U.S. patent application number 13/756115 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-31 for inventory assistance device and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Intermec Technologies Corporation. Invention is credited to Michael Hansen.
Application Number | 20140214631 13/756115 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50239288 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140214631 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hansen; Michael |
July 31, 2014 |
INVENTORY ASSISTANCE DEVICE AND METHOD
Abstract
A device and system for assisting with inventory ordering and
management. In an embodiment, a personal device may be used by a
worker to assist with identifying and retrieving items in an
inventory or warehouse setting. The device includes a
communications module suited to interface with radio frequency
identification (RFID) tags that may be attached to the items to be
selected or a bin that holds the items to be selected. If the
worker has maneuvered the device close enough to a correct RFID
tag, then the device can provide positive feedback to the worker
indicating selection of a needed item. Similarly, if the worker has
come into communicative proximity with an item not needed, then
negative feedback at the device may be initiated.
Inventors: |
Hansen; Michael; (Everett,
WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Intermec Technologies Corporation |
Everett |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50239288 |
Appl. No.: |
13/756115 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 7/10366 20130101;
G08B 6/00 20130101; G08B 3/10 20130101; G06Q 10/087 20130101; G08B
5/36 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/28 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/08 20120101
G06Q010/08 |
Claims
1. A device, comprising: a wireless communication module configured
to detect wireless signals that correspond to items, respectively;
a controller coupled to the wireless communication module and
configured to identify an item based on a detected wireless signal
and configured to generate a feedback signal in response to the
identification; and a feedback module coupled to the controller and
configured to provide feedback in response to the feedback signal;
wherein said device continuously scans for detection of wireless
signals that correspond to items.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a memory coupled to
the controller and configured to store data corresponding to items
that correspond to wireless signals.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a
wristband.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a glove.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the feedback module further
comprises a haptic feedback module configured to generate a haptic
indication in response to the feedback signal.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the haptic indication comprises
two vibrations with short durations to indicate a positive feedback
signal and one vibration with a duration longer than the short
duration to indicate a negative feedback signal.
7. The device of claim 5, wherein the haptic feedback module
further comprises a haptic vibration motor circuit.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the feedback module further
comprises an aural feedback module configured to generate an aural
indication in response to the feedback signal.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the feedback module further
comprises a visual feedback module configured to generate a visual
indication in response to the feedback signal.
10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a network interface
module coupled to the controller and configured to communicate with
a switched packet network.
11-15. (canceled)
16. A method, comprising: providing a device having personal device
memory; storing data in the personal device memory about one or
more specific items, the one or more specific items a subset of a
plurality of items; selecting an item from the plurality of items;
determining an identification of the selected item by continuously
scanning, with the device, to detect a wireless signal generated by
a wireless communication tag disposed on the selected item;
generating a positive feedback signal, with the device, if the
identified item is one of the one or more specific items; and
generating a negative feedback signal, with the device, if the
identified item is not one of the one or more specific items.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the positive feedback and the
negative feedback further comprises haptic, aural, or visual
feedback.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: communicating the
positive feedback signal to a remote computer system; and updating
a record stored in the remote computer system.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating data
to the device from the remote computer system in response to the
updating.
20. The method of claim 16, further comprising communicating data
to the device from a remote computer system having data about a
plurality of items in response to the positive or negative
feedback.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Inventory systems (sometimes called "order picking" systems)
employ various devices that interact through wired or wireless
communication to assist workers in locating, identifying, and
selecting items in a warehouse setting when such items need to be
retrieved to fulfill an order, or the like. A worker may use a
handheld device that communicates with a backend inventory system
such that the worker may be given directions to a specific location
in a warehouse to retrieve the item needed. However, because of the
sheer number of items in many warehouses and the smaller size of
some inventory items, difficulty results in quickly retrieving
items and correctly so. That is, in a large inventory environment,
a particular difficulty arises when there are so many possible
locations for specific items within the warehouse environment. Even
if a row or aisle is identified by a system, a great number of
items may be located in such a row or aisle and may be stacked into
different height levels. Further yet, smaller items may be located
in rather small bins or containers. Such granularity in an
inventory system may prove challenging even if very specific
directions or locations are provided.
[0002] For example, a location identification of aisle 4, section
23A, shelf B may still leave a large area for a worker to look for
a needed item. Often, a worker may be right on top of a needed
item, but spend a significant amount of time verifying a specific
item by a SKU number or part number. Further, with such numbers
often so very redundant or similar, a worker may select an
incorrect item in a bin next to the correct item all the while
thinking that the correct item has been retrieved. Without specific
feedback from an inventory picking system, workers may be prone to
mistakes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] Aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the claims
will become more readily appreciated as the same become better
understood by reference to the following detailed description, when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0004] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an inventory assistance device
according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed
herein.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an inventory assistance system
according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed
herein.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an inventory assistance system
according to a further embodiment of the subject matter disclosed
herein.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a tool assistance system according to
a further embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] The following discussion is presented to enable a person
skilled in the art to make and use the subject matter disclosed
herein. The general principles described herein may be applied to
embodiments and applications other than those detailed above
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present detailed
description. The present disclosure is not intended to be limited
to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope
consistent with the principles and features disclosed or suggested
herein.
