Inventors:
Stevan M. Spremo - San Jose CA, US
Usen E. Udoh - San Francisco CA, US
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC
International Classification:
G06F 19/00
G06Q 30/00
G06Q 90/00
US Classification:
235385, 705 22, 705 28, 340 592
Abstract:
Method and system for monitoring present location and/or present status of a target inventory item, where the inventory items are located on one or more inventory shelves or other inventory receptacles that communicate with an inventory base station through use of responders such as RFIDs. A user operates a hand held interrogation and display (IAD) module that communicates with, or is part of, the base station, to provide an initial inquiry. Information on location(s) of the target inventory item is also indicated visibly and/or audibly on the receptacle(s) for the user. Status information includes an assessment of operation readiness and a time, if known, that the specified inventory item or class was last removed or examined or modified. Presentation of a user access level may be required for access to the target inventory item. Another embodiment provides inventory information for a stack as a sight-impaired or hearing-impaired person passes adjacent to that stack.
