Method and system 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 plurality of shared tangible object and a second operator responsible for a second plurality of shared tangible object, the cloud-based managed services provided by a system administrator, the managed services including an 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 plurality of shared tangible object and the second plurality 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;
• permitting access to the inventory management module by the first operator responsible for the first plurality of shared tangible object;
• permitting access to the inventory management module by the second operator responsible for the second plurality of shared tangible object;
• providing, by the system administrator for each of the first plurality of shared tangible object and the second plurality 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 to use the shared tangible object;
• and
• providing, by the system administrator for each of the first plurality of shared tangible object and the second plurality 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 a plurality of shared tangible objects including a first type of shared tangible object deployed by a first operator and a second type of shared tangible object by deployed by a second operator, the managed services provided by a system administrator, the system administrator different than both the first operator and the second operator, the plurality of shared tangible objects employed by a plurality of end users, the system comprising:

• cloud resources provided by the system administrator, the cloud resources including:
• a policy engine accessible to each of the first operator and the second operator, the policy engine configured to allow the first operator to establish a first set of terms under which the plurality of end users access the first type of shared tangible object for use, and to allow the second operator to establish a second set of terms under which the plurality of end users access the second type of shared tangible object for use;
• an inventory management module configured to be accessible to the operators to identify at least one of an operating condition and a location of the plurality of shared tangible objects;
• a device activation module configured to process information concerning the end users to determine whether activation of a selected one of the plurality of shared tangible objects should be authorized for use when selected by an end user included in the plurality of end users;
• and
• a sharable-object command module configured to communicate an object activation signal employed in activating the selected one of the plurality of shared tangible objects for use when the end user is successfully authorized by the device activation module, the object activation signal communicated to a mobile device in possession of the end user;
• and
• wherein the plurality of shared tangible objects are configured to be employed by a plurality of different end users at different times, respectively,
• wherein the second type of shared tangible object is different than the first type of shared tangible object,
• wherein the object activation signal 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 selected one of the plurality of shared tangible object following a receipt of the first object activation signal by the mobile device.