Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Inventory system with a data processing or communication installation
The invention concerns an inventory system for articles which each
have a respective individual inventory identification which can be
interrogated from a central station, in particular wirelessly, as set forth in
the classifying portion of claim 1.
In inventory systems of that kind, the important aspect is to detect
the presence and the location of articles, in particular also apparatuses
and computer or communication systems. In this connection, inventory
systems are known in which the articles to be inventoried are provided
with a label or tag having a telemetrically interrogatable identification, and
they can be interrogated from a station which is disposed in the proximity
and which by regular interrogation checks the presence and the nature of
i5 the articles and thus has ready a list of the inventory identifications of
the
articles in the proximity.
An inventory system of that kind is known from US patent No 5 682
142. A disadvantage in that respect is that on the one hand special
apparatuses must be furnished as local centers, the sole purpose of which
lies in interrogation and possibly transmission of the interrogated
inventory identifications to a higher-order station. The location of the
articles detected by the local center is afforded only on the basis of
possible individualization of the local center itself which therefore can no
longer be put to universal use and which also cannot be simply
interchanged, for example in a repair situation. In addition the local
center must be developed as an apparatus which is provided specifically
for that purpose, and it is in that respect relatively expensive in terms of
prime cost and maintenance.
Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide an
inventory system of the kind set forth in the opening part of this
specification, which can be operated with conventional data processing
apparatuses which do not need to be particularly individualized for the
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intended purpose and which are also interchangeable at any time without
particular conversion steps being required.
Based on an inventory system as set forth in the classifying portion
of claim 1, that object is attained by the features recited in the
characterizing portion of that claim.
The invention embraces the technical teaching that, based on a
conventional data network which is equipped in particular with PC-
compatible computers and which, in regard to one or more local stations,
is retro-fitted or is implemented in standard terms with a receiver for
signals to be externally received, in particular in the form of an expansion
card, or externally by way of a serial or parallel interface, both the local
information emitted by a fixedly installed receiver and also the article or
station identifications which are transmitted from articles to be inventoried
by active or passive communication are brought together to constitute a
common data set and can be transmitted to a remote station in a
connected data network.
It is particularly advantageous in this respect that the location
identification remains in an external apparatus - in particular fixedly
connected to the building or to a part of the building - at a predetermined
location. It is precisely in the case of an apparatus which can be passively
interrogated that an inexpensive and robust design configuration is a
possibility so that the risk of failure is slight. A corresponding
consideration applies in regard to the apparatuses carrying the inventory
identifications. The whole of the remaining part of the system is of
conventional design and also does not need to be particularly
individualized for the identifications. Moreover this involves a normal
computer or communication network which is in any case present as part
of the usual infrastructure in corporations and organizations. The whole
of the additional installation is accordingly extremely inexpensive, when
the systems which could be obtained hitherto are taken for comparison.
Precise knowledge of the local association of apparatuses and
systems is important in particular when repair or modification is to be
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implemented. As in that case a service engineer has to set off to the
apparatus in question, it is useful if its location of installation is known
at
least in regard to one station of a network, more specifically that from
which the engineer sets off. It is precisely the case with relatively large
networks that it happens that, for organizational reasons, entire
departments with their apparatuses and data processing equipment move
into other buildings without this being known to the technical departments
which are responsible for their maintenance.
In the case of the inventory system according to the invention with
means for automatic common detection and care and maintenance of the
location data of apparatuses or objects and data processing systems,
location data on the one hand and apparatus or system data on the other
hand are linked with the purpose, with the inventory identification
obtained in that way, of obtaining information and a precise overview
regarding the locations and change in locations of any objects or data
processing systems and having those items of information ready for
further processing purposes with data processing means. In that respect
the objects or systems do not necessarily have to have functions relating
to data processing - in particular it is also possible to use communication
systems. This provides that the system according to the invention is
particularly suitable for any kind of inventory tasks in which information
carriers which cannot be evaluated by data processing procedures such as
stuck-on plates or badges with inventory numbers are to be replaced by
electronic information sources which can be evaluated by the process.
It will be seen that a particular advantage is enjoyed if static
evaluation procedures and processing operations in respect of the
inventory information can be executed with the same data processing or
communication apparatuses which also made it possible to have the items
of information ready.
In this respect, articles, apparatuses or stations which are to be
identified in inventory terms means in particular all objects which are to
be evaluated or assessed in the sense of fixed assets, and in respect of
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which there is a need for inventory data arising out of demands in terms
of (accountancy) procedures and/or office procedures. Security-relevant
access protection processes can also be enlarged in that respect, by the
aspect of locational information.
