Bulk inventory network system (BINS)

• US 6,366,829 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1998
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quality Carriers Incorporated (CSX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: JP Donmoyer Incorporated (J.P. Donmoyer)
• Inventors: Wallace, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr., Ronald D.
• Application Number:
  US09/167,379
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 700/95, 700/236, 700/226, 705/22, 705/16, 705/28, 340/988, 340/990, 701/202, 701/300, 713/320, 222/1
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A system and method for remote monitoring of material storage levels for dry bulk goods, wherein an independent entity, such as a transportation carrier, can continuously monitor raw material supply levels at a remote manufacturing plant, and, based on projected usage rates, place timely orders on behalf of the plant, with preselected vendors, to replenish depleted raw materials. The transportation carrier can then coordinate material shipments from the vendor to the manufacturing site using its own trucks. In this manner, the task of maintaining sufficient on site raw material storage levels is completely removed from the manufacturing plant.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a material quantity at a remote site comprising:

a detector for producing a first output signal corresponding to an existing material quantity;

a remote telemetry unit for receiving said first output signal from said detector and producing a second output signal corresponding to said first output signal; and

a central computer coupled to said remote telemetry unit for receiving said second output signal from said remote telemetry unit,

said central computer including software means for determining said existing material quantity and a projected usage rate for said existing material quantity based on said second output signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said detector is selected from one of ultrasonic and strain gauge detectors.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote telemetry unit and said central computer are coupled via modem.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote telemetry unit automatically transmits said second output signal to said central computer at predetermined time intervals.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said central computer automatically retrieves said second output signal from said remote telemetry unit at predetermined time intervals.

6. A system for monitoring material levels in storage vessels at a remote site comprising:

a level detector for producing a first output signal corresponding to said material level, said level detector selected from one of ultrasonic and strain gauge level detectors;

a remote telemetry unit for receiving said first output signal from said level detector and producing a second output signal corresponding to said material level; and

a central computer coupled to said remote telemetry unit via modem for receiving said second output signal from said remote telemetry unit, said central computer including software means for determining said material level and a projected usage rate for said material based on said second output signal,

wherein said remote telemetry unit automatically transmits said second output signal to said central computer at predetermined time intervals.

7. A system for monitoring a material level in a storage vessel at a remote site comprising:

a level detector for producing a first output signal corresponding to said material level;

a means for converting said first output signal to a second ouput signal corresponding to said material level;

a central computer having software means for determining said material level and a projected usage rate for said material based on said second output signal displaying at least one of said material level and said projected usage rate; and

a means for communicating said second output signal to said central computer.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of displaying at least one of said existing material level and said projected usage rate on said central computer.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of generating a printout of at least one of said existing material level and said projected usage rate from said central computer.

8. A method for monitoring material levels in remote storage vessels and comprising the steps of:

detecting an existing material level in a remote storage vessel;

producing a first output signal corresponding to said existing material level;

producing a second output signal corresponding to said first output signal;

automatically transmitting said second output signal to a central computer at predetermined time intervals; and

determining said existing material level and a projected material usage rate based on said transmitted signals.

11. A system for a transportation carrier to maintain a sufficient quantity of raw materials at a remote site comprising:

a level detector for producing a first output signal corresponding to said material quantity, said level detector selected from one of ultrasonic and strain gauge level detectors;

a remote telemetry unit for receiving said first output signal from said level detector and producing a second output signal corresponding to said material level; and

a central computer coupled to said remote telemetry unit via modem for receiving said second output signal from said remote telemetry unit, said central computer including software means for determining said material quantity and a projected usage rate for said material based on said second output signal, said central computer further including software means for generating at least one of audible and visual alarms if said determined material quantity is below a predetermined level,

wherein said remote telemetry unit automatically transmits said second output signal to said central computer at predetermined time intervals.

12. A method for a transportation carrier to maintain sufficient quantities of raw materials at a remote manufacturing site comprising the steps of:

generating a first signal relative to an existing raw material quantity at a remote site using a detector;

automatically transmitting a second signal corresponding to said first signal, from said remote site to a central computer at predetermined time intervals;

determining said existing raw material quantity and projected material usage rate for said existing raw material quantity based on said transmitted signals;

ordering additional raw material from a preselected vendor based on said existing material quantity and said projected material usage rate;

providing a transport vehicle to deliver said additional raw material from said preselected vendor to said manufacturing site; and

transporting said additional raw material from said preselected vendor to said manufacturing site,

whereby additional raw material is supplied to said manufacturing site before said existing raw material is depleted.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

displaying at least one of said determined material quantity and said projected material usage rate on said central computer.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

producing at least one of audible and visual alarms, via said central computer, if said material level falls below a predetermined level.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of generating a first signal relative to an existing raw material quantity at a remote site using a detector comprises using one of ultrasonic and strain gauge detectors to generate said first signal.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said second signal is transmitted from said remote site to said central computer to said central computer via modem.