WO2006115630A1

WO2006115630A1 - System and method for labeling inventory

Info

Publication number: WO2006115630A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/010164
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guy Gadola; Joseph W. Maruschek
Original assignee: Electronic Data Systems Corporation
Priority date: 2005-04-26
Filing date: 2006-03-20
Publication date: 2006-11-02

Abstract

A method for labeling inventory includes attaching an electronic label to a piece of inventory, receiving a first identifier associated with the piece of inventory at the electronic label, and displaying a second identifier associated with the first identifier on a display of the electronic label. The second identifier is optically readable. An electronic label includes an interface, a display, and a processor, and the electronic label can be attached to a piece of inventory. The interface receives a first identifier associated with the piece of inventory, and the processor causes a second identifier associated with the first identifier to be displayed on the display. The second identifier is optically readable.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LABELING

INVENTORY

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to inventory management, and more particularly to a system and method for labeling inventory.

BACKGROUND

Labeling containers to make them recognizable to people and devices with a satisfactory degree of accuracy can present several technical challenges. Labeling involves tasks such as printing labels, locating the correct container, and applying labels to the container. Printing devices may create problems due to a finite supply of on-hand materials used to produce labels, such as blank labels, ink ribbons, and the like, as well as device malfunction. Exhaustion of printing materials may delay the labeling process and may require human intervention to reload the printer or to otherwise correct the problem. Human error may also contribute to difficulties in the labeling process, as labels may be misprinted or misapplied. Such difficulties in the labeling process may in turn interfere with ongoing processes that depend on correctly labeled containers, either delaying those processes or stopping them entirely. For example, an assembly process requiring properly labeled parts could be partially or wholly stopped if parts containers are not labeled in a timely and accurate fashion. Difficulties in generating accurate and readable labels can be multiplied when it becomes necessary to re-label the containers, such as for compatibility reasons, when they reach a destination. Moreover, many industries use already-integrated equipment, such as barcode scanners, and techniques for solving problems such as label accuracy, compatibility, machine readability, and usability in routing containers may be of limited usefulness if those techniques are not compatible with in-place equipment. SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to a system and method for labeling inventory. Various implementations of such a system or method may help to reduce or eliminate drawbacks associated with the labeling process. In one general aspect, a method for labeling inventory includes attaching an electronic label to a piece of inventory, receiving a first identifier associated with the piece of inventory at the electronic label, and displaying a second identifier associated with the first identifier on a display of the electronic label. The second identifier is optically readable. In another general aspect, an electronic label includes an interface, a display, and a processor, and the electronic label can be attached to a piece of inventory. The interface receives a first identifier associated with the piece of inventory, and the processor causes a second identifier associated with the first identifier to be displayed on the display. The second identifier is optically readable. In another general aspect, a method for labeling and re-labeling inventory includes attaching an electronic label to a piece of inventory, displaying a first optically-readable identifier associated with the piece of inventory in response to a first instruction from a processor, and displaying a second optically-readable identifier associated with the piece of inventory in response to a second instruction from the processor.

Certain implementations may include one or more of the following features. The received identifier can be received as a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The electronic label can include the RFID tag. The displayed identifiers can be displayed using electronic ink, and it can comprise barcodes and/or text. The format of the displayed identifier can be selected, and the displayed identifier may be displayed in the selected format. The electronic label can be reprogrammed to display a different identifier associated with a received identifier. The electronic label can also receive a second identifier different from the first received identifier and can display a different optically-readable identifier associated with the second received identifier. Details of one or more implementations of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and in the description provided below. Further features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for labeling pieces of inventory to be shipped to a destination and for re-labeling the pieces of inventory received at the destination; FIGURE 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system for labeling and re-labeling containers based on contents;

FIGURE 3 is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of a programmable label; and

FIGURE 4 is a flowchart of a process for labeling and re-labeling containers using electronic labels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGURE 1 is a block diagram illustrating a particular implementation of a system 100 used to label pieces of inventory 102 at a source 104 and re-label some or all of the pieces of inventory 102 at a destination 106. As used herein, "inventory" refers to any tangible object that may be labeled for identification, such as containers, parts, products, devices, machines, and materials, whether or not held for sale. A piece of inventory 102 can include any item or collection of items that is labeled as one unit. The source 104 can include any location at which the inventory 102 is labeled before being transferred, conveyed, shipped, or otherwise transported to the destination 106, which may include any location at which the inventory 102 is received from the source 104. The source 104 and the destination 106 may be in the same facility, such as when inventory 102 is being labeled and stored and/or used in the same building.

