Patent ID: 6502005
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: G06K,G06Q

Abstract:
For use with a system for producing an item from a plurality of different components, which are retrieved from storage and delivered to workstations for use in production of said item in response to a parts call operation that includes the steps of providing a part call tag in association with a respective workstation, said part call tag including a wireless transmitter device, applying to said part call tag a stimulus that causes said wireless transmitter device to transmit a part call signal encoded with information representative of an identification of said wireless transmitter device, detecting said part call signal at at least one transmission reader, processing said part call signal as detected at said at least one transmission reader to identify said wireless transmitter device, and accessing a database containing information that associates said wireless transmitter device with a component employed by said respective workstation, based upon said information representative of the identification of said wireless transmitter device to determine what component is to be replenished at said respective workstation, a method of providing an indication of the length of time that has elapsed since the last part call from said part call tag comprising the steps of:(a) providing an elapsed time clock in association with said part call tag; and (b) resetting said elapsed time clock, in response to applying said stimulus to said part call tag that causes said wireless transmitter device to transmit said part call signal.