Method and system for inventoring a distributed plurality of items on a supply
First Claim
1. A method of inventorying a plurality of items in a supply, said items including a plurality of subgroupings of similar item types distributed in a selected pattern among a plurality of known locations, said method of inventorying being performed by a plurality of known inventory entities, comprising:
- providing a plurality of first machine readable information carriers each with data relating to and identifying a unique and particular item type of said plurality of items in said supply;
providing a plurality of second machine readable information carriers for uniquely identifying each item in said supply independently of item type subgroupings;
providing a data reader for reading and recording data from said first and second machine readable information carriers;
providing a computer with a program resident in memory for receiving said data from said data reader;
applying one of said plurality of second machine readable information carriers to each of said items in said supply;
reading with said data reader a selected first machine readable information carrier, corresponding to a particular subgrouping of said item types;
reading with said data reader, prior to reading a subsequent first machine readable information carrier, a plurality of said second machine readable information carriers of a particular subgrouping of a single item type;
thereafterreading with said data reader additional ones of said first machine readable information carriers and second machine readable information carriers of other particular item types; and
transferring data read from said first and second machine readable information carriers to said program in said computer to form a database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for inventorying a plurality of items in a supply. The items include a plurality of subgroupings of similar "item types" which are distributed in a selected pattern among a plurality of known locations. The inventory process is done by a plurality of known inventory entities. The system includes a plurality of type identifiers, each carrying machine readable data specific to an item type, for distinguishing a particular item type from other item types. A plurality of sequential item identifiers are also provided for carrying machine readable data. A unique item identifier is applied to each item in the supply without regard to item type, for distinguishing each item from other items within and without a particular item type subgrouping. A device is provided for reading and storing machine readable data from the type identifiers and item identifiers. A computer is provided with a database computer program resident in memory for receiving machine readable data in a data stream from the device for reading and storing. The computer database program includes a plurality of fields of data pertaining to each item type and a plurality of fields of data pertaining to each item. The database computer program automatically identifies all item identifiers in a data stream to an adjoining type identifier in the data stream.
134 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of inventorying a plurality of items in a supply, said items including a plurality of subgroupings of similar item types distributed in a selected pattern among a plurality of known locations, said method of inventorying being performed by a plurality of known inventory entities, comprising:
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providing a plurality of first machine readable information carriers each with data relating to and identifying a unique and particular item type of said plurality of items in said supply; providing a plurality of second machine readable information carriers for uniquely identifying each item in said supply independently of item type subgroupings; providing a data reader for reading and recording data from said first and second machine readable information carriers; providing a computer with a program resident in memory for receiving said data from said data reader; applying one of said plurality of second machine readable information carriers to each of said items in said supply; reading with said data reader a selected first machine readable information carrier, corresponding to a particular subgrouping of said item types; reading with said data reader, prior to reading a subsequent first machine readable information carrier, a plurality of said second machine readable information carriers of a particular subgrouping of a single item type;
thereafterreading with said data reader additional ones of said first machine readable information carriers and second machine readable information carriers of other particular item types; and transferring data read from said first and second machine readable information carriers to said program in said computer to form a database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification