System and method for tracking inventory

Abstract

An inventory-tracking unit associated with a storage unit holding items to be dispensed includes a card reader to read an access card issued to a user and a recorder to record data from items removed from the storage unit. A processor communicates with a sensor in the storage unit and with the card reader and recorder. The sensor provides item data to the processor that is associated with items removed from the storage unit. The processor compares item data received from the sensor with the data recorded by the recorder to detect coincidence. The processor generates a transaction upon coincidence of item data received from the sensor with the recorded data. A communications interface transmits the transaction to a remote site.

1 . An inventory-tracking unit associated with a storage unit holding items to be dispensed comprising: 
 a card reader to read an access card issued to a user;    a recorder to record data from items removed from said storage unit;    a processor communicating with a sensor in said storage unit and with said card reader and scanner, said sensor providing item data to said processor that is associated with items removed from said storage unit, said processor comparing item data received from said sensor with data recorded by said recorder to detect coincidence, said processor generating a transaction upon coincidence of item data received from said sensor with said recorded data; and    a communications interface to transmit said transaction to a remote site.    
   
   
       2 . An inventory-tracking unit according to  claim 1  wherein said communications interface transmits said transaction over a wireless communications link.  
   
   
       3 . An inventory-tracking unit according to  claim 1  wherein said recorder is a barcode scanner.  
   
   
       4 . An inventory-tracking unit according to  claim 1  wherein said card reader is designed to read a magnetic stripe on said access card.  
   
   
       5 . An inventory-tracking unit according to  claim 1  further including a housing accommodating said card reader, recorder, processor and communications interface, said housing being coupled to said storage unit and said processor being wired to said sensor.  
   
   
       6 . An inventory-tracking unit according to  claim 5  wherein said card reader locks said access card therein until the item data received from said sensor is coincident with said recorded data.  
   
   
       7 . An inventory-tracking unit according to  claim 6  further comprising a locking mechanism coupled to said storage unit to inhibit access to items held therein, said locking mechanism being conditioned by said processor to a disengaged state to permit access to items held in said storage unit when a valid access card is read by said card reader.  
   
   
       8 . An inventory-tracking unit according to  claim 7  wherein said storage unit is a refrigeration unit storing medical supplies, said locking mechanism inhibiting a door of said refrigeration unit from being opened when in an engaged state.  
   
   
       9 . An inventory-tracking unit according to  claim 7  wherein said processor communicates with at least one diagnostic sensor associated with said storage unit, said processor transmitting an alarm event to said remote site in response to alarm condition input received from said at least one diagnostic sensor.  
   
   
       10 . An inventory-tracking unit according to  claim 9  wherein said storage unit is a refrigeration unit storing medical supplies, said locking mechanism inhibiting a door of said refrigeration unit from being opened when in an engaged state.  
   
   
       11 . An inventory-tracking unit according to  claim 10  wherein said at least one diagnostic sensor includes a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature within said refrigeration unit and generate said alarm condition input when the temperature within said refrigeration unit exceeds a threshold.  
   
   
       12 . An inventory-tracking unit according to  claim 9  wherein said storage unit is a vending machine.  
   
   
       13 . An inventory-tracking system comprising: 
 a remote site; and    at least one inventory-tracking unit associated with storage unit holding items to be sensed, said inventory-tracking unit comprising: 
 an inventory-tracking unit associated with a storage unit holding items to be dispensed comprising:  
 a card reader to read an access card issued to a user;  
 a recorder to record data from items removed from said storage unit;  
 a processor communicating with a sensor in said storage unit and with said card reader and scanner, said sensor providing item data to said processor that is associated with items removed from said storage unit, said processor comparing item data received from said sensor with data recorded by said recorder to detect coincidence, said processor generating a transaction upon coincidence of item data received from said sensor with said recorded data; and  
 a communications interface to transmit said transaction to a remote site.  
   
   
   
       14 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 13  comprising a plurality of inventory-tracking units at geographically spaced locations.  
   
   
       15 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 14  wherein said inventory-tracking units communicate with said remote site over a wireless wide area network.  
   
   
       16 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 14  wherein said inventory-tracking units communicate with said remote site over a wireless local area network.  
   
   
       17 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 14  wherein said recorder is a barcode scanner.  
   
   
       18 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 17  wherein said card reader is designed to read a magnetic stripe on said access card.  
   
   
       19 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 17  further including a housing accommodating said card reader, recorder, processor and communications interface, said housing being coupled to said storage unit and said processor being wired to said sensor.  
   
   
       20 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 19  wherein said card reader locks said access card therein until the item data received from said sensor is coincident with said recorded data.  
   
   
       21 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 20  further comprising a locking mechanism coupled to said storage unit to inhibit access to items held therein, said locking mechanism being conditioned by said processor to a disengaged state to permit access to items held in said storage unit when a valid access card is read by said card reader.  
   
   
       22 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 21  wherein said storage unit is a refrigeration unit storing medical supplies, said locking mechanism inhibiting a door of said refrigeration unit from being opened when in an engaged state.  
   
   
       23 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 21  wherein said processor communicates with at least one diagnostic sensor associated with said storage unit, said processor transmitting an alarm event to said remote site in response to alarm condition input received from said at least one diagnostic sensor.  
   
   
       24 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 23  wherein said storage unit is a refrigeration unit storing medical supplies, said locking mechanism inhibiting a door of said refrigeration unit from being opened when in an engaged state.  
   
   
       25 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 24  wherein said at least one diagnostic sensor includes a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature within said refrigeration unit and generate said alarm condition input when the temperature within said refrigeration unit exceeds a threshold.  
   
   
       26 . An inventory-tracking system according to  claim 23  wherein said storage unit is a vending machine.