Patent Publication Number: US-2022215333-A1

Title: APP Management System for Identifying Storage Boxes and Method Using the APP Management System

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a management system and a method using the management system and, more particularly, to an APP management method for processing and identifying storage boxes. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A storage box is used for placing various articles or tools to facilitate the user carrying and storing the articles or tools. When multiple storage boxes are stacked together, it is difficult to identify the articles or tools contained in each of the storage boxes. Marks or labels are attached to the outside of each of the storage boxes to facilitate the user identifying the articles or tools contained in each of the storage boxes. However, when the articles or tools have large numbers and specifications, it is difficult for the user to search for and find the articles or tools contained in each of the storage boxes, thereby causing inconvenience to the user, and thereby wasting the time and manual labor. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an APP management system that has a smart managing function to locate the storage box exactly, so that the user searches for and finds the storage box easily, quickly and conveniently, thereby saving the time and manual labor. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a management method using an APP management system. The APP management system comprises a front-end APP management unit, a back-end website management unit, a plurality of storage boxes, and at least one mobile apparatus. Each of the storage boxes contains multiple items therein. Each of the storage boxes is provided with a near-field communication (NFC) tag. 
     The management method comprises: 
     downloading an APP program by the at least one mobile apparatus; 
     inputting an authorization key previously through the back-end website management unit; 
     registering; 
     deriving the authorization key of using the APP program through the front-end APP management unit; 
     inputting the authorization key; 
     verifying the authorization key; 
     starting the APP program; 
     entering and building an information of the storage boxes; 
     entering a storage box bundling module; 
     scanning the NFC tag of each of the storage boxes by the storage box bundling module; 
     taking a picture of the items of each of the storage boxes by the at least one mobile apparatus; 
     bundling the NFC tag and the picture of the items of each of the storage boxes; 
     finishing a filing work of the storage boxes; 
     scanning the NFC tag of each of the storage boxes by the at least one mobile apparatus; 
     transmitting the picture of the items of each of the storage boxes to the at least one mobile apparatus by the NFC tag; and 
     checking the items of each of the storage boxes by the at least one mobile apparatus. 
     Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a back-end website management unit of a management system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is another block diagram of the back-end website management unit of the management system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing usage of a company management module of the back-end website management unit in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing usage of a storage box management module of the back-end website management unit in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing usage of an authorization key management module of the back-end website management unit in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing multiple storage boxes in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a mobile apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing usage of the management system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic operational view showing usage of a storage box bundling module of the management system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic operational view showing the mobile apparatus scanning the NFC tag of each of the storage boxes and getting a picture of the items of each of the storage boxes. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a storage box in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-10 , an APP management system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a front-end APP (application, application program, application software or mobile application) management unit, a back-end website management unit  10 , a plurality of storage boxes  20 , and at least one mobile apparatus  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the storage boxes  20  stack together. Each of the storage boxes  20  contains multiple items (or articles or contents or tools)  21  therein. Each of the storage boxes  20  is provided with a near-field communication (NFC) tag  30 . Preferably, each of the storage boxes  20  is integrally formed with the NFC tag  30  which is located at a sandwiched portion (or mezzanine) between an inside and an outside of each of the storage boxes  20 . Alternatively, the NFC tag  30  is stuck to an interior or an exterior of each of the storage boxes  20 . The NFC tag  30  has an identification code. 
     The front-end APP management unit includes an APP API (application programming interface), an Android version, and an IOS (i-phone operating system) version. The APP API includes an APP program. In practice, the front-end APP management unit is accessible through a log-in (or sign-in), with an accessible authority (or permission) of a member. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the at least one mobile apparatus  40  is a smart phone or cell phone. The at least one mobile apparatus  40  downloads the APP program of the APP API. The APP program of the APP API has functions, including inquiry, information of the storage boxes  20 , personal information, etc. 
     In practice, the NFC tag  30  transmits wirelessly a signal of the identification code to the at least one mobile apparatus  40  to form a communication therebetween, so that the at least one mobile apparatus  40  receives the picture  41  (see  FIG. 10 ) of the items  21  of each of the storage boxes  20  in a short distance. Thus, the at least one mobile apparatus  40  checks and inspects the picture  41  of the items  21  of each of the storage boxes  20  through the signal of the identification code of the NFC tag  30 . 
     The back-end website management unit  10  is accessible through a log-in (or sign-in)  101 , with an accessible authority (or permission) of a system administrator and an agent. The back-end website management unit  10  includes a member management module  11  for editing, inquiry, authorization, and confirmation of a member built-in management work, a company management module  12  for editing and inquiry of a company management work, a storage box management module  13  for editing and inquiry of a storage box management work, an account number management module  14  for editing and inquiry of a user management work, and an authorization key management module  15  for editing and inquiry of an authorization key management work. 
     The member management module  11  includes and serially enters a page  111  of listing and a page  112  of searching and checking (or reviewing). 
     The company management module  12  includes and serially enters a page  121  of listing and a page  122  of adding, deleting, amending, and searching. Thus, the company management module  12  is used for managing an indication page  123  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The indication page  123  indicates the number of the NFC tags  30  purchased respectively by A member, B member, C member, etc. 
     The storage box management module  13  includes and serially enters a page  131  of listing and a page  132  of adding, deleting, amending, and searching. Thus, the storage box management module  13  is used for managing an indication page  133  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The indication page  133  indicates filed pictures  1 ,  2 ,  3 , etc. 
