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US7113922B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electronic inventory movement and control device

Assignee: GENIUS CENTRAL Inc
•
Filing: 2001-11-02
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Granted: 2006-09-26
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Expires: 2021-11-02
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Abstract

Abstract Disclosed is a method and apparatus to electronically tabulate items marked with a bar code. The system may optionally operate to manage, control and tabulate inventory, produce vendor-correct purchase orders, manage multiple locations, multiple buildings, multiple clients and multiple stores to facilitate efficiency for a wholesaler or retailer or alternatively for a distributor, broker or sales agent. The system may alternatively be used to manage inventory for a manufacturing environment or for tracking evidence or items in a chain of custody environment useful for governmental and scientific functions.

Inventors

  • 👤 Carl Fowler

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 12:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/20; G06Q20/202; G06Q10/0877; G06Q10/08772; G06Q20/203; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q10/0872; G06Q10/08724

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 271 words
An electronic inventory control ordering and management system that permits a person to manage the inventory and procurement for a multitude of items in a multitude of locations, comprising: a hand-held computer scanner equipped with a bar code reader, preprogrammed to print UPC bar code shelf labels, and equipped with a keypad for inputting data wherein the hand-held computer scanner operably and bidirectionally communicates with a digital computer system; such communication selected from wireless device, modem, electronic cables, infrared device, radio frequency based device, network based device; and a database operably configured to include items, a history of items, a source of items, and a description of items is maintained, said database consisting of: a first table consisting of item identifier, UPC code, description, retail price, shelf price, wholesale price, unit size, unit description, unit type identifier, manufacturer, primary vendor: a second table consisting of source item identifier, source of item, address of source, contact of source, telephone number of source, fax number of source, email address of source, automated ordering information of source: a third table consisting of item identifier, source of item: a fourth table consisting of unit type identifier, unit type: a fifth table consisting of location identifier, location description: a sixth table consisting of location identifier, item identifier: a seventh table consisting of item identifier, source of item identifier, order identifier, number in area 1 , number in area 2 , number in area 3 , date order created, number ordered, date submitted; and an eighth table consisting of item identifier, date transferred, quantity, location identity, such information being captured from a point of sale register device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 271 words
An electronic inventory control ordering and management system that permits a person to manage the inventory and procurement for a multitude of items in a multitude of locations, comprising: a hand-held computer scanner equipped with a bar code reader, preprogrammed to print UPC bar code shelf labels, and equipped with a keypad for inputting data wherein the hand-held computer scanner operably and bidirectionally communicates with a digital computer system; such communication selected from wireless device, modem, electronic cables, infrared device, radio frequency based device, network based device; and a database operably configured to include items, a history of items, a source of items, and a description of items is maintained, said database consisting of: a first table consisting of item identifier, UPC code, description, retail price, shelf price, wholesale price, unit size, unit description, unit type identifier, manufacturer, primary vendor: a second table consisting of source item identifier, source of item, address of source, contact of source, telephone number of source, fax number of source, email address of source, automated ordering information of source: a third table consisting of item identifier, source of item: a fourth table consisting of unit type identifier, unit type: a fifth table consisting of location identifier, location description: a sixth table consisting of location identifier, item identifier: a seventh table consisting of item identifier, source of item identifier, order identifier, number in area 1 , number in area 2 , number in area 3 , date order created, number ordered, date submitted; and an eighth table consisting of item identifier, date transferred, quantity, location identity, such information being captured from a point of sale register device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the description of the item scanned can be operably configured in the database or entered manually by UPC code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein information for a multiplicity of locations is operably entered.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein vendor-correct purchase orders are operably produced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the vendor-correct purchase order may be displayed and edited.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said vendor-correct purchase order forms are automatically transmitted to a vendor by one of facsimile transmission, email transmission, network transmission, computer printout, wireless transmission.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 4 wherein quantities for purchase orders are calculated from a selection of one of user specified quantities, historical quantities, predictive use quantities.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said predictive use quantities are calculated from a ratio multiplied by calculated amount used over a specified period of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein quantities for purchase orders of each item are calculated from said table eight including point of sale data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system produces reports displaying competitive pricing of items.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system produces shelf tags.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 38 words
The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system is operably configured with point of sale checkout devices to provide data to the inventory control management system regarding items sold, amounts, prices, location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 24 words
The inventory control management system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system is operably configured to permit the tabulation for multiple vendors.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4864507A Cited
EP0454458A2 Cited
US5666493A Cited
US6625581B1 Cited
US6182053B1 Cited
US20020050526A1 Cited
US6089453A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2009-09-25 2010-03-27 2010-09-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2013-09-25 2014-03-27 2014-09-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2017-09-25 2018-03-27 2018-09-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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