Each labeled piece of inventory 102 bears an electronic label 108. The electronic label 108 is a device attached to a piece of inventory 102 capable of displaying an optically-readable identifier associated with the piece of inventory 102. The optically- readable identifier may be displayed using a variety of technologies allowing a display to be electronically controlled. Examples of such displays include electronic ink (ink deposited on paper or other media that can be redistributed using electronic signals), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The format of the displayed identifier may include text or other symbols, examples of which include barcodes, part numbers, or destination codes. The displayed identifiers may be machine- readable as well. Thus, for example, the electronic label 108 can display a barcode that may be read by barcode scanners. In particular implementations, the format of the display is selectable so that, for example, a barcode output may be changed to text that is machine-readable using optical character recognition (OCR).

In a particular implementation, the display on the electronic label 108 is controlled by wireless control signals. In a further implementation, the electronic label 108 is controlled by radio frequency identification (RFID) signals generated by an RFID tag 111 attached to a piece of inventory 102. The RFID tag 111 may be a chip that actively or passively produces RF signals indicative of stored information, such as an RF identifier. In such implementations, the electronic label 108 includes an RFID tag reader that receives signals from the RFID tag 111 and determines an RF identifier associated with the piece of inventory 102. The electronic label 108 then displays an optically-readable identifier associated with the RF identifier received from the RFID tag 111. Thus, for example, the electronic label 108 can display a barcode representation of an RFID number. In this manner, the piece of inventory 102 may be labeled in an optically- readable manner without requiring human intervention to determine which label is associated with a particular container. The display of the electronic label 108 automatically produces the appropriate optically-readable display associated with the RFID tag 111.

The electronic label 108 may also be programmable in a manner that allows the optically-readable display of the electronic label 108 to be easily changed. The programmable nature of the electronic label 108 in this instance can allow for any adjustment of the electronic label 108 that causes the electronic label to display a different optically-readable identifier in response to receiving the RF identifier. For example, the electronic label 108 may be programmed to select from among one of a plurality of display formats for the display. In another example, the algorithm used to determine an optically-readable identifier associated with the RF identifier may be reprogrammed, so that the electronic label 108 is adaptable to a variety of inventory management systems that may be used in handling the inventory 102 at the destination 106. Making the electronic label 108 programmable facilitates the re-labeling process at the destination 106 by allowing the optically-readable display to be changed without requiring human intervention to identify the container to be re-labeled, to produce a new label, and to affix the new label to the piece of inventory 102.

The use of electronic labels 108 in the system 100 may be illustrated as follows. At the source 104, there is an RFID tag attachment device 110 and a label attachment device 112. The RFID tag attachment device 110 attaches an RFID tag 111 to each piece of inventory 102, while the label attachment device 112 attaches electronic labels 108 to the pieces of inventory 102 in close proximity to the RFID tags 111. The RFID tag attachment device 110 may also include an RFID tag writer that writes information associated with a piece or type of inventory 102 to the RFID tag 111. In various implementations, these functions may be consolidated in a single device or distributed among additional devices, such as having one device that attaches an RFID tag 111 and a separate device that writes an RF identifier to the RFID tag 111. Each electronic label 108 reads the RF identifier from the corresponding RFID tag 111 and produces an optically-readable identifier corresponding to the RF identifier. The RF identifiers and/or optically-readable identifiers may then be used to manage the handling of the inventory 102 at the source 104 and the transportation of the inventory 102 to the destination 106. At the destination 106, a different inventory management system may be used. In such cases, a re-labeling device 114 may be used to reprogram the electronic label 108 to display a different format and/or identifier as described above. Alternatively, the relabeling device 114 may attach a new electronic label 108 that is programmed to read the RF identifier from the RFID tag 111 and produce a different display. In some implementations, rather than physically attaching a new electronic label 108, the relabeling device 114 can change the electronic label 108 using an electromagnetic or other wireless link or communication between the re-labeling device 114 and the RFID tag 111 and/or the electronic label 108.