     The account number management module  14  includes and serially enters a page  141  of listing, a page  142  of adding, deleting, amending, and searching, and a page  143  of authority classification (or division). 
     The authorization key management module  15  includes and serially enters a page  151  of listing and a page  152  of adding, deleting, amending, and searching. Thus, the authorization key management module  15  is used for managing an indication page  153  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The indication page  153  indicates the authorization key of A member, B member, C member, etc. 
     It is appreciated that, the front-end part is a presentation of the website, that is, the web screen viewed by the users of the Internet. Thus, the web pages explored by the users of the Internet belong to the front-end of the website, including texts, characters, pictures, animation effects, etc. The web page designer is responsible for design of the front-end part. The rear-end part is used for updating and maintenance of the web pages. The rear-end part edits and amends the information contents of the front-end part. The web page engineer is responsible for design of the operation interface of the rear-end part, including amending the words of a company introduction, uploading the album photos, changing the product pictures, managing the member information, checking the customer orders, etc. Therefore, the rear-end part is also called a content management system which is specially designed to facilitate the customers managing the website contents. In short, the front-end of the website is used for the Internet users, and the rear-end of the website is used for maintenance of the contents of the website. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8-10 , the APP management system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention has an APP management method comprising the following steps: 
     a step  1  of the at least one mobile apparatus  40  downloading the APP program of the APP API; 
     a step  2  of registering and inputting an authorization key; 
     a step  3  of starting the APP program to log-in; 
     a step  4  of building (or filing) an information of the storage boxes  20 ; 
     a step  4 - 1  of entering a storage box bundling (or binding or tying) module as shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
     a step  4 - 2  of scanning the NFC tag  30  of each of the storage boxes  20  as shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
     a step  4 - 3  of taking a picture  41  of the items  21  of each of the storage boxes  20 ; 
     a step  4 - 4  of bundling (or binding or tying) the NFC tag  30  and the picture  41  of the items  21  of each of the storage boxes  20 ; 
     a step  4 - 5  of finishing a filing (or built-in or documenting) work of the storage boxes  20 ; 
     a step  5  of searching for the information of the storage boxes  20 ; 
     a step  5 - 1  of entering a storage box searching module; 
     a step  5 - 2  of listing the picture  41  or a step  5 - 7  of scanning the NFC tag  30 ; 
     the step  5 - 2  of listing the picture  41  including listing the picture; 
     a step  5 - 3  of selecting the picture  41 ; 
     a step  5 - 4  of scanning the NFC tag  30 ; 
     a step  5 - 5  of matching or a step  5 - 6  of mismatching, and returning to the step  5 - 2  of listing the picture  41  when mismatching; 
     the step  5 - 7  of scanning the NFC tag  30  including scanning the NFC tag  30 ; 
     a step  5 - 8  of indicating the picture  41 ; 
     a step  5 - 9  of matching or a step  5 - 10  of mismatching, and returning to the step  5 - 7  of scanning the NFC tag  30  when mismatching. 
     In the step  4 - 1  of entering a storage box bundling module, the enterprise identifies the registered user from the data base after the customer finishes the storage box bundling work, so as to provide a personal service for processing the storage box. In the step  4 - 4  of bundling the NFC tag  30  and the picture  41 , the NFC tag  30  and the picture  41  are bundled after the step  4 - 2  of scanning the NFC tag  30  and the step  4 - 3  of taking a picture  41  of the items  21  are finished. 
     In conclusion, an APP management method for processing and identifying storage boxes comprises: 
     downloading an APP program by the at least one mobile apparatus  40 ; 
     inputting an authorization key previously through the back-end website management unit  10 ; 
     registering; 
     deriving the authorization key of using the APP program through the front-end APP management unit; 
     inputting the authorization key; 
     verifying the authorization key; 
     starting the APP program to log-in; 
     entering and building an information of the storage boxes  20 ; 
     entering a storage box bundling module; 
     scanning the NFC tag  30  of each of the storage boxes  20  by the storage box bundling module; 
     taking a picture  41  of the items  21  of each of the storage boxes  20  by the at least one mobile apparatus  40 ; 
     bundling the NFC tag  30  and the picture  41  of the items  21  of each of the storage boxes  20 ; 
     finishing a filing work of the storage boxes  20 ; 
     scanning the NFC tag  30  of each of the storage boxes  20  by the at least one mobile apparatus  40 ; 
     transmitting the picture  41  of the items  21  of each of the storage boxes  20  to the at least one mobile apparatus  40  by the NFC tag  30 ; and 
     checking the items  21  of each of the storage boxes  20  by the at least one mobile apparatus  40 . 
     The step of starting the APP program to log-in includes: 
     searching for the information of the storage boxes  20 ; 
     entering a storage box searching module; 
     listing the picture  41  or scanning the NFC tag  30 ; 
     the step of listing the picture  41  including listing the picture; 
     selecting the picture  41 ; 
     scanning the NFC tag  30 ; 
     matching or mismatching, and returning to the step of listing the picture  41  when mismatching; 
     the step of scanning the NFC tag  30  including scanning the NFC tag  30 ; 
     indicating the picture  41 ; and 
     matching or mismatching, and returning to the step of scanning the NFC tag  30  when mismatching. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the NFC tag  30  is located at the middle position of the storage box  20 . 
     Accordingly, the APP management system has a smart managing function to locate the storage box exactly, so that the user searches for and finds the storage box easily, quickly and conveniently, thereby saving the time and manual labor. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the invention.