[0009] By way of overview, the subject matter disclosed herein may
be directed to a device that may be used within a system for
assisting with inventory ordering and management. In an embodiment,
a personal device may be used by a worker to assist with
identifying and retrieving items in an inventory or warehouse
setting. Such a personal device may be worn on a wrist or hand or
any other convenient manner of moving the device into proximity
with possible items for selection and retrieval. In this sense, the
worker may maneuver a hand having the device toward various items.
The device includes a communications module suited to interface
with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that may be
attached to the items to be selected or a bin that holds the items
to be selected. If the worker has maneuvered his or her hand (e.g.,
the device itself worn on or near the hand) close enough to a
correct RFID tag, then the device can provide positive feedback to
the worker indicating selection of a needed item. Similarly, if the
worker has come into communicative proximity with an item not
needed, then negative feedback at the device may be implemented.
Further, the device may be suited to interface with a portable
handheld computing device such that upon selection of a needed
item, inventory levels and order fulfillment databases in a larger
back-end inventory system may be updated accordingly. These and
other aspects and features of the device and corresponding system
are discussed below with respect to FIGS. 1-4.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an inventory assistance device
100 according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed
herein. The device as described herein may be a personal device
typically carried or worn by a person. Various embodiments of the
device, such as glove embodiments and wristband embodiments, are
discussed below with respect to other FIGS. With respect to FIG. 1,
the device will be discussed in terms of functional blocks
regardless of the physical embodiment.
[0011] The device 100 is configured to communicatively interface
with both a larger back-end inventory system (not shown in FIG. 1)
as well as individual items or item bins (also not shown in FIG.
1). Such communications may be realized through one or both of two
different communications modules within the device 100. In the
embodiment of FIG. 1, the two communications modules are a radio
frequency (RF) circuit 110 for communicating with RF tags at local
items or item bins and a network interface 130 for communicating
with a packet-based switched network coupled to the larger back-end
inventory system. Further, in some embodiments, the circuit 110 may
be a near field communication (NFC) module.
[0012] A first communication module includes an RF circuit 110
configured according to an ultra-low-power wireless (ULPW) standard
(e.g., BlueTooth.TM. or the like). The RF circuit 110 may include a
transmitter 114 as well as a receiver 112. In a typical
configuration, the device 100 may be set to continuously scan for
detection of RF tags that may be disposed on or near specific items
that a user seeks. Such a continuous scanning may be accomplished
via the receiver 112 of the RF circuit 110. As various RF tags are
detected, the receiver 112 may send tag information (e.g.,
information that identifies an item in which the RF tag is
assigned) to a controller 125 to determine if the recently scanned
RF tag is a match to an item being sought or not a match. The
controller 125 may access a memory 120 that contains RF tag
information of items being sought.
[0013] The controller 125 is further configured to provide a
feedback signal to a feedback module 140 based on whether or not
the item scanned is a match or is not a match. If the item is a
match, then a feedback signal may be a positive feedback signal to
the feedback module 140. If the item is not a match, then the
feedback signal to the feedback module 140 will be a negative
signal. The feedback module 140 may be used to receive the positive
or negative feedback signal from the controller 125 and provide one
or more indications to a user about whether the feedback is
positive or negative. Such indications may be haptic, aural, and/or
visual.
[0014] For example, if the feedback signal is positive, the
feedback module 140 may vibrate with two short bursts via a haptic
device 141 (or similar haptic vibration motor circuit or
piezoelectric circuit). If the feedback signal is negative, the
feedback module 140 may vibrate with one long sustained burst via
the piezoelectric circuit 141. Additional indications may be used
as well, such as an audible sound via a speaker 142 indicating
positive (e.g., a bell) or negative (e.g., a buzzer) feedback or
visual indications such as a green LED flash via an LED 143 for
positive feedback and a red LED flash for negative feedback. One or
more indications may be used to indicate to the user a positive
item selection or a negative item selection.
[0015] As feedback indications are implemented, a timer 150 or
clock module may be used by the controller 125 interrupt the RF
circuit 110 scanning for a specified amount of time so as to allow
a user to acknowledge the feedback. Such a time duration may be
between 2 and 10 seconds in one embodiment although other time
durations are possible. This allows a user enough time to replace
any incorrectly selected items (and indicated by a negative
feedback indication) or to acknowledge selection of the correct
item so as to remove the correctly selected item's RF tag
information from the memory 120 of items being sought.
