# US 9,436,885 B2 · Determining a computer's position and system for manufacturing a tag

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- Number: US 9,436,885 B2
- Document ID: US9436885B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/558,969
- Filed: 2012-07-26
- Published: 2013-01-31
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-28
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: Yan Li; Hai Bo Lin; Tao Liu; Yu Dong Yang; Yi Xin Zhao
- Inventors: Yan Li; Hai Bo Lin; Tao Liu; Yu Dong Yang; Yi Xin Zhao
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436885B2

## CPC

- G06V 30/144: using a slot moved over the image; using discrete sensing elements at predetermined points; using automatic curve following means
- G06K 1/121: {by printing code marks (applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26)}
- G06K 7/1439: {including a method step for retrieval of the optical code}
- G06V 10/25: Determination of region of interest [ROI] or a volume of interest [VOI]
- H05K 7/18: Construction of rack or frame
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

## Abstract

A system and method for accurately positioning a computer position, and identifying the specific rack position where the computer is without manual intervention. A camera is installed on the computer to read the contents of a tag on the rack, so as to identify the position information of the computer. Specifically, the computer is provided with a self-positioning function, wherein: a camera is installed on the computer, and the camera is configured to read the contents of a tag attached on a side of a rack to house the computer to identify the rack position where the computer is.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer with a self-position determining function, the computer comprising:
a camera installed on the computer, the camera being configured to read a contents of a tag attached on one side of a rack which houses the computer to identify a rack position where the computer is;
wherein the computer is configured to transmit the contents of the tag read by the camera and an identification of the computer to a management computer; and
wherein the camera is directly integrated with a mainboard of the computer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer of claim 1, wherein the camera is installed on one side of the computer opposite to the one side of the rack, and a bottom side of a lens of the camera is parallel to the one side of the computer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The computer of claim 1, the computer being further configured to perform image recognition on the contents of the tag read by the camera, and to transmit the recognized contents to the management computer together with the identification of the computer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The computer of claim 1, further comprising a lighting device installed around the camera, wherein the lighting device is configured to provide a light source for the camera in a condition of insufficient light.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer of claim 1, wherein the contents of the tag include redundant information.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The computer of claim 1, wherein the camera is controlled by software.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The computer of claim 1, wherein the camera is controlled by hardware logic programming on the mainboard.

### Claim 8

A computer program product for determining a position of a computer on a rack, the computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory storage device readable by a processor and storing instructions for operation by the processor for performing a method comprising:
turning on a camera on the computer;
using the camera to read a contents of a tag attached on one side of the rack which houses the computer to identify a rack position where the computer is; and
transmitting the read contents of the tag and an identification of the computer to a management computer;
wherein the camera is directly integrated with a mainboard of the computer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:
turning on a lighting device around the camera in a condition of insufficient light to provide a light source for the camera.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:
performing image recognition on the contents of the tag read by the camera, and
transmitting the recognized contents with the identification of the computer to the management computer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:
recording a timestamp of reading the contents of the tag.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the camera is controlled by software.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the camera is controlled by hardware logic programming on the mainboard.