Inventory system with image display

• US 7,084,738 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shimizu, Matsuichiro
• Application Number:
  US10/643,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20040207512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.92, 340/825.49, 340/825.52, 700/213, 705/22
• US Class Current: 340/5.92
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• 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 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A pick/put to display (PTD) device includes an image display that allows the PTD device to display images related to a product, such as a picture of the product or an instructional video. By having the capability to display images of the product, the PTD device is able to reduce the risk that the wrong product will be picked or placed in a storage location. The image display further allows the PTD device to display arrows that can point in a multitude of directions. With the capability of having arrows point in numerous directions, a single PTD device is able to service multiple storage locations, thereby reducing the number of PTD devices needed. The PTD device is further capable of downloading and playing sound files for a product so that audio instructions or alerts can be played.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a pick/put to display device with an image display and an indicator light;

illuminating the indicator light to alert an operator of a service to be performed on an item at a storage location;

displaying a service instruction for the item on the image display;

displaying an image of the item on the image display;

displaying an arrow that points towards the storage location on the image display;

displaying a second arrow on the image display that points towards a second storage location for a second item; and

displaying an image of the second item at the second storage location on the image display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the arrow, said displaying the service instruction and said displaying the image of the item occur at the same time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the image of the item occurs after said illuminating the indicator light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the image of the item includes showing a three-dimensional image on the image display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said illuminating the indicator light includes flashing the indicator light.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the image includes a static picture of the item.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving operator input with the pick/put to display device; and

wherein said displaying on the image display the image of the item occurs in response to said receiving operator input.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising

wherein the pick/put to display device is operatively coupled to a server through a network;

and

receiving from the server a message concerning the item; and

wherein said displaying on the image display the image of the item occurs in response to said receiving from the server the message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the image of the item includes showing a moving image on the image display.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

wherein the pick/put to display device includes a speaker; and

playing sound from the speaker.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said playing sound occurs during said showing the moving image.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the service instruction includes a pick instruction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the service instruction includes a quantity.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising

wherein the pick/put to display device is operatively coupled to a server through a network;

and

downloading onto the pick/put to display device a file containing the image for the item from the server.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

downloading onto the pick/put to display device a sound file from the server; and

playing the sound file on a speaker of the pick/put to display device.

16. A method of reducing the number of pick/put to display devices needed for a storage area, comprising:

positioning a pick/put to display device with an image display between a first storage location and a second storage location;

displaying on the image display a first screen that includes a first arrow pointing toward the first storage location and a first instruction for servicing the first storage location; and

displaying on the image display a second screen that includes a second arrow pointing toward the second storage location and a second instruction for servicing the second storage location.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising clearing the image display of the first screen before said displaying on the image display the second screen.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising

receiving a message from a host over a network concerning the first storage location;

and

wherein displaying on the image display the first screen occurs in response to said receiving the message.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said displaying on the image display the first screen includes displaying a first image concerning the first storage location in the first screen.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said displaying on the image display the second screen includes displaying a second image concerning the second storage location on the image display.

21. A system, comprising:

a pick/put to display device positioned proximal a storage location, the pick/put to display device including

a processor operable to download an instruction and an image that concern an item associated with the storage location,

memory operatively coupled to the processor,

an indicator light operatively coupled to the processor to alert an operator of a servicing task for the item at the storage location, and

an image display operatively coupled to the processor to display the instruction and the image concerning the item at the storage location;

a speaker operatively coupled to said processor; and

wherein said processor is operable to download on or more sounds concerning the item and play the sounds on the speaker.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the memory is configured to store the image.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said image display includes an organic light emitting diode display.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a server operatively coupled to the processor, said server being configured to store the image and being operable to send the image to the pick/put to display device.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a network operatively coupling the server to the processor, said network including a wireless network.

26. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

an input device operatively coupled to the processor to receive input from the operator.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the input device includes a microphone.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the input device includes one or more buttons.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein said image display is configured to display a location arrow that points to the storage location.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said image display is configured to display a cell indicator that identifies an individual cell within the storage location.

31. A system, comprising:

a first storage location configured to store a first item;

a second storage location configured to store a second item; and

a pick/put to display device positioned between the first storage location and the second storage location to handle service instructions for both the first storage location and the second storage location, the pick/put to display device having an image display configured to display a first arrow that points toward the first storage location and a second arrow that points to the second storage location.

32. A method, comprising:

providing a pick/put to display device with an image display and an indicator light;

illuminating the indicator light to alert an operator of a service to be performed on an item at a storage location;

displaying a service instruction for the item on the image display;

displaying an image of the item on the image display;

wherein said displaying the image of the item includes showing a moving image on the image display;

wherein the pick/put to display device includes a speaker;

playing sound from the speaker; and

wherein said playing sound occurs during said showing the moving image.

