# US 2006/0076408 A1 · Inventory assisting assembly and method of using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0076408 A1 - Document ID: US20060076408A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/961,794 - Filed: 2004-10-08 - Published: 2006-04-13 - Earliest claimed: 2004-10-08 - Inventors: William Phillips; Michael Gelaude; Bill Kosiba; Martyn Glover - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060076408A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders - G06Q 10/0877: {by inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An inventory assisting system coordinates activity relating to the acts of receipt and inventory of motor vehicles in a lot wherein each of the motor vehicles has a vehicle identification number and a graphic representation of the vehicle identification number. The inventory assisting assembly includes a wireless device capable of transmitting data signals using electromagnetic radiation. A scanner is operatively connected to the wireless device for scanning the graphic representation of the vehicle identification number and for transmitting the data to the wireless device. The scanned data is converted into data signals for transmission. The inventory assisting assembly also includes a server designed to receive the data signals from the wireless device and for transforming the data signal into a readable output identifying all characteristics of the motor vehicle that are encoded in the vehicle identification number. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inventory assisting assembly for coordinating activity relating to the acts of receipt and inventory of motor vehicles in a lot wherein each of the motor vehicles has a vehicle identification number and a graphic representation of the vehicle identification number, said inventory assisting assembly comprising: a wireless device capable of transmitting data signals using electromagnetic radiation; a scanner operatively connected to said wireless device for scanning the graphic representation of the vehicle identification number and transmitting scanned data to said wireless device for converting said scanned data into said data signals for transmission; and a server designed to receive said data signals from said wireless device and for transferring said data signals into a readable output identifying all characteristics of the motor vehicle that are encoded in the vehicle identification number. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An inventory assisting assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a printer electronically connected to said server for printing said readable output for use in relation to the motor vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An inventory assisting assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a remote computer electrically connected to said server for viewing said readable output and for data entry with respect to said readable output to embellish information associated with the motor vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An inventory assisting assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said wireless device includes an input pad to input the vehicle identification number as an alternative to scanning the graphic representation of the vehicle identification number. ### Claim 5 A method for assisting in an inventory process of motor vehicles using a wireless device, a scanner secured thereto, a server, a printer and a remote computer, the method comprising the steps of: inputting a vehicle identification number into the wireless device; transmitting the vehicle identification number to the server; decoding the vehicle identification number to extrapolate all information in the vehicle identification number to create a vehicle record of the motor vehicle; transmitting the vehicle record to the remote computer; and inputting additional information regarding the motor vehicle into the vehicle record and storing same therein. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of printing the vehicle record from the printer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the step of printing includes the step of printing a window sticker to be adhered to a window of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the step of printing includes the step of printing a plurality of keytags. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the step of printing includes the step of printing a plurality of stickers to be subsequently affixed to papers and folders. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the step of printing a plurality of stickers includes the step of printing a plurality of stickers in a plurality of different sizes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) A method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of identifying the location of the motor vehicle and adding the location to the vehicle record. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of editing information in the vehicle record. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) A method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of comparing the vehicle identification number as input against a stock list of vehicle identification numbers to ensure accuracy. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method as set forth in claim 13 including the step of storing all edits and additions with the vehicle record. ### Claim 15 A method for assisting in an inventory process of motor vehicles using a wireless device, a scanner secured thereto, a server, a printer and a remote computer, the method comprising the steps of: inputting a vehicle identification number into the wireless device; transmitting the vehicle identification number to the server; decoding the vehicle identification number to extrapolate all information in the vehicle identification number to create a vehicle record of the motor vehicle; transmitting the vehicle record to the remote computer; inputting additional information regarding the motor vehicle into the vehicle record and storing same therein; and comparing the vehicle identification number as input against a stock list of vehicle identification numbers to ensure accuracy. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method as set forth in claim 15 including the step of printing the vehicle record from the printer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method as set forth in claim 16 including the step of editing information in the vehicle record. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method as set forth in claim 17 including the step of storing all edits and additions with the vehicle record. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the step of printing includes the step of printing a window sticker to be adhered to a window of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the step of printing includes the step of printing a plurality of keytags.