Methods, apparatus, and systems for generating a pickup notification related to an inventory item
First Claim
1. A system for generating a pickup notification related to an inventory item, the system comprising:
- an inventory control server maintaining release information; and
a master node associated with a fixed location, the master node comprisinga node processing unit;
a node memory storage coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory storage maintaining pickup notification code for execution by the node processing unit;
a first communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with an ID node associated with the inventory item;
a second communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with the inventory control server; and
wherein the node processing unit, when executing the pickup notification code maintained on the node memory storage, is operative tocommunicate with the ID node over the first communication interface to monitor a location of the ID node associated with the inventory item,receive release information from the inventory control server over the second communication interface and store the received release information in the node memory storage,detect movement of the ID node by determining the location of the ID node over a period of time relative to the fixed location of the master node apparatus,generate the pickup notification for the inventory item based upon the release information and the detected movement of the ID node, the pickup notification indicating that the inventory item has been moved, andcause the second communication interface to transmit a first alert to the inventory control server based upon the generated pickup notification, wherein the first alert indicates the inventory item has been improperly moved, andcause the second communication interface to transmit a second alert to the inventory control server based upon the generated pickup notification, wherein the second alert indicates the inventory item has been properly moved; and
wherein the inventory control server is operative totransmit the release information to the second communication interface, andreceive at least one of the first alert and the second alert from the master node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, and system for various ways to enhanced inventory management of an inventory item using elements from a hierarchical inventory network are described that generate a pickup notification related to such an inventory item. For example, a method may deploy a master node associated with a fixed location and that communicates with an inventory control server above it in the network while also monitoring movement of an ID node associated with an inventory item below it in the network. In general, the fixed location master node monitors a location of the inventory item'"'"'s ID node and receives information from the inventory control server. The method then has the master node detecting movement of the ID node relative to the fixed location of the master node and generating the pickup notification for the inventory item based upon the release information and the detected movement of the ID node.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for generating a pickup notification related to an inventory item, the system comprising:
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an inventory control server maintaining release information; and a master node associated with a fixed location, the master node comprising a node processing unit; a node memory storage coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory storage maintaining pickup notification code for execution by the node processing unit; a first communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with an ID node associated with the inventory item; a second communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with the inventory control server; and wherein the node processing unit, when executing the pickup notification code maintained on the node memory storage, is operative to communicate with the ID node over the first communication interface to monitor a location of the ID node associated with the inventory item, receive release information from the inventory control server over the second communication interface and store the received release information in the node memory storage, detect movement of the ID node by determining the location of the ID node over a period of time relative to the fixed location of the master node apparatus, generate the pickup notification for the inventory item based upon the release information and the detected movement of the ID node, the pickup notification indicating that the inventory item has been moved, and cause the second communication interface to transmit a first alert to the inventory control server based upon the generated pickup notification, wherein the first alert indicates the inventory item has been improperly moved, and cause the second communication interface to transmit a second alert to the inventory control server based upon the generated pickup notification, wherein the second alert indicates the inventory item has been properly moved; and wherein the inventory control server is operative to transmit the release information to the second communication interface, and receive at least one of the first alert and the second alert from the master node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A master node apparatus for generating a pickup notification related to an inventory item, the master node comprising:
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a node processing unit; a node memory storage coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory storage maintaining pickup notification code for execution by the node processing unit; a first communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with an ID node associated with the inventory item; a second communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with an inventory control server; and wherein the node processing unit, when executing the pickup notification code maintained on the node memory storage, is operative to communicate with the ID node over the first communication interface to monitor a location of the ID node associated with the inventory item, receive release information from the inventory control server over the second communication interface and store the received release information in the node memory storage, detect movement of the ID node by determining the location of the ID node over a period of time relative to the fixed location of the master node apparatus, and generate the pickup notification for the inventory item based upon the release information and the detected movement of the ID node, the pickup notification indicating that the inventory item has been moved. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An improved method for generating a pickup notification related to an inventory item using a master node associated with a fixed location, the method comprising:
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monitoring, by the master node, a location of an ID node associated with the inventory item; receiving, by the master node, release information from an inventory control server operative to communicate with the master node; detecting, by the master node, movement of the ID node by determining the location of the ID node over a period of time relative to the fixed location; and generating, by the master node, the pickup notification for the inventory item based upon the release information and the detected movement of the ID node and indicating that the inventory item has been moved. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification