Apparatus, system and method for sharing tangible objects

A method of providing cloud-based managed services to support deployment of shared tangible objects by operators including a first operator responsible for a first type of shared tangible object and a second operator responsible for a second type of shared tangible object, the cloud-based managed services provided by a system administrator and including field support of the shared tangible objects by field support personnel provided by the system administrator, the managed services including an inventory management module and a database coupled to the inventory management module, the shared tangible objects employed by end users, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the inventory management module, information from the field support personnel concerning, for each of the first type of shared tangible object and the second type of shared tangible object, respectively, at least one of an operating condition of the shared tangible objects and location information of the shared tangible objects, the information stored in the database;
• maintaining, by the system administrator, the database with the at least one of the operating condition and the location information provided by the field support personnel;
• permitting access to the inventory management module by the first operator responsible for the first type of shared tangible object;
• permitting access to the inventory management module by the second operator responsible for the second type of shared tangible object;
• providing, by the system administrator for each of the first type of shared tangible object and the second type of shared tangible object, respectively, a device activation module included in the cloud resources, the device activation module configured to process information concerning the end users to determine whether activation of the shared tangible objects should be authorized for use by a selected end user;
• providing, by the system administrator for each of the first type of shared tangible object and the second type of shared tangible object, respectively, a sharable-object command module included in the cloud resources, the sharable-object command module configured to communicate signals employed in activating the shared tangible objects for use when an end user is successfully authorized by the device activation module;
• and
• providing, by the system administrator for each of the first type of shared tangible object and the second type of shared tangible object, respectively, an API configured to facilitate communication between the shared tangible objects and the sharable-object command module, the communication including communication of object activation signals,
• wherein the first operator and the second operator are different than the system administrator responsible for the cloud-based managed services.

A system configured to provide managed services for deployment of shared tangible objects by operators, the managed services provided by a system administrator and including field support of the shared tangible objects, the system administrator different than the operators, the shared tangible objects employed by end users, the system comprising:

• cloud resources provided by the system administrator, the cloud resources including:
• an inventory management module configured to be remotely accessed by field support personnel, the field support personnel providing the inventory management module with information concerning a location and an operating condition of the shared tangible objects, the inventory management module accessible to the operators;
• a device activation module configured to process information concerning the end users to determine whether activation of the shared object should be authorized for use by a selected end user;
• a sharable-object command module configured to communicate signals employed in activating shared tangible objects for use when the end user is successfully authorized by the device activation module;
• and
• a database coupled to the inventory management module, the database configured to store the location and operating condition of the shared tangible objects provided via the field support personnel;
• and
• an API provided by the system administrator, the API configured to facilitate a communication of object activation signals from the sharable-object command module to at least one of a client device and the shared tangible object to allow the end user to use the shared tangible object,
• wherein the shared tangible objects are configured to be employed by a plurality of different users at different times, respectively,
• wherein the client device includes a mobile device employed by the end user,
• wherein the API is configured to facilitate communication of the object activation signals to the mobile device,
• wherein the object activation signals include a first object activation signal communicated from the sharable-object command module to the mobile device, and
• wherein a second object activation signal is communicated from the mobile device to the shared tangible object following a receipt of the first object activation signal by the mobile device.

A system configured to provide managed services for deployment of shared tangible objects by operators, the managed services provided by a system administrator and including field support of the shared tangible objects, the system administrator different than the operators, the shared tangible objects employed by end users, the system comprising:

• cloud resources provided by the system administrator, the cloud resources including:
• an inventory management module configured to be remotely accessed by field support personnel, the field support personnel providing the inventory management module with information concerning a location and an operating condition of the shared tangible objects, the inventory management module accessible to the operators;
• a device activation module configured to process information concerning the end users to determine whether activation of the shared object should be authorized for use by a selected end user;
• a sharable-object command module configured to communicate signals employed in activating shared tangible objects for use when the end user is successfully authorized by the device activation module;
• and
• a database coupled to the inventory management module, the database configured to store the location and operating condition of the shared tangible objects provided via the field support personnel;
• and
• an API provided by the system administrator, the API configured to facilitate a communication of object activation signals from the sharable-object command module to at least one of a client device and the shared tangible object to allow the end user to use the shared tangible object,
• wherein the shared tangible objects are configured to be employed by a plurality of different users at different times, respectively, and
• wherein the API is a first API, and wherein the system further comprises a second API provided by the system administrator, the second API configured to facilitate a receipt of authentication information for end users via credentials already established for the end users, respectively, with the operator.