US007457250B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Austermann III et a].
`
`a
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`45 Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,457,250 B2
`*Nov. 25 2008
`
`a
`
`(54) SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING WITH
`ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`
`42 03 304 A1
`
`8/1992
`
`(75) Inventors: John F Austermann, III, Huntington
`Woods, MI (US); Marshall B
`Cummings, Troy, MI (US)
`(73) Assignee: ChriMar Systems, Inc., Farmington
`Hills, MI (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`C1aimer_
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/668,708
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Sep. 23, 2003
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`Apr‘ 1’ 2004
`Us 2004/0062203 A1
`Related U‘s- Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 09/370,430, ?led on
`Aug. 9, 1999, noW Pat. No. 6,650,622, Which is a
`continuation-in-part of application No. PCT/US99/
`07846, ?led on Apr. 8, 1999.
`(60) Provisional application NO‘ 60/081,279’ ?led on Apr‘
`10 1998
`’
`'
`
`(51) Int.Cl.
`
`H04L 12/12
`
`G08B 13/14
`
`(200601)
`
`(2006.01)
`
`370/241, 370/445, 340/568.1
`(52) US. Cl. ...... .... ......
`(58) Field of ‘Classi?cation Search ............. ... ..... .. None
`See apphcanon ?le for Complete Search hlstory'
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,359,379 A 12/1967 Pullum et a1.
`(Continued)
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`lgit/lacinierigggodule Gulde for the IBM Token-Ring Network ’
`’ p'
`'
`
`P 1’ imary Examinerichi H- Pham
`Assistant ExamineriSoon D. Hyun
`y g
`y
`74 Allorne , A enl, 0r FirmiHarness, Dicke & Pierce,
`P.L.C.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`In accordance With the teachings of the present invention, a
`communication system (17) is provided for generating and
`momtonng data over pre-existing conductors (2A-2D)
`betWeen associated pieces of networked computer equipment
`(3A-3D). The system includes a communication device (16)
`attached to the electronic equipment that transmits informa
`tion to a central module (15) by impressing a loW frequency
`signal on the pre-existing data lines of the remotely located
`equipment. Areceiver (6) 1n the central'module (15)mon1tors
`the loW frequency data on the data lines to determine the
`transmitted information of the electronic equipment. The
`communication ev1ce ma a so e oWere
`a oW current
`'
`'
`d '
`y 1
`b P
`dby 1
`
`poviller signal from the gentral module (1‘5).1;1fhe powgr signal
`to t e communication ev1ce may a so e uctuate to pro
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`v1de useful information, such as status information, to the
`Communication device‘ Relocation of the electronic equip
`mem With attached Communication device to anotherlocation
`on the network is detected immediately and may be used to
`update a database. This invention is particularly adapted to be
`used With an existing Ethernet communications link or
`equivalents thereof.
`
`126 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`HUB
`
`J 51.0mm:
`
`STATUS DATA
`ENCODER
`
`ISOLATION
`POI/ER
`SUPPLY
`
`6
`
`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-1
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`US 7,457,250 B2
`Page2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,407,400 A 10/1968 Lurie ....................... .. 340/517
`3,408,643 A 10/1968 Sliman
`- 340/5681
`3,425,050 A
`1/1969 Tellerman etal.
`340/571
`3,537,095 A 10/1970 Cones --------- -
`340/517
`- 340/870'2
`3,659,277 A
`4/1972 Brown
`3,696,378 A 10/1972 Dan1el ......... ..
`. 340/568.2
`3,697,984 A 10/1972 Atkinson etal -
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`3,794,989 A
`2/1974 Manley eta1~
`340/517
`3,836,901 A
`9/1974 Matto etal. ............... .. 340/522
`3,863,036 A
`l/1975 Mccrudden
`3,932,857 A
`V1976 Way eta1~ -------------- -- 340/5681
`4,024,359 A
`5/1977 De Marco et a1. .
