Low-cost high-fidelity asset tracking in data center facilities
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsNissanka Arachchige Bodhi Priyantha, Jie Liu, Dimitrios Lymberopoulos, Mari Hern, Kevin Timmons
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, an activation unit may render a passive radio frequency identification tag visible to a tracking infrastructure. A radio frequency identification reader may read at close range a passive radio frequency identification tag 304 attached to a server 302. A controller may create an active radio frequency signal for the server 302. A radio antenna may transmit the active radio frequency signal to a position infrastructure node 160.
Claims20
A machine-implemented method for identifying a server, comprising:
- reading at close range a passive radio frequency identification tag attached to the server;
- creating an active radio frequency signal representing the server;
- and
- transmitting the active radio frequency signal to a position infrastructure node.
A snap-on wireless mote, comprising:
- a snap-on connector that attaches to a server;
- a radio frequency antenna that reads at close range a passive radio frequency identification tag attached to the server;
- and
- a radio that transmits an active radio frequency signal representing the server to a position infrastructure node.
A rack mounted server identifier, comprising:
- a rack mounted reader strip that reads at close range a passive radio frequency identification tag attached to a server;
- and
- a rack mounted antenna that transmits an active radio frequency signal representing the server to a position infrastructure node.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.