Patent ID: 7660739

Claim:
A method for inventory control and ordering comprising the steps: providing a hand-held computer scanner equipped with a bar code reader, preprogrammed to print UPC bar code shelf labels, and equipped with a keypad for inputting data wherein the hand-held computer scanner operably and bidirectionally communicates with a digital computer system; such communication selected from wireless device, modem, electronic cables, infrared device, radio frequency based device, network based device; providing a database operably configured to include items, a history of items, a source of items, and a description of items is maintained, said database consisting of: a first table consisting of item identifier, UPC code, description, retail price, shelf price, wholesale price, unit size, unit description, unit type identifier, manufacturer, primary vendor; a second table consisting of source item identifier, source of item, address of source, contact of source, telephone number of source, fax number of source, email address of source, automated ordering information of source; a third table consisting of item identifier, source of item; a fourth table consisting of unit type identifier, unit type; a fifth table consisting of location identifier, location description; a sixth table consisting of location identifier, item identifier; a seventh table consisting of item identifier; source of item identifier, order identifier, number in area 1, number in area 2, number in area 3, date order created, number ordered, date submitted; and an eighth table consisting of item identifier, date transferred, quantity, location identity, such information being captured from a point of sale register device; scanning the bar code for each item on each shelf in each store; counting inventory for each item on each shelf in each store; entering the tabulation of quantities for each item in the hand-held computer scanner; and choosing functions from the group consisting of: producing inventory purchase orders; producing inventory exception reports; producing inventory reports; producing inventory location reports; producing inventory comparison reports; producing inventory vendor reports; producing inventory shelf labels; producing inventory purchase order financial reports; editing inventory purchase orders; producing inventory UPC codes in item order; producing inventory UPC codes in shelf order; storing inventory UPC codes; and displaying inventory shelf location information.