`379/22.02
`4,024,360 A
`5/1977 Biraghietal
`370/200
`4,063,220 A 12/1977 Metcalfe eta1~ ----------- -~ 370/462
`4,121,201 A 10/1978 Weathers
`4,156,799 A
`5/1979 Cave
`4,173,714 A 11/1979 Bloch etal. ............... .. 370/200
`4230912 A 10/1980 Lee etal-
`4,273,955 A
`6/1981 Armstrong .............. .. 178/69G
`4,293,948 A 10/1981 Soderblom ..
`.370/424
`4,340,788 A
`7/1982 SbuelZ ...... ..
`370/250
`4,348,661 A
`9/1982 Lucchesi .
`340/510
`4,383,315 A
`5/1983 Torng .... ..
`370/452
`4,454,477 A
`6/1984 Joffe
`379/380
`4,464,658 A
`8/1984 Thelen -
`370/228
`4,479,228 A 10/1984 Crane ------- -~
`~375/219
`4,482,999 A 11/1984 Janson etal. ............. .. 370/452
`4,495,494 A
`V1985 MCCune
`340/500
`4,524,349 A
`6/1985 Hyatt .......... ..
`324/539
`4,551,671 A 11/1985 Annunziata eta1~
`379/106.11
`4,578,539 A
`3/1986 Townsing ....... ..
`370/462
`4,602,364 A
`7/1986 Herman 9ta1~
`370/445
`4,617,656 A 10/1986 Kobayashiet al.
`4,622,541 A 11/1986 Stockdale ................. .. 340/566
`4631367 A 12/1986 Coviello eta1~
`4,633,217 A 12/1986 Akano ................. .. 340/310.15
`4,636,771 A
`V1987 @9118
`4,647,721 A
`3/1987 Busametal. ........ .. 379/102.04
`4,647,912 A
`3/1987 Bates et a1.
`370/463
`4,649,548 A
`3/1987 Crane ....................... .. 375/219
`4,654,640 A
`3/1987 Carllet al. ............. .. 340/568.2
`4,658,242 A
`4/1987 Zeder .................... .. 340/568.4
`4,670,902 A
`6/1987 Naiwirt
`4,674,084 A
`6/1987 Suzuki et al. ............. .. 370/509
`4,685,129 A
`8/1987 Gavrilovich
`379/324
`4,691,344 A
`9/1987 Brown eta1~ --------- -~ 379/10611
`4,701,630 A 10/1987 AnnunZiataetal. ....... .. 307/112
`4,701,946 A 10/1987 Olivaetal. ..... ..
`379/102.04
`4,719,616 A
`1/1988 Akano ...................... .. 370/527
`4,728,948 A
`3/1988 Fields ..................... .. 340/3.71
`4,731,829 A
`3/1988 Bonnet et al.
`4,733,223 A
`3/1988 Gilbelt ..................... .. 340/505
`4,733,389 A
`3/1988 Puvogel
`4,736,195 A
`4/1988 McMurtry eta1~
`4,737,787 A
`4/1988 Ito etal -------------- -~ 340/87018
`4,755,922 A
`7/1988 Puvogel ................. .. 363/21.16
`4,758,823 A
`7/1988 Berruyer er a1
`340/524
`4,760,382 A
`7/1988 Faulkner ................ .. 340/568.2
`4,766,386 A
`8/1988 Oliveretal. .............. .. 324/533
`4,782,322 A 11/1988 Lechneretal ------ -~ 340/31002
`4,813,066 A
`3/1989 HOIIZ etal
`4,862,158 A
`8/1989 Keller et al. .............. .. 370/439
`4,864,598 A
`9/1989 Lynch eta1~
`- 379/22'02
`4,866,768 A
`9/1989 S1nberg .................... .. 379/413
`4,882,728 A 11/1989 Herman .................... .. 370/254
`4,896,315 A
`V1990 Felker er a1-
`- 370/252
`4,907,261 A
`3/1990 Chapman ------------------ -- 379/234
`4,918,688 A
`4/1990 KrauSe 6161. ............. .. 370/257
`4,922,503 A
`5/1990 L66n6 ...................... .. 370/402
`4,935,926 A
`6/1990 H6nn6n .................... .. 370/401
`4,935,959 A
`6/1990 MafkOVlC 6161.
