US5835377A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for optimized material movement within a computer based manufacturing system utilizing global positioning systems
Assignee: MediaTek Inc
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Filing: 1997-03-24
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Granted: 1998-11-10
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Expires: 2017-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for optimized material movement within a computer based manufacturing system utilizing global positioning systems. A tracking module which includes a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone chip set, and a position determination system, such as a global positioning receiver chip set, is built into each shipping container, vehicle or the like which is utilized to transport material for a computer based manufacturing system. The source and itinerary for each shipment of material, as well as a manufacturing schedule, are then loaded into the computer system which controls the manufacturing system. Periodically, the location of each shipment is then determined by querying the tracking module for a current actual location which is then compared within the computer system with a planned location, determined from the stored itinerary for that shipment. Variations in location of a selected shipment which exceed a specified amount are then utilized to initiate a variation in the manufacturing process, issue alternate shipment orders or initiate the selection of an alternate source for the material within that shipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Roscoe Bush
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:09
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/18; G08B21/22; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/0009; G01S5/0018; G01S5/0027; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G01S2205/00; G01S2205/001; G01S2205/002; G01S2205/008; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P80/00; Y02P80/40; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for optimizing material movement within a computer based manufacturing system comprising the steps of: affixing a wireless communication device to each remotely originating material shipment; coupling a position determination system to each wireless communication device; loading a source of each remotely originating material shipment and an itinerary therefore into a computer; loading a manufacturing schedule into said computer; periodically querying each wireless communication device utilizing said computer; determining a location of each remotely originating material shipment utilizing said position determination system and transmitting said location via said wireless communication device in response to each query; periodically comparing an actual location of each remotely originating material shipment against a planned location determined in accordance with an itinerary for each remotely originating material shipment; and utilizing said computer to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for optimizing material movement within a computer based manufacturing system comprising the steps of: affixing a wireless communication device to each remotely originating material shipment; coupling a position determination system to each wireless communication device; loading a source of each remotely originating material shipment and an itinerary therefore into a computer; loading a manufacturing schedule into said computer; periodically querying each wireless communication device utilizing said computer; determining a location of each remotely originating material shipment utilizing said position determination system and transmitting said location via said wireless communication device in response to each query; periodically comparing an actual location of each remotely originating material shipment against a planned location determined in accordance with an itinerary for each remotely originating material shipment; and utilizing said computer to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1 further including the step of automatically notifying a supervisor within said computer based manufacturing system in response to an alteration of said manufacturing schedule.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of utilizing said computer to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment further comprises the step of altering an itinerary for a remotely originating material shipment in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of utilizing said computer to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment further comprises the step of altering a source for a remotely originating material shipment in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for optimizing material movement within a computer based manufacturing system comprising: a wireless communication device affixed to each remotely originating material shipment; a position determination system coupled to each wireless communication device; a computer control system having stored therein an indication of a source for each remotely originating material shipment and an itinerary therefore and a manufacturing schedule; means for periodically querying each wireless communication device utilizing said computer system; means for determining a position of each remotely originating material shipment utilizing said position determination system and transmitting said location via said wireless communication device in response to each query; means for periodically comparing an actual location of each remotely originating material shipment against a plan location determined in accordance with an itinerary for each remotely originating material shipment; and means for utilizing said computer system to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said location and said plan location of a remotely originating material shipment.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for optimizing material movement within a computer based manufacturing system comprising: a wireless communication device affixed to each remotely originating material shipment; a position determination system coupled to each wireless communication device; a computer control system having stored therein an indication of a source for each remotely originating material shipment and an itinerary therefore and a manufacturing schedule; means for periodically querying each wireless communication device utilizing said computer system; means for determining a position of each remotely originating material shipment utilizing said position determination system and transmitting said location via said wireless communication device in response to each query; means for periodically comparing an actual location of each remotely originating material shipment against a plan location determined in accordance with an itinerary for each remotely originating material shipment; and means for utilizing said computer system to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said location and said plan location of a remotely originating material shipment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 5 further including means for automatically notifying a supervisor within said computer based manufacturing system in response to an alteration of said manufacturing schedule.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system according to claim 5 wherein said means for utilizing said computer system to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said plan location of a remotely originating material shipment further comprises means for altering an itinerary for a remotely originating material shipment in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said plan location of a remotely originating material shipment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system according to claim 5 wherein said means for utilizing said computer system to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment further comprises means for altering a source for a remotely originating material shipment in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 5 wherein said wireless communication device comprises a cellular telephone communication device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 5 wherein said position determination system further comprises a global positioning system receiver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system according to claim 5 wherein said means for periodically querying each wireless communication device utilizing said computer system comprises an automatic initiation of communication with said wireless communication device by said computer system via a telephone network.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-09 | 2002-05-11 | 2002-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-09 | 2006-05-11 | 2006-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-09 | 2010-05-11 | 2010-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |