Auxiliary data management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11328144-B2
Application number	US-202017008400-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2020
Priority date	Jan 14, 2019
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

A system may include a plurality of stations that implement a workflow process. The workflow process may include reading a barcode in connection with at least some of the plurality of stations. The barcode may be attached to an item that is moved between the plurality of stations during the workflow process. The system may additionally include a plurality of devices. Each of the plurality of devices may be located at one of the plurality of stations. At least some of the plurality of devices may include barcode reading capability. The system may additionally include process management code stored in memory on at least some of the plurality of devices. The process management code may be executable by one or more processors on the plurality of devices to determine auxiliary data corresponding to the workflow process and send the auxiliary data to a server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
reading a barcode at a plurality of stations during a workflow process, wherein the barcode is attached to an item that is moved between the plurality of stations during the workflow process;
determining auxiliary data corresponding to the workflow process, wherein the auxiliary data comprises metadata that is generated in connection with reading the barcode at the plurality of stations during the workflow process;
sending the auxiliary data to a first server; and
sending decoded data that is generated in connection with reading the barcode to a second server that is different from the first server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the metadata comprises a plurality of timestamps; and
each timestamp is associated with a station identifier and indicates a time at which the barcode is read or another type of input is provided at a station corresponding to the station identifier.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of stations are located at a manufacturing facility; and
different operations related to assembly of the item are performed at different stations of the plurality of stations.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
a plurality of items are assembled in accordance with the workflow process;
the method further comprises reading each of a plurality of barcodes at the plurality of stations; and
each barcode of the plurality of barcodes is attached to a different item of the plurality of items.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a setting at a device that is located at one of the plurality of stations, wherein the setting defines a minimum time period between successive barcode reads;
receiving user input at the device, the user input comprising an instruction to read the barcode;
determining an elapsed time period corresponding to an amount of time that has elapsed since the device read a previous barcode; and
reading the barcode only if the elapsed time period is greater than or equal to the defined minimum time period.

6. A wedge device, comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory comprising instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to:
receive decoded data from a barcode reader that is located at a station among a plurality of stations that implement a workflow process, wherein the decoded data corresponds to a barcode that is read by the barcode reader, and wherein the barcode is attached to an item that is moved between the plurality of stations during the workflow process;
determine auxiliary data corresponding to the workflow process, wherein the auxiliary data comprises metadata that is generated in connection with reading the barcode;
send the auxiliary data to a first server; and
send the decoded data to a second server that is different from the first server.

7. The wedge device of claim 6 , wherein the metadata comprises a timestamp that indicates a time at which the barcode is read at the station.

8. The wedge device of claim 7 , wherein:
the metadata further comprises a station identifier corresponding to the station; and
the timestamp is associated with the station identifier.

9. The wedge device of claim 7 , wherein:
the metadata further comprises a user identifier corresponding to a user that is working at the station when the barcode is read; and
the timestamp is associated with the user identifier.

10. The wedge device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a first communication interface that is configured to communicate with the barcode reader; and
a second communication interface that is configured to communicate with the first server and the second server.

11. The wedge device of claim 6 , wherein:
a plurality of items are assembled in accordance with the workflow process;
the instructions are additionally executable by the one or more processors to receive additional decoded data corresponding to a plurality of additional barcodes that are read by the barcode reader; and
each barcode of the plurality of additional barcodes is attached to a different item of the plurality of items.

12. The wedge device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are additionally executable by the one or more processors to:
determine additional auxiliary data corresponding to the workflow process, wherein the additional auxiliary data comprises additional metadata that is generated in connection with reading the plurality of additional barcodes;
send the additional auxiliary data to the first server; and
send the additional decoded data to the second server.

13. The wedge device of claim 12 , wherein:
the additional metadata comprises a plurality of sets of metadata;
each set of metadata corresponds to a different item of the plurality of items; and
a set of metadata corresponding to a particular item having a particular barcode comprises a timestamp that indicates a time at which the particular barcode is read at the station during assembly of the particular item.

14. A method, comprising:
receiving decoded data from a barcode reader that is located at a station among a plurality of stations that implement a workflow process, wherein the decoded data corresponds to a barcode that is read by the barcode reader, and wherein the barcode is attached to an item that is moved between the plurality of stations during the workflow process;
determining auxiliary data corresponding to the workflow process, wherein the auxiliary data comprises metadata that is generated in connection with reading the barcode;
sending the auxiliary data to a first server; and
sending the decoded data to a second server that is different from the first server.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the metadata comprises a timestamp that indicates a time at which the barcode is read at the station.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the metadata further comprises a station identifier corresponding to the station; and
the timestamp is associated with the station identifier.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the metadata further comprises a user identifier corresponding to a user that is working at the station when the barcode is read; and
the timestamp is associated with the user identifier.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
a plurality of items are assembled in accordance with the workflow process;
the method further comprises receiving additional decoded data corresponding to a plurality of additional barcodes that are read by the barcode reader; and
each barcode of the plurality of additional barcodes is attached to a different item of the plurality of items.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
determining additional auxiliary data corresponding to the workflow process, wherein the additional auxiliary data comprises additional metadata that is generated in connection with reading the plurality of additional barcodes;
sending the additional auxiliary data to the first server; and
sending the additional decoded data to the second server.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein:
the additional metadata comprises a plurality of sets of metadata;
each set of metadata corresponds to a different item of the plurality of items; and

a set of metadata corresponding to a particular item having a particular barcode comprises a timestamp that indicates a time at which the particular barcode is read at the station during assembly of the particular item.

Assignees

• Code Corp

Inventors

• Powell George
• Deal John

Classifications

• G07G1/14

  Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit · CPC title

• G06K7/1413 Primary

  1D bar codes · CPC title

• G06K19/06028

  using bar codes · CPC title

• G06K17/0022

  arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device ("transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L) · CPC title

• G06Q20/202 Primary

  Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR · CPC title