Inventory verification system and method
A system and method of verifying the completeness and accuracy of inventory records is disclosed. A remote verification device is deployable from a control desk to a specified area within a facility to acquire certain verification data. Once acquired, the verification data is compared with the inventory records on the verification device to determine a verification status. The particular mode of verification may be user-selected on the verification device or device-prompted based the inventory records, the verification data or other parameters. If successfully verified, the verification device communicates the verification data and/or verification status to the control desk. If not successfully verified, the verification device may be used to acquire inventory data for replacing the inventory records or providing an alert related to the discrepancy.
1. A method for inventory verification comprising:
downloading an inventory dataset having downloaded inventory data for a completed area from a control desk to a remote verification device;
selecting a verification mode, which includes a set of rules that define a methodology for verifying the inventory dataset, from a plurality of verification modes, wherein the plurality of verification modes include at least two of the following verification modes: piece count verification, unique UPC verification, reasonability verification and random verification;
deploying the remote verification device to the completed area;
acquiring verification data in the completed area with the remote verification device based on the selected verification mode;
computing a verification status on the remote verification device based on a comparison of the verification data with the downloaded inventory data; and
displaying the verification status on the remote verification device.
2. The method for inventory verification of claim 1 wherein the selected verification mode is determined by an average price point determined from the inventory dataset for the completed area.
3. The method for inventory verification of claim 1 further comprising uploading the verification data from the remote verification device to the control desk.
4. The method for inventory verification of claim 3 further comprising uploading the verification status from the remote verification device to the control desk.
5. The method for inventory verification of claim 1 further comprising assigning an error code to the downloaded inventory data when the verification status indicates a difference between the verification data and the inventory data.
6. The method for inventory verification of claim 1 further comprising initiating an inventory correction procedure when the verification status indicates a difference between the verification data and the inventory data.
7. The method for inventory verification of claim 6 wherein the inventory correction procedure comprises:
switching the remote verification device from a verification mode to an inventory mode;
acquiring replacement inventory data for the completed area;
substituting the replacement inventory data for the downloaded inventory data; and
switching the remote verification device from the inventory mode to the verification mode.
8. The method for inventory verification of claim 7 further comprising uploading the replacement inventory data from the remote verification device to the control desk.
9. The method for inventory verification of claim 7 further comprising comparing the verification data with the replacement inventory data and computing a verification status based on the comparison.
10. The method for inventory verification of claim 9 further comprising uploading the verification status to the control desk.
11. The method for inventory verification of claim 1 further comprising displaying the verification status on the remote verification device.
12. The method for inventory verification of claim 1 further comprising displaying a first inventory count from the downloaded inventory data and a second inventory count from the verification data on the remote verification device.
13. The method for inventory verification of claim 1 further comprising displaying a UPC count from the downloaded inventory data and a second UPC count from the verification data on the remote verification device.
14. The method for inventory verification of claim 1 further comprising:
inputting a UPC for an item located within the completed area;
querying the downloaded inventory data to determine if the UPC is resident in the inventory dataset; and
displaying a status based on the query.
15. An inventory verification system comprising:
a control desk including a dataset having inventory data; and
a portable verification device including:
a data input module having a keypad operable to enter data and a scanner operable to read and decode a barcode symbology for acquiring verification data, a verification module operable to select a verification mode, which includes a set of rules that define a methodology for verifying the inventory dataset, from a plurality of verification modes, to compare the verification data with the inventory data and to generate a verification status, wherein the plurality of verification modes includes at least two of the following verification modes: piece count verification, unique UPC verification, reasonability verification and random verification; and
a display apparatus operable to display information including the verification status; and
a local area network for enabling wireless communication between the control desk and the portable verification device, the local area network including:
a first wireless network interface controller (WNIC) operable to transmit data signals from the control desk and receive data signals to the control desk; and
a second wireless network interface controller (WNIC) operable to transmit data signals from the verification device and receive data signals to the verification device;
wherein the first WNIC transmits data signals with the inventory data that are received to the second WNIC and wherein the first WNIC receives data signals with verification data that are transmitted from the second WNIC.
16. The inventory verification system of claim 15 further comprising an access point in communication with the first WNIC and the second WNIC.
17. The inventory verification system of claim 15 further comprising:
a portable acquisition device including a data input module having a keypad operable to enter data and a scanner operable to read and decode a barcode symbology for acquiring inventory data; and
a third wireless network interface controller (WNIC) operable to transmit data signals from the acquisition device and receive data signals to the acquisition device.
18. The method for inventory verification of claim 1 wherein the plurality of verification modes comprises piece count verification, unique UPC verification, reasonability verification and random verification.
19. The inventory verification system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of verification modes comprises piece count verification, unique UPC verification, reasonability verification and random verification.