INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20100187306A1
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worthwhile Products
• Original Assignee: Worthwhile Products
• Inventors: Solomon, Stanley B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,374,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/127 the circuit being confined in a vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2209/04 Indication location means

Abstract

The inventory control system includes a portable controller for receiving information relating to an item to be tracked by the inventory control system. The portable controller is in communication with a database that stores the information relating to the item. Preferably, the item includes a readable tag having a unique identification code affixed thereto. A sensor may monitor the general location of the tag after the item is entered into the inventory control system. Furthermore, a tag reader associated with the portable controller is able to pinpoint the specific location of the item via a laser-light beam within the area generally identified by the sensor.

Claims

1. An inventory control system, comprising:

a portable controller for receiving information relating to an item to be tracked by an inventory control system;

a database in communication with the portable controller for storing the information;

a readable tag having a unique identification code affixed to the item;

a sensor for monitoring the general location of the tag after the item is entered into the inventory control system; and

a tag reader associated with the portable controller to pinpoint the specific location of the item in an area generally identified by the sensor.

2. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the portable controller includes indicia for directionally pinpointing the location of the readable tag.

3. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a GPS sensor.

4. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a transmitter and a receiver in wireless communication with the portable controller.

5. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the portable controller comprises a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a smartphone, or a scanner.

6. The inventory control system of claim 5, wherein the scanner comprises a barcode scanner or an RFID scanner.

7. The inventory control system of claim 2, wherein the portable controller includes a pointer for directionally pinpointing the location of the readable tag.

8. The inventory control system of claim 7, wherein the pointer comprises a laser-light beam, an arrow displayed on an LCD screen of the controller, or an infrared light beam.

9. The inventory control system of claim 3, wherein the GPS sensor wirelessly communicates with a satellite system to identify the location of the readable tag via triangulation.

10. The inventory control system of claim 9, wherein the GPS sensor operates at multiple frequencies distinguishable over one another.

11. The inventory control system of claim 10, wherein the GPS sensor automatically switches to a new frequency when a conflicting frequency is detected.

12. The inventory control system of any of claims 1-6, including a discard sensor for automatically communicating to the database that the item was removed from the inventory control system.

13. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the portable controller is responsive to voice commands.

14. The inventory control system of claim 1, including a printer for imparting information to the readable tag.

15. The inventory control system of any of claims 1-6, wherein the database comprises a local database in the portable controller.

16. The inventory control system of claim 15, including a backup database in remote communication with the portable controller.

17. The inventory control system of claim 1 or 6, wherein the readable tag comprises an RFID chip and/or a barcode.

18. The inventory control system of claim 1, including an alarm for conveying an audio or visual notification.

19. The inventory control system of claim 1 or 5, wherein the portable controller includes a touch-sensitive LCD screen.