# US 11,310,134 B2 · Method and system for tracking device inventory and utilization > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,310,134 B2 - Document ID: US11310134B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/816,935 - Filed: 2020-03-12 - Published: 2021-09-16 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-12 - Assignees: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. - Applicants: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. - Inventors: Gina Manacci; Simon Lane; David Anselmo; Alpa Stamp; Jonathan M Baum; Chetan Trikha; Jerome Rulewicz, Jr.; Rakesh Bhola; Nick Rosenberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310134B2 ## CPC - H04L 43/0805: by checking availability - H04L 43/06: Generation of reports - H04L 43/065: related to network devices - H04L 43/0817: by checking functioning - H04L 67/52: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal - H04L 67/535: {Tracking the activity of the user (network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34)} - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - H04W 4/33: for indoor environments, e.g. buildings - H04W 8/22: Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities - H04W 8/24: Transfer of terminal data - H04W 16/18: Network planning tools - H04W 24/08: Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic - H04W 64/003: {locating network equipment} - H04L 2101/622: Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method and a computing apparatus for tracking device utilization are provided. The method includes: obtaining first data that relates to a physical location of a device; obtaining second data that relates to network switch information of the device; obtaining third data that relates to a network activity performed by using the device; using each of the first data, second data, and third data to determine a utilization of the device; and outputting a result of the determination. The first data may include a building identification, a floor number, and/or a seat identification. The second data may include a switch host name, card information, and/or port information. The third data may include a management system into which the device is logged in. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for tracking device utilization, the method being implemented by at least one processor, the method comprising: obtaining first data that relates to a respective physical location of each of a plurality of devices within a first area; obtaining second data that relates to respective network switch information of each of the plurality of devices within the first area; obtaining third data that relates to a respective network activity being actively performed by using each of the plurality of devices within the first area; using each of the first data, second data, and third data to determine a respective utilization of each of the plurality of devices within the first area that indicates at least one from among a frequency of usage of each of the plurality of devices within the first area and a usage availability of each of the plurality of devices within the first area that includes a total number of devices contained in an inventory of the plurality of devices and a number of unassigned devices within the inventory of the plurality of devices; and outputting a result of the determination that includes a complete mapping of an infrastructure of the first area that includes a number of devices included in the plurality of devices, a number of devices from among the plurality of devices that are assigned to a desk, and a number of devices from among the plurality of devices that are unassigned to a desk. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first data includes at least one of a building identification, a floor number, and a seat identification. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second data includes at least one of a switch host name, card information that relates to a first seat, and port information that relates to the first seat. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an occupancy of a first area based at least in part on the determined utilization. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a space availability with respect to a first space based at least in part on the determined utilization; and outputting information relating to the determined space availability and information relating to a technology associated with the first space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: performing a Media Access Control (MAC) scan in order to collect at least one of a workstation number, a telephone identifier, a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) identifier, a laptop identifier, a desktop identifier, a video conference device identifier, and a network device identifier; and using the collected at least one of the workstation number, telephone identifier, VDI identifier, laptop identifier, desktop identifier, video conference device identifier, and network device identifier to obtain the second data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining the third data comprises determining each of at least one management system into which the device is logged in. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising using a security identification (SID) associated with a user together with the obtained third data in order to determine the user of the device. ### Claim 9 A computing apparatus for tracking device utilization, the computing apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory; and a communication interface coupled to each of the processor and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to: obtain first data that relates to a respective physical location of each of a plurality of devices within a first area; obtain second data that relates to respective network switch information of each of the plurality of devices within the first area; obtain third data that relates to a respective network activity being actively performed by using each of the plurality of devices within the first area; use each of the first data, second data, and third data to determine a respective utilization of each of the plurality of devices within the first area that indicates at least one from among a frequency of usage of each of the plurality of devices and a usage availability of each of the plurality of devices that includes a total number of devices contained in an inventory of the plurality of devices and a number of unassigned devices within the inventory of the plurality of devices; and output, via the communication interface, a result of the determination that includes a complete mapping of an infrastructure of the first area that includes a number of devices included in the plurality of devices, a number of devices from among the plurality of devices that are assigned to a desk, and a number of devices from among the plurality of devices that are unassigned to a desk. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first data includes at least one of a building identification, a floor number, and a seat identification. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second data includes at least one of a switch host name, card information that relates to a first seat, and port information that relates to the first seat. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an occupancy of a first area based at least in part on the determined utilization. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine a space availability with respect to a first space based at least in part on the determined utilization; and output, via the communication interface, information relating to the determined space availability and information relating to a technology associated with the first space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: perform a Media Access Control (MAC) scan in order to collect at least one of a workstation number, a telephone identifier, a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) identifier, a laptop identifier, a desktop identifier, a video conference device identifier, and a network device identifier; and use the collected at least one of the workstation number, telephone identifier, VDI identifier, laptop identifier, desktop identifier, video conference device identifier, and network device identifier to obtain the second data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain the third data by determining each of at least one management system into which the device is logged in. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to use a security identification (SID) associated with a user together with the obtained third data in order to determine the user of the device.