`
`6/1990 Lynch 6161. ................ .. 379/24
`4,937,851 A
`7/1990 Smith 6161. ..
`379/412
`4,942,604 A
`g/1990 Douhetet a1‘ _______________ __ 361/62
`4,953,055 A
`9/1990 D6nn66i6161. ............ .. 379/377
`4,958,371 A
`4961222 A 10/1990 johansson @131,
`379/413
`4,980,913 A 12/1990 Skfet ........................ .. 713/153
`4,991,123 A
`2/1991 c6s6n16ssnn6 ............ .. 340/525
`4998275 A
`3/1991 Braunstein etal
`379/164
`5,003,579 A
`3/1991 JOIleS .................... .. 379/93.05
`5,020,100 A
`5/1991 G6rd1'n6n ................... .. 379/379
`5,032,819 A
`7/1991 Sakumgiet a1‘ _
`375/257
`5,034,723 A
`7/1991 Maman ................. .. 340/5682
`5,034,738 A
`7/1991 IShlhaIa 6161. ............ .. 370/258
`5,034,978 A
`7/1991 Nguyen et a1‘
`5,051,723 A
`9/1991 Long 6161. ................ .. 340/566
`5,055,827 A 10/1991 Philipp .................. .. 340/568.4
`5,063,563 A 11/1991 Ik6d66161.
`370/216
`RE33,807 E
`1/1992 Ab616161.
`340/500
`5,089,974 A
`2/1992 Demeyer et al‘
`340/341
`5,119,398 A
`6/1992 Webber, Jr. ..
`.375/219
`5,124,982 A
`6/1992 Kaku
`_37()/445
`5,133,005 A
`7/1992 Kellyet a1,
`379/146
`5,136,580 A
`8/1992 videlocket 31,
`5,142,269 A
`g/1992 Mueller
`5,144,544 A
`9/1992 jenneveetal,
`5,148,144 A
`9/1992 Sutterlin 6161. ........... .. 455/402
`5,164,960 A 11/1992 Wincn 6161. .
`375/224
`5,179,291 A
`1/1993 NlShlkaWa 6161
`307/139
`5,181,240 A
`1/1993 Sakumgi ______ __
`_ 379/9336
`5,200,743 A
`4/1993 St.MaItin 6161. ..
`.. 340/3.51
`5,216,704 A
`6/1993 Williams @131,
`379/9308
`5,226,120 A
`7/1993 Brown 6161.
`709/224
`5231375 A
`7/1993 Sanders e131, _
`3405682
`5,237,606 A
`8/1993 Ziermann ................. .. 379/413
`5243328 A
`9/1993 Lee etal,
`370/228
`5,249,183 A
`9/1993 Wong etal,
`375/292
`5,257,287 A 10/1993 B1un16n1h616161.
`_324/522
`5,260,664 A 11/1993 Graham _______ __
`.. 379/39
`5,278,888 A
`1/1994 Myllyrnaki .
`_363/21,11
`5289359 A
`2/1994 Ziermann
`370/22g
`5,289,458 A
`2/1994 Taha
`_ 370/360
`5,289,461 A
`2/1994 de Nijs __
`_37()/4()2
`5,297,141 A
`3/1994 Mal-um
`375/222
`5301246 A
`4/1994 Archibaldet a1‘ __
`370/296
`5,311,114 A
`5/1994 Sambamurthyet 61.
