Methods and systems for managing stock transportation
First Claim
1. A computer-executable method for managing stock in transport, the method comprising:
- providing a stock identifier to identify the stock;
providing a transport unit identifier to identify a transport unit of a vehicle, wherein the transport unit represents a collection of stock for vehicle transport, and further wherein the vehicle includes at least two transport units with different transport unit identifiers, and wherein the stock identifier and transport unit identifier are provided in at least one memory device;
creating, by a processor, an initial association in a database between the stock identifier and the transport unit identifier at a time at which the stock is physically moved on to the vehicle which transports the stock offsite;
determining, from the database, the initial association between the transport unit identifier and the stock identifier, indicating that the stock identifier is located with the vehicle;
redirecting the vehicle, upon the determining, to transport the stock to an alternate location;
registering the stock at the alternate location upon completion of the redirected transport by the vehicle; and
deleting the initial association between the stock identifier and the transport unit identifier upon completed transport by the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing stock visibility during transportation of stock from between storage facilities. Such systems and methods can provide information identifying the location of stock while it is being transported to a new location and can provide the ability to alter the destination of stock while it is in transit to a new location. Upon the removal of stock from a warehouse, an inventory management system may be updated to indicate a transport unit of a vehicle that is being used to move the stock and, thus, provide visibility of the stock while it is in transit. In addition, through identification of the transport unit moving the stock to a new location, the vehicle transporting the stock may be rerouted to transfer the stock to an alternate location.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-executable method for managing stock in transport, the method comprising:
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providing a stock identifier to identify the stock; providing a transport unit identifier to identify a transport unit of a vehicle, wherein the transport unit represents a collection of stock for vehicle transport, and further wherein the vehicle includes at least two transport units with different transport unit identifiers, and wherein the stock identifier and transport unit identifier are provided in at least one memory device; creating, by a processor, an initial association in a database between the stock identifier and the transport unit identifier at a time at which the stock is physically moved on to the vehicle which transports the stock offsite; determining, from the database, the initial association between the transport unit identifier and the stock identifier, indicating that the stock identifier is located with the vehicle; redirecting the vehicle, upon the determining, to transport the stock to an alternate location; registering the stock at the alternate location upon completion of the redirected transport by the vehicle; and deleting the initial association between the stock identifier and the transport unit identifier upon completed transport by the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-executable method for managing stock using a database, the method comprising:
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issuing a transfer order to move stock from a warehouse, the stock being identified in the database with a stock identifier, wherein the database is stored in at least one memory device; prior to execution of the transfer order, associating, by a processor, the stock identifier with a first location identifier in the database to identify the stock as being stored in a first location; updating the database, during execution of the transfer order, to create an initial association between the stock identifier and a transport unit identifier for a transport unit of a vehicle at a time at which the stock is physically moved on to the vehicle which transports the stock offsite, wherein the transport unit represents a collection of stock for vehicle transport, and further wherein the vehicle includes at least two transport units with different transport unit identifiers; transporting the stock, by the vehicle, to a second location in accordance with the transfer order; determining, from the transport unit identifier, that the associated stock identifier is located with the vehicle; redirecting the vehicle, upon the determining, to transport the stock to an alternate location; registering the stock at the alternate location upon completion of the redirected transport by the vehicle; and updating the database, upon completed transport to the alternate location by the vehicle, to disassociate the stock identifier from the transport unit identifier. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for managing stock, the system comprising:
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at least one memory device configured to store; a plurality of records identifying stock; and a plurality of records identifying transport units, each transport unit representing a collection of stock for vehicle transport, wherein the vehicle includes at least two transport units with different transport unit identifiers; and a management module, executing on a processor, configured to; associate a stock identifier for stock with a corresponding one of a plurality of records identifying a warehouse location where the stock is stored; create an initial association in a database between the stock identifier and at least one transport unit identifier associated with the vehicle at a time at which the stock is removed from the warehouse location and transported with a vehicle which transports the stock offsite; determine, from the database, the initial association between the transport unit identifier and the stock identifier, indicating that the stock identifier is located with the vehicle; redirect the vehicle, upon the determining, to transport the stock to an alternate location; register the stock at the alternate location upon completion of the redirected transport by the vehicle; and delete the initial association between the stock identifier and the transport unit identifier, to thereby provide visibility of the stock during its transport. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for managing the transportation of stock from a first storage facility to a second storage facility, the system comprising:
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means for providing a stock identifier to identify stock stored in the first storage facility; means for providing a transport unit identifier to identify a transport unit of a vehicle for transporting the stock, wherein the transport unit represents a collection of stock for vehicle transport, and further wherein the vehicle includes at least two transport units with different transport unit identifiers; means for creating an initial association in a database between the stock identifier and the transport unit identifier at a time at which the stock is physically moved on to the vehicle which transports the stock offsite; means for determining, from the database, the initial association between the transport unit identifier and the stock identifier, indicating that the stock identifier is located with the vehicle; means for redirecting the vehicle, upon the means for determining, to transport the stock to an alternate location; means for registering the stock at the alternate location upon completion of the redirected transport by the vehicle; and means for deleting the initial association between the stock identifier and the transport unit identifier upon completed transport to the alternate storage facility by the vehicle.
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Specification