Demand-controlled logistical system and a method for monitoring a demand-controlled logistical system

• US 20040068450A1
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Holzschuh, Michael, Heilmann, Ludwig, Helldorfer, Hans-Ludwig
• Application Number:
  US10/416,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20040068450A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

The invention relates to a demand-controlled logistical system, comprising a video camera arrangement (4), recording an area (1) for delivery units (2) at a supplier, whereby the image of said area (1) provides corresponding data, which may be transmitted by means of a data connection, preferably the internet (10), to the supplier for representation on a display unit (11).

Claims

1. Demand-controlled logistics system, comprising a video camera arrangement (4) that records a floor area (1) for delivery units (2) allocated to a supplier and outputs data corresponding to the image of the floor area (1) that proceed to the supplier via a data line (10) for presentation on a display unit (11).

2. Logistics system according to claim 1, whereby the data line (10) is at least partly formed by the Internet (WWW).

3. Logistics system according to claim 1 or 2, whereby the video camera arrangement (4) comprises a video camera (5) connected to a computer (6).

4. Logistics system according to claim 3, whereby a personal computer (PC) is provided as computer (6).

5. Logistics system according to claim 3 or 4, whereby a web camera (webcam) is provided as video camera (5).

6. Logistics system according to one of the claims 1 through 5, whereby a still image is transmitted as image.

7. Logistics system according to claim 6, whereby an updating of the still image ensues updated [sic] at defined, preferably adjustable time intervals.

8. Logistics system according to claim 6 or 7, whereby the video camera arrangement (4) comprises actuation means (7) upon whose actuation an updating of the still image ensues.

9. Logistics system according to one of the claims 6 through 8, whereby the display unit (11) comprises actuation means (13) upon whose actuation an updating of the still image ensues.

10. Logistics system according to claim 9, whereby the actuation means respectively comprise a data carrier (3) for data identifying the delivery unit (2) that is attached to the individual delivery units (2) and a read device for the data carrier that is connected to the display device (11).

11. Logistics system according to one of the claims 1 through 10, whereby the display unit (11) comprises a computer (12) with display device (14).

12. Logistics system according to claim 11, whereby a personal computer (PC) is provided as computer (12).

13. Method for monitoring a floor area (1) for delivery units (2) allocated to a supplier involved in a demand-controlled logistics system, comprising the method steps that the floor area (1) is recorded with a video camera arrangement (4) and that output data of the video camera arrangement (4) corresponding to the image of the floor area (1) are transmitted to the supplier via a data line (10) and are presented on a display unit (11) thereat.

14. Method according to claim 13, whereby the image of the floor area (1) is at least respectively updated after removal of a delivery unit (2) and is transmitted to the supplier.

15. Method according to claim 14, whereby a corresponding actuation means (7) of the video camera arrangement (4) is actuated for the updating of the image.