`__ 370/359
`5311518 A
`5/1994 Takato e131,
`379/413 ()4
`5,333,192 A
`7/1994 McGinn __
`5,347,225 A
`9/1994 Graham .................... .. 324/523
`5365515 A 11/1994 Graham
`5396555 A
`3/1995
`'
`5,406,260 A
`4/1995
`5,414,708 A
`5/1995
`5,414,709 A
`5/1995
`5,469,437 A 11/1995
`.. 370/66
`5,477,091 A 12/1995 Fi6nn6 6161.
`5,485,488 A
`1/1996 V6nBn1n16161. ......... .. 375/257
`5,497,460 A
`3/1996 B6i16y ....................... .. 714/39
`5,578,991 A 11/1996 Scholder
`5,675,321 A 10/1997 M6Bnid6 ................ .. 340/5682
`5,692,917 A 12/1997 Rl'eb etal, ________________ __ 439/225
`5,715,174 A
`2/199g Cotichinietal‘
`5,764,647 A
`6/1998 R116y ........................ .. 370/489
`5,799,194 A
`8/1998 A116n ....................... .. 713/320
`5,821,868 A 10/199g Kuhling
`5,854,824 A 12/1998 B6ng61 .................. .. 379/32.04
`5,929,778 A
`7/1999 Asamaet a1‘ __________ __ 340/10‘51
`5,948,007 A
`9/1999 Choietal,
`710/9
`5,963,557 A 10/1999 Eng ......................... .. 370/432
`5,991,311 A 11/1999 Long 6161. ................ .. 370/524
`5,991,885 A 11/1999 ch6ng 6161. .
`713/300
`5,994,998 A 11/1999 111611616161. .............. .. 375/258
`6,000,003 A 12/1999 A116n ....................... .. 713/320
`6,021,493 A
`2/2000 cn6n16n6161. ............ .. 713/200
`
`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-2
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`US 7,457,250 B2
`Page 3
`
`5/2000 Lockyer
`6,064,305 A
`8/2000 Bremer ...................... .. 379/28
`6,111,936 A *
`9/2000 De Nicolo ................ .. 379/413
`6,115,468 A
`9/2000 Schwan et a1. ............ .. 713/300
`6,125,448 A
`6,130,894 A 10/2000 Ojard et al.
`370/421
`6,140,911 A 10/2000 Fisher et al. .............. .. 375/258
`6,147,601 A 11/2000 Sandelman et a1. ....... .. 340/506
`6,147,603 A 11/2000 Rand .............. ..
`. 340/568.2
`6,147,963 A 11/2000 Walker et a1. ............. .. 370/200
`6,169,475 B1
`1/2001 Browning ............ .. 340/286.02
`6,172,606 B1
`1/2001 Lockyer ...... ..
`. 340/568.2
`6,218,930 B1
`4/2001 Katzenberg et al. ....... .. 370/200
`6,243,394 B1* 6/2001 Deng ....................... .. 370/466
`6,272,219 B1 *
`8/2001 De Bruycker et al. .. 379/399.01
`6,272,552 B1
`8/2001 Melvin et al. ............. .. 709/250
`6,295,356 B1
`9/2001 De Nicolo ................ .. 379/413
`6,314,102 B1* 11/2001 CZerwiec et al. ....... .. 370/395.6
`6,344,794 B1
`2/2002 Ulrich et a1.
`6,348,874 B1
`2/2002 Cole et a1. ........... .. 340/825.01
`6,359,906 B1 *
`3/2002 Dyke et al. .
`370/480
`6,373,851 B1
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`6,384,755 B1
`5/2002 Hayden
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`10/2002 Lehr et a1. ..
`455/402
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`370/254
`6,522,151 B2
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`324/538
`6,643,566 B1
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`700/286
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`379/413
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0 357 482 B1
`EP
`0415312 A1
`EP
`WO 96/29638
`SE
`WO 97/09667
`SE
`WO PCT/ IB96/ 00223
`
`3/1990
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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`Medium Dependent, British Telecom, Oct. 15, 1991.
`FDDI on Copper with AMD PHY, Advanced Micro Devices, 1991, 8
`
`IEEE Network Magazine, vol. 1, No. 1, Jan. 1987, 30 pages.
