Continuous barcode tape based inventory location tracking using globally unique identifiers and series of discrete barcodes

Abstract

Disclosed are a method, system and/or device of continuous barcode tape based inventory location tracking. In one aspect, a method includes analyzing a layout diagram of a distribution center. The method further includes determining that the layout diagram includes a shelf. A number of segments associated with the shelf based on a forecasted allocation of an inventory on the shelf are calculated. A bar code tape having a globally unique identifier (GUID) associated with each segment of the number of shelves is automatically generated using a processor and a memory of a central inventory tracking system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 analyzing a layout diagram of a distribution center;   determining that the layout diagram includes a shelf;   calculating a number of segments associated with the shelf based on a forecasted allocation of an inventory on the shelf; and   automatically generating a bar code tape having a globally unique identifier (GUID) associated with each segment of the number of shelves using a processor and a memory of a central inventory tracking system,   wherein the bar code tape is a continuous bar code tape where a reader device to read any GUID along with a length of the shelf of the distribution center,   wherein the bar code tape is comprised of a series of discrete bar codes placed adjacent to each other,   wherein the bar code tape includes a series of infrared dots of a fixed size and placed at a varying distance apart from each other to facilitate faster reads of a barcode through a mobile device,   wherein the mobile device is able to more quickly focus and read data of the bar code tape by first identifying the infrared dots of the bar code tape when identifying a location of an item of the inventory,   wherein each GUID is unique to each of the number of segments,   wherein each GUID is 48 bits in the length, and   wherein every barcode of the series of discrete bar codes has a preamble to make it recognizable to the central inventory tracking system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining that the item of the inventory is scanned associated with the GUID during a fulfillment process associated with an ecommerce order using the processor and the memory of the central inventory tracking system; and 
 automatically debiting a financial account of the distribution center when the bar code tape is utilized during the fulfillment process associated with the ecommerce order using the central inventory tracking system. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising uniquely identifying the location of the item in the distribution center whenever any GUID associated with the bar code tape is scanned. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a set of rows associated with the shelf; and 
 automatically generating additional bar code tapes and additional GUIDs associated with each segment of the rows for each one of the set of rows associated with the shelf based on the number of segments determined to be optimal for each row of the set of rows associated with the shelf. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 calculating the number of segments associated with the shelf based on at least one of a size, a position, an availability, a demand, and a supply of the item to be placed on the shelf. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein the central inventory tracking system is combined with at least one of a LED lights system, a lightless cart system, and a smartphone to manage the inventory with low complexity in real time operations with a set of items having heterogeneous sizes.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 generating a map of where the bar code tape is to be placed on the shelf; 
 automatically printing the bar code tape based on a calculation of the number of segments associated with the shelf; and 
 shipping the map and the bar code tape to the distribution center for placement. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein the central inventory tracking system to automatically validate that a particular item is placed in the location consistent with a plan of the distribution center when a particular GUID associated with the particular item is scanned during an inventory replenishment process.   
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 determining that a layout diagram of a distribution center includes a shelf;   calculating a number of segments associated with the shelf based on a forecasted allocation of an inventory on the shelf;   automatically generating a bar code tape having a globally unique identifier (GUID) associated with each segment of the number of shelves using a processor and a memory of a central inventory tracking system; and   validating that a particular item is placed in a location consistent with a plan of the distribution center when a particular GUID associated with the particular item is scanned during an inventory replenishment process,   wherein the bar code tape is a continuous bar code tape where a reader device to read any GUID along with a length of the shelf of the distribution center,   wherein the bar code tape is comprised of a series of discrete bar codes placed adjacent to each other,   wherein the bar code tape includes a series of infrared dots of a fixed size and placed at a varying distance apart from each other to facilitate faster reads of a bar code through a mobile device,   wherein the mobile device is able to more quickly focus and read data of the bar code tape by first identifying the infrared dots of the bar code tape when identifying the location of an item of the inventory,   wherein each GUID is unique to each of the number of segments,   wherein each GUID is 48 bits in the length, and   wherein every barcode of the series of discrete bar codes has a preamble to make it recognizable to the central inventory tracking system.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 determining that the item of the inventory is scanned associated with the GUID during a fulfillment process associated with an ecommerce order using the processor and the memory of the central inventory tracking system; and 
 automatically debiting a financial account of the distribution center when the bar code tape is utilized during the fulfillment process associated with the ecommerce order using the central inventory tracking system. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 determining a set of rows associated with the shelf; and 
 automatically generating additional bar code tapes and additional GUIDs associated with each segment of the rows for each one of the set of rows associated with the shelf based on the number of segments determined to be optimal for each row of the set of rows associated with the shelf. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 calculating the number of segments associated with the shelf based on at least one of a size, a position, an availability, a demand, and a supply of the item of the inventory to be placed on the shelf. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 :
 wherein the central inventory tracking system is combined with at least one of a LED lights system, a lightless cart system, and a smartphone to manage the inventory with low complexity in real time operations with a set of items having heterogeneous sizes.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 generating a map of where the bar code tape is to be placed on the shelf; 
 automatically printing the bar code tape based on a calculation of the number of segments associated with the shelf; and 
 shipping the map and the bar code tape to the distribution center for placement. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method of a central inventory tracking system comprising:
 calculating a number of segments associated with a shelf based on a forecasted allocation of an inventory on the shelf;   automatically generating a bar code tape having a globally unique identifier (GUID) associated with each segment of a number of shelves using a processor and a memory of the central inventory tracking system;   generating a map of where the bar code tape is to be placed on the shelf;   automatically printing the bar code tape based on a calculation of the number of segments associated with the shelf; and   shipping the map and the bar code tape to a distribution center for placement,   wherein the bar code tape is a continuous bar code tape where a reader device to read any GUID along with a length of the shelf of the distribution center,   wherein the bar code tape is comprised of a series of discrete bar codes placed adjacent to each other,   wherein the bar code tape includes a series of infrared dots of a fixed size and placed at a varying distance apart from each other to facilitate faster reads of a bar code through a mobile device,   wherein the mobile device is able to more quickly focus and read data of the bar code tape by first identifying the infrared dots of the bar code tape when identifying the location of an item of the inventory,   wherein each GUID is unique to each of the number of segments,   wherein each GUID is 48 bits in the length, and   wherein every barcode of the series of discrete bar codes has a preamble to make it recognizable to the central inventory tracking system.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 determining that the item of the inventory is scanned associated with the GUID during a fulfillment process associated with an ecommerce order using the processor and the memory of the central inventory tracking system; and 
 automatically debiting a financial account of the distribution center when the bar code tape is utilized during the fulfillment process associated with the ecommerce order using the central inventory tracking system. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising uniquely identifying the location of the item in the distribution center whenever any GUID associated with the bar code tape is scanned. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a set of rows associated with the shelf; and 
 automatically generating additional bar code tapes and additional GUIDs associated with each segment of the rows for each one of the set of rows associated with the shelf based on the number of segments determined to be optimal for each row of the set of rows associated with the shelf. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 calculating the number of segments associated with the shelf based on at least one of a size, a position, an availability, a demand, and a supply of the item of the inventory to be placed on the shelf. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 :
 wherein the central inventory tracking system to automatically validate that a particular item is placed in the location consistent with a plan of the distribution center when a particular GUID associated with the particular item is scanned during an inventory replenishment process.