GB2264372A - A data processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Centralised control of stock distribution by filtering incoming data at a central processor, into categories according to the source of the data. Incoming data from remote, secondary inventory systems is automatically verified and summarised. Thus, these remote systems may operate on a stand-alone basis, while the central processor (3) is updated regularly and the data is verified. The central processor has means to generate picking lists and route information. <IMAGE>

Description

"A data processing apParatus" The invention relates to a data processing apparatus for use in the control of goods storage, and delivery in response to receipt of orders. More particularly, the apparatus is for use where warehouses storing the goods are geographically remote from each other.

Heretofore, there have been two approaches to data processing in such an environment. One approach is to have a data processing apparatus at each warehouse location operating in a stand-alone manner. The apparatus may be interconnected by a wide area network for communication. However, this clearly does not provide centralised control and is thus unsatisfactory for most situations. The other approach is to use a hierarchial system such as that described in European Patent Specification No. 82225 B (IBM). In such a system, however, operation of devices is dependent on a supporting device or controller, which in turn received processed data at frequent intervals. This is suitable for a business system, especially for real-time transaction processing.However, for control of goods storage and delivery from remote warehouses equipment and communication costs of such an apparatus -would be excessive.

The present invention is directed towards providing a goods delivery data processing apparatus which is suitable for the processing of data relating to storage of goods at a primary warehouse which stores a large portion of the goods. There are also a plurality of secondary warehouses which store the remainder of the goods and which are geographically remote from each other. An object of the invention is that the apparatus allows for quick and efficient distribution of goods to locations which are remote from the primary warehouse and for the efficient picking of goods and delivery of goods along routes. Another object is that the apparatus be relatively inexpensive to install and to operate.

According to the invention, there is provided a data processing apparatus comprising: a central processor connected to an input interface console, a back-up tape drive, a memory circuit and to a storage device; a database of goods delivery reference data for a primary warehouse and a plurality of secondary warehouses; an active database of stored data relating to goods delivery from the warehouses; at least one terminal server in a network connected to the central processor; a plurality of terminals connected to each terminal server; a communications controller connected to the central processor and being pre-programmed for communication with processing apparatus at the secondary warehouses; a data filter means in the central processor comprising means for identifying the source of received data as being a network terminal, a processing apparatus at a secondary warehouse, or a processing apparatus at a primary warehouse; a verifier in the central processor for automatically verifying received secondary warehouse data by comparing it with stored reference data; a summary report generator in the central processor for sorting and summing the verified secondary warehouse data, generating printing instructions for a summary report, and for updating the active database; a warehouse picking circuit in the central processor comprising means for automatically comparing product location data from the reference database with product data of the network terminal data, to generate printing instructions for a warehouse picking list, and to direct transmission of the list to the primary warehouse apparatus; and a route processing circuit in the central processor comprising means for automatically comparing route information in the network terminal data with stored reference data, for generating printing instructions for a route despatch report, and for directing transmission of the instructions via the network multiplexer and modem to the primary warehouse apparatus.

In one embodiment the central processor includes a data processing apparatus wherein the central processor includes a data adjustment circuit having means for retrieving feedback adjustment data in the primary warehouse and for transmitting updating signals to the route processing and warehouse picking circuits for generation of updated printing instructions.

Preferably, the route processing circuit further comprises means for generating a set of goods demand of data sorted according to customer and for outputting a signal indicating goods demand at periodic intervals.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a goods delivery data processing apparatus of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a more detailed view of a central processor of the apparatus drawn in a flow chart format to illustrate the manner in which it operates.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1 there is illustrated a goods delivery data processing apparatus of the invention. The apparatus comprises a host system 1 constructed for communication with a despatch data processing system 2 located at a primary warehouse and having sub-systems 2(a) and 2(b). The host system 1 comprises a central processor 3 which may, for example, be the CPU of a minicomputer to which circuits may be connected in expansion slots. The processor 3 is connected to a user interface console 4, to a magnetic tape back-up 5 and to a 20 Mbyte memory circuit 6. A 150 Mbyte fixed disk 7 stores the operating system for the processor 3 and a 400 Mbyte fixed disk 8 stores databases and programs for use by the processor 3.The databases include an active database which stores inventory data for goods at the primary warehouse (where the despatch system 2 is located). The active database also stores data relating to goods at a number of remote secondary warehouses, and a reference database of pre-set data such as product codes and quantities per carton for both the primary and the secondary warehouses.

