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US 2024/0177841 A1Published application
Medical supply inventory management system
OwnerMichael Mamaghaniinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In various aspects, a system includes a container arranged to store inventory items at storage sites within it, each site including a scale to generate a weight for an inventory item. The system can also include a controller coupled to the container and to the scales and configured to determine an identity or weight of any inventory item removed from or placed at the respective storage sites. The system may be configured to enhance security, weight measurement accuracy, and real-time inventory management for the container.
Claims30
A system, comprising:
- a container arranged to store a plurality of inventory items at a plurality of storage sites within the container, each of the plurality of storage sites including a scale configured to generate a value defining the weight of the inventory item located at the storage site having the scale, the container further including at least one lockable door;
- a controller coupled to the container and configured to unlock the at least one lockable door, the controller being further coupled to the plurality of scales and configured to determine an identity, a weight, or a partial weight of any of the plurality of inventory items removed from or placed at the respective plurality of storage sites;
- and
- a security processor coupled to the controller and configured to attempt to authenticate a user of the system, and to inform the controller if the attempt to authenticate the user is successful, wherein the controller is configured to unlock the at least one door upon receiving information from the security processor that the attempt to authenticate was successful, and wherein the controller is further configured to alert the user of an error in removal or placement of any of the plurality of inventory items from or at any of the plurality of storage sites based on determined identities or weight values or partial weight values of inventory items.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- attempting, by a security processor, to authenticate a user of a system;
- unlocking, by a controller, a door of a container if the attempting step is successful;
- monitoring and storing, by the controller, removal or placement of inventory items at respective locations in the container by the user and weights or partial weights of the inventory items removed or placed;
- and
- alerting, by the controller, the user if any inventory item is removed from or placed at in incorrect location.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a scale;
- and
- a processor coupled to the scale and configured to obtain (i) a weight of an empty bin for storing a plurality of containers for storing items, (ii) a weight of an empty container, (iii) a weight of an item, and (iv) a maximum number of items storable in a container,
- the processor being further configured to obtain a first weight measurement for a bin sitting on the scale, the bin storing the plurality of containers, with one container of the plurality of containers storing a first number of items that is less than the maximum number of items storable in a container and the other containers of the plurality of containers each storing the maximum number of items storable in a container,
- the processor being further configured to subtract from the first weight measurement a sum of (i) the weight of an empty bin for storing a predefined number of containers for storing items, (ii) a product of a second number equal to one less than the plurality of containers for storing items and the weight of a container storing the maximum number of items storable in a container, and (iii) the weight of an empty container to generate therefrom a resultant weight value, and to divide the resultant weight value by the weight of an item to generate therefrom the first number of items.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a scale;
- and
- a processor coupled to the scale and configured to obtain at a first sampling rate a plurality of successive digital representations of a weight of an item sitting on the scale, filter the plurality of successive digital representations, down sample the filtered plurality of successive digital representations to a second sampling rate, the second sampling rate being lower than the first sampling rate, average the down sampled plurality of successive digital representations to generate a single digital representation, and apply a conversion factor of digital representations to weights in units to generate a weight in units of the item sitting on the scale.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.