Data packet generator for generating passcodes

Abstract

A data packet generator periodically generates a data packet including a passcode comprising a plurality of characters. The data packet is sent to a server or a computing device for validation. If validated, the data packet is used, for example, to identify the location of a user or device. Additional systems and methods involving such a data packet generator are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A data packet generator comprising:
 a processing device;   memory storing data instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to periodically generate a passcode, the passcode including a plurality of characters;   an output device that outputs a data packet including a passcode; and   an attachment device configured for semi-permanent attachment to an object.   
     
     
         2 . The data packet generator of  claim 1 , wherein the output device is a display device. 
     
     
         3 . The data packet generator of  claim 1 , wherein the output device is a digital data communication device selected from a wired communication device and a wireless communication device. 
     
     
         4 . The data packet generator of  claim 3 , wherein the data packet further includes data selected from a serial number, a second passcode, a temperature, a humidity, a username, a distance-to-floor, a GPS coordinate, data received from a neighboring data packet generator, and a tamper code. 
     
     
         5 . The data packet generator of  claim 3 , wherein the output device is a wireless communication device configured to transmit the data packet in a service set identifier. 
     
     
         6 . The data packet generator of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of characters is in a range from five to ten characters. 
     
     
         7 . The data packet generator of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment device includes one or more of a screw, a bolt, a nail, and adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The data packet generator of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment device is configured for attachment to a worksurface and is configured to be removed from the worksurface with a non-standard tool. 
     
     
         9 . The data packet generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing. 
     
     
         10 . The data packet generator of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one permanently connected network communication cable. 
     
     
         11 . The data packet generator of  claim 10 , wherein the processor and memory are contained within an outer enclosure that also encloses at least part of the at least one permanently connected network communication cable to substantially integrate the data packet generator into the network communication cable. 
     
     
         12 . The data packet generator of  claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a cable storage region for storing the network communication cables. 
     
     
         13 . The data packet generator of  claim 12 , further comprising a battery and electrical contacts, wherein the electrical contacts are configured to receive power from a charging station to recharge the battery of the data packet generator. 
     
     
         14 . The data packet generator of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of a network cable jack, a power receptacle, a USB port, a clock, and a pencil holder. 
     
     
         15 . The data packet generator of  claim 1 , wherein the processor periodically generates the passcode according to a passcode generation algorithm or by retrieving the passcode from a lookup table. 
     
     
         16 . The data packet generator of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a virtual object or is configured to become a virtual environment. 
     
     
         17 . A method of determining a location, the method comprising:
 receiving at a computing device a data packet from a data packet generator, the data packet including at least one passcode;   determining with the computing device a location associated with the passcode; and   identifying with the computing device the location in a computer-aided design drawing.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein determining with the computing device a location comprises:
 identifying the data packet generator that generated the passcode; and   retrieving from a memory device an indication of the location of the identified data packet generator as the location associated with the passcode.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: verifying the location of the identified data packet generator based on a plurality of data packets received from a mesh network of a plurality of data packet generators including the data packet generator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the data packet further comprises a username.