INVENTORY MONITORING USING COMPLEMENTARY MODES FOR ITEM IDENTIFICATION

• US 20110320322A1
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Roslak, Thomas K., Findling, David M.
• Application Number:
  US12/823,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20110320322A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A technique for inventory monitoring using complementary modes for item identification includes; storing items in known locations within a defined area; tracking a user in the defined area; detecting that the user has removed an item from its known storage location; ascertaining a first identity of the item using first means; scanning the item to obtain a second identity of the item using second means different than the first means; correlating the results from detecting, ascertaining and scanning to determine if there is a discrepancy, and providing an alert if there is a discrepancy. If there is no discrepancy, checkout can proceed.

Claims

1. A method for inventory monitoring using complementary modes for item identification, the method comprising:

storing items in known locations within a defined area;

tracking a user in the defined area;

detecting that the user has removed an item from its known storage location;

ascertaining a first identity of the item using first means;

scanning the item to obtain a second identity of the item using second means different than the first means;

correlating the results from detecting, ascertaining and scanning to determine if there is a discrepancy; and

generating an alert if there is a discrepancy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein optical recognition is used in at least one of tracking, detecting, and ascertaining.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein wireless communication means are used in at least one of tracking, detecting, and ascertaining.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the discrepancy includes a difference between the first and second identities.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the discrepancy includes a difference in the number of items detected and scanned.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second means is a portable scanning terminal for the person, wherein the scanning terminal also operates for tracking.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second means communicates information to the user about items near the location of the scanning terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically checking out the items when the person is leaving the defined area if there is no discrepancy.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein checking out includes associating an item carrier with the user.

10. A system for inventory monitoring using complementary modes for item identification, the system comprising:

a tracking device operable to track a user in the defined area storing items in known locations;

an item detector operable to detect that the user has removed an item from its known storage location;

first means for ascertaining a first identity of the item;

second means different than the first means, the second means for scanning the item to obtain a second identity of the item;

an inventory monitor operable to correlate the first and second identities from the respective first means and second means, and to generate and alert if there is a discrepancy.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein an imaging device is used for at least one of the tracking device, item detector, and first means.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein wireless communication means are used for at least one of the tracking device, item detector, and first means.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the discrepancy includes a difference between the first and second identities.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the discrepancy includes a difference in the number of items detected and scanned.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the second means is a portable scanning terminal for the person, wherein the scanning terminal also operates for tracking the user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second means communicates information to the user about items near the location of the scanning terminal.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising a checkout kiosk operable to automatically check out the items when the person is leaving the defined area if there is no discrepancy.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising a checkout kiosk that associates an item carrier with the user.