Automated shelf management system and process for tracking and purging file folders in a file storage facility

• US 6,260,049 B1
• Filed: 11/10/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Iron Mountain Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Paper Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, Arthur C., Goldman, Jack B., Coughlan, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kulik, Paul V.
• Application Number:
  US09/189,772
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 209/547, 340/572.1, 283/81, 707/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 493/947 File folder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

An automated system and process for managing paper files, particularly medical records contained in file folders and the like, in a file storage system having a predetermined size or limited expansion capacity. A shelf manager system includes a computer program and database which tracks the thickness of individual file folders, the capacity of storage shelf sections, and the percentage of free space remaining in each shelf section. The thickness of each file folder is measured whenever the file folder enters or leaves the primary file storage facility. File folder thickness is computed by weighing the file on an electronic scale or other caliper-based measure device. When occupied shelf space exceeds a threshold percentage for a shelf section, file folders are purged according to the likelihood that certain files will not be requested in the future by applying purging algorithms to the individual files. In an alternative embodiment, document image scanning provides multiple copies of pertinent file information to fulfill multiple pending file requests. In another alternative embodiment, the file folders include radio frequency identification tags for passive detection of file folder identification. In a still further alternative embodiment, data from the shelf manager system controls a digital printing press to create direct print color-coded file folders for use with the shelf manager system.

Claims

1. A method for managing file folders in a file storage facility having a plurality of storage sections, comprising the steps:

assigning a unique file identifier to each file folder in the file storage facility;

tracking on a computer the physical thickness, storage section location, and content information for each file folder, according to its file identifier;

updating the physical thickness, storage section location, and content information whenever the information changes;

determining, for each storage section, when the total thickness for all file folders within a file section exceeds a threshold percentage of the available storage space for the storage section; and

in response to the determination of the threshold being exceeded for a section, purging selected file folders within the section to reduce the total thickness for all file folders below the threshold percentage.

2. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility having a plurality of storage sections, comprising:

a unique file identifier associated with each file folder in the file storage facility;

a computer;

a database, coupled to the computer, for storing sets of data for each file folder representing its file identifier, physical thickness, storage section location, and content information for each file folder, according to;

updating means for updating the physical thickness, storage section location, and content information whenever the information changes;

means for determining, for each storage section, whenever the total thickness for all file folders within a storage section exceeds a threshold percentage of the available storage space for the storage section; and

purging means, responsive to the determination that the threshold percentage is being exceeded for a section, for purging at least some file folders within the section;

wherein the purging reduces the total thickness for all file folders below the threshold percentage.

10. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility as recited in claim 2, wherein the purging means includes creating a listing of file folders to be purged based on at least one computer algorithm.

11. A system for managing file folders in a file storage facility as recited in claim 10, wherein the computer algorithm for purging is based on content information for the file folders in a storage section.

12. A system for managing file folders in a file storage facility as recited in claim 10, wherein the computer algorithm for purging is based on file usage history for the file folders in a storage section.

13. A system for managing file folders in a file storage facility as recited in claim 10, wherein the computer algorithm for purging is based on physical size for the file folders in a storage section.

14. A system for managing file folders in a file storage facility as recited in claim 10, wherein the computer algorithm for purging is applied to each storage section independently of the other of said plurality of storage sections.

15. A system for managing file folders in a file storage facility as recited in claim 10, wherein the computer algorithm for purging is for determining which files are least likely to be requested independently of the other files.

16. A system for managing file folders in a file storage facility as recited in claim 10, wherein the computer algorithm for purging is for determining which files are least likely to be requested compared with other files in a storage section.

17. A system for managing file folders in a file storage facility as recited in claim 10, wherein the computer algorithm for purging is for determining firstly which files are least likely to be requested independently of other files in a storage section and secondly which files are least likely to be requested compared with other files in the storage section.

18. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility as recited in claim 2, wherein the purging means includes purge list generating means for periodically generating a list of files that may be purged from the storage sections and printing means for printing out the list of files for purging.

19. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility as recited in claim 2, wherein the file folders are x-ray film jackets.

20. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility as recited in claim 2, wherein the file folders are in terminal digit filing order.

21. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility as recited in claim 12, wherein the file folders are color-coded.

22. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility as recited in claim 2, wherein the purged file folders are removed to an off-site storage facility.

23. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility as recited in claim 2, wherein the purged file folders are removed first to an intermediate file storage facility before being removed to an off-site storage facility.

3. A system for managing file folders in a file storage facility having a plurality of storage sections, comprising:

a unique file identifier associated with each file folder in the file storage facility;

a computer;

a database, coupled to the computer, for storing sets of data for each file folder representing its file identifier, physical thickness, storage section location, and content information for each file folder, according to its file identifier;

updating means for updating the physical thickness, storage section location, and content information whenever the information changes;

means for determining, for each storage section, whenever the total thickness for all file folders within a storage section exceeds a threshold percentage of the available storage space for the storage section; and

purging means, responsive to the determination that the threshold percentage is being exceeded for a section, for purging at least some file folders within the section;

wherein the purging reduces the total thickness for all file folders below the threshold percentage.

4. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility as recited in claim 3, wherein the logging station includes an electronic scale for measuring the physical weight of the file folder needing updating and means for converting a physical weight measurement into a physical thickness value.

5. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility as recited in claim 3, wherein the unique identifier is in the form a bar-coded number.

6. A system for managing file folders in a file storage facility as recited in claim 3, further including a label printer in the logging station for printing bar-coded labels.

7. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility as recited in claim 3, wherein the unique identifier is in the form a coded radio frequency identification tag.

8. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility as recited in claim 3, wherein the means for determining is a computer program operating on the database data supplied by the logging station.

9. A system for managing file folders in file storage facility as recited in claim 3, wherein the means for determining is a physical measurement of the files in a storage section.

24. A system for managing the storage of medical record files in a file storage facility including a set of shelves, divided into sections, for the medical record files, comprising,

a shelf database for storing information corresponding to each shelf section in the file storage facility utilized for storing the medical record files, including at least a unique shelf section identification code for the each shelf section, an indication of the linear dimension of the shelf section, and an indication of the current fullness of said shelf section;

a file database for storing information corresponding to each medical record file including at least a file identifier, the current thickness of the file, and the shelf section location for the file;

means for updating the current thickness for a file in the database when the thickness of a file changes;

means for determining the current fullness of the shelf section by comparing the linear dimension of the shelf section with total thickness of all files stored on the shelf;

means for determining when the current fullness of the shelf section exceeds a threshold value;

a file usage algorithm for determining which files are least likely to be requested;

means for generating a list of files that may be removed from a shelf section according to said file usage algorithm to reduce the current fullness of the shelf section below the threshold value;

wherein the current fullness for each shelf in the file storage facility is maintained within a specified fullness range.