Wireless directed inventory system
AssigneeASAP Automation, LLC
InventorsWilliam A. Bastian, II, Hussam Alibrahim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A directed inventory system uses individual wireless pick-to modules, or individual wireless pick-from modules, or both, to aid inventory management services such as order fulfillment. Modules wirelessly receive servicing information directly from a processing computer, and transmit servicing status information directly to the computer. Light indicators or display panels on the modules provide information corresponding to a service to be performed, such as a quantity of parts to be picked from a bin, a location of a parts bin to pick from, a designation of a container to pick into, or other servicing information.
Claims10
A directed inventory system, comprising:
- a computer operable to process servicing information;
- a plurality parts bins;
- a plurality of pick-from module each being associated with and positioned proximal to individual ones of the parts bins, each of the pick-from modules being operable to directly wirelessly communicate with the computer to allow easy positional rearrangement of the parts bins, wherein every one of the pick-from modules each separately include
- an antenna operable to receive a wireless communication directly from the computer,
- a translator operatively coupled to the antenna to demodulate the wireless communication from the computer,
- a processor operatively coupled to the translator to process the wireless communication, and
- a light indicator operatively coupled to the processor to visually identify a selected one of the parts bins in response to the wireless communication from the computer;
- at least one access-point module operable to receive and retransmit the wireless communication between the computer and the pick-from modules;
- wherein the access-point module is operable to decode virtual addresses for the pick-from modules to increase number of addresses available in the directed inventory system;
- and
- wherein at least one of the pick-from modules includes a proximity detection section operatively coupled to the processor of the at least one of the pick-from modules, the proximity detection section being operable to sense activity around at least one of the parts bins to count parts movement.
A directed inventory system, comprising:
- a computer operable to process servicing information;
- a plurality parts bins;
- and
- a plurality of pick-from module each being associated with and positioned proximal to individual ones of the parts bins, each of the pick-from modules being operable to directly wirelessly communicate with the computer to allow easy positional rearrangement of the parts bins, wherein every one of the pick-from modules each separately include
- an antenna operable to receive a wireless communication directly from the computer,
- a translator operatively coupled to the antenna to demodulate the wireless communication from the computer,
- a processor operatively coupled to the translator to process the wireless communication, and
- a light indicator operatively coupled to the processor to visually identify a selected one of the parts bins in response to the wireless communication from the computer;
- and
- wherein at least one of the pick-from modules includes a proximity detection section operatively coupled to the processor of the at least one of the pick-from modules, the proximity detection section being operable to sense activity around at least one of the parts bins to count parts movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.