Method and Apparatus for Toolbox Inventory

• US 20080059338A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CMC, Inc., Electronic Inventory Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Inventory Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Hubbard, Darryl G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,755,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/00 Storage means or arrangements for workshops facilitating access to, or handling of, work tools or instruments containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00; nail dispensers B25C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/028 by sliding extraction from within a common frame
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for electronically inventorying an electronically locked and unlocked toolbox before and after RFID (Radio Frequency IDentified) tagged tools are accessed by an authorized user. A record is generated and stored of tools added and/or removed along with the identity of the accessing user. At anytime it is desired, a record may be generated of tagged tools in the toolbox or, alternatively, a list of tagged tools missing from assigned positions in the toolbox.

Claims

1. A method of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged tool inventory control, the method comprising:

reading a close proximity user RFID tag in association with a given toolbox as a first event, comparing data obtained from said user RFID tag at said first event with users authorized to access said given toolbox;

preparing a first inventory list of all presently readable tools initially in said toolbox;

reading a close proximity user RFID tag in association with said given toolbox, after closure of said given toolbox, as a second event;

preparing a second inventory list of all presently readable tools remaining in said given toolbox; and

transmitting a record indicative of the difference between said first and second inventory lists to a database for storage along with an indication of the user that caused the change in toolbox inventory.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a security alarm when the second event reading occurs before the toolbox is properly closed.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recording the opening and access of tagged tools in said given toolbox.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating an inventory alarm when data obtained from said first and second event user tag readings is other than identical.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the preparing an inventory list comprises:

addressing at least one antenna placed in proximity to at least one RFID tagged tool;

retrieving data from each tagged tool in proximity to said antenna; and

assembling retrieved data into an inventory list.

6. A computer program product comprising:

a signal bearing medium bearing;

one or more instructions for reading a close proximity user radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in association with a given toolbox as a first event;

one or more instructions for comparing data obtained from said user RFID tag at said first event with users authorized to access said given toolbox;

one or more instructions for preparing a first inventory list of all presently readable tools initially in said toolbox;

one or more instructions for reading a close proximity user RFID tag in association with said given toolbox, after closure of said given toolbox, as a second event;

one or more instructions for preparing a second inventory list of all presently readable tools remaining in said given toolbox; and

one or more instructions for transmitting a record indicative of the difference between said first and second inventory lists to a database for storage along with an indication of the user that caused the change in toolbox inventory.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the signal bearing medium comprises:

a recordable medium.

8. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the signal bearing medium comprises:

a transmission medium.

9. The computer program product of claim 6 further comprising:

one or more instructions for generating a security alarm when the second event reading occurs before the toolbox is properly closed.

10. The computer program product of claim 6 further comprising:

one or more instructions for recording the opening and access of tagged tools in said given toolbox.

11. The computer program product of claim 6 further comprising:

one or more instructions for generating an inventory alarm when data obtained from said first and second event user tag readings is other than identical.

12. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the one or more instructions for preparing a first inventory list of all presently readable tools in said toolbox comprises:

one or more instructions for addressing at least one antenna placed in proximity to at least one RFID tagged tool;

one or more instructions for retrieving data from each tagged tool in proximity to said antenna; and

one or more instructions for assembling retrieved data into an inventory list.

13. A toolbox comprising:

an electronically controlled lock;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader coupled to the electronically controlled lock, the RFID reader configured to detect each of a plurality of tagged tools in said toolbox;

first event logic means coupled to said electronically controlled lock and to said reader, said first event logic means configured to prepare a first inventory list of each of a plurality of readable tools initially in said toolbox before deactivating said electronically controlled lock to allow access to said toolbox, said RFID reader configured to be networked to a second event logic means configured to prepare a second inventory list of each of the plurality of readable tools remaining in said toolbox subsequent to activating said electronically controlled lock.

14. The toolbox of claim 13 further comprising report means coupled to one or more of the RFID reader, the first event logic means and/or the second event logic means via a network connection operable to access said first and second inventory lists and to generate a record indicative of any differences between said first and second inventory lists for transmission to a database along with an indication of the user that accessed the toolbox.