`IEEE-SA Standards Board Bylaws, 3 pages, 1997.
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`
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`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-3
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 25, 2008
`
`Sheet 1 0f 13
`
`US 7,457,250 B2
`
`HUB
`
`101 16a
`
`f)
`
`116
`
`1236
`
`1236
`
`19
`
`E5115]? LJ
`
`13
`REMOTE
`MODULE f
`
`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-4
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 25, 2008
`
`Sheet 2 0f 13
`
`US 7,457,250 B2
`
`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-5
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-6
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-7
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 25, 2008
`
`Sheet 5 0f 13
`
`US 7,457,250 B2
`
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`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-8
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 25, 2008
`
`Sheet 6 0f 13
`
`US 7,457,250 B2
`
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`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-9
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 25, 2008
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`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-10
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 25, 2008
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`Sheet 8 0f 13
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`Exhibit 2027-11
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 25, 2008
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`Sheet 9 0f 13
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`US 7,457,250 B2
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`Exhibit 2027-12
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 25, 2008
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`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-13
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

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`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 25, 2008
`
`Sheet 11 0f 13
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`US 7,457,250 B2
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`Exhibit 2027-14
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
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`

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`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-15
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 25, 2008
`
`Sheet 13 0f 13
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`US 7,457,250 B2
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`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-16
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`US 7,457,250 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING WITH
`ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of US. patent applica
`tion Ser. No. 09/370,430 ?led Aug. 9, 1999 Which is a con
`tinuation-in-part under 35U.S.C.§111 and §120 of interna
`tional application PCT/US99/07846, ?led Apr. 8, 1999,
`designating, inter alia, the United States, and Which claims
`the bene?t of US. provisional application No. 60/081279
`?led Apr. 10, 1998.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`also be desirable to communicate With the device Without
`requiring the device or the asset to be connected to alternating
`current (AC) poWer. Such a device Would alloW a company to
`track its assets, locate any given asset, and count the total
`number of identi?ed assets at any given time, thus signi?
`cantly reducing its TCO of identi?ed assets.
`One method that attempted to control the hardWare theft
`aspect ofTCO is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 5,406,260 issued
`to Cummings et. al, (hereby incorporated by reference) Which
`discusses a means of detecting the unauthorized removal of a
`netWorked device by injecting a loW current poWer signal into
`each existing communications link. A sensor monitors the
`returning current How and can thereby detect a removal of the
`equipment. This method provides a means to monitor the
`connection status of any netWorked electronic device thus
`providing an effective theft detection/deterrent system.
`It Would, hoWever, be desirable to provide a further means
`in Which a netWorked device may also be identi?ed by a
`unique identi?cation number using the existing netWork Wir
`ing or cabling as a means of communicating this information
`back to a central location. More particularly, it is desirable to
`provide a means for identi?cation that feasibly employs the
`same cable (and, if desired, the same Wires in the cable) that
`normally carries high frequency data communications in an
`existing netWork. In addition, it is desirable to provide an
`identi?cation system that is easily and inexpensively imple
`mented in an existing netWork system.
`The theft of information is a further aspect of TCO. Today,
`the most important resources a company has are its employ
`ees and the information that they create and accumulate.
`Information that is available on a company’s internal netWork
`can range from personnel ?les and corporate business plans to
`research and development efforts related to neW products.
`Restricting access to sensitive or con?dential information
`such as personnel ?les is a high priority for all companies. The
`use of passWords and limiting access to certain types of infor
`mation to particular computer stations are typical methods
`that companies employ to protect information. These passive
`methods of protecting company information are suf?cient to
`prevent technically unknoWledgeable people from gaining
`access to protected information. HoWever, these methods are
`usually unable to protect information from a technically
`knoWledgeable person With specialized electronic equip
`ment. The existence of an unauthorized device connected to
`the company netWork may indicate the presence of someone
`With electronic equipment that has the capability to defeat a
`company’s internal security measures. A method of blocking
`communications With such a device connected to a netWork is
`desirable. Further, automatically blocking communications
`With an unauthorized device is desirable. An active system
`that interrogates the devices connected to a netWork and
`blocks communications With unauthorized devices Would
`provide enhanced security for sensitive information.