The described system may also be employed to assist migration from one form of inventory management to another. For example, the destination 106 may have optical scanning equipment that is being replaced with RFID equipment. By using the electronic labels 108, the labeling will be compatible with both the optical scanning equipment and the RFID equipment. Thus, inventory 102 can continue to be processed without interruption during the transition from the older system to the newer system. In one example of such a process, a destination 106 migrates from an optical-scan inventory management system to an RFID inventory management system. During the migration, both RFID tags 111 and electronic labels 108 may be attached to inventory 102 at the source 104. The electronic labels 108 may be used concurrently with conventional labels for a time to verify the compatibility of the electronic labels 108 with the optical-scan system, and the conventional labels may be phased out of use once the electronic labels 108 are deemed acceptable. Because the electronic labels 108 display an optically readable identifier based on the RF identifier from the RFID tag 111, the electronic labels 108 present an advantage over conventional labels in that they reduce the chance of a mismatch between the RFID tag 111 and the optically-readable tag. This allows the RFID system to be integrated with the optical-scan system smoothly during the transition. In addition, the electronic labels 108 may be reused by reprogramming the electronic label 108. This may present advantages over using printed labels packaged with RFID tags that require physical re-labeling, sometimes making the re-labeling process so complicated that the entire package is discarded rather than being re-labeled.

FIGURE 2 is another example implementation of a system 160 that employs the re-labeling process described above. In particular, system 160 illustrates how electronic labels 108 may be used to label containers according to their contents as the containers are filled with certain contents and/or emptied and refilled with different contents. Initially, inventory 102 at the source 104 includes containers 161, each of which bears a respective blank electronic label 108. Electronic labels 108 may be attached at the source 104 or may be received with pre-attached labels from a manufacturer, container vendor, or the like. Alternatively, containers 161 may be containers 161 returned from a particular destination 106 for re-use, as described more fully below. Contents 162 are placed in the containers 161 to form inventory packages 102. A label programmer 164, such as an RFID tag writer or any of numerous other devices for programming electronic labels 108, is used to write the electronic label 108 with an identifier corresponding to the respective contents of containers 161. Thus, the containers 161 may be filled with a variety of different contents and labeled appropriately without requiring printing and attachment of physical labels, which may improve accuracy and convenience of labeling containers based on contents after they are filled.

Inventory 102 including filled containers 161 arrives at the destination 106. At the destination 106, contents 162 are removed from containers 161, and new contents 166 may be used to refill containers 161. A label reprogrammer 168, which may be any device for reprogramming electronic labels 108 including any device appropriate for use as label programmer 164, then re-labels the inventory 102 according to its new contents 166. If there are no new contents, the label reprogrammer 168 may clear the electronic label 108 to allow the electronic label 108 to be labeled appropriately when it is filled later. In a particular example, containers 161 with cleared labels 108 may be returned to source 104, allowing containers 161 to be re-used for later contents 162. Overall, system 160 illustrates techniques that may be applied in all manner of situations involving labeling and re-labeling containers 161 based on contents 162. In some implementations, the label programmer 164 and the label reprogrammer 168 can label the inventory 102 by wirelessly or electromagnetically linking or communicating with the electronic label 108 and/or the container 161. Although particular implementations have been described, there are numerous other possible implementations of a system using electronic labels 108. For example, electronic labels 108 may receive an identifier associated with a piece of inventory from a source other than an RFID tag 111, such as a wireless or electronic signal from a labeling machine. In such cases, the identifier may be reprogrammed using a similar method in order to re-label the piece of inventory 102. Numerous other implementations allow a variety of techniques for constructing and/or programming electronic labels 108 to label or re-label pieces of inventory 102.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a particular implementation of an electronic label 108. The electronic label 108 includes an interface 202, a processor 204, a memory 206, and a display 208. The interface 202 may be any component that allows the electronic label 108 to send and/or receive information from any other device or from a person using the electronic label 108. For example, the interface 202 may include an RFID tag reader that receives RFID signals and determines an RF identifier. In another example, the interface 202 may include an electronic port 214 that allows the electronic label 108 to be reprogrammed. In yet another example, the interface 202 may include a selector 216, such as a switch, dial, or knob, that allows a person to select from among a plurality of display formats. Other examples of components that may be used in interface 202 for sending and/or receiving information include wireless communication devices (such as a wireless networking card), mobile phone transceivers, and global positioning system (GPS) circuitry. The processor 204 may be any component or collection of components used to process information, and may include one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or other suitable hardware and/or software. The memory 206 may be any suitable device for information storage that maintains information used by the processor 204, including by way of example magnetic memory; optical memory; or semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM (electrically programmable read-only memory), EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory), and flash memory devices. Examples of types of information that may be used by the processor 204 include an identifier 210 associated with the labeled container and a display algorithm 212 that determines the appropriate optically-readable identifier associated with the identifier 210. The display 208 may be any electronically-controlled display capable of generating an optically-readable output, examples of which include electronic ink, LCDs, and LEDs. In particular implementations, the display 208 may generate displays in a machine-readable format, such as barcodes or text.

