METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INVENTORY DATA ENTRY

• US 20080149712A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Peters, Johan Christiaan
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,471 B2
• 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

A method and a system for inventory data entry. The method generates identification codes that correspond to labels affixed to items to be logged into inventory and stores information about items associated with the identification codes. The method further allows a user to search for an identification code in the database when the item is ready to be logged in. The system provides a memory and a processor for inventory data entry.

Claims

1. A data entry method for a computer inventory system, comprising:

querying an operator for identification of a first inventory tracking code from a collection of pre-printed inventory tracking labels, the inventory tracking labels to be physically affixed to inventory items;

querying the operator for status information about a first inventory item;

storing the status information about the first inventory item in association with the first inventory tracking code; and

repeatedly,

proposing to the operator a subsequent inventory tracking code derived from the first inventory tracking code and previously proposed subsequent inventory tracking codes,

querying the operator for status information about a subsequent inventory item, and

storing the status information about the subsequent inventory item in association with the subsequent inventory tracking code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the proposing comprises:

incrementing the immediately preceding proposed inventory tracking code to get the proposed subsequent inventory tracking code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the proposing comprises:

executing a deterministic algorithm based on to the inventory tracking codes to get the proposed subsequent inventory tracking code.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when there is a discontinuity in the inventory tracking codes, querying the operator for identification of the first inventory tracking code after the discontinuity.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein duplicates of the inventory tracking labels are to be physically affixed to respective shipping forms for the inventory items.

4. A computer-implemented method comprising:

responsive to an input of a code pre-printed on a first one of a collection of labels to be affixed to items, generating a collection of identification codes, wherein each identification code has a corresponding label that is the same as the identification code; and

storing the identification codes to process upon receipt of the items affixed with the corresponding labels.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the generating comprises:

receiving the input of the code pre-printed on the first label,

receiving a second input of the number of labels, and

generating the identification codes based on at least one of the code pre-printed on the first label and the number of labels.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the generating comprises:

generating the identification codes in sequential order, beginning with the code pre-printed on the first label.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the storing comprises:

storing a plurality of data records, each data record comprising a first field for an identification code, a second field for a description of an item having affixed thereto a label corresponding to the identification code in the first field, and a third field for a flag to be set when the item described in the second field is received.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the order of the identification codes is the same as the order of the labels.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

responsive to a request for an identification code corresponding to a label affixed to an item, selecting the first one of a plurality of predetermined identification codes that is indicated as available;

if the selected identification code does not match the requested identification code, finding the one of the predetermined identification codes that does match; and

updating, for the item, a data record that includes the requested identification code.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the label is one of a plurality of labels that correspond to the plurality of predetermined identification codes.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the selecting comprises:

selecting the first identification code that is indicated as not corresponding to any item.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the finding comprises:

searching by matching, comprising

in response to an input of at least a portion of the requested identification code, matching the portion to the predetermined identification codes, and

selecting the matched predetermined identification code as the requested identification code.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the finding comprises:

searching by scrolling, comprising

in response to a first input, displaying a scrolling list of the predetermined identification codes, beginning with the selected first available identification code and neighboring identification codes,

scrolling down the displayed list until the requested identification code is displayed, and

in response to a second input, selecting the requested identification code.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the finding comprises:

searching by tabbing, comprising

in response to a tab input, sequentially displaying the predetermined identification codes beginning with the selected first available identification code,

repeating the tab input until the requested identification code is displayed, and

in response to another input, selecting the requested identification code.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the updating comprises:

retrieving the data record from memory,

adding data about the item to the data record,

indicating in the data record that the item has been received, and

storing the updated data record.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

designating the requested identification code as unavailable.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending an error message if the requested identification code is erroneously indicated as unavailable.

18. An inventory data entry system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor in communication with the memory to

query an operator for a code pre-printed on a first of a set of pre-printed labels, the labels to be attached to inventory items,

generate the plurality of identification codes based on the code pre-printed on the first label and previously generated identification codes, the identification codes and corresponding codes pre-printed on the labels being the same, and

store, in the memory, status information about the items in association with the identification codes that correspond to the labels affixed to the respective items.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is to:

propose to the operator each generated identification code, and

if the proposed identification code is acceptable, store the status information about the item in association with the proposed identification code,

otherwise, receive a request for another identification code from the operator and store the status information about the item in association with the requested identification code.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is to:

when a label is attached to an item,

find a data record that includes the identification code that corresponds to the attached label, and

update the data record to include status information about the item.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is to:

upon receipt of a request from the operator to search for an identification code, search the identification codes for the requested identification code, and

retrieve a data record that includes the identification code.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is to:

delete the identification codes that correspond to lost or expired pre-printed labels.

23. A graphical user interface for searching a plurality of identification codes for the identification code that matches a label on an item, comprising:

an interactive window to

receive at least one input to direct the search,

display one or more of the identification codes as the codes are searched according to the input, and

display the identification code that matches the label on the item; and

an interactive button in communication with the window to provide the input to the window to cause the window to display one or more of the identification codes during the search.