`A further aspect of support costs is the cost associated With
`utilization of netWork bandWidth. Today, the bandWidth of
`most netWorks is being constantly increased to meet the
`increasing need to transmit large quantities of data. In order to
`provide the required bandWidth costly hardWare upgrades
`must be purchased resulting in an increase in the TCO. To
`reduce the need for hardWare upgrades the use of available
`netWork bandWidth is dedicated to data that is required for the
`operation of application programs. Using valuable netWork
`bandWidth to provide a means of identifying assets Would
`either limit the availability of bandWidth for application pro
`grams or require the purchase of neW hardWare. Additionally,
`using netWork bandWidth for asset identi?cation Would limit
`the identi?cation system to operating only When the asset has
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`1.Technical Field
`This invention relates generally to computer netWorks and,
`more particularly, to a netWork management and security
`system for managing, tracking, and identifying remotely
`located electronic equipment on a netWork.
`2. Discussion
`Over the last several years, one of the largest problems in
`managing the computerized of?ce environment has been
`identi?ed as controlling the Total Co st of Ownership, or TCO,
`of the of?ce computer. Controlling TCO includes not only the
`cost of the asset but also all costs associated With that asset,
`such as support costs, software costs, and costs due to loss or
`theft, including hardWare, softWare, and most importantly,
`information.
`An aspect of the support costs of TCO is asset movement.
`Today, many employees have more than one computer. When
`that employee is moved to another location, the assets must be
`moved as Well. A typical organization can have as much as
`40% of its employees move from one location to another over
`the course of a year. When these movements occur daily,
`tracking each asset over time is nearly impossible. There is
`also the unauthorized movement of assets, such as moving an
`asset from an employee’s o?ice to his or her associated lab
`area. In addition to these physical movements, the asset may
`also be changed over time through hardWare and softWare
`modi?cations. Even if an asset is successfully tracked over a
`period of time, the asset may not be the same at the end of the
`period. Due to this constant asset relocation and reorganiza
`tion, an organization may not alWays knoW Where all of its
`assets are located. In fact, it is very likely that a company may
`not even knoW hoW many assets they oWn or if those assets are
`still in their possession. Additionally, an organization that
`desires to send a message to all of the assets Within a particu
`lar physical area is limited to relying on databases that corre
`late the netWork identi?cation of an asset to Where that asset
`should be located, not Where the asset actually is located.
`Previous attempts to provide asset tracking and management
`have relied on softWare solutions that have proven to be
`fundamentally ?aWed. Asset tracking and management soft
`Ware is limited in a number of important areas. It is generally
`incapable of detecting the electrical connection status of
`equipment, it cannot detect the physical location of equip
`ment, the identifying name of equipment is not permanent,
`and the monitored assets must be poWered-up.
`Therefore, a method for permanently identifying an asset
`by attaching an external or internal device to the asset and
`communicating With that device using existing netWork Wir
`ing or cabling is desirable. Also, it is desirable to communi
`cate With an asset based upon the physical location of the
`asset. Additionally, a method of determining When an asset is
`being removed or added to the netWork is desirable. It Would
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`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2027-17
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`US 7,457,250 B2
`
`3
`AC power applied. Assemblies Within the asset Would have to
`be operational in order to transmit data over the network.
