Inventory management system

• US 20060293978A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nexiant Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nexiant Inc.
• Inventors: Godlewski, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,478 B2
• 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

Abstract

An inventory management system preferably including a supply crib configured to store a plurality of supply items. The supply crib has a controlled entryway to selectively permit access to the supply crib. A database contains inventory information relating to a quantity of each of the plurality of supply items allocated to the supply crib. A user terminal is capable of communicating with the database and is accessible from external the supply crib. The user terminal is configured to permit a user of the system to select a quantity of a desired item from the plurality of supply items within the crib. The system is configured to update the inventory information to reflect the addition or removal of the quantity of the desired item in response to the user initiating a door transaction, which preferably is either or both of an access request to the supply crib or entry into the supply crib by the user.

Claims

1. An inventory management system, comprising:

a plurality of supply cribs, each supply crib comprising a controlled access entry and an interface configured to permit input of a user identification, said system configured to permit entry into said supply crib in response to an appropriate entry request;

a server comprising a database having inventory information related to a quantity of supply items allocated to each of said plurality of supply cribs, said server configured for communication with said interface;

at least one user terminal accessible from external said plurality of supply cribs and capable of communication with said server, said user terminal configured to permit a user to create a pending transaction by identifying a quantity of each of one or more desired supply items, said user terminal also configured to communicate said pending transaction to said server;

wherein said system grants authorization for said user to access an appropriate one or more of said supply cribs in response to said creation of said pending transaction, and wherein said server receives notification of input of user identification into said interface of a selected one of said plurality of supply cribs by said user and updates said inventory information with respect to said one or more desired supply items allocated to said selected supply crib in response to at least one of said input of user identification or entry of said user into said selected supply crib.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said inventory information is updated in response to said entry into said selected supply crib by said user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said entry is determined to have occurred when said user opens a door of said selected supply crib.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said interface comprises an ID card reader.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said interface comprises a keyboard and computer screen.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user terminal is separated from said plurality of supply cribs.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user terminal includes a printer configured to print a list of items in said pending transaction.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user terminal communicates with said server over a computer network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user terminal comprises a computer that is not dedicated for use with said system.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user terminal comprises at least one terminal dedicated for use with said system and at least one terminal not dedicated for use with said system.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured such that said user may select a special order item from said database that is not located in any one of said plurality of supply cribs at the time of said selection, and wherein said special order item is subsequently delivered to one of said plurality of supply cribs.

12. An inventory management system, comprising:

a supply crib configured to store a plurality of supply items;

a controlled entryway comprising a door configured to selectively permit access through said entryway and a sensor arrangement configured to sense a door transaction, said door transaction comprising at least one of an entry request and an opening of said door by a user;

a database containing inventory information relating to a quantity of each of said plurality of supply items allocated to said supply crib;

a user terminal capable of communicating with said database, said user terminal accessible from external said supply crib, said user terminal configured to permit a user of said system to select a quantity of a desired item from said plurality of supply items;

wherein said system updates said inventory information to reflect the addition or removal of said quantity of said desired item in response said user initiating said door transaction.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said sensor arrangement comprises a door sensor configured to determine if said door is open.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said door transaction comprises opening of said door by said user.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said entry request comprises said user entering a user ID into the system via an interface associated with said controlled entryway.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said door transaction comprises said entering of said user ID by said user.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said user terminal is spaced from said supply crib.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein said system is configured such that said user may select a special order item from said database that is not located in any one of said plurality of supply cribs at the time of said selection, and wherein said special order item is subsequently delivered to said supply crib.

19. A method of managing inventory, comprising:

providing a database comprising inventory information related to a quantity of a plurality of supply items allocated to one or more controlled access supply cribs;

providing at least one user terminal accessible from external said one or more supply cribs, said at least one user terminal capable of communicating with said database and configured to permit a user to select a quantity of a desired item from said plurality of supply items;

updating said inventory information in said database to reflect the addition or removal of said quantity of said desired item when said user accesses a particular supply crib associated with said desired item.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said accessing said particular supply crib comprises entering a user ID into an interface associated with one of said supply cribs.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said accessing said particular supply crib comprises opening a door to said particular supply crib.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said providing at least one user terminal comprises providing a plurality of user terminals.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said at least one user terminal communicates with said database over an internet connection.

24. The method of claim 19, additionally comprising permitting said user to select a special order item that is not located within any of said supply cribs at the time of said selection, and subsequently delivering said special order item to one of said supply cribs.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said user selects multiple items, said method comprising printing a list of said selected items at said at least one user terminal.

26. The method of claim 19, additionally comprising providing a local terminal within said particular supply crib, said local terminal configured to permit said user to select an additional desired item after said user is within said particular supply crib and said system configured to update said database to reflect the addition or removal of said additional desired item.