Inventory management system and method
First Claim
1. An inventory management system, comprising:
- a plurality of supply cribs, each supply crib comprising a controlled access entry and an interface configured to permit input of a user identification, said system configured to permit entry into said supply crib in response to an appropriate entry request;
a server comprising a database having inventory information related to a quantity of supply items allocated to each of said plurality of supply cribs, said server configured for communication with said interface;
at least one user terminal accessible from external said plurality of supply cribs and capable of communication with said server, said user terminal configured to permit a user to create a pending transaction by identifying a quantity of each of one or more desired supply items, said user terminal also configured to communicate said pending transaction to said server, said user terminal being separate and remote from said interfaces of said plurality of supply cribs;
wherein said system grants authorization for said user to access an appropriate one or more of said supply cribs in response to said creation of said pending transaction, and wherein said server receives notification of input of user identification into said interface of a selected one of said plurality of supply cribs by said user and updates said inventory information with respect to said one or more desired supply items allocated to said selected supply crib in response to at least one of said input of user identification or entry of said user into said selected supply crib.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inventory management system preferably including a supply crib configured to store a plurality of supply items. The supply crib has a controlled entryway to selectively permit access to the supply crib. A database contains inventory information relating to a quantity of each of the plurality of supply items allocated to the supply crib. A user terminal is capable of communicating with the database and is accessible from external the supply crib. The user terminal is configured to permit a user of the system to select a quantity of a desired item from the plurality of supply items within the crib. The system is configured to update the inventory information to reflect the addition or removal of the quantity of the desired item in response to the user initiating a door transaction, which preferably is either or both of an access request to the supply crib or entry into the supply crib by the user.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An inventory management system, comprising:
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a plurality of supply cribs, each supply crib comprising a controlled access entry and an interface configured to permit input of a user identification, said system configured to permit entry into said supply crib in response to an appropriate entry request; a server comprising a database having inventory information related to a quantity of supply items allocated to each of said plurality of supply cribs, said server configured for communication with said interface; at least one user terminal accessible from external said plurality of supply cribs and capable of communication with said server, said user terminal configured to permit a user to create a pending transaction by identifying a quantity of each of one or more desired supply items, said user terminal also configured to communicate said pending transaction to said server, said user terminal being separate and remote from said interfaces of said plurality of supply cribs; wherein said system grants authorization for said user to access an appropriate one or more of said supply cribs in response to said creation of said pending transaction, and wherein said server receives notification of input of user identification into said interface of a selected one of said plurality of supply cribs by said user and updates said inventory information with respect to said one or more desired supply items allocated to said selected supply crib in response to at least one of said input of user identification or entry of said user into said selected supply crib. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 24)
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11. An inventory management system, comprising:
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a supply crib configured to store a plurality of supply items; a controlled entryway comprising a door configured to selectively permit access through said entryway and a sensor arrangement configured to sense a door transaction, said door transaction comprising at least one of an entry request and an opening of said door by a user, said controlled entryway further comprising an interface configured to permit input of a user identification, said entry request comprising said user'"'"'s entry of said user identification into said interface; a database containing inventory information relating to a quantity of each of said plurality of supply items allocated to said supply crib; a user terminal capable of communicating with said database, said user terminal accessible from external said supply crib, said user terminal configured to permit a user of said system to select a quantity of a desired item from said plurality of supply items, said user terminal being separate and remote from said interface; wherein said system updates said inventory information to reflect the addition or removal of said quantity of said desired item in response to said user initiating said door transaction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of managing inventory, comprising:
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providing a database comprising inventory information related to a quantity of a plurality of supply items allocated to one or more controlled access supply cribs, each of said one or more controlled access supply cribs comprising an interface configured to permit input of a user identification, said system configured to permit entry into an associated one of said one or more controlled access supply cribs in response to an appropriate entry request; providing at least one user terminal accessible from external said one or more supply cribs, said at least one user terminal capable of communicating with said database and configured to permit a user to select a quantity of a desired item from said plurality of supply items, said at least one user terminal being separate and remote from the interfaces of said one or more controlled access supply cribs; updating said inventory information in said database to reflect the addition or removal of said quantity of said desired item when said user accesses a particular supply crib associated with said desired item. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification