System And Apparatus For Item Level Inventory Management Within A Virtual Warehouse Established For Short-Term And Long-Term Disaster Relief Operations
This invention describes a system and method for managing a supply chain. In particular, the present invention relates to a virtual warehouse system for providing item level inventory management and an apparatus for automatic data capture within a disaster relief operational setting.
1 . An apparatus for establishing a virtual warehouse and for managing a supply chain within an identified region, the apparatus comprising:
a receiving element for receiving RFID data and data regarding supply needs within an identified region; and
a processor configured to analyze RFID data and data regarding supply needs, wherein the processor is further configured to establish a geofenced area based on received data;
and further configured to generate requests for supplies to be transported into the geofenced area based on received data.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiving element is further configured to receive updated RFID data and updated data regarding supply needs; and further wherein, the processor is further configured to adjust the geofenced area based on the updated data.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the RFID data is obtained from the group consisting of an RFID tag, an embedded chip, a smart label or an intelligent barcode.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the RFID tag is passive, semi-passive or active.
5 . A method for establishing a virtual warehouse within an identified region which is supplied by a supply chain, the method comprising:
receiving RFID data from items within the supply chain;
receiving need data regarding supply needs within an identified region;
comparing RFID data and need data;
establishing a geofenced area based on the RFID data and the need data;
generating requests for supplies to be transported into the geofenced area based on RFID data and need data;
updating RFID data and need data; and
redefining the geofenced area based on updated RFID data and need data.
6 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises receiving geographic data and adjusting the geofenced area based on the geographic data.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving and updating data regarding traffic patterns; and
redefining the geofenced area based on updated data regarding traffic patterns.