Wireless directed inventory system

• US 6,650,225 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bastian Software Solutions LLC (A & O Hydraulic Repair LLC)
• Original Assignee: ASAP Automation LLC (A & O Hydraulic Repair LLC)
• Inventors: Bastian, William A. II, Alibrahim, Hussam
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIMIZU, MATSUICHIRO
• Application Number:
  US09/734,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20020070846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 705/22, 705/28, 705/29, 340/10.4, 340/5.92, 340/825.49, 340/5.9, 340/825.52
• US Class Current: 340/5.92
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A directed inventory system uses individual wireless pick-to modules, or individual wireless pick-from modules, or both, to aid inventory management services such as order fulfillment. Modules wirelessly receive servicing information directly from a processing computer, and transmit servicing status information directly to the computer. Light indicators or display panels on the modules provide information corresponding to a service to be performed, such as a quantity of parts to be picked from a bin, a location of a parts bin to pick from, a designation of a container to pick into, or other servicing information.

Claims

1. A directed inventory system, comprising:

a computer operable to process servicing information;

a plurality parts bins;

a plurality of pick-from module each being associated with and positioned proximal to individual ones of the parts bins, each of the pick-from modules being operable to directly wirelessly communicate with the computer to allow easy positional rearrangement of the parts bins, wherein every one of the pick-from modules each separately include

an antenna operable to receive a wireless communication directly from the computer,

a translator operatively coupled to the antenna to demodulate the wireless communication from the computer,

a processor operatively coupled to the translator to process the wireless communication, and

a light indicator operatively coupled to the processor to visually identify a selected one of the parts bins in response to the wireless communication from the computer;

at least one access-point module operable to receive and retransmit the wireless communication between the computer and the pick-from modules;

wherein the access-point module is operable to decode virtual addresses for the pick-from modules to increase number of addresses available in the directed inventory system; and

wherein at least one of the pick-from modules includes a proximity detection section operatively coupled to the processor of the at least one of the pick-from modules, the proximity detection section being operable to sense activity around at least one of the parts bins to count parts movement.

2. The directed inventory system of claim 1, wherein the proximity detection system includes a light emitting diode operable to generate light pulses for detecting the activity.

3. The directed inventory system of claim 1, wherein the pick-from modules are detachably coupled to the parts bins.

4. The directed inventory system of claim 1, further comprising a pick-to module associated with and positioned proximal to an operator, the pick-to module being operable to directly wirelessly communicate with the computer to alert the operator of a servicing task.

5. The directed inventory system of claim 4, further comprising a bay activity module operable to wirelessly communicate with the computer to identify a bay containing selected ones of the parts bins for the servicing task.

6. A directed inventory system, comprising:

a computer operable to process servicing information;

a plurality parts bins; and

a plurality of pick-from module each being associated with and positioned proximal to individual ones of the parts bins, each of the pick-from modules being operable to directly wirelessly communicate with the computer to allow easy positional rearrangement of the parts bins, wherein every one of the pick-from modules each separately include

an antenna operable to receive a wireless communication directly from the computer,

a translator operatively coupled to the antenna to demodulate the wireless communication from the computer,

a processor operatively coupled to the translator to process the wireless communication, and

a light indicator operatively coupled to the processor to visually identify a selected one of the parts bins in response to the wireless communication from the computer; and

wherein at least one of the pick-from modules includes a proximity detection section operatively coupled to the processor of the at least one of the pick-from modules, the proximity detection section being operable to sense activity around at least one of the parts bins to count parts movement.

7. The directed inventory system of claim 6, wherein the proximity detection system includes a light emitting diode operable to generate light pulses for detecting the activity.

8. The directed inventory system of claim 6, wherein the pick-from modules are detachably coupled to the parts bins.

9. The directed inventory system of claim 6, further comprising a pick-to module associated with and positioned proximal to an operator, the pick-to module being operable to directly wirelessly communicate with the computer to alert the operator of a servicing task.

10. The directed inventory system of claim 9, further comprising a bay activity module operable to wirelessly communicate with the computer to identify a bay containing selected ones of the parts bins for the servicing task.