Handheld device and method for determining the location of physical objects stored in storage containers

• US 9,135,790 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rotho Kunststoff AG
• Original Assignee: Rotho Kunststoff AG
• Inventors: Wollin, Moshe Cohen
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US13/756,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20130201002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 340/8.1, 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/570, 235/383, 235/385, 235/472.01, 705/3, 705/2, 700/215
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

The invention relates to a handheld device (1) for determining the location of a physical object (21) stored in a storage container (31). A reader system reads on the storage container (31) a visual code (31.1) which comprises a unique container identifier (31.2). A data entry system is configured to store object data (21.2) identifying the physical object (21) in a data store (1.4) linked to the container identifier (31.2). The data entry system is further configured to capture query data which defines the physical object (21). A query module is configured to determine the container identifier (31.2) by comparing the query data to the object data (21.2) in the data store (1.4), and to indicate the location of the physical object (21) by showing on a display the container identifier (31.2) of the storage container (31) containing the physical object (21).

Claims

1. A handheld device for determining a location of a physical object which is stored in one of a plurality of storage containers, the device comprising:

a reader system configured to read, on the storage container in which the physical object is placed, a visual code which is provided on each of the containers, a user-readable unique container identifier also being provided on each of the containers;

wherein the reader system is configured to extract the user-readable unique container identifier from the visual code;

a data entry system configured to capture in the handheld device object data identifying the physical object and to store the object data in a data store linked to the user-readable container identifier of the storage container in which the physical object is placed;

the data entry system being further configured to capture in the handheld device query data which defines the physical object; and

a query module configured to determine the user-readable container identifier of the storage container containing the physical object˜

by comparing the query data to the object data in the data store, and to indicate the location of the physical object by showing on a display of the handheld device the user-readable container identifier of the storage container containing the physical object.

2. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the data entry system is further configured to store with the user-readable container identifier in the data store a container type which is included in the visual code and defines a visual representation of the storage container;

and the query module is further configured to indicate the location of the physical object by showing on the display the visual representation of the storage container containing the physical object.

3. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the data entry system comprises a camera for recording a picture of the physical object;

the data entry system is further configured to capture the query data by showing on the display pictures of physical objects and receiving a user selection of one of the pictures; and

the query module is further configured to determine the user-readable container identifier of the storage container containing the physical object by comparing the picture selected by the user to pictures stored in the data store.

4. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the data entry system is further configured to capture location information which defines the location of the storage container in which the physical object is placed;

and the query module is further configured to indicate the location of the physical object by showing on the display the location information of the storage container containing the physical object.

5. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the reader system comprises a camera for recording a picture of the visual code and a code scanner configured to detect the user-readable container identifier in the picture of the visual code.

6. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the reader system is configured to read at least one of:

a QR code, a bar code, and an alphanumeric code.

7. A method of determining a location of a physical object which is stored in one of a plurality of storage containers, the method comprising:

Reading, with a handheld device on the storage container in which the physical object is placed, a visual code which is provided on each of the containers, a user-readable unique container identifier also being provided on each of the containers;

configuring to extract the user-readable unique container identifier from the visual code;

capturing in the handheld device object data identifying the physical object;

storing by the handheld device in a data store the object data linked to the user-readable container identifier of the storage container in which the physical object is placed;

capturing in the handheld device query data which defines the physical object;

determining by the handheld device the user-readable container identifier of the storage container containing the physical object by comparing the query data to the object data in the data store; and

indicating the location of the physical object by showing on a display of the handheld device the user-readable container identifier of the storage container containing the physical object.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the visual code includes a container type defining a visual representation of a storage container, the handheld device stores in the data store the container type with the user-readable container identifier, and indicating the location of the physical object includes showing on the display the visual representation of the storage container containing the physical object.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein capturing the object data includes recording a picture of the physical object using a camera of the handheld device, capturing the query data includes showing on the display of the handheld device pictures of physical objects and receiving at the handheld device a user selection of one of the pictures, and determining the user-readable container identifier of the storage container containing the physical object includes comparing the picture selected by the user to pictures stored in the data store.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises capturing in the handheld device location information which defines the location of the storage container in which the physical object is placed;

and indicating the location of the physical object includes showing on the display the location information of the storage container containing the physical object.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical object is stored in one of a plurality of plastic storage containers;

and the storage containers are provided with at least one of;

a QR code, a bar code, and an alphanumeric code.

12. A non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program code which directs a processor of a handheld device to:

read, on a storage container in which at least one physical object is placed, a visual code which is provided on the container, a user-readable unique container identifier also being provided on each of the containers;

configure to extract the user-readable unique container identifier from the visual code;

capture object data identifying the physical object;

store in a data store the object data linked to the user-readable container identifier of the storage container in which the physical object is placed;

capture query data which defines the physical object;

determine the user-readable container identifier of the storage container containing the physical object by comparing the query data to the object data in the data store; and

indicate a location of the physical object by showing on a display of the handheld device the user-readable container identifier of the storage container containing the physical object.

13. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12, comprising further computer program code which directs the processor of the handheld device to store with the user-readable container identifier in the data store a container type which is included in the visual code and defines a visual representation of a storage container, and to indicate the location of the physical object by showing on the display the visual representation of the storage container containing the physical object.

14. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12, comprising further computer program code which directs the processor of the handheld device to record with the object data a picture of the physical object using a camera of the handheld device, and to capture the query data by showing on the display of the handheld device pictures of physical objects and receiving a user selection of one of the pictures, and to determine the user-readable container identifier of the storage container containing the physical object by comparing the picture selected by the user to pictures stored in the data store.

15. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12, comprising further computer program code which directs the processor of the handheld device to capture location information which defines the location of the storage container in which the object is placed, and to indicate the location of the physical object by showing on the display the location information of the storage container containing the physical object.