Patent Application

App. No. 10/981,257

Abstract

Claims (37)

1 . A software application having program codes for executing a plurality of steps for collecting, processing and validating inventory data by a computer, the software application being used for gathering accurate inventory information, comprising:

a download data module configured to receive selected background information required to process the inventory data being collected by the computer;

a parameterization module configured to create data structures for the collection of inventory data;

a data capture module configured to receive data records of the collected inventory data;

a reporting module configured to generate reports summarizing the collected inventory data;

an upload module configured to transmit the collected inventory data.

2 . The software application of claim 1 wherein the selected background information includes validation tables that define data fields to be captured and the data fields' attributes.

3 . The software application of claim 1 wherein the selected background information includes prior inventory data.

4 . The software application of claim 3 wherein the prior inventory data is used to compare totals from a previous inventory to the current inventory.

5 . The software application of claim 1 wherein the parameterization module defines the validation to be performed on data fields.

6 . The software application of claim 1 wherein the data capture module is configured to generate cumulative totals of the price, cost and quantity of the inventory data.

7 . The software application of claim 1 further comprising a data consolidation module configured to operate the computer in a host mode.

8 . The software application of claim 7 wherein the computer operating in the host mode receives and processes inventory data collected by a plurality of other computers in a counting mode.

9 . The software application of claim 7 wherein the host mode includes a data harvester mode.

10 . The software application of claim 1 wherein the reporting module is configured to print summaries of captured data.

11 . The software application of claim 1 wherein the upload module is configured to transmit collected inventory data to a host computer.

12 . The software application of claim 11 wherein the upload module transmits employee time data and computer usage history logs to the host computer.

13 . The software application of claim 12 wherein the upload module transmits the data using infra red transmission.

14 . The software application of claim 12 wherein the upload module transmits the data using wireless communication.

15 . The software application of claim 12 wherein the upload module transmits the data using the Internet.

16 . A method for collecting, processing and validating inventory data collected by a plurality of computers using a software application having program codes for executing a plurality of steps, comprising:

collecting inventory data by a plurality of first computers in a counting mode;

transmitting the collected inventory data by the plurality of first computers;

receiving the inventory data by a second computer in a host mode;

processing the inventory data by the second computer;

generating reports of the inventory data.

17 . A method for collecting, processing and validating inventory data, comprising:

receiving validation tables and selected background information;

creating parameterization for the inventory data capture from the selected background information;

collecting the inventory data in accordance with the parameterization;

generating a report of the inventory data.

18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:

collecting inventory data by a plurality of first computers in a counting mode;

receiving the collected inventory data at a second computer in a host mode;

aggregating the inventory data by the second computer.

19 . The method of claim 17 wherein the parameterization defines fields of the inventory data and the fields' attributes.

20 . The method of claim 17 wherein the parameterization defines validations performed on the data fields.

Assignments (18)