Item dispenser and user interface

• US 20020107744A1
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SupplyPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SupplyPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Holmes, William K., Rosenberg, Dean G.
• Application Number:
  US10/008,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20020107744A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/206 comprising security or operator identification provisions, e.g. password entry
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A method of monitoring inventory within a dispensing cabinet. The method includes using different treatment of allocation codes, web-based special ordering, considered consumed check in check out function, find item function for searching different locations, defective item return function, market research function, quota function, and consignment function.

Claims

1. A method of tracking an item dispenser inventory at a point-of-use, the method comprising:

establishing a network of computerized item dispensers, each dispenser containing inventory;

establishing a computer data center, the data center being in electronic communication with the network;

establishing allocation codes within the data center, the allocation codes limiting the extent to which inventory is allowed to be withdrawn from the dispensers;

identifying a user at one of the dispensers; and

allowing the user to reconfigure the allocation codes from the one of the dispensers.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a user to enter a login allocation code.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a user-specific default value for an allocation code.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a user to enter a product allocation code.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

prompting the user to remove a quantity of items; and

prompting the user to enter a quantity of the removed items.

6. A method of tracking an item dispenser inventory at a point-of-use, the method comprising:

determining a user;

receiving a request for an item from the user;

determining an item inventory based on the request;

determining whether a special order is necessary based on the item inventory; and

directing the user to a customer-pre-determined merchant for the special order.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the customer-pre-determined merchant is a web-based merchant.

8. A method of tracking an item dispenser inventory at a point-of-use, the method comprising:

determining a user accessibility;

receiving at an item dispenser a request from the user for an item;

determining whether the item is present at the point-of-use item dispenser;

searching whether the item is present at a secondary item dispensers when the item is not present at the point-of-use item dispenser; and

displaying the secondary item dispenser when the item is present at the secondary item dispenser.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

prompting a user to select an item from a scrolling list if more than one item is present at the secondary item dispenser.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

flashing the secondary item dispenser when the item is selected.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

prompting a user to special order when the item is not present at any secondary item dispenser.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

charging the consider-consumed item to the user.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

notifying the user of the loan period when the user logs in.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

preparing reminders and reports on a delinquent user.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

designating a quantity of the defective item.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

allowing an authorized user to unload the defective items.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the market research response is a survey.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the market research response includes displaying a video advertisement.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the market research response is a receipt.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the consumption quota defines a quantity of items to be checked out.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the consumption quota defines a customer-defined check out period.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

reporting the consignment inventory.

12. A method of tracking an item dispenser inventory at a point-of-use, the method comprising:

determining a user accessibility;

determining whether an item is to be checked in or out by the user;

assigning a loan period when the item is checked out by the user;

configuring a first customer-pre-defined time period when the checked-out item is delinquent; and

assigning the checked-out item a consider-consumed status when the checked-out item is not returned after a second customer-pre-defined time period.

16. A method of tracking an item dispenser inventory at a point-of-use, the method comprising:

determining a user accessibility;

determining a defective return location based on the user accessibility at the point-of-use; and

returning a defective item to the defective return location.

19. A method of tracking an item dispenser inventory at a point-of-use, the method comprising:

determining a user accessibility;

designating an item as a market research item;

determining whether the market research item is removed by the user;

generating a market research response; and

communicating the market research response to the user.

23. A method of tracking an item dispenser inventory at a point-of-use, the method comprising:

determining a user accessibility;

determining a user-specific work type based on the user accessibility; and

assigning a consumption quota based on the user-specific work type.

26. A method of tracking an item dispenser inventory at a point-of-use, the method comprising:

determining a user accessibility;

determining a user-defined consignment session based on the user accessibility; and

marking a consignment inventory when there is a transaction during the consignment session.