Item storage arrangement system and method
First Claim
1. An item storage system, comprising:
- at least one housing having an interior;
a plurality of item storage arrangements disposed in or associated with the at least one housing;
a plurality of signal receiving arrangements comprising at least three signal receiving arrangements, configured to receive signals or data from a plurality of signal emitting members, wherein at least one signal receiving arrangement of the plurality of signal receiving arrangements is adjacent more than one item storage arrangement; and
at least one controller in communication with the plurality of signal receiving arrangements, the at least one controller programmed or configured to;
simultaneously activate the plurality of signal receiving arrangements, at least two signal receiving arrangements of the plurality of signal receiving arrangements receiving signals or data from a same signal emitting member of the plurality of signal emitting members;
cause at least one signal receiving arrangement of the plurality of signal receiving arrangements to produce a signal in a bilateral direction to receive signals or data from signal emitting members disposed in or associated with more than one item storage arrangement positioned on opposing sides of each signal receiving arrangement of the at least one signal receiving arrangement; and
determine on which item storage arrangement of the more than one item storage arrangement positioned on opposing sides of each signal receiving arrangement a detected signal emitting member is positioned based on the received signal or data in response to the produced signal in a bilateral direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for storing and tracking at least one item includes a housing having an interior with a plurality of item storage arrangements disposed in or associated with the housing. A plurality of signal receiving arrangements is configured to receive data from a plurality of signal emitting members, and at least one signal receiving arrangement is adjacent to each item storage arrangement. The system also includes a controller in communication with the plurality of signal receiving arrangements, the controller programmed or configured to simultaneously scan at least two signal receiving arrangements from the plurality of signal receiving arrangements. An item storage cabinet and a method of tracking items are also disclosed.
163 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An item storage system, comprising:
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at least one housing having an interior; a plurality of item storage arrangements disposed in or associated with the at least one housing; a plurality of signal receiving arrangements comprising at least three signal receiving arrangements, configured to receive signals or data from a plurality of signal emitting members, wherein at least one signal receiving arrangement of the plurality of signal receiving arrangements is adjacent more than one item storage arrangement; and at least one controller in communication with the plurality of signal receiving arrangements, the at least one controller programmed or configured to; simultaneously activate the plurality of signal receiving arrangements, at least two signal receiving arrangements of the plurality of signal receiving arrangements receiving signals or data from a same signal emitting member of the plurality of signal emitting members; cause at least one signal receiving arrangement of the plurality of signal receiving arrangements to produce a signal in a bilateral direction to receive signals or data from signal emitting members disposed in or associated with more than one item storage arrangement positioned on opposing sides of each signal receiving arrangement of the at least one signal receiving arrangement; and determine on which item storage arrangement of the more than one item storage arrangement positioned on opposing sides of each signal receiving arrangement a detected signal emitting member is positioned based on the received signal or data in response to the produced signal in a bilateral direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An item storage cabinet for tracking items having signal emitting members attached thereto or associated therewith, the cabinet comprising:
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a plurality of item storage arrangements positioned in or associated with the interior cavity, each item storage arrangement configured to support at least one item having at least one signal emitting member attached thereto or associated therewith; a plurality of signal receiving arrangements comprising at least three signal receiving arrangements, wherein at least one signal receiving arrangement of the plurality of signal receiving arrangements is located between more than one item storage arrangement; and at least one controller programmed or configured to; simultaneously activate the plurality of signal receiving arrangements to interrogate or scan each signal emitting member of the plurality of signal emitting members, such that at least two signal receiving arrangements of the plurality of signal receiving arrangements receive signals or data from a same signal emitting member of the plurality of signal emitting members; and cause at least one signal receiving arrangement of the plurality of signal receiving arrangements to produce a signal in a bilateral direction to interrogate or scan signal emitting members disposed in or associated with more than one item storage arrangement positioned on opposing sides of each signal receiving arrangement of the at least one signal receiving arrangement; and determine on which item storage arrangement of the more than one item storage arrangement positioned on opposing sides of each signal receiving arrangement a detected signal emitting member is positioned based on the received signal or data in response to the produced signal in a bilateral direction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for tracking items in an item storage arrangement system, comprising:
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simultaneously activating a plurality of signal receiving arrangements comprising at least three signal receiving arrangements; using at least one signal receiving arrangement of the plurality of signal receiving arrangements, producing a signal in a bilateral direction for simultaneously interrogating or scanning each signal emitting member attached to or associated with at least one item supported by more than one item storage arrangement of a plurality of item storage arrangements, the more than one item storage arrangement positioned on opposing sides of each signal receiving arrangement of the at least one signal receiving arrangement; using at least two signal receiving arrangements of the plurality of signal receiving arrangements, simultaneously interrogating or scanning a same signal emitting member attached or associated with at least one item supported by at least one item storage arrangement of the plurality of item storage arrangements; receiving identification signals or data from at least one item emitting member attached to or associated with at least one item supported by an item storage arrangement of the plurality of item storage arrangements; determining, based at least partially on the identification data or signals, a presence or absence of the at least one item; determining on which item storage arrangement of the more than one item storage arrangement positioned on opposing sides of each signal receiving arrangement a detected signal emitting member is positioned based on the received signal or data in response to the produced signal in a bilateral direction; and controlling at least one indication device based at least partially on the presence or absence of the at least one item. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification