System and apparatus for smart inventory management

Abstract

A system and method for inventory management. Inventory is received for storage at a physical storage location. The inventory is associated with an identifier utilizing one or more scanners integrated with the physical storage location and communicating with a system tracking the inventory. The inventory is stored in a location. The inventory is automatically associated with the location. A system is automatically updated with the inventory information including at least the identifier and the location for subsequent utilization.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for inventory management, comprising:
 receiving inventory for storage at a physical storage location;   associating the inventory with an identifier utilizing one or more scanners integrated with the physical storage location and communicating with a system tracking the inventory;   storing the inventory in a location of the physical storage location;   automatically associating the inventory with the location;   automatically updating a system with inventory information including at least the identifier and the location for subsequent utilization.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the system includes one or more databases for storing the inventory information associated with the inventory. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending a request for a status check of the inventory   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 automatically reordering inventory in response to the status check of the inventory.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 updating the system with a location of the inventory in response to the inventory being moved within the physical storage location.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for the inventory;   accessing the inventory information;   retrieving the inventory utilizing the inventory information;   tracking the inventory as moved throughout the system; and   updating the system based on movements and actions associated with the inventory.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 verifying that a party associated with the request is authorized to request the inventory, wherein the retrieving is performed only if the party is verified.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more scanners track the inventory throughout the physical storage location. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a virtual environment that mirrors the inventory in the physical storage location for managing the inventory.   
     
     
         10 . A system for performing inventory management, comprising:
 one or more scanners for automatically determining locations of inventory, the one or more scanners are integrated with the locations of a physical storage location; and   one or more servers for associated unique identifiers and the locations with the inventory, wherein the one or more scanners automatically track the inventory through the physical storage location.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more servers provide a virtual environment for managing the inventory 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system generates one or more alerts for used, removed, or damaged inventory. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more servers indicate a status of each item of the inventory. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more servers automatically reorder a portion of the inventory in response to the status of each item of the inventory. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more servers determine whether a user or device is authorized to access the inventory, and wherein the one or more servers grant access for the user or device to move the inventory without setting off an alarm. 
     
     
         16 . A system for inventory management, comprising:
 a scanner determining a location of inventory within a physical storage location, the scanner is integrated with the physical storage location;   a memory storing inventory information associated with the inventory including at least the location and a status; and   a logic engine managing the inventory information, wherein the logic engine associates an identifier and a location with each item of the inventory as part of the inventory information, wherein the logic engine stores the inventory information associated with movement of the inventory within the physical storage location.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the logic engine generates a virtual environment modeling the inventory within the physical storage location. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the logic engine is a logistics platform executed to manage the inventory within the physical storage location. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the logic engine sets off an alarm in response to an unauthorized user or device accessing the inventory. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the logic engine reorders portions of the inventory in response to the status and/or location.