It is particularly advantageous that the location identification is
linked in the data processing system to at least one article or system
identification to afford a data unit which is to be transmitted on the data
network to a monitoring station and which forms an inventory
identification and which differs from the data format of the location
identification contained therein - when same is considered alone - so that
this data unit can no longer be linked in another fashion to a further
article and/or station identification to give a valid inventory
identification.
That ensures that location data can be used exclusively at their location of
origin and there cannot therefore be any errors in terms of transmission
i5 or compilation in the sense that article or station identifications are
combined with location data at a location other than that which is
associated with the location identification as information.
Furthermore, in an advantageous manner, there can be provided
means for wireless transmission of a location identification from a
transmitting assembly which is fixedly connected to a part of the building
and which comprises a store or memory for the location identification and
an HF-transmitter which is adapted for transmission of the respective
identification to the HF-receiver.
Transmitters of that kind can be inconspicuously fitted in position
and concealed in the building installation so that they are safe from attack
or modifications.
In a corresponding manner the transmitting assembly for the article
or station identification can be connected to articles. It also comprises an
HF-transmitter which is adapted to transmit the respective identification to
the H F-receiver.
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In this respect in particular the location or article identification can
be defined by an electrical parameter of at least one electrical or
electronic component.
In another advantageous development of the inventory system
according to the invention the HF-transmitter is a passive system which
receives its energy from a further HF-source which is arranged in
particular at the receiver. In that way it is possible to forego regular
maintenance and replacement of batteries at the transmitting assemblies.
If the system according to the invention involves a communication
network, an ISDN arrangement is advantageously provided as with same
it is possible in a simple manner to transmit additional items of
information in digital form, in particular in the D-channel.
It is further desirable if the communication or data network is
superimposed on a power network on the basis of the "data-on-powerline"
principle. In that case, the appropriate filters for signal/power separation
are to be provided at the terminal apparatuses.
Other advantageous developments of the invention are
characterized in the appendant claims or are set forth in greater detail
hereinafter together with the description of the preferred embodiment of
the invention with reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 as a preferred embodiment of the invention shows a
computer data network co-operating with the inventory system according
to the invention which is provided with the features in accordance with the
invention, and
Figure 2 shows a block circuit diagram of a detail of the
embodiment of Figure 1 with the parts, which concern the invention, of a
data processing system with network connection.
In the case of the computer network 1 shown in Figure 1, provided
in spatially mutually separated relationship at different installation
locations 2 through 5 are various data processing systems 6 through 9.
The data processing systems 6 through 9 which preferably form
work or server stations are connected by way of data network connections
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11 through 14 which are in the form of ground tanks to a data network 10
by way of which data exchange takes place. Provided in the data network
connections 11 through 14 are location transmitting assemblies which are
set forth in greater detail hereinafter as transmitting assemblies for clear
location identification, each of which contains an item of information about
the installation location of the station. The data processing station 8 is in
this respect in particular in the form of a central monitoring station for the
inventory data. Here listing, print-out and further processing of the
inventory data, for example with table calculation or database programs,
i 0 ca n be effected .
Instead of the computer data network shown in Figure 1 it is also
possible to use a communication network which is provided with means
for the digital transmission of data. This preferably involves an ISDN
system. The embodiment shown as a block circuit diagram in Figure 2
and provided with the elements concerning the invention diagrammatically
illustrates a data processing station 7. The station 7 has a conventional
processor system 21 which is combined to form a single block and which
is intended to represent the elements and units provided in the casing of a
PC including local peripherals such as screen, keyboard and printer with
relevant hardware and software. Connected to that processor system 21
is a network interface 22 which provides the connection to the data
network 10 by way of a data network connection unit 12. In this
arrangement the network interface 22 is controlled by the processor
system 21 by way of a data converter 24 which also forms the network
interface of the processor system, in such a way that transmission of the
data by way of the network is implemented in accordance with the
protocols provided in the network.
A store or memory 23 for location and article or station
identifications is connected to an HF-receiver 27 in order to pick up by
way of the HF-receiver those identifications from transmitting assemblies
20 through 20.2 which are disposed in the proximity and which are
provided with a corresponding HF-transmitter. The HF-transmitters used
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are passive, that is to say they can be interrogated by radio waves which
either are modified in terms of their resonance characteristics or which are
transmitted to the receiver after rectification and fresh modulation in the
HF-transmitter part.
