Automated will call system

• US 7,093,755 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Fellows, Eugene, Jordan, Michael, Denenberg, David
• Primary Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US10/992,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20050098626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/381, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/385, 705/3, 705/22, 705/28, 340/568.1
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/045 in a circular arrangement, e.g. towers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/127 the circuit being confined in a vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A will call system for automating the management of storage and retrieval of items, preferably medical prescriptions. The automated system provides informational control of all items in the system. The automated will call monitors the length of time an item remains in the system, and into which location an item is placed. An article sensor provides absolute confirmation that an item has been placed or removed from a designated location in the storage units. The automated will call system uses a controller to permit users to monitor and optimize the storage and retrieval procedures.

Claims

1. A method of providing notification regarding items placed in an automated will call system comprising:

placing an item in a unique storage location;

identifying when the item was placed in the unique storage location;

associating a date stamp with the item, said date stamp providing a designation of when the item was placed in the unique storage location;

storing said date stamp in memory;

providing a notification after a predetermined amount of time has lapsed from said date stamp.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing a notification includes providing periodic notifications.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing a notification comprises automatically sending an electronic reminder signal to a host interactive voice response unit, wherein said host interactive voice response unit places an automated call to a patient to provide a reminder that the item is ready for pick-up.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing a notification comprises creating a list of at least one item having a date stamp in which the predetermined amount of time has lapsed.

5. A method of providing notification regarding items placed in an automated will call system comprising:

placing an item in a unique storage location;

identifying when the item was placed in the unique storage location;

associating a date stamp with the item, said date stamp providing a designation of when the item was placed in the unique storage location;

storing said date stomp in memory;

storing the unique storage location of said item in memory;

providing a notification after a predetermined amount of time has lapsed from said date stamp.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said providing a notification includes providing periodic notifications.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined amount of time is related to an expiration date of said item.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing a notification comprises treating a list of at least one item having a data stamp in which the predetermined amount of time has lapsed.

9. The method of claim 8 additionally comprising removing said at least one item on the list from the unique storage location.

10. The method of claim 9 additionally comprising clearing the unique storage location associated with said at least one removed item from the memory when the item is removed.