Inventory tracking
First Claim
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1. In a computer-assisted system for handling and tracking inventory, a vehicle for use in moving inventory, the vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body;
a power-operated mechanism configured to move relative to the vehicle body for engaging an inventory unit for moving the inventory unit from one location to a different location;
a transmit antenna mounted to the power-operated mechanism, the transmit antenna arranged and configured to activate an automatic identification object carried by the inventory unit, the automatic identification object configured to transmit identification information;
a receive antenna carried by the vehicle body, the receive antenna arranged and configured to receive the identification information transmitted by the automatic identification object; and
a reader carried by the vehicle body, the reader including a receive channel connecting the reader and the receive antenna to receive the identification information from the receive antenna and a transmit channel connecting the reader and the transmit antenna to communicate with the transmit antenna.
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Abstract
A computer-assisted method of tracking and handling inventory includes obtaining identification information of inventory components of a group of inventory units and comparing the identification information obtained to inventory unit composition data to determine which inventory units include the identified inventory components. Location information is obtained for at least one of the inventory units that include the identified inventory components. The location information is compared to a reference location for determining a location of the at least one inventory unit.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. In a computer-assisted system for handling and tracking inventory, a vehicle for use in moving inventory, the vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle body;
a power-operated mechanism configured to move relative to the vehicle body for engaging an inventory unit for moving the inventory unit from one location to a different location;
a transmit antenna mounted to the power-operated mechanism, the transmit antenna arranged and configured to activate an automatic identification object carried by the inventory unit, the automatic identification object configured to transmit identification information;
a receive antenna carried by the vehicle body, the receive antenna arranged and configured to receive the identification information transmitted by the automatic identification object; and
a reader carried by the vehicle body, the reader including a receive channel connecting the reader and the receive antenna to receive the identification information from the receive antenna and a transmit channel connecting the reader and the transmit antenna to communicate with the transmit antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An inventory handling device for use in handling and tracking inventory, the inventory handling device comprising:
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a power-operated mechanism configured to removably engage an inventory unit during a transport operation whereby the inventory unit is moved from one location to a different location; and
an antenna carried by the power-operated mechanism and configured to allow communication with an automatic identification object carried by the inventory unit, the antenna having an outer, load-bearing surface arranged to contact the inventory unit during use. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A vehicle for use in moving inventory, the vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle body;
a power-operated mechanism including a load engaging member capable of moving relative to the vehicle body for engaging an inventory unit for moving the inventory unit from one location to a different location;
a reader carried by the vehicle body; and
an antenna carried by the load engaging member;
wherein the reader and antenna are coupled to allow for interrogation of an automatic identification object carried by the inventory unit. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A computer-assisted method of tracking and handling inventory, the method comprising:
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obtaining identification information of inventory components of a group of inventory units;
comparing the identification information obtained to inventory unit composition data to determine which inventory units include the identified inventory components;
obtaining location information for at least one of the inventory units that include the identified inventory components; and
comparing the location information to a reference location for determining a location of the at least one inventory unit. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification