Importance

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Abstract

An inventory control and communication system provides automated real-time control of stock levels and ordering in a timely manner so that optimal stock levels are maintained. An inventory sensor that includes a storage unit, or bin, for each stock item or inventory object. One or more transducers are associated with each storage unit to produce a mass/weight signal indicative of the weight of the stock items stored in or at the corresponding storage unit. The signals are transmitted to a computer associated with the inventory sensor, which determines the weight and the number of the inventory objects present in the bin and provides this data as part of the inventory data associated with the inventory object. The inventory data is provided to a host computer that maintains information about the inventory sensor location and the corresponding stock item, such as item weight and supplier information. Threshold values for the minimum and maximum quantity of each stock item are also maintained by the host computer. When the quantity of a stock item reaches the minimum threshold, the host comptuer is operative to send an order to the supplier to restore the stock item to the maximum quantity threshold, or otherwise indicates that a reorder is needed.

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First Claim