Abstract:
Inventory control and monitoring system uses an RFID reader to read tags on multiple lights passing through a portal. A light turns green after all the tags have been read. Information from those tags is added to an inventory database, which keeps track of which lights, and how many of each kind of light, is in stock. Locations of the lights can also be added to the inventory system.

Description:
The present application claims priority from provisional application No. 60/889,713, filed Feb. 13, 2007, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Automated lights are often rented for use with events, which may use them for a short time or a long time. After the event has ended, the lights are returned. They need to then be returned to stock, so that they can be rented to someone else. Inventory management is extremely important, since inventory determines what products are available for rental at a subsequent time. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present application describes techniques of automated monitoring and handling of inventory in a rental facility, and specifically, a rental facility for stage lighting and other similar equipment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a light on a low-boy type of cart; 
         FIG. 2  shows an RFID shipping portal; 
         FIG. 3  shows a primary locating technique; and 
         FIG. 4  shows an additional storage device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present application describes a light renting and receiving technique, including automated structures for determining whether a stage lighting device, e.g., a light or a winch, or a prop has been returned. An embodiment describes tracking alight, but it should be understood that other inventoried devices could analogously be tracked using the techniques disclosed in the embodiments. 
     The light is stored in an appropriate location once returned and inventory of the lights is maintained. 
     The automated lights are typically returned on a truck. The lights are removed from the truck, and according to an embodiment, placed on a low-boy cart of the type shown in  FIG. 1  for further movement.  FIG. 1  shows a light  105  on the cart. The light  105  includes an RFID tag  110 . There may be many lights (and other devices) on the cart  100 , for example there may be 50 or 100 lights on the cart. In addition, while this describes the use of a single tier low-boy cart, there may be multiple tiers on this cart. The low-boy cart may produce advantages, since it is easier to locate the lights onto this cart with its lower platform. 
     The cart is then moved through an RFID shipping portal shown as  200 . This portal includes a number of RFID receivers,  205 ,  210 ,  215 ,  220 . By placing a number of receivers around the edge of the shipping portal, the RFID tags can be located at any place on the light. 
     The RFID receivers  210 ,  205  are driven by a controller  225 , according to a stored program. The controller  225  samples each RFID chip, shown generically as  199 , within its scanned volume. Once it has completely sampled all RFID chips, the “load complete” light is lit, informing the operator that all products on the cart have been scanned. 
     The controller  225  sends information over the network  230  to the inventory computer  250 . The inventory computer  250  receives therefore a notation that the product has been brought back from rental, into storage. The inventory control computer thus updates its store of inventory to indicate that the specific light that is uniquely identified by the designation on the RFID tag has been returned. The inventory computer also stores certain information about each light, including, for example, the model number or type of the light. The computer also looks up this model information, and also adds to its inventory calculation that one more of this model is now in inventory. The light may be marked in the computer as being preliminary, at least until the light is inspected and deemed ready to rent. 
     As an alternative, the computer may simply store the raw information. Later determinations of what specifically is in the computer may be obtained by sorting the fields of raw information. 
     Once in the warehouse, the products can be stored in a number of different locations.  FIG. 3  illustrates the primary locating technique which is used. According to this technique, each area receives a rack number, an aisle number, a level number, and a bin number. For example, the rack  300  may be labeled as rack  1  and aisle  99 . Within each rack, the level may also be indicated, for instance, level  0  may be the fourth level in the rack. The bin number is the bin on the rack. 
     Once the product is located in its final area, a location number, of the form shown in  FIG. 3 , is added to the inventory computer  250  to indicate its location. For example, the product located at the location  305  may receive the inventory number L.99.1.DE3. 
       FIG. 4  indicates an additional storage device  400 , which can be used. According to  FIG. 4 , the vertical storage device allows products to be stored anywhere within the vertical storage. Products are entered through the door  405 , and stored on a specified level within the vertical storage device. Each vertical storage device may also be located according to its designation, and may be labeled with a level, and a bin number. 
     The general structure and techniques, and more specific embodiments which can be used to effect different ways of carrying out the more general goals are described herein. 
     Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in detail above, other embodiments are possible and the inventor intends these to be encompassed within this specification. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way. This disclosure is intended to be exemplary, and the claims are intended to cover any modification or alternative which might be predictable to a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, other stage-usable devices other than lights can be stored in this way, e.g., props, hoists, and the like. Also, while the above describes only an embodiment where items that are being returned are automatically detected, it is also intended to be used in an embodiment where these items are being sent out. 
     The computers described herein may be any kind of computer, either general purpose, or some specific purpose computer such as a workstation. The computer may be a Pentium class computer, running Windows XP or Linux, or may be a Macintosh computer. The programs may be written in C, or Java, or any other programming language. The programs may be resident on a storage medium, e.g., magnetic or optical, e.g. the computer hard drive, a removable disk or other removable medium. The programs may also be run over a network, for example, with a server or other machine sending signals to the local machine, which allows the local machine to carry out the operations described herein. 
     Also, the inventor intends that only those claims which use the words “means for” are intended to be interpreted under 35 USC 112, sixth paragraph. Moreover, no limitations from the specification are intended to be read into any claims, unless those limitations are expressly included in the claims.