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  Method and system for calibrating an electrical deviceUSPTO Application #: 20080046211Title: Method and system for calibrating an electrical device Abstract: In general, the present invention provides a method and system for calibrating an electrical device that utilizes a data networking protocol (e.g., 802.1X) over a power delivery network. Specifically, the present invention leverages information gathered and stored during the authentication and operation of the electrical device to determine whether the electrical device should be calibrated. In general, the present invention makes this determination based on time elapsed since a previous calibration and/or cumulative usage of the device. (end of abstract) Agent: Hoffman, Warnick & D'alessandro LLC - Albany, NY, US Inventors: Nathaniel W. Kim, Charles S. Lingafelt USPTO Applicaton #: 20080046211 - Class: 702085000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Measuring, Calibrating, Or Testing, Calibration Or Correction System The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080046211. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/436,951, filed on May 18, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application is related in some aspects to the commonly assigned and co-pending application identified by attorney docket number END920050064US1, assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 11/436,237, entitled "Method and System for Managing an Electrical Device Over a Power Delivery Network", and filed May 18, 2006 the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. This application is also related in some aspects to the commonly assigned and co-pending application identified by attorney docket number END920050100US1, assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 11/436,351, entitled "System and Method for Disabling an Electrical Device", and filed May 18, 2006 the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention generally provides a method and system for calibrating an electrical device. Specifically, the present invention provides various approaches for determining when the electrical device should be calibrated. [0004] 2. Related Art [0005] Within organizations, there exists a need to identify and track the calibration of re-locatable assets/electrical devices (e.g., medical equipment, computers, printers, photocopiers, etc.) that draw energy from the organization's power delivery network. From time-to-time, physical actions are needed to locate an electrical device, determine if the device is in need of calibration and to undertake the calibration. This is time consuming and expensive. In some cases, the electrical device may be calibrated prior to the time it is needed, because it is not possible to know how long the device has been in use. As such, the frequency of calibration is set to the worse case condition, yielding a calibration activity that is not required. [0006] Unfortunately, no existing approach provides a cohesive solution for device calibration management. That is, existing approaches require a litany of manual efforts that consume time and resources. In view of the foregoing, there exists a need to overcome the above-cited deficiencies in the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In general, the present invention provides a method and system for calibrating an electrical device that utilizes a data networking protocol (e.g., 802.1X) over a power delivery network. Specifically, the present invention leverages information gathered and stored during the authentication and operation of the electrical device to determine whether and when the electrical device should be calibrated. In general, the present invention makes this determination based on time elapsed since a previous calibration and/or cumulative usage of the device. [0008] A first aspect of the present invention provides a method and system for calibrating an electrical device. Specifically, information for the electrical device is provided to/on a server. The information not only can include the identity and location of the electrical device, but it also can include other details such as the time the device was engaged/enabled (powered-up), the time the device was disengaged/disabled, times/dates of previous calibrations, etc. To this extent, at least a portion of the information is provided to the server over a power delivery network. In any event, the information can be stored in a database. Based on the information, it will be determined on the server whether the electrical device should be calibrated. In one embodiment, the electrical device should be calibrated if a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a previous calibration. In another embodiment, the electrical device should be calibrated if a cumulative usage exceeds a predetermined threshold of cumulative usage (e.g., whichever occurs first). In these embodiments, the determination action of when and where to perform the calibration action is remote from the device itself. [0009] Similar to the above-incorporated patent applications, the teachings of the present invention can be implemented as hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. For example, any or all of the components of the present invention could be implemented as program code of a program product that is stored on a computer useable medium. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various embodiments of the invention, in which: [0011] FIG. 1 depicts electrical devices connected to a power delivery network according to the prior art. [0012] FIG. 2 depicts 802.1X port-based authentication according to the prior art. [0013] FIG. 3A depicts the management of an electrical device over a power delivery network according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 3B depicts physical and logical views of the embodiment of FIG. 3A. [0015] FIG. 4 depicts a diagram of an electrical device according to the embodiment of FIGS. 3A-B. [0016] FIG. 5 depicts an operation flow diagram of the embodiment of FIGS. 3A-B and 4. [0017] FIG. 6 depicts a method flow diagram according to the embodiment of FIGS. 3A-B and 4. [0018] FIG. 7 depicts the management of an electrical device over a power delivery network according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 8 depicts a more specific view of an authentication server according to the present invention. [0020] FIG. 9 depicts an operational flow diagram for making a time-based calibration determination for an electrical device according to the present invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Method and system for calibrating an electrical device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and system for calibrating an electrical device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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