Inventory management system and method

• US 20030088442A1
• Filed: 10/23/2002
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Häfele SE & Co KG
• Original Assignee: Häfele SE & Co KG
• Inventors: Michael, Martin W., Bogert, Daphne C.
• Application Number:
  US10/278,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088442A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A method for managing a main inventory of items across a distributed mobile work force, wherein each worker has a mobile computing device which includes a full complement of inventory management functions. Each mobile worker manages their own sub-inventory of items and a local database is stored on the mobile computing device containing a list of the items in the sub-inventory. As the worker distributes items from and receives items into the sub-inventory, the local database is updated by recording each transaction. The local database is synchronized with a main database containing a list of the main inventory such that any transactions performed on the sub-inventory are recorded in the main database and reflected in the main inventory.

Claims

1. A method for managing a main inventory of items across a distributed mobile work force, wherein each worker has a mobile computing device, comprising the steps of:

receiving a sub-inventory from the main inventory and recording the sub-inventory on the mobile computing device;

disbursing the sub-inventory from a mobile worker to a consumer and updating the sub-inventory on the mobile computing device;

replenishing the sub-inventory from items in the main inventory and updating the sub-inventory on the mobile computing device;

counting the items in the sub-inventory and comparing the result of the physical count with a count stored on the mobile computing device;

transferring items from one sub-inventory to a second sub-inventory utilizing the workers'"'"' respective mobile computing devices; and

synchronizing the mobile computing device with a main database, which stores a list of the main inventory, whereby the sub-inventory transactions performed on the mobile computing device are recorded in the main database and against the main inventory.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device includes a barcode reader and the receiving, disbursing, replenishing, and counting steps include scanning the barcode of the item to be added to or removed from the sub-inventory.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device includes a wireless communication device and the transferring step is performed by passing the information regarding the items moved from one sub-inventory to the second sub-inventory from one mobile computing device to a second mobile computing device wirelessly.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the wireless communication device includes an infrared port.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving step further includes capturing a signature on the mobile computing device for verifying the receiving transaction.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the disbursing step further includes capturing a signature on the mobile computing device for verifying the disbursement transaction.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the replenishing step further includes creating an automatic replenishment order based upon the worker'"'"'s prior replenishment and disbursement history.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the creating step is accessible via a single button on the mobile computing device.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the counting step further includes capturing a signature on the mobile computing device for verifying the count transaction.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transferring step further includes capturing a signature on the mobile computing device for verifying the transfer transaction.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of capturing a signature on the mobile computing device for verifying a transaction involving the sub-inventory.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of reviewing transactions previously performed on the sub-inventory.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of generating an automatic order based upon a consumer'"'"'s prior order history.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the generating step is accessible via a single button on the mobile computing device.

15. A method for automatically tracking the distribution of a pharmaceutical product sample, comprising the steps of:

marking the sample with an automatic identification code;

scanning the sample with a scanning device to read the automatic identification code a first time when a pharmaceutical company representative receives the sample from a pharmaceutical company;

scanning the sample with the scanning device to read the automatic identification code a second time when the pharmaceutical company representative provides a health care provider with the sample;

capturing the health care provider'"'"'s signature on the scanning device; and

synchronizing the scanning device with a central database to track the sample from the pharmaceutical company to the health care provider.

16. A method for automatically tracking the distribution of a pharmaceutical product sample, comprising the steps of:

labeling the sample with a barcode;

scanning the barcode with a scanning device a first time when a pharmaceutical company representative receives the sample from a pharmaceutical company;

scanning the barcode with the scanning device a second time when the pharmaceutical company representative provides a health care provider with the sample;

capturing the health care provider'"'"'s signature on the scanning device; and

synchronizing the scanning device with a central database to track the sample from the pharmaceutical company to the health care provider.

17. A system for automatically tracking the distribution of a pharmaceutical product sample, comprising:

an automatic identification code attached to a container for the sample;

a scanning device, including means for scanning said automatic identification code and means for capturing a signature; and

synchronizing means for synchronizing said scanning device with a central database.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said automatic identification code is a barcode and said scanning device is a barcode reader.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein said automatic identification code is a magnetic stripe and said scanning device is a magnetic stripe reader.

20. A system according to claim 17, wherein said automatic identification code is a radio frequency identification tag and said scanning device is a radio frequency receiver.

21. A system according to claim 17, wherein said scanning device is attached to a personal digital assistant and said synchronizing means includes connecting the personal digital assistant to a computer that is connected to the central database.