`Requiring poWer to be applied to every monitored as set Would
`limit the capability to identify all the assets connected to a
`netWork at any particular time. Therefore, it is desirable to
`provide a means for asset identi?cation that does not use
`existing netWork bandWidth. Such a device Would more fully
`utiliZe existing netWork resources Without increasing the
`TCO associated With netWork bandWidth.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance With the teachings of the present invention,
`a communication system is provided for generating and
`monitoring data over a pre-existing Wiring or cables that
`connect pieces of netWorked computer equipment to a net
`Work. The system includes a communication device or remote
`module attached to the electronic equipment that transmits
`information to a central module by impressing a loW fre
`quency signal on the Wires of the cable. A receiver in the
`central module monitors the loW frequency data to determine
`the transmitted information from the electronic equipment.
`The communication device may also be poWered by a loW
`current poWer signal from the central module. The poWer
`signal to the communication device may also be ?uctuated to
`provide useful information, such as status information, to the
`communication device. Relocation of the electronic equip
`ment With the attached communication device to another
`location on the netWork is detected immediately and may be
`used to update a database. This invention is particularly
`adapted to be used With an existing Ethernet communications
`link or equivalents thereof.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Other objects and advantages of the present invention Will
`become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the
`folloWing detailed description and upon reference to the
`draWings in Which:
`FIG. 1 is a general block diagram that illustrates a netWork
`that includes a communication system in accordance With a
`?rst embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective vieW that illustrates
`installation of the central module into an existing computer
`netWork in accordance With the ?rst embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates the ?rst embodi
`ment of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is an interconnection diagram that illustrates a sec
`ond embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates a central module
`made in accordance With the teachings of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 6 is a detailed schematic diagram of the central mod
`ule in accordance With the second embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram that illustrates a remote module
`made in accordance With the teachings of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 8 is a detailed schematic diagram that illustrates a
`central module in accordance With the second embodiment of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a diagram that illustrates alternate circuits for
`blocking communications in accordance With an embodi
`ment of the present invention;
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`4
`FIG. 10 is a detailed schematic diagram Which illustrates a
`remote module and a central receiver module coupled to a
`netWork in accordance With the third embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 11 is a perspective vieW of one embodiment of the
`hardWare for the remote module;
`FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective vieW of the hardWare of
`FIG. 11;
`FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional vieW of the hardWare shoWn
`mounted to a computer;
`FIG. 14 is a perspective vieW of an alternative embodiment
`of the hardWare for the remote module;
`FIG. 15 illustrates the installation of the hardWare of FIG.
`14 into a computer;
`FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of an electronic tether
`in accordance With the fourth embodiment;
`FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional vieW of an electronic tether
`used in connection With the fourth embodiment;
`FIG. 18 is a schematic representation of circuitry for the
`fourth embodiment;
`FIG. 19a is a block diagram that illustrates a system for
`electronically identifying an object made in accordance With
`the teachings of the present invention;
`FIG. 19b is a cross-sectional vieW of an ID sender tag used
`in connection With the system for electronically identifying
`an object;
`FIG. 20 is a schematic representation of circuitry used in a
`system for electronically identifying an object;
`FIG. 21 is a perspective vieW that illustrates installation of
`an ID sender tag and decoder plug; and
`FIG. 22 is a perspective vieW that illustrates an ID sender
`tag and decoder plug interconnected by a serial bus.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Four embodiments of the invention are illustrated Within
`this speci?cation. The ?rst embodiment illustrates the general
`teachings of the invention, Whereas the second, third, and
`fourth embodiments depict speci?c implementations of the
`teachings. Turning noW to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a ?rst embodi
`ment of a central module 15 and remote module 16 system is
`provided therein for achieving identi?cation of electronic
`computer equipment associated With a computer netWork 17.
`Although, the ?rst embodiment depicts merely communicat
`ing equipment identi?cation information, the principles of
`the invention may be readily extended to include the commu
`nication of more general information such as identi?cation of
`the equipment processor type and the equipment harddrive
`capacity. In general, the central module 15 monitors remote
`module circuitry 16 that may be permanently attached to
`remotely located electronic Workstations such as personal
`computers 3A through 3D over the computer netWork 17. The
`communication system 15 and 16 describe