BATTERY MONITORING IN A NETWORKED INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An inventory control device comprising:
- a plurality of storage locations configured to store inventory items;
a processor and sensing device configured to determine the presence or absence of inventory items in the plurality of storage locations;
a power source comprising at least one battery pack operative to provide electrical power to the processor and the sensing device; and
a power source controller configured to control the power source to provide the electrical power to the processor and the sensing device,wherein the power source controller is configured to perform functions to;
retrieve, from each of the at least one battery pack, an identifier uniquely identifying the battery pack;
monitor the operation of each of the at least one battery pack; and
store in memory data indicative of the monitored operation of each of the at least one battery pack in association with the retrieved unique identifier for the battery pack.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inventory control device, such as an electronic toolbox, monitors the identity of battery packs that are mounted in the device and used to provide electrical power to the device. The device retrieves a unique identifier for each battery pack, and monitors the operation of each battery pack. The monitored data can be logged into memory for future use, communicated to a user of the inventory control device, and/or used to predict the future performance or replacement date for a battery pack. The monitored data can also be communicated across a communication network to an inventory control server that monitors the operation and performance of battery packs throughout an electronic tools control system including multiple toolboxes. The server can further track the operation and locations of battery packs through all of the toolboxes.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An inventory control device comprising:
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a plurality of storage locations configured to store inventory items; a processor and sensing device configured to determine the presence or absence of inventory items in the plurality of storage locations; a power source comprising at least one battery pack operative to provide electrical power to the processor and the sensing device; and a power source controller configured to control the power source to provide the electrical power to the processor and the sensing device, wherein the power source controller is configured to perform functions to; retrieve, from each of the at least one battery pack, an identifier uniquely identifying the battery pack; monitor the operation of each of the at least one battery pack; and store in memory data indicative of the monitored operation of each of the at least one battery pack in association with the retrieved unique identifier for the battery pack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electronic inventory control system comprising:
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a data communication network; a plurality of inventory control devices communicatively connected to the data communication network, each inventory control device comprising a plurality of storage locations configured to store inventory items, a processor and sensing device configured to determine the presence or absence of inventory items in the plurality of storage locations, a power source comprising at least one battery pack operative to provide electrical power to the processor and the sensing device, and a network communication interface for communicating across the data communication network; and an inventory control server communicatively connected to the data communication network to communicate with each of the plurality of inventory control devices, wherein the inventory control server is configured to perform functions to; receive, via the data communication network from each of the inventory control devices, battery pack information including data indicative of monitored operation of a battery pack in the inventory control device in association with an identifier uniquely identifying the battery pack. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification