Wireless directed inventory system

• US 20020070846A1
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bastian Software Solutions LLC (A & O Hydraulic Repair LLC)
• Original Assignee: ASAP Automation LLC (A & O Hydraulic Repair LLC)
• Inventors: Alibrahim, Hussam, Bastian, William A. II
• Granted Patent: US 6,650,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.92
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A directed inventory system uses individual wireless pick-to modules, or individual wireless pick-from modules, or both, to aid inventory management services such as order fulfillment. Modules wirelessly receive servicing information directly from a processing computer, and transmit servicing status information directly to the computer. Light indicators or display panels on the modules provide information corresponding to a service to be performed, such as a quantity of parts to be picked from a bin, a location of a parts bin to pick from, a designation of a container to pick into, or other servicing information.

Claims

1. A wireless directed inventory system comprising:

(a) at least one computer operable to process servicing information, wherein said servicing information relates to a service to be performed within the directed inventory system; and

(b) A plurality of uniquely addressable remote wireless devices operative to directly wirelessly communicate with said at least one computer, each of said plurality of wireless devices including an indicator,

wherein each indicator is operable to activate in response to data communicated from said computer.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication between said wireless device and said at least one computer uses a digital spread-spectrum frequency-hopping communications protocol.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first indicator is operable to indicate at least a portion of said servicing information.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices is operative to wirelessly transmit data at least indicating that a service was performed.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices is operative to wirelessly transmit data at least indicating a service which was performed.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices includes a speaker for producing audio information.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein at the indicator of at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices is an audio indicator.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices is operable to transmit audio information.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices comprises a microphone and wherein said audio information is acquired from said microphone.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one access-point module configured to wirelessly receive and re-transmit information.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices, is a pick-from module associated with at least one particular servicing location.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices is a pick-to module associated with a servicing operator.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said plurality of remote wireless devices further comprises a plurality of pick-from modules operable to receive data, each pick-from module associated with at least one particular servicing location, and wherein said data indicates at least that an associated serving location is to be serviced, and wherein said indicator is operable to indicate that an associated servicing location is to be serviced.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the indicator of at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices includes a visual indicator.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said pick-from modules include a display operable to indicate at least a portion of said servicing information.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising at least one bay activity module, said at least one bay-activity module associated with a plurality of pick-from modules, and including a uniquely addressable, said bay-activity module being operable to receive second data indicating at least that one of said pick-from modules associated therewith is associated with a service to be performed, and

wherein said bay-activity module is operable to activate said indicator in response to said second data.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said wirelessly transmitting step uses a digital spread-spectrum frequency-hopping communications protocol.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the data transmitted to at least one of the plurality of remote wireless devices further indicates the service which is to be performed, and the indicator on said at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices includes a display configured to indicate at least one specific detail relating to said service to be performed.

20. The method of claim 17 comprising the further steps of:

(a) performing said service; and

(b) transmitting to said computer second data at least indicating that a service was performed.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said second data indicates further information about said service which was performed.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

(a) wirelessly transmitting audio information to at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices; and

(b) reproducing at least part of said audio information.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

(a) acquiring local audio information using at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices; and

(b) wirelessly transmitting at least part of said local audio information to said computer.

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of providing at least one access-point module configured to wirelessly retransmit information, and wherein the step of wirelessly transmitting directly to said at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices further comprises the steps of:

(a) wirelessly transmitting said first data to said access-point module; and

(b) wirelessly transmitting said first data from said access-point module to said wireless device.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein said plurality of remote wireless devices includes a plurality of pick-from modules, each pick-from module associated with at least one particular servicing location.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one of said plurality of said remote wireless devices is a pick-to module associated with a servicing operator.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices includes a display configured to indicate at least one specific detail relating to said service to be performed.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices is a bay-activity module associated with at least one pick-from module;

said method further comprising the steps of

transmitting to said bay-activity module third data indicating that said at least one pick-from modules is a target pick-from module;

and activating said indicator on said bay-activity module in response to said third data.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising at least one uniquely addressable wireless pick-to module associated with a servicing operator, the pick-to module comprising a second communication section operative to directly wirelessly communicate with said at least one computer, the pick-to module comprising a second visual indicator operable to activate in response to second data communicated from said computer.

31. The system of claim 30 further comprising at least one access point module for retransmitting information directly communicated between said computer and at least one of said pick-from modules and said at least one pick-to module.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein said computer communicates to said pick-from modules and said pick-to module using a spread-spectrum frequency-hopping communications protocol.

17. A method for directing an operator to a servicing location in a directed inventory system comprising the steps of:

(a) processing servicing information relating to a service to be performed within the directed inventory system;

(b) providing a plurality of uniquely addressable remote wireless devices, each of said remote wireless devices comprising a communication section and an indicator.

(c) wirelessly transmitting directly to said wireless devices data at least indicating that said service is to be performed; and

(d) activating the indicator on at least one of said plurality of remote wireless devices in response to said data.

29. A wireless directed inventory system comprising:

at least one computer operable to process servicing information relating to a service to be performed within the directed inventory system; and

a plurality of uniquely addressable wireless pick-from modules,

each pick-from module associated with a particular servicing location,

each pick-from module comprising a communication section operative to directly wirelessly communicate with said at least one computer,

each pick-from module comprising a visual indicator operable to activate in response to first data communicated from said computer.

33. A wireless directed inventory system comprising:

at least one computer operable to process servicing information relating to a service to be performed within the directed inventory system; and

at least one uniquely addressable wireless pick-to module,

each pick-to module associated with a servicing operator,

each pick-to module comprising a communication section operative to directly wirelessly communicate with said at least one computer,

each pick-from module comprising a display operable to display indicia indicating a quantity of items to be picked as part of said service to be performed, in response to data communicated from said computer.

34. A method for providing instructions to an operator on an assembly line comprising:

(a) processing servicing information relating to a service to be performed on a part;

(b) providing a uniquely addressable remote wireless devices, said remote wireless devices comprising a communication section and an indicator, said remote wireless device being physically associated with a part to be serviced on said assembly line;

(c) wirelessly transmitting directly to said wireless devices data at least indicating a service to be performed on said part; and

(d) activating the indicator on said remote wireless devices in response to said data.