33. A method, comprising:

providing a pick/put to display device with an image display and an indicator light;

illuminating the indicator light to alert an operator of a service to be performed on an item at a storage location;

displaying a service instruction for the item on the image display;

displaying an image of the item on the image display;

wherein the pick/put to display device is operatively coupled to a server through a network; and

downloading onto the pick/put to display device a file containing the image for the item from the server,

downloading onto the pick/put to display device a sound file from the server; and

playing the sound file on a speaker of the pick/put to display device.

34. A system, comprising:

a pick/put to display device positioned proximal a storage location, the pick/put to display device including

a processor operable to download an instruction and an image that concern an item associated with the storage location,

memory operatively coupled to the processor,

an indicator light operatively coupled to the processor to alert an operator of a servicing task for the item at the storage location, and

an image display operatively coupled to the processor to display the instruction and the image concerning the item at the storage location; and

wherein said image display is configured to display a cell indicator that identifies an individual cell within the storage location.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said image display is configured to display a location arrow that points to the storage location.

36. A method, comprising:

storing a first file associated with a first storage location on a pick/put to display device, wherein the pick/put to display device includes an image display, wherein the pick/put to display device is positioned proximal the first storage location and a second storage location;

storing a second file associated with the second storage location on the pick/put to display device;

displaying on the image display of the pick/put to display device a first visual indicator that points to the first storage location;

outputting contents of the first file associated with the first storage location with the pick/put to display device;

displaying on the image display of the pick/put to display device a second visual indicator that points to the second storage location;

outputting contents of the second file associated with the second storage location with the pick/put to display device;

wherein said outputting contents of the first file includes displaying on the image display of the pick/put to display device first instructions concerning a first product stored at the first storage location; and

wherein said outputting contents of the second file includes displaying on the image display of the pick/put to display device second instructions concerning a second product stored at the second storage location.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

receiving a first command related to the first storage location with the pick/put to display device; and

wherein said outputting contents of the first file occurs in response to said receiving the first command.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein:

the first file includes a first image associated with the first storage location; and

said outputting contents of the first file includes displaying the first image on the image display of the pick/put to display device.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the second file includes a second image associated with the second storage location; and

said outputting contents of the second file includes displaying the second image on the image display of the pick/put to display device.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein:

the pick/put to display device includes a speaker;

the first file includes a first sound recording of first voice instructions associated with the first storage location; and

said outputting contents of the first file includes playing the first sound recording of the first voice instructions associated with the first storage location with the speaker of the pick/put to display device.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the second file includes a second sound recording of second voice instructions associated with the second storage location; and

said outputting contents of the second file includes playing the second sound recording of the second voice instructions associated with the second storage location with to speaker of the pick/put to display device.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the first visual indicator includes an arrow that points to the first storage location.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the second visual indicator includes a second arrow that points to the second storage location.

44. A method, comprising:

storing a first file associated with a first storage location on a pick/put to display device, wherein the pick/put to display device includes an image display, wherein the pick/put to display device is positioned proximal the first storage location and a second storage location;

storing a second file associated with the second storage location on the pick/put to display device;

displaying on the image display of the pick/put to display device a first visual indicator that points to the first storage location;

outputting contents of the first file associated with the first storage location with the pick/put to display device;

displaying on the image display of the pick/put to display device a second visual indicator that points to the second storage location;

outputting contents of the second file associated with the second storage location with the pick/put to display device;

wherein the pick/put to display device includes a speaker;

wherein the first file includes a first sound recording of first voice instructions associated with the first storage location;

wherein said outputting contents of the first file includes playing the first sound recording of the first voice instructions associated with the first storage location with the speaker of the pick/put to display device;

wherein the second file includes a second sound recording of second voice instructions associated with the second storage location; and

wherein said outputting contents of the second file includes playing the second sound recording of the second voice instructions associated with the second storage location with the speaker of the pick/put to display device.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein:

the first file further includes a first image associated with the first storage location;

said outputting contents of the first file further includes displaying the first image on the image display of the pick/put to display device;

the second file further includes a second image associated with the second storage location;

said outputting contents of the second file further includes displaying the second image on the image display of the pick/put to display device;

the first visual indicator includes a first arrow that points to the first storage location; and

the second visual indicator includes a second arrow that points to the second storage location.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

receiving a first command related to the first storage location with the pick/put to display device; and

wherein said outputting contents of the first file occurs in response to said receiving the first command.