초록 ▼

An apparatus, method and system are provided for automatic and distributed inventory processing for remote communication sites, such as remote cellular sites. A system embodiment includes a central site having a central processor, such as a mobile switching center, and a multitude of remote communic

An apparatus, method and system are provided for automatic and distributed inventory processing for remote communication sites, such as remote cellular sites. A system embodiment includes a central site having a central processor, such as a mobile switching center, and a multitude of remote communication sites, with each remote communication site having a plurality of field replaceable units; and further having a remote processor and a remote memory. The remote processor includes instructions for obtaining an address and status from the memory of each field replaceable unit within the remote communication site and for querying each field replaceable unit having a status not out of service to obtain its vintage information and its physical location information. In the preferred embodiment, the physical location information includes frame, shelf and slot locations, and the vintage information includes hardware and firmware versions. The inventory information may also be compiled into a database, preferably at the central site.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method for distributed inventory processing for remote communication sites, the method comprising:(a) obtaining an address of a field replaceable unit;(b) obtaining a status of the field replaceable unit;(c) when the status is out of service, obtaining recent physical location in

[ We claim:] [1.] A method for distributed inventory processing for remote communication sites, the method comprising:(a) obtaining an address of a field replaceable unit;(b) obtaining a status of the field replaceable unit;(c) when the status is out of service, obtaining recent physical location information for the field replaceable unit stored in a memory, wherein the recent physical location information comprises a recently stored frame, shelf and slot location; and(d) when the status is not out of service, querying the field replaceable unit through its address and receiving in response, from the field replaceable unit, its current vintage information and its current physical location information, wherein the current vintage information comprises a hardware version and a firmware version, and wherein the current physical location information comprises a current frame, shelf and slot location.