Inventory management system using coded re-order information
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for storing and managing inventory comprising:
- (a) an inventory item holder holding at least one inventory item;
(b) an inventory item record comprising a bar code symbol label applied to said inventory item holder, said record including encoded item identification information identifying the at least one inventory item, and reordering information for the at least one inventory item;
(c) a bar code reader including means for decoding said bar code symbol label to obtain said item identification information and said reordering information;
(d) means for comparing a count of the number of said inventory items physically present at the inventory holder with a reorder count in said reordering information; and
(e) means, responsive to the comparing means, for generating a reorder message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Inventory item records are affixed to inventory item holders. The inventory item records comprise two-dimensional bar code labels containing encoded item identification information and reordering information for ordering replacement inventory items. The replacement inventory items are labeled with two-dimensional bar-coded information describing the ultimate destination, and packed into a container for shipment to a receiving/distribution center. The destination information is scanned and decoded at the receiving/distribution center to enable proper routing of the replacement inventory items.
230 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for storing and managing inventory comprising:
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(a) an inventory item holder holding at least one inventory item; (b) an inventory item record comprising a bar code symbol label applied to said inventory item holder, said record including encoded item identification information identifying the at least one inventory item, and reordering information for the at least one inventory item; (c) a bar code reader including means for decoding said bar code symbol label to obtain said item identification information and said reordering information; (d) means for comparing a count of the number of said inventory items physically present at the inventory holder with a reorder count in said reordering information; and (e) means, responsive to the comparing means, for generating a reorder message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for storing and managing inventory comprising:
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an inventory item holder for holding at least one inventory item; an inventory item record, including a first bar code symbol label applied to said inventory item holder, said record including encoded item identification information identifying the at least one inventory item and reordering information for the at least one inventory item; a first bar code reader for decoding said first bar code symbol label to obtain said item identification information and said reordering information; means for comparing a count of the number of said inventory items physically present at the inventory holder with a reorder count in said reordering information; means, responsive to the comparing means, for generating a reorder message; means for transmitting an order derived from the reorder message to an origination point for the transportation of reorder ones of said at least one inventory item; means for generating a second bar code symbol label for application to the at least some of said at least one inventory item, containing item destination information identifying a destination point; means for transporting the reorder ones of said at least one inventory item from the origination point to a redistribution point; a second bar code reader at said redistribution point, including means for decoding the second bar code symbol label relating to said item destination information; and means for transporting the reorder ones of said at least one inventory item from the redistribution point to the destination point identified by the item destination information. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for storing and managing inventory comprising:
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(a) an inventory item holder holding at least one inventory item; (b) an inventory item record comprising a two-dimensional bar code symbol label applied to said inventory item holder, said record including encoded item identification information identifying the at least one inventory item, and reordering information for the at least one inventory item; (c) a two-dimensional bar code reader including means for decoding said two-dimensional bar code symbol label to obtain said item identification information and said reordering information; (d) means for comparing a count of the number of said inventory items physically present at the inventory holder with a reorder count in said reordering information; and (e) means, responsive to the comparing means, for generating a reorder message.
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18. A system for storing and managing inventory comprising:
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an inventory item holder for holding at least one inventory item; an inventory item record, including a two-dimensional bar code symbol label applied to said inventory item holder, said record including encoded item identification information identifying the at least one inventory item and reordering information for the at least one inventory item; a two-dimensional bar code reader for decoding said two-dimensional bar code symbol label to obtain said item identification information and said reordering information; means for comparing a count of the number of said inventory items physically present at the inventory holder with a reorder count in said reordering information; means, responsive to the comparing means, for generating a reorder message; means for transmitting an order derived from the reorder message to an origination point for the transportation of reorder ones of said at least one inventory item; means for generating a two-dimensional bar code symbol label for application to the at least some of said at least one inventory item, containing item destination information identifying a destination point; means for transporting the reorder ones of said at least one inventory item from the origination point to a redistribution point; a bar code reader at said redistribution point, including decoding means for decoding the two-dimensional bar code symbol label relating to said item destination information; and means for transporting the reorder ones of said at least one inventory item from the redistribution point to the destination point identified by the item destination information.
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19. A method for storing and managing at least one inventory item to which an inventory item holder is connected, said inventory item holder having a bar code symbol label including encoded item identification information identifying the at least one inventory item and reordering information for the at least one inventory item, the method comprising the steps of:
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decoding said bar code symbol label to obtain said item identification information and said reordering information; comparing a count of the number of said inventory items physically present at the inventory holder with a reorder count in said reordering information; and generating a reorder message based on a result of the comparing. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification