Inventory system with barcode display

• US 20050140498A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bastian Software Solutions LLC (A & O Hydraulic Repair LLC)
• Original Assignee: ASAP Automation LLC (A & O Hydraulic Repair LLC)
• Inventors: Bastian, William A. II
• Granted Patent: US 7,262,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.920
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A pick/put to display (PTD) device includes an image display that allows the PTD device to display images related to a product, such as a picture of the product, a barcode or an instructional video. By having the capability to display images of the product, the PTD device is able to reduce the risk that the wrong product will be picked or placed in a storage location. Multiple barcodes can be scanned rapidly without the need to re-aim the scanner. The image display further allows the PTD device to display arrows that can point in a multitude of directions. With the capability of having arrows point in numerous directions, a single PTD device is able to service multiple storage locations, thereby reducing the number of PTD devices needed. The PTD device is further capable of downloading and playing sound files for a product so that audio instructions or alerts can be played.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a pick/put to display device that includes an alert device and a display, wherein the pick/put to display device is located proximal to at least a first inventory location and a second inventory location;

drawing attention to the pick/put to display device by activating the alert device;

displaying a first location barcode on the display that identifies the first inventory location; and

displaying a second location barcode on the display that identifies the second inventory location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the alert device includes an indicator light; and

said drawing attention includes lighting the indicator light.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the alert device includes a speaker; and

said drawing attention includes emitting a sound from the speaker.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a product barcode that identifies a product stored at the first inventory location.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a location arrow on the display that points to the first inventory location as the first location barcode is displayed.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal from a barcode scanner after said displaying the first location barcode;

determining with the pick/put to display device that the first location barcode was not scanned by the barcode scanner based on the signal; and

showing the first location barcode on the display in response to said determining.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying a notification message on the display to indicate that the first location barcode was not scanned in response to said determining.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

wherein the pick/put to display device includes a speaker; and

playing a notification message on the speaker to indicate that the first location barcode was not scanned in response to said determining.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the first location barcode at the pick/put to display device from a barcode scanner that scanned the first location barcode from a barcode label prior to said displaying the first location barcode.

10. A method, comprising:

providing a pick/put to display device that includes an alert device and a display;

drawing attention to the pick/put to display device by activating the alert device;

displaying a first barcode on the display of the pick/put to display device;

receiving input with the pick/put to display device; and

displaying a second barcode on the display of the pick/put to display device after said receiving the input.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the alert device includes an indicator light; and

said drawing attention includes lighting the indicator light.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first barcode includes a location barcode that identifies a storage location.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising

wherein said receiving the input includes receiving a signal from a barcode scanner;

determining that the barcode scanner scanned the first barcode based on the signal with the pick/put to display device; and

said displaying the second barcode after said determining that the barcode scanner scanned the first barcode.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising

wherein the input is received from a barcode scanner;

wherein said displaying the first barcode continues until the input indicates that the first barcode was scanned.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the pick/put to display device includes a button and the input occurs by pressing the button.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first barcode includes a first location barcode that identifies a first storage location and the second barcode includes a second location barcode that identifies a second storage location.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

wherein the first barcode includes a product barcode that identifies a product; and

displaying an image of the product on the display with the first barcode.

18. An inventory tracking system, comprising:

a pick/put to display device located proximal to at least one storage location, the pick/put to display device including

a processor,

an alert device operatively coupled to the processor, the alert device being configured to draw attention to the pick/put to display device, and

an image display operatively coupled to the processor, the image display being operable to display at least one barcode related to the storage location; and

a server operatively coupled to the pick/put to display device, the server being operable to update the barcode by transmitting the update to the pick/put to display device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the barcode includes a location barcode that identifies the storage location.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising a network through which the pick/put to display device and the server are operatively coupled.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the image display is operable to display multiple barcodes in succession.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is operable to update the barcode on an as needed basis.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the pick/put to display device includes memory in which the barcode is stored.

24. The system of claim 18, further comprising a barcode scanner to scan the barcode on the display.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the barcode scanner is operatively coupled to the pick/put to display device.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the pick/put to display device is operable to receive a signal from the barcode scanner and based on the signal determine if the barcode was scanned.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the alert device includes an indicator light.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is operable to transmit an image of the barcode to the pick/put to display device.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is operable to transmit an alphanumeric representation of the barcode to the pick/put to display device.

30. The system of claim 18, further comprising a sensor operatively coupled to the processor to sense one or more environmental conditions, wherein the processor is operable to adjust the image display based on the environmental conditions to enhance the barcode for scanning.

31. An inventory system, comprising:

a storage system including at least a first storage location and a second storage location; and

a pick/put to display device positioned proximal the first storage location and the second storage location, the pick/put to display device including

means for drawing attention to the pick/put to display device, and

means for displaying a first barcode related to the first storage location and a second barcode related to the second storage location.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein:

said means for drawing attention includes an indicator light; and

said means for displaying includes an image display.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the first barcode includes a first location barcode that identifies the first location.