[0016] Turning attention back to the RF circuit 110, the
transmitter 114 may be configured to send ULPW signals to various
other devices, such as a handheld computer, a personal computer or
other device having an ULPW receiver. In this manner, the device
100 may engage in two-way communications with other devices for
updating other computers and databases about the actions of the
worker.
[0017] Such communication via the RF circuit 100 may be under the
control of the local controller 125 in conjunction with a remote
device (not shown in FIG. 1) communicating with the device 100 via
the RF circuit 110. As such, if a user of a remote device (such as
a handheld computer) initiates a procedure for selecting a specific
item from an inventory, the remote device may communicate RF
information to the device 100 (to be stored in the memory 120) that
corresponds to a specific item is to be detected and selected. As
the device 100 comes into proximity with various items that have
RFID tags thereon, the aforementioned feedback signals may be
generated to indicate positive or negative feedback.
[0018] In one embodiment, the device 100 may also communicate (or
instead of) via the second communications module, a wireless
network interface 130, with various other devices, such as a
handheld computer, a personal computer or other device having a
wireless network interface therein. Thus, using known wireless
commination protocols, the device 100 and other device
communicatively coupled to the device 100 may exchange inventory
information as described above. In the next paragraphs, overall
system embodiments are discussed that incorporate other devices in
communication with the device 100 of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an inventory assistance system
according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein.
In this system embodiment, a worker 201 may be tasked with
retrieving one or more items from an inventory of items. Thus, the
worker 201 may be equipped with the device 100 of FIG. 1 as well as
a handheld computing device 250 or other similar portable computing
device. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the device 100 comprises
a wristband embodiment, although as discussed above, other
embodiments are contemplated such as a glove, a coat or vest,
headphones, eyeglasses, visor, or any other wearable device (all of
which are not shown in the figures).
[0020] As discussed above with respect to FIG. 1, the device 100
may be communicatively coupled 220 with various items, such as item
203a, via an RFID or NFC communication standard. The item 203a may
include an RFID tag of NFC tag 202a such that the communicative
coupling 220 provides identifying information to the device 100 for
the item 203a held in the worker's hand. If this held item 203a is
identified by the controller (not shown in FIG. 2) of the device
100 as an item to be retrieved, the device 100 may provide a
positive feedback to the worker 201 by vibrating quickly twice (or
some other manner or providing positive feedback, be it haptic,
aural, or visual). Similarly, if the item 203a is not the item that
is needed, the device 100 may provide negative feedback (e.g., a
longer sustained vibration).
[0021] As the worker 201 is typically in an environment with
several items available for selection, such as items 203b and 203c
as shown, the device 100 may have a specifically calibrated
communication range such that only items in the worker's hand are
within communication range. In this manner, RFID of NFC tags 202b
and 202c on other items are not detected by the device when not in
the worker's hand. The range may be calibrated to have different
ranges such that in different settings a larger range is
applicable, such as when a worker is to retrieve items stored on
shelves in a warehouse.
[0022] As the worker 201 begins using the system, the worker may
enable proximity assistance with the device 100 for selecting one
or more items to be retrieved using a portable computing device,
such as handheld computer 250, which is communicatively coupled 225
to the device 100. Thus, in initiating a session, the memory of the
device 100 (memory not shown in FIG. 1) may be populated with one
or more codes corresponding to RFID tags or NFC tags associated
with desired items. Then, as the worker 201 comes into proximity
with an item associated with a code in the memory (e.g., the RF
receiver of the device 100 as shown in FIG. 1 reads an RFID tag or
NFC tag from a needed item), the device may then indicate to the
handheld computer 250 that the item has been selected (in addition
to the positive feedback at the device itself. In other
embodiments, the worker 201 may acknowledge the positive feedback
prior to the device communicating back to the handheld computing
device 250. Such an acknowledgement may be haptic, such as a wrist
shake, or may be the worker 201 actuating an acknowledgment input
on the device 100 or the handheld computer 250.
[0023] The handheld device 250 may also be communicatively coupled
280 to a back-end inventory system 290 wherein inventory levels may
be incremented or decremented by the actions of the worker 201.
Additional automated events may occur via the back-end inventory
system 290 as well, such as order fulfillment communications,
inventory restocking orders, or any other inventory action. Such
actions may be accomplished in response to positive or negative
feedback generated by the worker coming into proximity with items
to be selected or items that are not among items to be
selected.
[0024] Such a system as described may have multiple applications.
