Battery monitoring in a networked inventory control system

An electronic inventory control system comprising:

• a data communication network;
• a plurality of inventory control devices communicatively connected to the data communication network, each inventory control device comprising a plurality of storage locations configured to store inventory items, a processor and sensing device configured to determine the presence or absence of inventory items in the plurality of storage locations, a power source comprising at least one battery pack operative to provide electrical power to the processor and the sensing device, and a network communication interface for communicating across the data communication network;
• and
• an inventory control server communicatively connected to the data communication network to communicate with each of the plurality of inventory control devices,
• wherein the inventory control server is configured to perform functions to:
• receive, via the data communication network from each of the inventory control devices, battery pack information including data indicative of monitored operation of a battery pack in the inventory control device in association with an identifier uniquely identifying the battery pack.