SIMPLIFICATION OF INVENTORY MANAGEMENT

• US 20090187495A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Philbrook, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,442,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00043 using switches, contacts or markings, e.g. optical, magnetic or barcode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A simplified inventory management method. The method employs a plurality of stock-keeping unit labels, with each of the plurality of stock-keeping unit labels having a same stock-keeping unit number. Individual ones of the plurality of stock-keeping unit labels are utilized to track individual items of a plurality of items. A sale price of individual ones a first set of the plurality of items is different from a sale price of individual ones of a second set of the plurality of items.

Claims

1. An method comprising:

providing a plurality of stock-keeping unit labels, with each of the plurality of stock-keeping unit labels having a same stock-keeping unit number; and

utilizing individual ones of the plurality of stock-keeping unit labels to track individual items of a plurality of items;

wherein a sale price of individual ones a first set of the plurality of items is different from a sale price of individual ones of a second set of the plurality of items.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each one of the first set of the plurality of items is under a first warranty coverage and each one of the second set of the plurality of items is under a second warranty coverage, and wherein the difference between the sale price of the individual ones of the first set of the plurality of items and the sale price of the individual ones of the second set of the plurality of items is based on a difference between the first warranty coverage and the second warranty coverage.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein utilizing individual ones of the plurality of stock-keeping unit labels to track individual items of the plurality of items comprises affixing the individual ones of the plurality of stock-keeping unit labels on the individual items of the plurality of items and wherein warranty coverage information for each item of the plurality of items is stored separately from each stock-keeping unit label affixed to each respective item of the plurality of items.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the warranty coverage information for each item of the plurality of items is stored in a radio frequency identification (RFID) label affixed to each item of the plurality of items.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein each item of the plurality of items is a storage battery.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the storage battery comprises a housing having a recessed portion in which the RFID label is affixed.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the RFID label includes a write once read many memory.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the write once read many memory is a fusible link memory.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the storage battery is a vehicle battery.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the vehicle battery is sold and installed in the vehicle at a dealership, and wherein the RFID tag includes a date sold, a dealer code, as-installed test results, a warranty period, a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle and a name of an owner of the vehicle.

11. A method comprising:

affixing a first stock-keeping unit label having a stock-keeping unit number to a first storage battery;

affixing a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to the first storage battery;

storing warranty coverage information for the first storage battery in the first RFID tag,

wherein a price of the first storage battery is a function of the warranty coverage, and

wherein a difference in price between the first storage battery and a second storage battery having a second stock keeping unit label having a same stock keeping unit number as the first stock keeping unit label is based on a difference in the warranty coverage of the first storage battery and a warranty coverage of the second storage battery.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first storage battery comprises a housing having a recessed portion in which the first RFID label is affixed.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first RFID label includes a write once read many memory.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the write once read many memory is a fusible link memory.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the storage battery is a vehicle battery.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the vehicle battery is sold and installed in the vehicle at a dealership, and wherein the RFID tag includes a date sold, a dealer code, as-installed test results, a warranty period, a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle and a name of an owner of the vehicle.

17. A vehicle battery comprising:

a battery housing;

a plurality of electrochemical cells in the battery housing electrically connected in series to a positive terminal of the battery and a negative terminal of the battery;

a stock-keeping unit label having a stock-keeping unit number, the stock-keeping unit label affixed to the battery housing; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) label affixed to the battery housing the RFID tag comprising a memory comprising information related to the vehicle battery.

18. The vehicle battery of claim 17 wherein the information related to the vehicle battery comprises a date the vehicle battery was sold, a dealer code of a dealer that sold and installed the battery in the vehicle, as-installed test results, a warranty period of the vehicle battery, a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle and a name of an owner of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle battery of claim 17 wherein the memory is a write once read many memory.

20. The vehicle battery of claim 17 wherein the battery housing has a recessed portion and wherein the RFID tag is affixed in the recessed portion.