Inventory management system

Abstract

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with certain aspects related to the present invention collect item information from RFID tags attached to items in an inventory, and uses the collected item information to perform various inventory management processes. In one aspect, the inventory management processes may include determining, reporting, and/or providing corrective actions for one or more events associated with at least one of depletions of items in the inventory, changes in the design of items in the inventory, defects with one or more items, misplaced items, the movement of an unusual number of items within a short period of time (i.e., shrinkage), and malfunctions of one or more components included in the environment.

1 . A method of providing inventory information in an environment including an inventory of items each positioned within a respective location within an environment and is associated with a corresponding wireless identification device, and an inventory monitoring process that periodically performs an inventory count of the items in the environment by retrieving item information from each wireless identification device associated with each item and storing the retrieved information in a database, the method comprising:
 receiving from a user a request for an availability of an item within the environment;   searching the item information within the database to determine whether the requested item is available in the environment; and   providing an indication reflecting a result of the search.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the request includes:
 receiving the request at a first processing device associated with the environment, wherein a user interfaces with a second processing device to create the request.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second processing device is a computer system operated by the user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the request is received from a network connected to the first and second processing devices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the request is sent to the first processing device over the Internet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second processing device is a kiosk computer device located within the environment. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first processing device is located within the environment. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first processing device is located outside the environment. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first processing device forwards the request to a third processing device located in the environment that performs the searching step. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication includes at least one of an indication that the item is available in the environment, an indication that the item is not available in the environment, an offer for a discount on a sale price of the item, an offer for a discount on a sale price of an alternative item, and an indication reflecting one or more alternative environments that the item is available. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the indication reflecting one or more alternative environments includes directions to the one or more alternative environments. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the indication includes providing a message displayed on a display device mounted in proximity of the item's respective location in the environment. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the message includes at least one of an indication that the item is not available in the environment, an offer for a discount on a sale price of the item, an indication reflecting one or more alternative environments that the item is available, and directions to the one or more alternative environments. 
     
     
         14 . A system for providing inventory information in an environment including an inventory of items each positioned within a respective location within an environment and is associated with a corresponding wireless identification device, and an inventory monitoring process that periodically performs an inventory count of the items in the environment by retrieving item information from each wireless identification device associated with each item and storing the retrieved information in a database, the system comprising:
 means for receiving from a user a request for an availability of an item within the environment;   means for searching the item information within the database to determine whether the requested item is available in the environment; and   means for providing an indication reflecting a result of the search.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the means for receiving the request includes:
 means for receiving the request at a first processing device associated with the environment, wherein a user interfaces with a second processing device to create the request.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second processing device is a computer system operated by the user. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the request is received from a network connected to the first and second processing devices. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the request is sent to the first processing device over the Internet. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the second processing device is a kiosk computer device located within the environment. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first processing device is located within the environment. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first processing device is located outside the environment. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first processing device forwards the request to a third processing device located in the environment that performs the searching step. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the indication includes at least one of an indication that the item is available in the environment, an indication that the item is not available in the environment, an offer for a discount on a sale price of the item, an offer for a discount on a sale price of an alternative item, and an indication reflecting one or more alternative environments that the item is available. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the indication reflecting one or more alternative environments includes directions to the one or more alternative environments. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the means for providing the indication includes providing a message displayed on a display device mounted in proximity of the item's respective location in the environment. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the message includes at least one of an indication that the item is not available in the environment, an offer for a discount on a sale price of the item, an indication reflecting one or more alternative environments that the item is available, and a directions to the one or more alternative environments. 
     
     
         27 . A computer-readable medium including instructions for performing a method, when executed by a processor, for providing inventory information in an environment including an inventory of items each positioned within a respective location within an environment and is associated with a corresponding wireless identification device, and an inventory monitoring process that periodically performs an inventory count of the items in the environment by retrieving item information from each wireless identification device associated with each item and storing the retrieved information in a database, the method comprising:
 receiving from a user a request for an availability of an item within the environment; 
 searching the item information within the database to determine whether the requested item is available in the environment; and 
 providing an indication reflecting a result of the search. 
 
     
     
         28 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein receiving the request includes:
 receiving the request at a first processing device associated with the environment, wherein a user interfaces with a second processing device to create the request.   
     
     
         29 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the second processing device is a computer system operated by the user. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 29 , wherein the request is received from a network connected to the first and second processing devices. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 29 , wherein the request is sent to the first processing device over the Internet. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 29 , wherein the second processing device is a kiosk computer device located within the environment. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 29 , wherein the first processing device is located within the environment. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 29 , wherein the first processing device is located outside the environment. 
     
     
         168 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the first processing device forwards the request to a third processing device located in the environment that performs the searching step. 
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the indication includes at least one of an indication that the item is available in the environment, an indication that the item is not available in the environment, an offer for a discount on a sale price of the item, an offer for a discount on a sale price of an alternative item, and an indication reflecting one or more alternative environments that the item is available. 
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the indication reflecting one or more alternative environments includes directions to the one or more alternative environments. 
     
     
         37 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein providing the indication includes providing a message displayed on a display device mounted in proximity of the item's respective location in the environment. 
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the message includes at least one of an indication that the item is not available in the environment, an offer for a discount on a sale price of the item, an indication reflecting one or more alternative environments that the item is available, and directions to the one or more alternative environments.