The transmitting assemblies are fixedly connected either to a part
of the building or however to articles to be inventoried. The location
transmitting assembly 20 which is connected to a part of the building has
a store or memory (not shown) for the location identification LD2 which is
modulated on an HF of a frequency band which is cleared for purposes of
this kind, preferably 430 MHz. The two transmitting assemblies for article
or station identifications 20.1 and 20.2 are of a similar design
configuration - both in relation to each other and also with the location
transmitting assembly 20 - but they differ in terms of the emitted code.
They emit article identifications GD3 and GD4 respectively. The
transmitting assemblies can be produced in small sizes and can be
inconspicuously added to apparatuses or parts of buildings. Conversion
from one type to the other is possible by simply changing over or adding a
component which determines the identification to be emitted. In that
respect however it is important that the identifications for location on the
one hand and articles on the other hand belong to different data
quantities which overall cannot have any doublets and which therefore are
not compatible both with each other and also in opposing relationship.
The same applies to the inventory identification which is composed of a
respective location identification and at least one article identification. As
therefore they belong to different data quantities, this ensures that an
inventory identification or its article or location component thereof cannot
be combined with a new location or article identification, which would
simulate the presence of a false article at a false location. The availability
of the location identification in its form which is emitted by the
transmitting assembly or a form which is derived therefrom is limited to
the area around the transmitting assembly. Transport on the data or
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communication network is effected only in a data format which contains
both the location identification and also the article identification.
The store or memory for the received location identification LD2 and
the article identifications GD3 and GD4 are transmitted to a converter 24
which again stores those items of data. The location identification is
further transmitted in association with the station identification SD2
associated therewith from a transmitting assembly 25 for one of the
stations, together with the other identifications, in a suitable protocol at
predetermined times or on demand beyond the nearest data network
connection unit 22 to other data processing systems in the data network
10, and in that respect in particular to a remote monitoring station.
The location and article data or data processing station data (LD +
SD) which are compiled or transmitted in corresponding association are
brought together in such a protocol which is suitable for the transmission
of data on the network. The transmitted compiled location and article
data differ in that respect from the pure location and data processing
station data LD and SD when considered alone.
The converter 24 of the data processing station 7 is connected to
the processor part 21 which controls the described data communication.
The arrangement according to the invention comprises a system
with three logical functional units:
a) a transmitting assembly for the location data which are available
exclusively in the area around this local transmitting arrangement and
which are processed only by the data processing or communication
system which is responsible for combining that identification together with
the further article or station identifications. Those data can therefore not
go directly to other data processing or communication systems which are
disposed at spatially remote and thus "foreign" installation locations. For
that purpose, it is possible to use separate connecting lines or
communication channels between location transmitting assembly and data
processing system or however suitable filters or switches which interrupt
the data connection to the overall network synchronously for output of the
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location information. Only the connection to the respective data
processing system is retained in that respect. In that case the location
transmitting assembly must be fixedly anchored at the installation
location, for example by means of a ~~ground tank unit".
b) a transmitting arrangement for an article or station
identification.
c) a mixing and converting unit for location data and article data,
which is arranged in the processing station. Here the items of information
from a) and b) are brought together and held ready for further processing
in the form of a data unit. In that respect they include a data format
which permits passing of the information formed jointly from a) and b) in
the direction of the data network.
The respective data quantities however are such that both the
location identifications and also the article and inventory identifications
belong to different data quantities so that the location identification of a
remote station cannot occur together with the identification of an article
which does not have its place of installation at the transmitting assembly
of the location identification. In this respect therefore selection of the
data format and optionally additional encoding and filtering of the data
forms a safeguard against faulty controls and misassociations.
The specified conditions are readily to be observed on conventional
data processing and communication systems so that the system according
to the invention can be easily added to conventional data processing and
communication installations.
The location transmitting assemblies which are considered can also
be in particular transmitters which transmit the location data to the data
processing system by way of radio, infrared or sound waves. The location
transmitting assemblies are shielded relative to each other so that
multiple associations of a data processing system with a plurality of
location transmitting assemblies are not possible.
If the communication or data network is superimposed on a power
network on the basis of the "data-on-powerline" principle, then the
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appropriate filters are provided at the terminal units for signal/power
separation, although this is not shown in detail in the Figures.
The invention is not limited in terms of implementation thereof to
the above-described preferred embodiments. On the contrary, a number
of alternative configurations are possible, which make use of the
illustrated structure even in configurations of a basically different kind.
