Systems and methods for capturing workflow information
View Patent ↗A system and method comprising RF tags, RFID readers, voice input devices, and voice recognition software may capture even characteristics associated with a workflow. Workflow characteristics, such as JobId, OperatorID, StationId and EventId may be stored in RF tags and may be captured along with a timestamp, when brought together in the close proximity of a RFID reader. Next node information may be captured to construct detailed workflow diagrams based upon captured data. Quantity information, as well as other information, may be entered verbally and converted to computer readable form using voice recognition software.
1. A system for capturing workflow information, comprising:
a plurality of RF tags with workflow information stored therein, wherein the workflow information includes at least one information type; and
at least one node configured to communicate with a computer network, the at least one node further comprising an RFID reader and an audio input device, the audio input device configured to receive verbally entered workflow information;
wherein the at least one node is configured to transmit workflow information to the computer network based at least in part on input received by the RFID reader and the audio input device.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one information type includes at least one of a JobId information type, an OperatorId information type, a StationId information type and an EventId information type.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of RF tags includes a single information type.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a computer network.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the computer network includes a database containing the workflow information transmitted from the at least one node.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the database contains a timestamp associated with collected workflow information.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the database contains information regarding at least one of a previous node and a next node in the workflow.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one node converts verbally entered information to an electronically readable format.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein verbally entered data comprises quantity information.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein RF tags comprising a set of information types is read within a predetermined interval of time.
11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one workstation for which workflow information is to be captured.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one workstation comprises a Xerographic device.
13. A method of tracking workflow in a production environment including at least one workstation, comprising:
providing a computer network;
providing at least one tracking node in communication with the computer network, each node associated with at least one workstation, each node including a RFID reader and an audio entry device at each node;
transmitting workstation related job information read by the RF reader from at least one tag to the computer network;
prompting an operator to verbally enter information; and
converting verbally entered information to computer readable data.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising reading a predetermined number of tags from each type within a predetermined period of time.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising transmitting information regarding at least one of a previous node and a next node in the workflow to the computer network.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the information regarding the at least one of the previous node and the next node is verbally received.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising storing a timestamp related to when job information is transmitted.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising reading a set of tags, each tag containing at least one type of information.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one type of information is related to at least one of JobId information, OperatorId information, StationId information and EventId information.
20. A system for capturing workflow information, comprising:
a plurality of RF tags having workflow information stored therein, each of the tags associated with one of a plurality of information types; and
at least one node, each node further comprising a RFID reader configured to capture workflow information from at least one RF tag, and an audio input device, the audio input device configured to receive verbally entered workflow information.