Electronic inventory movement and control device

• US 7,113,922 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Genius Central Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Living Naturally LLC (SPS Commerce, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fowler, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US10/010,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20020091593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/22
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus to electronically tabulate items marked with a bar code. The system may optionally operate to manage, control and tabulate inventory, produce vendor-correct purchase orders, manage multiple locations, multiple buildings, multiple clients and multiple stores to facilitate efficiency for a wholesaler or retailer or alternatively for a distributor, broker or sales agent. The system may alternatively be used to manage inventory for a manufacturing environment or for tracking evidence or items in a chain of custody environment useful for governmental and scientific functions.

Claims

1. An electronic inventory control ordering and management system that permits a person to manage the inventory and procurement for a multitude of items in a multitude of locations, comprising:

a hand-held computer scanner equipped with a bar code reader, preprogrammed to print UPC bar code shelf labels, and equipped with a keypad for inputting data wherein the hand-held computer scanner operably and bidirectionally communicates with a digital computer system;

such communication selected from wireless device, modem, electronic cables, infrared device, radio frequency based device, network based device; and

a database operably configured to include items, a history of items, a source of items, and a description of items is maintained, said database consisting of;

a first table consisting of item identifier, UPC code, description, retail price, shelf price, wholesale price, unit size, unit description, unit type identifier, manufacturer, primary vendor;

a second table consisting of source item identifier, source of item, address of source, contact of source, telephone number of source, fax number of source, email address of source, automated ordering information of source;

a third table consisting of item identifier, source of item;

a fourth table consisting of unit type identifier, unit type;

a fifth table consisting of location identifier, location description;

a sixth table consisting of location identifier, item identifier;

a seventh table consisting of item identifier, source of item identifier, order identifier, number in area 1, number in area 2, number in area 3, date order created, number ordered, date submitted; and

an eighth table consisting of item identifier, date transferred, quantity, location identity, such information being captured from a point of sale register device.

2. The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the description of the item scanned can be operably configured in the database or entered manually by UPC code.

3. The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein information for a multiplicity of locations is operably entered.

4. The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein vendor-correct purchase orders are operably produced.

5. The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the vendor-correct purchase order may be displayed and edited.

6. The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said vendor-correct purchase order forms are automatically transmitted to a vendor by one of facsimile transmission, email transmission, network transmission, computer printout, wireless transmission.

7. The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 4 wherein quantities for purchase orders are calculated from a selection of one of user specified quantities, historical quantities, predictive use quantities.

8. The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said predictive use quantities are calculated from a ratio multiplied by calculated amount used over a specified period of time.

9. The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein quantities for purchase orders of each item are calculated from said table eight including point of sale data.

10. The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system produces reports displaying competitive pricing of items.

11. The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system produces shelf tags.

12. The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system is operably configured with point of sale checkout devices to provide data to the inventory control management system regarding items sold, amounts, prices, location.

13. The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system is operably configured to permit the tabulation for multiple vendors.