Inventory assisting assembly and method of using same

• US 20060076408A1
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bill Kosiba, Martyn Glover, Michael Gelaude, William A. Phillips
• Original Assignee: Bill Kosiba, Martyn Glover, Michael Gelaude, William A. Phillips
• Inventors: Phillips, William A., Kosiba, Bill, Gelaude, Michael, Glover, Martyn
• Application Number:
  US10/961,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20060076408A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An inventory assisting system coordinates activity relating to the acts of receipt and inventory of motor vehicles in a lot wherein each of the motor vehicles has a vehicle identification number and a graphic representation of the vehicle identification number. The inventory assisting assembly includes a wireless device capable of transmitting data signals using electromagnetic radiation. A scanner is operatively connected to the wireless device for scanning the graphic representation of the vehicle identification number and for transmitting the data to the wireless device. The scanned data is converted into data signals for transmission. The inventory assisting assembly also includes a server designed to receive the data signals from the wireless device and for transforming the data signal into a readable output identifying all characteristics of the motor vehicle that are encoded in the vehicle identification number.

Claims

1. An inventory assisting assembly for coordinating activity relating to the acts of receipt and inventory of motor vehicles in a lot wherein each of the motor vehicles has a vehicle identification number and a graphic representation of the vehicle identification number, said inventory assisting assembly comprising:

a wireless device capable of transmitting data signals using electromagnetic radiation;

a scanner operatively connected to said wireless device for scanning the graphic representation of the vehicle identification number and transmitting scanned data to said wireless device for converting said scanned data into said data signals for transmission; and

a server designed to receive said data signals from said wireless device and for transferring said data signals into a readable output identifying all characteristics of the motor vehicle that are encoded in the vehicle identification number.

2. An inventory assisting assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a printer electronically connected to said server for printing said readable output for use in relation to the motor vehicle.

3. An inventory assisting assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a remote computer electrically connected to said server for viewing said readable output and for data entry with respect to said readable output to embellish information associated with the motor vehicle.

4. An inventory assisting assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said wireless device includes an input pad to input the vehicle identification number as an alternative to scanning the graphic representation of the vehicle identification number.

5. A method for assisting in an inventory process of motor vehicles using a wireless device, a scanner secured thereto, a server, a printer and a remote computer, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting a vehicle identification number into the wireless device;

transmitting the vehicle identification number to the server;

decoding the vehicle identification number to extrapolate all information in the vehicle identification number to create a vehicle record of the motor vehicle;

transmitting the vehicle record to the remote computer; and

inputting additional information regarding the motor vehicle into the vehicle record and storing same therein.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of printing the vehicle record from the printer.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the step of printing includes the step of printing a window sticker to be adhered to a window of the motor vehicle.

8. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the step of printing includes the step of printing a plurality of keytags.

9. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the step of printing includes the step of printing a plurality of stickers to be subsequently affixed to papers and folders.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of printing a plurality of stickers includes the step of printing a plurality of stickers in a plurality of different sizes.

11. A method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of identifying the location of the motor vehicle and adding the location to the vehicle record.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of editing information in the vehicle record.

13. A method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of comparing the vehicle identification number as input against a stock list of vehicle identification numbers to ensure accuracy.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 including the step of storing all edits and additions with the vehicle record.

15. A method for assisting in an inventory process of motor vehicles using a wireless device, a scanner secured thereto, a server, a printer and a remote computer, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting a vehicle identification number into the wireless device;

transmitting the vehicle identification number to the server;

decoding the vehicle identification number to extrapolate all information in the vehicle identification number to create a vehicle record of the motor vehicle;

transmitting the vehicle record to the remote computer;

inputting additional information regarding the motor vehicle into the vehicle record and storing same therein; and

comparing the vehicle identification number as input against a stock list of vehicle identification numbers to ensure accuracy.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 including the step of printing the vehicle record from the printer.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 including the step of editing information in the vehicle record.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 including the step of storing all edits and additions with the vehicle record.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the step of printing includes the step of printing a window sticker to be adhered to a window of the motor vehicle.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the step of printing includes the step of printing a plurality of keytags.