Inventory control system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inventory control apparatus comprising:
- a computer including;
a list implemented therein comprising;
a unique item identifier for each item in an inventory;
a unique item code; and
an item status;
an anti-collision, field activated apparatus affixed to each item in the inventory; and
an interrogator/reader in communication with the computer which generates a field capable of causing each field activated apparatus to transmit a signal containing its unique code; and
where the status of each item activated by the interrogator/reader is set to a first state indicating that the item is present, while the status of all other items is set to a second state indicating that the item is absent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inventory control system is described which includes anti-collision, radio frequency identification apparatus or tags affixed to each item of an inventory and including a unique modulation code, an interrogator/reader that generates a field of sufficient range to activate each tag associated with each item of the inventory in communication with a computer. The computer includes a list comprising an identifier for each item in the inventory, the modulation code for the tag associated with each item in the inventory and an item status where the status indicates whether the item is present or absent.
170 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inventory control apparatus comprising:
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a computer including;
a list implemented therein comprising;
a unique item identifier for each item in an inventory;
a unique item code; and
an item status;
an anti-collision, field activated apparatus affixed to each item in the inventory; and
an interrogator/reader in communication with the computer which generates a field capable of causing each field activated apparatus to transmit a signal containing its unique code; and
where the status of each item activated by the interrogator/reader is set to a first state indicating that the item is present, while the status of all other items is set to a second state indicating that the item is absent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A golf club bag inventory apparatus comprising:
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a golf club bag;
a housing removably attached to the bag including;
a digital processing unit having;
a list implemented therein comprising;
a unique item identifier for each item in an inventory;
a unique item code; and
an item status;
an interrogator/reader apparatus in communication with the computer which generates a field surrounding the generator/receiver; and
a power source for supply electrical power to the digital processing unit and the interrogator;
a plurality of field activated apparatus affixed to each item to be place within the bag, each apparatus having a unique code that modulates a signal transmitted by the apparatus when activated by the field generated by the interrogator; and
where each item within range of the field generated by the interrogator/reader has an item status indicating that the item is in its first state and where each item outside the range of the field generated by the interrogator/reader has an item status indicating that the item is in an absent state. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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15. A method for inventory control comprising the steps of:
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affixing to each item in an inventory a field activated apparatus including a unique modulation code;
polling each field activated apparatus via a field generated by an interrogator/reader and having a range sufficient to activate each field activated apparatus affixed to each item of the inventory;
setting an item status to a present state in a list implemented on a digital processing unit associated with the interrogator, where the list includes at least an unique item identifier for each item in the inventory, the unique modulation code for the field activated apparatus affixed to each item, and the item status; and
changing the item status to an absent state for each item removed from the range of the field of the interrogator/reader.
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Specification