Apparatus for manufacturing management using a wireless device

• US 20020164976A1
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Depperschmidt, Mark E., Gray, Patrick, Lee, James E. Jr., Chen, Robert K.T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,838,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A method of inventory management is described. Upon activation of a button on a wireless device, the wireless device having a light source and a transceiver with a unique media address corresponding to a unique product, the device broadcasts a first signal including an order command and the unique media address by the transceiver via a wireless medium. A central controller then receives the first signal, identifies the unique media address included in the first signal, and using a database, identifies the unique product associated with the unique media address.

Claims

1. A method of inventory management, comprising:

activating a button on a wireless device, the wireless device having a light source and a transceiver with a unique media address corresponding to a unique product;

broadcasting a first signal including an order command and the unique media address by the transceiver via a wireless medium;

a central controller receiving the first signal, identifying the unique media address included in the first signal, and using a database identifying the unique product associated with the unique media address; and

activating the light source at a first blinking rate.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

broadcasting a second signal including the unique media address and an acknowledgement command via a wireless medium;

a wireless device with a transceiver with the unique media address receiving the second signal and activating the light source at a second blinking rate; and

the central controller ordering retrieval of the unique product from a central storage facility..

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

retrieving the unique product from the central storage facility;

broadcasting a third signal including the unique media address and a retrieval command via a wireless medium; and

a wireless device with a transceiver with the unique media address receiving the third signal and activating the light source at a third blinking rate.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

delivering the unique product to the location of the wireless device;

broadcasting a fourth signal including the unique media address and a retrieval command via a wireless medium; and

a wireless device with a transceiver with the unique media address receiving the fourth signal and activating the light source at a fourth blinking rate.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

reactivating the button on the wireless device;

broadcasting a fifth signal including a cancel command and the unique media address by the transceiver via a wireless medium;

a central controller receiving the fifth signal, identifying the unique media address included in the first signal, and using a database identifying the unique product associated with the unique media address; and

activating the light source at a fifth blinking rate.

6. A method of inventory management, comprising:

activating a button on a wireless device, the wireless device having a light source and a transceiver with a unique media address corresponding to a unique product;

broadcasting a first signal including an order command and the unique media address by the transceiver via a wireless medium using the IEEE 802.11 protocol;

a central controller receiving the first signal, identifying the unique media address included in the first signal, and using a database identifying the unique product associated with the unique media address; and

activating the light source at a first blinking rate.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

broadcasting a second signal including the unique media address and an acknowledgement command via a wireless medium using the IEEE 802.11 protocol;

a wireless device with a transceiver with the unique media address receiving the second signal and activating the light source at a second blinking rate; and

the central controller ordering retrieval of the unique product from a central storage facility.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

retrieving the unique product from the central storage facility;

broadcasting a third signal including the unique media address and a retrieval command via a wireless medium using the IEEE 802.11 protocol; and

a wireless device with a transceiver with the unique media address receiving the third signal and activating the light source at a third blinking rate.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

delivering the unique product to the location of the wireless device;

broadcasting a fourth signal including the unique media address and a retrieval command via a wireless medium using the IEEE 802.11 protocol; and

a wireless device with a transceiver with the unique media address receiving the fourth signal and activating the light source at a fourth blinking rate.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

reactivating the button on the wireless device;

broadcasting a fifth signal including a cancel command and the unique media address by the transceiver via a wireless medium using the IEEE 802.11 protocol;

a central controller receiving the fifth signal, identifying the unique media address included in the first signal, and using a database identifying the unique product associated with the unique media address; and

activating the light source at a fifth blinking rate.

11. A wireless pendant comprising:

a housing;

a wireless network card;

an antenna;

an activation button;

an indicator LED housed on a circuit board;

a battery pack;

wherein the circuit board includes circuitry to regulate power supplied from the battery pack and interface between the activation button, the indicator LED and the wireless network card.

12. The wireless pendant as in claim 11, further comprising:

a battery threshold circuit for sending a signal to the wireless network card to indicate that the battery pack power is low.

13. A system for inventory management, comprising:

(1) a plurality of wireless pendants installed in a manufacturing facility, wherein each of the plurality of wireless pendants is uniquely associated with a component and is capable of being easily installed anywhere within the manufacturing facility, and wherein each of the wireless pendants comprises;

(a) a housing;

(b) a wireless network card;

(c) an antenna;

(d) an activation button;

(e) an indicator LED housed on a circuit board;

(f) a battery pack;

wherein the circuit board includes circuitry to regulate power supplied from the battery back and interface between the activation button, the indicator LED and the wireless network card;

(2) a wired network; and

(3) at least one access point;

wherein the at least one access point is capable of transmitting transmission data from the wired network to the plurality of wireless pendants via a wireless medium and receiving reception data from the plurality of wireless pendants to the wired network via a wireless medium;

and wherein upon activation of the activation button of one of the plurality of wireless pendants, the component uniquely associated with the wireless pendant is delivered to the location of the wireless pendant.