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 a plurality of items, said items being openly accessible to a user authorized to access said storage unit, said inventory-tracking unit comprising:
 a card reader to read an access card issued to an authorized user;   a sensor associated with said storage unit for automatically sensing removal of each item from said storage unit and generating first item identification data for each removed item;   a scanner external of said storage unit for subsequently reading data recorded on each item after the item has been removed from said storage unit and generating second item identification data;   a processor communicating with said card reader, sensor and scanner, said processor comparing the first item identification data generated by the sensor for each removed item and the second item identification data read by the scanner from the same removed item to detect coincidence, said processor generating a transaction upon coincidence of said first item identification data and said second item identification data; and   a communications interface to transmit said transaction to a remote computing site.   
     
     
         2 . The inventory-tracking unit of  claim 1 , wherein said communications interface transmits said transaction over a wireless communications link. 
     
     
         3 . The inventory-tracking unit of  claim 1 , wherein said scanner is a barcode scanner. 
     
     
         4 . The inventory-tracking unit of  claim 1 , wherein said card reader reads a magnetic stripe on said access card. 
     
     
         5 . The inventory-tracking unit of  claim 1 , further including a housing accommodating said card reader, scanner, processor and communications interface, said housing being coupled to said storage unit. 
     
     
         6 . The inventory-tracking unit of  claim 5 , 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 user access to items held in said storage unit when a valid access card is read by said card reader. 
     
     
         7 . The inventory-tracking unit of  claim 6 , 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. 
     
     
         8 . The inventory-tracking unit of  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. 
     
     
         9 . The inventory-tracking unit of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one diagnostic sensor comprises a temperature sensor monitoring the temperature within said refrigeration unit and generating said alarm condition input when the temperature within said refrigeration unit exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         10 . The inventory-tracking unit of  claim 1 , wherein said storage unit is a vending machine. 
     
     
         11 . An inventory-tracking system, comprising:
 a remote computing site; and   at least one inventory-tracking unit associated with a storage unit holding a plurality of items, said items being openly accessible to a user authorized to access said storage unit, said inventory-tracking unit comprising:
 a card reader to read an access card issued to an authorized user; 
 a sensor associated with said storage unit for automatically sensing removal of each item from said storage unit and generating first item identification data for each removed item; 
 a scanner external of said storage unit for subsequently reading data recorded on each item after the item has been removed from said storage unit and generating second item identification data; 
 a processor communicating with said card reader, sensor and scanner, said processor comparing the first item identification data generated by the sensor for each removed item and the second item identification data read by the scanner from the same removed item to detect coincidence, said processor generating a transaction upon coincidence of said first item identification data and said second item identification data; and 
   a communications interface to transmit said transaction to said remote computing site.   
     
     
         12 . The inventory-tracking system of  claim 11 , comprising a plurality of inventory-tracking units at geographically spaced locations. 
     
     
         13 . The inventory-tracking system of  claim 12 , wherein said inventory-tracking units communicate with said remote computing site over a wireless wide area network. 
     
     
         14 . The inventory-tracking system of  claim 12 , wherein said inventory-tracking units communicate with said remote computing site over a wireless local area network. 
     
     
         15 . The inventory-tracking system of  claim 12 , wherein said scanner is a barcode scanner. 
     
     
         16 . The inventory-tracking system of  claim 15 , wherein said card reader reads a magnetic stripe on said access card. 
     
     
         17 . The inventory-tracking system of  claim 15 , further including a housing accommodating said card reader, scanner, processor and communications interface, said housing being coupled to said storage unit. 
     
     
         18 . The inventory-tracking system of  claim 17 , 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. 
     
     
         19 . The inventory-tracking system of  claim 18 , 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. 
     
     
         20 . The inventory-tracking system of  claim 19 , wherein said processor communicates with at least one diagnostic sensor associated with said storage unit, said processor transmitting an alarm event to said remote computing site in response to alarm condition input received from said at least one diagnostic sensor. 
     
     
         21 . The inventory-tracking system of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one diagnostic sensor comprises a temperature sensor monitoring the temperature within said refrigeration unit and generating said alarm condition input when the temperature within said refrigeration unit exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         22 . The inventory-tracking unit of  claim 6 , wherein said processor conditions said card reader to lock said access card therein until the first item identification data is coincident with said second item identification data. 
     
     
         23 . The inventory-tracking unit of  claim 7 , wherein said scanner is enabled by said processor upon removal of items from said refrigeration unit and the subsequent closing of said door. 
     
     
         24 . The inventory-tracking unit of  claim 7 , wherein said processor monitors the elapsed time said refrigeration unit remains opened and generates an alarm event when the elapsed time exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         25 . The inventory-tracking system of  claim 18 , wherein said processor conditions said card reader to lock said access card therein until the first item identification data is coincident with said second item identification data. 
     
     
         26 . The inventory-tracking system of  claim 18 , wherein said processor monitors the elapsed time said refrigeration unit remains opened and generates an alarm event when the elapsed time exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         27 . A dispensing system, comprising:
 a storage unit holding a plurality of items, said items being openly accessible to a user authorized to access said storage unit;   a card reader to read an access card issued to an authorized user;   a sensor associated with said storage unit for automatically sensing removal of each item from said storage unit and generating first item identification data for each removed item;   a scanner external of said storage unit for subsequently reading data recorded on each item after the item has been removed from said storage unit and generating second item identification data;   a processor communicating with said card reader, sensor and scanner, said processor comparing the first item identification data generated by the scanner for each removed item and the second item identification data read by the scanner from the same removed item to detect coincidence, said processor generating a transaction upon coincidence of said first item identification data and said second item identification data; and   a communications interface to transmit said transaction to a remote computing site.