System and method for systematizing provisioning of two bins replenishment systems

• US 8,461,962 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LOGI D Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LOGI D Incorporated
• Inventors: Philippe, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORTELL, JOHN F
• Application Number:
  US12/327,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20100134251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.92
• US Class Current: 340/5.92
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for systematizing provisioning of two bins replenishment systems. The system comprises a database and a reader. The database stores location information and product identification for each product, the location information including rack identification, row information, and bin information. The reader receives an input from a user corresponding to a product to be provisioned, extracts from the database location information by correlating the input with the product identification, and outputs the location information to the user. The method comprises inputting a product identification corresponding to a product to be provisioned, extracting from a database location information corresponding to the product identification, and outputting the extracted location.

Claims

1. A system for systematizing provisioning of products in two bins replenishment systems, the system comprising:

a database for storing location information and product identification for each product, the location information including rack identification, row information, and bin information; and

a reader for receiving an input from a user corresponding to a product to be provisioned, for extracting from the database location information by correlating the input with the product identification, and for outputting the location information to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input is voice, and the reader further comprises a voice recognition module.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the product identification and input are a Device Identification Number (DIN).

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the product identification and input are a Common User Product (CUP) number.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader is further adapted to be attached to a user.

6. A system for replenishing products, the system comprising:

a pair of bins assigned to each product, the bins being adapted to receive a corresponding removable Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag;

a provisioning board adapted to receive the RFID tags of empty bins, for generating therefore provisioning requests and for transmitting the provisioning requests to a central unit;

a database for storing location information and product identification for each product, the location information including rack identification, row information, and bin information; and

a reader for receiving an input from a user corresponding to a product to be provisioned, for extracting from the database location information by correlating the input with the product identification, and for outputting the location information to the user.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the reader is adapted to be attached to a user.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the reader is further adapted to read the RFID tags and the database further stores RFID tag identification for each bin.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the input is at least one of the following:

a voice command, a Device Identification Number (DIN), or a Common User Product (CUP) number.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising an interface for updating the database.

11. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a central unit for receiving the provisioning requests, and for calculating for each product at least one of the following;

a consumption rate per bin or per department, a provisioning rate, and quotas.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the central unit is further adapted for identifying provisioning irregularities comprising:

missing removable RFID tags, duplicate removable RFID tags, and products no longer in use.

13. A method for systematizing provisioning of a two bin replenishment system, the method comprising:

inputting a product identification corresponding to a product to be provisioned, each product having a pair of bins assigned thereto, wherein each bin is adapted to receive a corresponding removable Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag;

extracting from a database location information corresponding to the product identification; and

outputting the extracted location.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of providing information of a room where the replenishment system is located, and wherein:

the extracted location information is dependent of the room in which the replenishment system is located and comprises rack information, row information and bin information.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

rotating remaining product in the two bins replenishment system and provisioning the product to be provisioned in a second one of the two bin replenishment system.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

identifying using a reader an RFID tag corresponding to the product to be provisioned; and

replacing the RFID tag on the two bin replenishment system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the identifying is further performed by extracting an RFID tag identification from the database.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the product identification is at least one of the following:

a Device Identification Number (DIN), Common User Product (CUP) number or a bar code.