Monitoring device used for producing compositions
First Claim
1. A monitoring device comprising:
- (A) a client computer usable storage medium located in a client computer, and a host computer usable storage medium located in a host computer in communication with said client computer; and
(B) means for dispensing required items for making a desired amount of said target composition, said means for dispensing being in communication with said client computer, said host computer, or said client and said host computer;
wherein said client computer usable storage medium, host computer usable storage medium, or said client computer usable storage and said host computer usable storage media have computer readable program code means residing therein for monitoring production of a target composition, said computer readable program code means comprising;
(I) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to identify one or more formulas associated with identification criteria of said target composition, said formula providing a required inventory for making said desired amount of said target composition, said required items in said required inventory comprising (a) one or more compositions matching characteristics and quantities thereof required to make said desired amount of said target composition;
(b) target components and quantities thereof listed in said formula that are required to make said desired amount of said target composition;
or (c) a combination of (a) and (b);
(II) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to generate a current inventory, wherein current items in said current inventory comprise (a) one or more stock compositions matching said characteristics and quantities thereof required to make said desired amount of said target composition;
(b) stock components and quantities thereof listed in said formula that are required to make said desired amount of said target composition;
or (c) a combination of (a) and (b);
(III) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to terminate production of said target composition if said current inventory does not match with a stored inventory when said current inventory does not meet the quality requirement listed in said formula or when said current inventory is in dead containers;
(IV) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to continue production of said target composition if said current inventory matches with said stored inventory;
(V) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to compare said current inventory against said required inventory to ascertain whether said current inventory fulfills said required inventory;
(VI) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to generate a supplementary inventory if said current inventory partially fulfills said required inventory wherein supplementary items in said supplementary inventory comprise (a) additional quantities of said stock compositions required to produce said desired amount of said target composition, (b) any missing stock components that match said target components listed in said formula in sufficient quantities required to produce said desired amount of said target composition, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b);
(VII) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to dispense through said means for dispensing said required items listed in said required inventory, from said current items listed in said current inventory, supplementary items listed in said supplementary inventory, or a combination thereof to make said desired amount of said target composition; and
(VIII) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to generate an updated inventory.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a monitoring device for producing a target composition, such as an automotive paint or an architectural paint. The device includes a client computer in communication with a host computer and means for dispensing required items for making a desired amount of the target composition. The computer readable program code means in the computers identify one or more formulas associated with identification criteria of the target composition and dispense through means for dispensing the required items listed in the formula. The code means search for the required items in the various inventories, including updating the inventories if required. The device can be also used to control the inventory by shipping just in time any components required to produce target compositions, such as refinish tints used in automotive refinish paints.
30 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A monitoring device comprising:
-
(A) a client computer usable storage medium located in a client computer, and a host computer usable storage medium located in a host computer in communication with said client computer; and (B) means for dispensing required items for making a desired amount of said target composition, said means for dispensing being in communication with said client computer, said host computer, or said client and said host computer; wherein said client computer usable storage medium, host computer usable storage medium, or said client computer usable storage and said host computer usable storage media have computer readable program code means residing therein for monitoring production of a target composition, said computer readable program code means comprising; (I) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to identify one or more formulas associated with identification criteria of said target composition, said formula providing a required inventory for making said desired amount of said target composition, said required items in said required inventory comprising (a) one or more compositions matching characteristics and quantities thereof required to make said desired amount of said target composition;
(b) target components and quantities thereof listed in said formula that are required to make said desired amount of said target composition;
or (c) a combination of (a) and (b);(II) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to generate a current inventory, wherein current items in said current inventory comprise (a) one or more stock compositions matching said characteristics and quantities thereof required to make said desired amount of said target composition;
(b) stock components and quantities thereof listed in said formula that are required to make said desired amount of said target composition;
or (c) a combination of (a) and (b);(III) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to terminate production of said target composition if said current inventory does not match with a stored inventory when said current inventory does not meet the quality requirement listed in said formula or when said current inventory is in dead containers; (IV) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to continue production of said target composition if said current inventory matches with said stored inventory; (V) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to compare said current inventory against said required inventory to ascertain whether said current inventory fulfills said required inventory; (VI) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to generate a supplementary inventory if said current inventory partially fulfills said required inventory wherein supplementary items in said supplementary inventory comprise (a) additional quantities of said stock compositions required to produce said desired amount of said target composition, (b) any missing stock components that match said target components listed in said formula in sufficient quantities required to produce said desired amount of said target composition, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b); (VII) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to dispense through said means for dispensing said required items listed in said required inventory, from said current items listed in said current inventory, supplementary items listed in said supplementary inventory, or a combination thereof to make said desired amount of said target composition; and (VIII) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said client computer or said host computer to generate an updated inventory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A monitoring device comprising:
-
(A) a computer usable storage medium located in a computer; and (B) means for dispensing required items for making a desired amount of said target composition, said means for dispensing being in communication with said computer; wherein said computer usable storage medium has computer readable program code means residing therein for monitoring production of a target composition, said computer readable program code means comprising; (I) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said computer to identify one or more formulas associated with identification criteria of said target composition, said formula providing a required inventory for making said desired amount of said target composition, said required items in said required inventory comprising (a) one or more compositions matching characteristics and quantities thereof required to make said desired amount of said target composition;
(b) target components and quantities thereof listed in said formula that are required to make said desired amount of said target composition;
or (c) a combination of (a) and (b);(II) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said computer to generate a current inventory, wherein current items in said current inventory comprise (a) one or more stock compositions matching said characteristics and quantities thereof required to make said desired amount of said target composition;
(b) stock components and quantities thereof listed in said formula that are required to make said desired amount of said target composition;
or (c) a combination of (a) and (b);(III) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said computer to terminate production of said target composition if said current inventory does not match with a stored inventory when said current inventory does not meet the quality requirement listed in said formula or when said current inventory is in dead containers; (IV) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said computer to continue production of said target composition if said current inventory matches with said stored inventory; (V) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said computer to compare said current inventory against said required inventory to ascertain whether said current inventory fulfills said required inventory; (VI) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said computer to generate a supplementary inventory if said current inventory partially fulfills said required inventory wherein supplementary items in said supplementary inventory comprise (a) additional quantities of said stock compositions required to produce said desired amount of said target composition, (b) any missing stock components that match said target components listed in said formula in sufficient quantities required to produce said desired amount of said target composition, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b); (VII) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said computer to dispense through said means for dispensing said required items listed in said required inventory, from said current items listed in said current inventory, supplementary items listed in said supplementary inventory, or a combination thereof to make said desired amount of said target composition; and (VIII) means for configuring computer readable program code devices to cause said computer to generate an updated inventory.
-
Specification