Patent ID: 6736316
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: G01S,G06K,G06Q

Abstract:
An inventory control and identification method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of inventory items in a storage space; positioning identification labels in physical correspondence with the inventory items; combining a first transceiving means and an electronic pictorial presentation means with each one of the identification labels; positioning a coordinate network of second transceiving means in a fixed known position relative to the storage space and enabling the first and second transceiving means for mutual wireless communication; establishing a computer system in wave energy signal communication with the first and second transceiving means; and transmitting signals from the computer system to the first transceiving means, the signals corresponding to pictorial representations of the inventory items; presenting the pictorial representation on the presentation means to enable visual identification and selection of the inventory items; transmitting a request coded for a selected one of the identification labels; emitting a time stamped transmission by the selected one of the identification labels; receiving the time stamped transmission of the identification label by at least three of the second transceiving means of the coordinate network and identifying the time of receipt of the emitted time stamped transmission at the at least three second transceiving means; receiving the emitted times and received times of the time stamped transmission at the computer system; and calculating the location of the selected one of the identification labels.