Electronic inventory movement and control device

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.

1 . 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 and equipped with a keypad for inputting data; and   a database operably configured to include items, a history of items, a source of items, and a description of items is maintained.   
     
     
         2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  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;   
     
     
         3 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 1 , 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.   
     
     
         4 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said database further consisting of an eighth table consisting of item identifier, date transferred, quantity, location identity, such information being captured from a point of sale register device. 
     
     
         5 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein a list of products normally ordered but not scanned is operably produced. 
     
     
         6 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the exception list can be displayed in an order organized by selection from the group of store location, sequence entered, vendor, and alphabetically. 
     
     
         7 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the description of the item scanned can be operably configured in the database or entered manually by UPC code. 
     
     
         8 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein multiple hand-held computer scanners are utilized. 
     
     
         9 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein information for a multiplicity of locations is operably entered. 
     
     
         10 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein vendor-correct purchase orders are operably produced. 
     
     
         11 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the vendor-correct purchase order may be displayed and edited. 
     
     
         12 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 10  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. 
     
     
         13 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 10  wherein quantities for purchase orders are calculated from a selection of one of user specified quantities, historical quantities, predictive use quantities. 
     
     
         14 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 4  wherein quantities for purchase orders of each item are calculated from said table eight including point of sale data. 
     
     
         15 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said predictive use quantities are calculated from a ratio multiplied by calculated amount used over a specified period of time. 
     
     
         16 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said system produces reports displaying competitive pricing of items. 
     
     
         17 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said system produces shelf tags. 
     
     
         18 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said system permits the entered amount to default to either front level inventory stock level, back/warehouse inventory stock level, or order quantity stock level. 
     
     
         19 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein items set to be refused cannot be entered due to any user specified reason such as a discontinued product. 
     
     
         20 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said system alerts the user by a distinct audible sound when items are specified, for example when items are top sellers or have supplier discounts or is a new product. 
     
     
         21 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said system alerts the user by display when items are specified, for example when items are top-g sellers or have supplier discounts or is a new product. 
     
     
         22 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said system is preprogrammed to permit keyboard-style data entry on hand-held computer scanner. 
     
     
         23 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said system is preprogrammed to print UPC bar code shelf labels. 
     
     
         24 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said system prints UPC bar code shelf labels in the order found by selecting from the group of the order found on the shelves, by brand, by vendor, by UPC code, by item description ordering. 
     
     
         25 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein duplicate UPC codes for the same item are not permitted. 
     
     
         26 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein data items are stored and displayed consisting of aisle number, shelf number, store location. 
     
     
         27 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein purchase orders and labels can be edited on the hand-held computer scanner. 
     
     
         28 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 4  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. 
     
     
         29 . The inventory control management system as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said system is operably configured to permit the tabulation for multiple vendors. 
     
     
         30 . A method for inventory control and ordering wherein the steps are after downloading programs into a hand-held computer scanner comprises:
 scanning the bar code for each item on each shelf in each store;   counting inventory for each item on each shelf in each store;   entering the tabulation of quantities for each item in the hand-held computer scanner;   choosing functions from the group consisting of:
 producing inventory purchase orders; 
 producing inventory exception reports; 
 producing inventory reports; 
 producing inventory location reports; 
 producing inventory comparison reports; 
 producing inventory vendor reports; 
 producing inventory shelf labels; 
 producing inventory purchase order financial reports; 
 editing inventory purchase orders; 
 producing inventory UPC codes in item order; 
 producing inventory UPC codes in shelf order; 
 storing inventory UPC codes; 
 displaying inventory shelf location information; 
   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the method for inventory control and ordering comprises:
 scanning inventory items received;   counting inventory items received;   entering the amounts for each inventory item received;   storing the date for said inventory items receipt;   tabulating the amount on-hand for each inventory item;   calculating the inventory usage and the amount to order.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the method of inventory control and ordering consists of:
 entering inventory items sold from a point of sale device;   entering the amounts of each inventory item sold from a point of sale device;   entering the dates of inventory items sold from a point of sale device;   entering the item and amount on hand from shelf;   calculating the inventory usage and amount to order for each item.   entering the price and location of inventory items sold.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  comprising:
 transmitting purchase orders by selecting at least one of
 facsimile, print, telephone.