device user based upon the device user making a specific gesture in proximity to the user identification station.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the user identification station is configured to sense the identifying feature of the device user based upon the device user touching the user identification station, entering a pin number on a keypad on the user identification station, swiping an id card in proximity to a card reader on the user identification station, sending a wireless signal from an electronic device to the user identification station, and/or submitting to a biometric scan by a biometric scanner on the user identification station.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the user identification station is configured to sense the identifying feature of the device user based upon a retinal scan.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the docking station comprises second electrical contacts corresponding to a port of an electronic device for transferring data and power to the electronic device and a second indicator; and
the central processing unit is configured to:
compare the information transmitted by the user identification system to identification data in the database; and
instruct the docking station to activate the first indicator or the second indicator based on:
the identification data in the database that corresponds to the information transmitted by the user identification system;
the charge status of an electronic device connected to the first electrical contacts as compared to the charge status of an electronic device connected to the second electrical contacts; and/or
applications loaded onto an electronic device connected to the first electrical contacts as compared to applications loaded onto an electronic device connected to the second electrical contacts.

### Claim 6

A method, comprising:
sensing an identifying feature on a device user;
comparing information corresponding to the sensed identifying feature to data in a database;
based on the data in the database, activating a first indicator on a docking station having first electrical contacts corresponding to a port of an electronic device for transferring data and power to the electronic device, the activated first indicator being configured to indicate to the device user that the electronic device is assigned to the device user; and
updating the database with timestamps based on docking information from the docking station.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, comprising, based on the data in the database, activating a second indicator on the docking station corresponding to second electrical contacts on the docking station.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, comprising activating the first indicator or a second indicator on the docking station corresponding to second electrical contacts on the docking station based on:
the identification data in the database that corresponds to the information transmitted by the user identification system;
the charge status of an electronic device connected to the first electrical contacts as compared to the charge status of an electronic device connected to the second electrical contacts; and/or
applications loaded onto an electronic device connected to the first electrical contacts as compared to applications loaded onto an electronic device connected to the second electrical contacts.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein sensing an identifying feature on a device user comprises sensing a device user making a specific gesture in proximity to a user identification station.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein sensing an identifying feature on a device user comprises:
sensing a device user touching a user identification station;
sensing a device user entering a pin number on a keypad;
sensing a device user swiping an id card in proximity to a card reader;
sensing a wireless signal from an electronic device; and/or;
biometrically scanning a device user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein sensing an identifying feature on a device user comprises performing a retinal scan on a device user.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, comprising, based on the data in the database and the information corresponding to the sensed identifying feature, activating a security mechanism on the docking station.

### Claim 13

A system, comprising:
a central processing unit configured for:
sensing an identifying feature on a device user;
comparing information corresponding to the sensed identifying feature to data in a database;
based on the data in the database, activating a first indicator on a docking station having first electrical contacts corresponding to a port of an electronic device for transferring data and power to the electronic device, the activated first indicator being configured to indicate to the device user that the electronic device is assigned to the device user; and
updating the database with timestamps based on docking information from the docking station.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit is configured for, based on the data in the database, activating a second indicator on the docking station corresponding to second electrical contacts on the docking station.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit is configured for, activating the first indicator or a second indicator on the docking station corresponding to second electrical contacts on the docking station based on:
the identification data in the database that corresponds to the information transmitted by the user identification system;
the charge status of an electronic device connected to the first electrical contacts as compared to the charge status of an electronic device connected to the second electrical contacts; and/or
applications loaded onto an electronic device connected to the first electrical contacts as compared to applications loaded onto an electronic device connected to the second electrical contacts.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit is configured for sensing an identifying feature on a device user by sensing a device user making a specific gesture in proximity to a user identification station.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit is configured for sensing an identifying feature on a device user by:
sensing a device user touching a user identification station;
sensing a device user entering a pin number on a keypad;
sensing a device user swiping an id card in proximity to a card reader;
sensing a wireless signal from an electronic device; and/or;
biometrically scanning a device user.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit is configured for sensing an identifying feature on a device user by performing a retinal scan on a device user.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit is configured for, based on the data in the database and the information corresponding to the sensed identifying feature, activating a security mechanism on the docking station.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, comprising:
a user identification station, wherein the central processing unit is configured for sensing an identifying feature on a device user with the user identification station;
the database; and
the docking station.