RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) SYSTEM FOR MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTION AND RETAILING OF KEYS

• US 20120084182A1
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
• Original Assignee: Hy-Ko Products Company
• Inventors: Bass, Michael A., Dively, Sandra, Steinberg, Robert, Ryai, Richard W. Sr.
• Application Number:
  US13/290,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20120084182A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0004 Lock assembling or manufacturing making locksmith's goods of sheet metal B21D53/38; assembling in general B23P21/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/00 Keys; Accessories therefor key modifications or attachments preventing removal from the lock E05B11/005; key rings A44B15/00; key cases A45C11/32; key holders A47G29/10; making keys, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D53/42; milling grooves in keys B23C3/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7073 Including use of a key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7876 Bow or head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8676 Key holders

Abstract

An automated inventory control system including a merchandising rack for displaying one or more products that is located at a retail outlet store is disclosed herein. The merchandising rack receives or displays one or more products having associated electronic identification devices secured thereto. An electronic reading device automatically scans all of the one or more electronic identification devices and determines data related to the products without the need for a manual initiating a scan for each of the one or more electronic identification devices. A host computing device receives instructions to initiate a scan from the receiver, initiates the scan by, and receives the data from, an electronic reading device and causes data to be transmitted to a computer under the control of a distributor, supplier or manufacturer.

Claims

1. An automated inventory control system comprising:

a merchandising rack for displaying one or more products, wherein the merchandising rack is located at a retail outlet store;

an electronic identification device secured to one or more products displayed on the merchandising rack;

an electronic reading device associated with the merchandising rack;

the electronic reading device configured to automatically scan all of the one or more electronic identification devices and determine data related to the products displayed on the merchandising rack, without the need for a manual initiation of a scan for each of the one or more electronic identification devices;

a host computing device having a processer in electronic communication with the electronic reading device;

a receiver and a transmitter;

the host computing device configured to receive instructions to initiate a scan from the receiver, initiate the scan by, and receive the data from, the electronic reading device and to transmit the data through the transmitter to a computer under the control of a distributor, supplier or manufacturer.

2. The automated inventory control system of claim 1 wherein the scanning is initiated from a computer under the control of a distributor, supplier or a manufacturer.

3. The automated inventory control system of claim 1 wherein the electronic identification device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

4. The automated inventory control system of claim 2 wherein the electronic reading device comprises a radio frequency identification device reader.

5. The automated inventory control system of claim 1 wherein the one or more products comprise one or more key blanks.

6. The automated inventory control system of claim 1 wherein the merchandising rack comprises one or more spindles for holding the one or more products.

7. The automated inventory control system of claim 1 wherein the data related to the products includes a quantity of products.

8. The automated inventory control system of claim 1 wherein the data related to the products includes a type of product.

9. The automated inventory control system of claim 1 wherein the data related to the products is transmitted over the world wide web.

10. The automated inventory control system of claim 1 wherein the host computing device is configured to alert a user that a product is placed in the wrong spot on the merchandising rack.

11. An automated merchandising rack comprising:

a plurality of spaces for displaying one or more products;

a radio frequency identification reader associated with the merchandising rack configured to read a plurality of radio frequency identification devices when one or more products having radio frequency identification devices are on the merchandising rack, without the need for a manual initiation of a scan for each of the one or more electronic identification devices;

a host computing processor in electronic communication with the radio frequency identification reader for initiating a scan of the one or more electronic identification devices and for obtaining data from the one or more radio frequency identification devices;

a receiving device in electrical communication with the host computing processor for receiving instructions from a remote source to initiate a scan;

a transmitting device in electrical communication with the host computing processor for transmitting the data from the host computing processor to a computer located at a site that is remote from the merchandising rack.

12. The merchandising rack of claim 11 wherein the instructions to initiate a scan are provided by a computer on behalf of a distributor, supplier, or manufacturer.

13. The merchandising rack of claim 11 further comprising one or more spindles located on the merchandizing rack.

14. The merchandising rack of claim 11 wherein the one or more products comprise key blanks.

15. The merchandising rack of claim 11 wherein the receiving device and transmitting device transmit and receive data over the world wide web.

16. The merchandising rack of claim 11 wherein data comprises a product quantity.

17. An automated method of controlling inventory comprising:

providing a merchandising rack at a retail outlet site;

providing a radio frequency identification device reader associated with the merchandising rack;

providing one or more products having one or more radio frequency identification devices secured thereto;

initiating a scan of the one or more radio frequency identification devices with the radio frequency identification device reader to obtain data relating to the quantity of products on the merchandising rack from a computing device located at a site remote from the retail outlet site; and

providing instructions to one of a distributor, a supplier, or manufacture to deliver additional products to the retail outlet.

18. The method of controlling inventory of claim 17 wherein the product is one or more key blanks.

19. The method of controlling inventory of claim 17 further comprising determining whether a user puts a product in an incorrect place on the merchandising rack.

20. The method of controlling inventory of claim 17 wherein initiating the scan of the one or more radio identification devices is initiated by a distributor, supplier or manufacturer.