In operation, the electronic label 108 receives the identifier 210 using the interface 202. For example, the electronic label 108 may read an RF identifier from an RFID tag 111 in proximity to the electronic label 108. In another example, the electronic label 108 may be programmed with the identifier 210 by a machine. The processor 202 determines an optically-readable identifier associated with the identifier 210 using the display algorithm 212, and displays the optically-readable identifier on the display 208. The electronic label 108 may be used to re-label a piece of inventory 102 in a variety of different ways. For example, the electronic label 108 may be programmed with a different identifier 210 or a different display format using the interface 202. In particular implementations, the identifier 210 may be received as a continuous signal, in which case the identifier 210 may not need to be stored and the electronic label 108 can be re-labeled by changing the input signal. In another example, the electronic label 108 may be programmed with a new display algorithm 212, so that the electronic label 108 produces a different display in response to the identifier 202.

The particular implementation of the electronic label 108 is only one example of numerous possible electronic labeling devices. Other modifications, such as integrating the electronic label 108 with an RFID tag 111 or with a piece of inventory itself, such as a container, may be employed as well. In general, any label that may be caused to display an optically-readable identifier on an electronic display could conceivably be used within the described system 100.

FIGURE 4 is a flowchart 300 illustrating an example of a process for using electronic labels to label and re-label inventory. Steps 302-306 describe the labeling process. At step 302, an electronic label is attached to a piece of inventory. The electronic label receives an identifier associated with the piece of inventory at step 304. For example, the electronic label may read an RF identifier from an RFID tag 111 in proximity to the electronic label. The electronic label displays an optically-readable identifier associated with the received identifier at step 306.

Steps 308-314 describe the re-labeling process. The labeled piece of inventory is transported from the source 104 to a destination 106 at step 308. At decision step 310, a determination is made as to whether the piece of inventory needs to be re-labeled. Such a determination may be made based, for example, on optically scanning the electronic label or reading the RF identifier for the RFID tag 111. In some implementations, all pieces of inventory may be re-labeled to conform to a particular inventory management system, in which case this determination would not be needed. For pieces of inventory that need to be re-labeled, the electronic label is reprogrammed at step 312. Reprogramming may include programming the electronic label with a new identifier, reprogramming the algorithm used to determine the optically-readable identifier to be displayed, changing the format of the display, or making any other suitable adjustment to the electronic label to change the displayed optically-readable identifier. Reprogramming may also include clearing the electronic label, such as after the contents of a container have been unloaded, to allow the electronic label to be reused if the container is filled with new contents. After reprogramming, the electronic label then displays the new identifier (if any) at step 314. Obviously, the process described here is merely one example of numerous possible methods for labeling and re-labeling using electronic labels. Accordingly, many of the steps in this flowchart may take place simultaneously and/or in different orders than as shown. Moreover, processes with additional steps, fewer steps, and/or different steps can be used. For example, the electronic labels may be preprogrammed before being attached to a piece of inventory. In another example, the electronic labels may automatically read an RF identifier when placed in proximity to an RFID tag 111 and display the associated optically-readable identifier.