In one example, consider a hospital worker that is tasked with
dispensing the correct medication to the correct patient in the
correct dosage. The system of FIG. 2 tracks the grasping of various
tagged medication containers. The task managing intelligence (e.g.,
the controller 125) determines what operation is to be performed
next in time and determines the worker's location. Communications
between the personal device and the item being grasped confirms
whether or not the item is the appropriate association for the task
at the current location at the current time. Further communications
between worker and item may confirm the correct dispensing of
medication. The location of the patient, the worker, and the
medication are all confirmed as appropriate and presented to the
worker as feedback in a haptic, aural or visual manner.
[0025] Further tracking may be done to ensure that unused
medication is restored to its correct location once the task is
completed. Feedback may then indicate to the worker that another
task is to be performed, thereby repeating the process.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an inventory assistance system 300
according to a further embodiment of the subject matter disclosed
herein. In this embodiment, a worker (only the worker's hand 325 is
shown in FIG. 3) may be using a device 100 as discussed above in
conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the device 100
is a glove-like embodiment worn on the worker's hand 325. Further,
the worker may be engaging with items that are stored in a group of
bins 305. As shown, there are none bins shown in FIG. 3 including
bins 311-318. Further, each of the bins 311-318 may include an
alphanumeric indicator to assist in identifying the bins that is
also an RFID tag or NFC tag. For example, the bin 311 includes tag
320 that may interface with the device 100 when proximity is
detected.
[0027] In this embodiment, the RFID tags may communicate with the
device 100 when it is within the calibrated range as has been
described. As described above, the device may then indicate
positive and negative feedback accordingly. Additionally, or in
some embodiments associated with FIG. 3, instead of, providing the
feedback to a feedback module in the device 100, the local RFID tag
may include a feedback module (not shown in detail) for positive or
negative feedback. As shown, an indicator light 321 may be enabled
when the correct bin (in this case bin 311 having RFID tag 320).
For example, a worker may need to retrieve an item from bin 311,
but not know that bin 311 contains the item for which the worker is
attempting to retrieve. Thus, the worker could maneuver a hand 325
in front of all of the bins 311-318 until one of the bins lights
up; in this example, the light 321 on bin 311 will light up. This
will light up because the device 100 came into communicative
coupling with the RFID tag 320 of bin 311 and generated a positive
feedback. Further, the device 100 itself may provide positive
haptic, visual or aural feedback as well.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a tool assistance system 400
according to a further embodiment of the subject matter disclosed
herein. In this embodiment, a tool 450 may be used in conjunction
with the device 100 of FIG. 1. The tool 450 may include an RFID tag
451 thereon that may communicatively interface with the device 100
worn by a worker who may be using the tool 450. As the worker's
hand (with the device 100 worn thereabout) comes into proximity
with the tool 450, the identified RFID tag 451 may trigger a
communication from the device 100 to a back-end system (not shown
in FIG. 4) to download specific information about the tool 450 to
be used to the device 100. Such information may be specifics about
the tool 450, such as an amount of torque to apply to particular
bolts 410a-410c in the case of a torque wrench.
[0029] Thus, the tool may be calibrated in conjunction with the
RFID tag to generate an RF signal for a series of different torques
reached when being used. Once the correct torque is reached by the
particular application, the device 100 may identify an RFID signal
associated with the required torque, thereby generating a positive
feedback to the wrist-worn device. Then a worker may continue
torqueing a bolt until positive feedback is sensed. In this manner,
the worker needs not remember how much torque for various
applications, but rather simply apply torque until the device 100
indicates that enough torque has been reached. Additionally, once
the correct torque has been reached, the device may communicate
with the back-end system to indicate that the task has been
completed. Thus, the back end system may be used to track worker
activity for consistency and accuracy as well. With various tools
being equipped with RFID tags, a worker wearing the device 100 may
be assisted by the device 100 itself, since the device 100 may be
used to indicate proper use of the identified tool for particular
applications.
[0030] Consider as another example, an aircraft mechanic performing
maintenance on an aircraft engine. The system 400 is able to track
and time his or her tasks and ensure the correct tools (objects)
and handling procedures are carried out. Since the system is aware
of the object, the mechanic, the mechanic's manipulation of the
object, and where and when the task is performed, the system is
able to guide, audit, and otherwise measure the performance of the
mechanic via updating of backend databases and haptic, visual or
aural feedback to the mechanic. The system allows a remote
intelligence in a back end system to track and or modify the
behavior of the mechanic's activity in association with objects in
the environment needed for a specific interaction.
[0031] While the subject matter discussed herein is susceptible to
various modifications and alternative constructions, certain
illustrated embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and have
been described above in detail. It should be understood, however,
that there is no intention to limit the claims to the specific
forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all
modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling
within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *