System for cataloging an inventory and method of use

• US 6,550,674 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yoram Neumark
• Original Assignee: Yoram Neumark
• Inventors: Neumark, Yoram
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US10/226,475
• Time in Patent Office: 242 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 235/384, 235/385, 235/462.01, 235/462.13, 235/462.45, 235/462.44, 235/470, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 705/22, 705/28, 340/14.1, 340/505, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/573.1, 340/825.36, 342/42, 342/50, 342/450, 342/451, 342/463, 342/465, 700/213, 700/214, 700/215, 700/225, 700/226
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/04 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An inventory control and management method provides a combination mobile device for communication and for reading labels (R&C). The R&C reads an inventory label affixed to an item of inventory in the stores. A data file is created corresponding to the label reading and includes a time stamp taken at the time of the reading. The data file is imported into a computer data processor. A network of fixed distributed communication nodes (transceivers) is positioned over the inventory store for receiving temporal cyclic signature pulses from the R&C. At least three of the communication nodes are used to perform a triangulation for locating the R&C, and the location and the corresponding time is recorded. By comparing the time of a given reading of the label with a corresponding time of the triangulation, it is possible to determine where any item is located within the stores.

Claims

1. An inventory control and management method comprising the steps of:

providing a combination mobile means for reading labels and for communication (R&

C);

for at least one of a plurality of inventory items, positioning the R&

C for reading an inventory label affixed to one of the inventory items in an inventory stores;

creating a data file in the R&

C corresponding to the label reading and a corresponding time stamp taken at the time of the label reading;

transmitting the data file with the time stamp, from the R&

C to a receiver;

importing the data file from the receiver to a data processor;

providing a network of fixed distributed communication nodes in proximity to the inventory stores;

receiving a stream of signature ultra wide band (UWB) transmissions from the R&

C at a plurality of the communication nodes;

triangulating and recording the location of the R&

C in three space at the time of the label reading, and storing location and identity information of the R&

C in a database for use in controlling and managing the inventory items.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile means for reading labels and the means for communication are physically indistinguishable in three-space with respect to triangulation precision of the communication node network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the signature UWB transmissions are converted into a history file defining the movements of the R&

C over time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the signature UWB transmissions carry the time stamp from the R&

C.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the signature UWB transmissions are time stamped upon receipt by the communication nodes.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the triangulation method for locating the R&

C in three-space uses discrimination of received time of the signature UWB transmissions at, at least three of the communication nodes, to determine location.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the triangulation method for locating the R&

C in three-space uses signal direction discrimination of the signature UWB transmissions at, at least three of the communication nodes, to determine location.