Although the invention has been described in terms of certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, various functions of the system 100 may be consolidated within the described components or additional components, and such functions may be distributed differently among described components or additional components. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the above description of example embodiments. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for labeling inventory, comprising: attaching an electronic label to a piece of inventory; receiving a first identifier associated with the piece of inventory at the electronic label; and displaying a second identifier associated with the first identifier on at least one display of the electronic label, wherein the second identifier is optically readable.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein the first identifier is received as a radio frequency (RF) signal from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

3. The method of Claim 1, wherein the second identifier is displayed using electronic ink.

4. The method of Claim 1, further comprising: receiving a third identifier different from the first identifier; and displaying a fourth identifier associated with the third identifier on the at least one display, wherein the fourth identifier is optically readable.

5. The method of Claim 1 , wherein: the method further comprises selecting a format for at least one of the at least one displays; and displaying the second identifier comprises displaying the second identifier in the selected format.

6. The method of Claim 1, wherein the second identifier comprises a barcode.

7. The method of Claim 1, wherein the piece of inventory comprises a container and contents of the container, and wherein the first identifier is further associated with the contents of the container.

8. The method of Claim 1, further comprising reprogramming the electronic label to display a third identifier associated with the first identifier, the third identifier different from the first identifier.

9. An electronic label, comprising: an interface operable to receive a first identifier associated with a piece of inventory, wherein the electronic label is operable to be attached to the piece of inventory; at least one display; and a processor operable to cause a second identifier associated with the first identifier to be displayed on the display, wherein the second identifier is optically readable.

10. The electronic label of Claim 9, wherein the interface comprises a reader operable to receive a radio frequency (RP) signal from a radio frequency identification (RPID) tag.

11. The electronic label of Claim 10, further comprising the RPID tag, wherein the RPID tag is disposed in proximity to the interface.

12. The electronic label of Claim 9, wherein the at least one display comprises electronic ink.

13. The electronic label of Claim 9, wherein: the interface is further operable to receive a third identifier different from the first identifier; and the processor is further operable to cause a fourth identifier associated with the third identifier to be displayed on the at least one display, wherein the fourth identifier is optically readable.

14. The electronic label of Claim 9, wherein the interface comprises a selector allowing a format for one or more of the at least one displays to be selected.

15. The electronic label of Claim 9, wherein the second identifier comprises a barcode.

16. The electronic label of Claim 9, wherein the electronic label is further operable to be reprogrammed to display a third identifier associated with the first identifier, the third identifier different from the first identifier.

17. A method for labeling and re-labeling inventory, comprising: attaching an electronic label to apiece of inventory; displaying a first optically-readable identifier associated with the piece of inventory in response to a first instruction from a processor; and displaying a second optically-readable identifier associated with the piece of inventory in response to a second instruction from the processor.

18. The method of Claim 17, wherein: displaying the first optically-readable identifier comprises reading and storing a radio frequency (RP) identifier from a radio frequency identification (RPID) tag, wherein the first optically-readable identifier is displayed in response to the stored RF identifier; and displaying the second optically-readable identifier comprises reprogramming the electronic label to display the second optically-readable identifier in response to the stored Rp identifier.

19. The method of Claim 17, wherein: the first optically-readable identifier is displayed in a first display format; and displaying the second optically-readable identifier comprises selecting a second display format different from the first display format.

20. The method of Claim 17, wherein the first optically-readable identifier and the second optically-readable identifier comprise barcodes.

21. The method of Claim 17, wherein the first optically-readable identifier and the second optically-readable identifier are displayed using electronic ink.

22. The method of Claim 17, wherein: the piece of inventory comprises a container; the first optically-readable identifier is associated with first contents of the container; and the second optically-readable identifier is associated with second contents of the container.