Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2002-06-18
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S462090, C235S462100, C235S385000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06405924
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of inventory control. Particularly, the present invention relates to the field of inventory control using barcodes on individual inventory items. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of inventory control where usage of the inventory items during predetermined time periods are tracked and recorded by performing an initial barcode scan on a designated component in a batch and subsequently performing a barcode scan on the next available component in a batch at the end of a predetermined time period.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various laser scanning systems have been developed for many processing industries to read bar code symbols, which uniquely identify an object to be processed, and to decode the symbol to a multiple digit representation for recordkeeping and inventory control purposes. For example, blood banks have begun to identify blood bags with bar code symbols to facilitate processing. The magazine distribution industry widely distributes magazines on a consignment basis and therefore the need exists for accurately and quickly tallying the returned magazines for credit validation. Similarly, the record and tape industry requires accurate inventory information of its sold and returned products.
It is quite common in the supermarket industry to utilize a checkout counter scanning system which scans a barcode on the supermarket products and transmits that information to both a cash register which displays the price of the product and a central computer which stores information concerning the product. Typically, each product has a Uniform Product Code (UPC) which consists of two sets of codes
umbers. The first grouping of codes is manufacturer specific and the second grouping of codes represents a particular product in the specific manufacturer's product line. These systems are typically used in point-of-service transactions. They are used by many retailers not only to keep track of inventory levels as each item is scanned but also to measure the scanning performance of their checkout personnel, which is typically measured in items scanned per minute.
The barcode symbol itself is a coded pattern of indicia comprised of a series of bars of various widths spaced apart from one another to bound spaces of various widths, the bars and spaces having different light-reflecting characteristics. The readers and scanning systems electro-optically transform the graphic indicia into electrical signals, which are decoded into alphanumerical characters that are intended to be descriptive of the article or some characteristic thereof. Such characters are typically represented in digital form and utilized as an input to a data processing system for applications in point-of-sale processing, inventory control, and the like.
There are several laser-scanning systems of this general type currently in use. For example, there are point-of-sale or deck scanners which are large, massive and stationary installations that are built into an immovable structure such as a supermarket counter. Other systems include contact-type and non-contact-type wand or pen bar code readers, which are positioned on or near the symbol, and then manually dragged across the symbol. Still other laser scanning systems have recently been designed which can be hand-held. In addition, there are scanner systems for providing real-time performance feedback, for scanning a plurality of barcode labels appearing within the field of view of the scanner and for interrelating scanner data from a supermarket checkout counter with demographic and/or economic data concerning individual customers. However, all of the current scanning systems require that each item be scanned in order to properly track inventory levels and usage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,163 (1993, Collins et al.) discloses a method for processing the reading of barcode tags or labels in which a barcode scanner reads a plurality of barcode tags in the field of view of the scanner while in a stationary position generating tag representation for each tag read. The steps include storing the first tag representation, comparing each succeeding tag representation with the first tag representation and generating a count representing the number of times the same tag read was read for use in processing the barcode tags in the minimum amount of time. A drawback of this device requires that each item be scanned in order to properly track inventory levels and usage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,226 (1995, Collins) discloses a feedback system for an optical scanner which provides scanning rate information to an operator during scanning. The feedback system includes a controller for determining scanning rate information during scanning and a plurality of lights controlled by the controller which provides the scanning rate information to an operator during scanning. The system also includes a shift register coupled between the controller and the indicator lights, and a speaker for providing an aural indication of successful and unsuccessful scanning events during scanning. Again, a draw back of this device requires that each item be scanned in order to provide the user with scanning rate information and to properly track inventory levels and usage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,113 (1989, Dinerstein) discloses a system for interrelating scanner data from a supermarket checkout counter with demographic and/or economic data concerning individual customers to generate a demographic and economic analysis of sales with respect to specific supermarket items. The computer keeps track of all items purchased by the individuals, preferably by the entry of item data through a barcode scanner at the checkout counter. This, like the other prior art, requires that each item be scanned to provide a more reliable interrelationship of the demographic and economic data concerning individual customers and to properly track inventory levels and usage.
Therefore what is needed is an inventory recording system that does not require recording of product characteristics for each product sold or withdrawn from inventory. What is further needed is an inventory recording system that allows recording of inventory usage by recording an initial item in each batch of like items and then recording a next available item in a particular batch sometime thereafter regardless of the number of items withdrawn during the interim time. What is still further needed is an inventory recording system that provides inventory usage by using barcodes on inventory items that have a portion of the barcode individually serialized and that are arranged in either increasing or decreasing numerical order.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an inventory barcode recording system that does not require recording of product characteristics for each product sold or withdrawn from inventory. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inventory barcode recording system that allows recording of an initial item in each batch of like items, the recording of the next available item in a particular batch after a period of time regardless of the number of items withdrawn from the particular batch, and the determination of the number of items withdrawn from that particular batch that occurred during that time period. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an inventory barcode recording system that provides this information by using barcodes on inventory items that have a portion of the barcode individually serialized and that are arranged in either increasing or decreasing numerical order.
The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing an inventory system and methodology that incorporates the use of serialized barcodes on like items, a scanning device for scanning the barcode of a predetermined item in a batch, a processor circuit for recording the barcode data into memory, and a data display device for displaying reports on the usage of v
Deleault, Esq. Robert R.
Insta-Trek Corporation
Lee Michael G.
Mesmer & Delault, PLLC
Walsh Daniel
LandOfFree
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