The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 02, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 20, 1996
Warren E Guthrie, GlenEllyn, IL (US);
Kenneth D Gorham, Palatine, IL (US);
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items based upon random times that occur as a function of a first specified time interval, and a random interval inventory system that operates in accordance with the method. The method includes a first step of transmitting information signals based upon random times from individual ones of a plurality of tags (5a1-5xx) to at least one of at least one master transceiver and at least one transceiver (4a-4n). The individual tags (5a1-5xx) are affixed to respective individual ones of a plurality of items. The information signals transmitted from each tag (5a1-5xx) correspond at least to the respective item to which the tag (5a1-5xx) is affixed. The random times occur as a function of a first specified time interval. For a case wherein the information signals are transmitted to the at least one remote transceiver, each at least one remote transceiver (4a-4n) receives information signals from at least one of the tags (4a-4n), and in response to receiving each information signal, relays the signal to the master transceiver (3). In response to the master transceiver (3) receiving an information signal, a next step includes supplying the signal to an associated confirmation device (2). Within the confirmation device (2), in response to receiving an information signal from the master transceiver (3), a next step includes confirming that the item corresponding to the information signal is accounted for.