15. An electronic checkout system comprising:

an electronically lockable toolbox;

a plurality of RFID (radio frequency identification) tagged tools stored in said electronically lockable toolbox, each of said RFID tagged tools having an RFID tag operating as an identifier for each of said tools;

a first RFID reader mounted on said electronically lockable toolbox, said first RFID reader adapted to read RFID tags for each of said tools to determine tools added as well as tools removed by an authorized user between an event signifying an unlocking and opening of the toolbox and an event signifying a complete closure and locking of said toolbox, said first RFID reader reading and recording the RFID tag for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from and/or added to said electronically lockable toolbox;

a close proximity second RFID reader mounted on said electronically lockable toolbox, said close proximity second RFID reader being adapted to read a user supplied RFID device, and

an identification device having a radio frequency identification device imbedded therein, said identification device configured to enable a toolbox user to identify said user as an individual authorized to remove one or more of the plurality of RFID tagged tools from and/or add one or more of the plurality of RFID tagged tools to said electronically lockable toolbox.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said second RFID reader reading the radio frequency identification device of said identification device is configured to determine when the individual attempting to open a toolbox is an authorized user, said second RFID reader further configured to de-activate a toolbox lock when it is determined that the individual attempting to open a toolbox is an authorized user.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said second RFID reader is configured to read the radio frequency identification device of said identification device and configured to determine when the individual attempting to close a toolbox is the same authorized individual user that caused the toolbox to be unlocked and opened, said second RFID reader further configured to activate a toolbox lock when it is determined that the individual attempting to close the toolbox is the same authorized user and all electrical contacts of the toolbox indicate a complete closure.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a wireless link having an antenna, said wireless link being connected to a network;

a database connected to said network, said database including a list of employees authorized to remove said portable tools from and/or add tools to said toolbox and a list of any tagged tools not presently in appropriate positions within a given toolbox; and

transceiver means comprising a part of each of said first and second RFID readers, said transceiver means configured to communicate between said readers and said database.

19. An apparatus for providing radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged tool inventory control the apparatus comprising:

a toolbox configured with a plurality of recesses wherein at least some of said recesses conforms to the shape of given RFID tagged tools;

an electronically controlled lock coupled to said toolbox, said electronically controlled lock configured to activate while said toolbox is in a closed condition, said electronically controlled lock further configured to secure tools in said toolbox and operable when deactivated to allow access to said given RFID tagged tools in said toolbox;

a first RFID reader coupled to said toolbox, said first RFID reader configured to read each of the given RFID tagged tools in said toolbox;

a user identifier operable to generate a first event signal that an identified user wishes to access the contents of said toolbox and to generate a second event signal when said identified user wishes to close and secure access to the contents of said toolbox; and

logic means, electrically connected to said electronically controlled lock, said first RFID reader and said user identifier, said logic means configured to

(a) initiate a scan of one or more tagged tools in said toolbox upon receipt of said first event signal,

(b) record the identity of the identified user initiating said first event signal,

(c) generate a first list of the one or more tagged tools detected in the toolbox,

(d) deactivate said lock means whereby the one or more tagged tools in the toolbox may be accessed,

(e) activate said lock whereby the one or more tagged tools in the toolbox may no longer be accessed upon receipt of said second event signal,

(f) initiate a second scan of the one or more tagged tools in said toolbox,

(g) record the identity of the user initiating said second event signal,

(h) generate a second list of the one or more tagged tools detected in the toolbox, and

(i) generate after comparing said first and second list, a record of the one or more tagged tools removed and/or added to said toolbox between said first and second event signals.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said user identifier comprises a close proximity RFID reader circuitry operable to read a tagged identification and said logic means includes a transmitter configured to send data related to at least one of the one or more tagged tools contained, removed, added and/or missing from said toolbox to a remote database.

21. A method for providing radio frequency identification (RFID) RFID tagged tool inventory control of a toolbox, the method comprising:

preparing a first inventory list of all presently readable tools initially in said toolbox before allowing identified user access to said toolbox;

preparing a second inventory list of all presently readable tools remaining in said toolbox upon completion of closing and locking of said toolbox; and

generating a record indicative of any differences between said first and second inventory lists for transmission to a database along with an indication of the user that accessed the toolbox.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising checking the identification of a user attempting access to said toolbox against a list of authorized users before allowing access to said toolbox.

23. A toolbox comprising:

an electronically controlled lock;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader coupled to the electronically controlled lock, the RFID reader configured to detect each of a plurality of tagged tools in said toolbox;

first event logic means, connected to said electronically controlled lock and to said reader, said first event logic means configured to prepare a first inventory list of each of a plurality of readable tools initially in said toolbox before deactivating said electronically controlled lock to allow access to said toolbox;

second event logic means coupled to said electronically controlled lock and to said RFID reader, for preparing a second inventory list of each of the plurality of readable tools remaining in said toolbox subsequent to activating said electronically controlled lock; and

report means operable to access said first and second inventory lists and to generate a record indicative of any differences between said first and second inventory lists for transmission to a database along with an indication of the user that accessed the toolbox.