A network 20 having three terminal servers 21, 22 and 23 is also connected to the central processor 3. The terminal server 21 has eight terminal ports, whereas the servers 22 and 23 each have sixteen terminal ports. Four ports of each of the servers 22 and 23 is connected to a multiplexer 24, which is in turn connected to a modem 25 set for operation at 9600 baud. Each of the modems 25 is for communication with a corresponding modem 25 at each of the sub-systems 2(a) and 2(b). Each sub-system 2(a) and 2(b) comprises the abovementioned modem 25 and a multiplexer 24 having four output ports, one of which is connected to a microcomputer, the backplane of which is connected to a printer 26. Other ports of the multiplexers 24 are connected to slave terminals. For clarity, all printers in Fig. 1 are indicated by the numeral 26.

The processor 3 is also connected to a communications controller, namely a microcomputer 28, which is in turn connected to a modem 29 for communication with inventory control systems at the secondary warehouses. The microcomputer 28 is programmed to log all data received via the modem 29, to generate a transfer file containing the data and to transmit terminal emulation signals to the processor 3 via the network 20 and to subsequently transmit the transfer file to the processor 3.

The central processor 3 has many different functional units which may take the form of a general purpose microprocessor operating under instructions retrieved from the fixed disk 8, or of special-purpose circuits connected to a back-plane of the processor 3. Referring now to Fig. 2, a combination of functional units is illustrated together with connections to outside devices such as printers. A data filter 30 is connected to an input interface, not shown, of the processor 3 for reception of data from the network 20. The filter 30 is connected to a route processing circuit 31, which is in turn connected to printers 26 via output ports of the processor. There is a parallel connection to a warehouse picking circuit 34.A verifier 36 connected in series with a summary report generator 37 form a second output of the filter 30, and a third output is connected to a data adjustment circuit 40. The construction of these units is best described by way of a description of the manner in which they operate.

The data filter 30 is constructed to automatically on-line monitor all incoming data to identify its source by identification of codes embedded in the data. In this embodiment there are three possible data sources, as follows: 1. A network terminal connected to a server 21, 22 or 23, 2. a secondary warehouse inventory system (via the microcomputer 28), and 3. the despatch system 2 (via the modems 25 and multiplexers 24).

The filter 30 automatically filters the incoming data into these three categories, network terminal data being transmitted in parallel to the route processing circuit 31 and to the warehouse picking circuit 34. This data generally relates to sales orders. The route processing circuit 31 is constructed to sort the network terminal data into route categories using references to the reference database of the fixed disk 8, the routes being required for the delivery of the ordered goods. Thus, there will be several categories of data, each associated with a particular delivery route. The circuit 31 then stores the data in a temporary file in the memory 6.

In parallel, the warehouse picking circuit 34 retrieves warehouse location data from the reference database and sorts the network terminal data according to warehouse location, product data relating to contiguous warehouse locations being listed together. The sorted data, together with printing instructions is then transmitted to a sub-system 2(a) or 2(b) for printing of picking lists which may then be used for efficient retrieval of goods from the primary warehouse. The active database is then updated. It will thus be appreciated that the apparatus uses the network terminal data in a way which leads to efficient retrieval of goods from a warehouse.

The route processing circuit 31 then generates printing instructions incorporating data from the temporary file, which are transmitted via the multiplexer 24 and a modem 25 to a sub-system 2(a) or 2(b) for printing of a route despatch report. Such a report may then be used by delivery personnel for sorting of picked goods and loading into vans for easy off-loading at each consecutive delivery site.

The route processing circuit 31 is also constructed to update both the active and reference databases and to refer to the reference database for data relating to previous customer demand for certain products. Using retrieved reference data, a report may be generated at a printer 26 connected directly to a terminal server which indicates a break in a demand pattern of certain customers. Goods order data which relates to transactions greater than a next previous number of transactions is over-written on the reference database.

The secondary warehouse data which is outputted from the data filter 30 is inputted to the verifier 36. This automatically carries out verification operations with reference to the reference database on the fixed disk 8. This ensures that product codes, overall quantities and prices are correct.

Data relating to any errors are transmitted for printing at a printer 26 to provide an error report. The verified data is transmitted to the summary report generator 37 which sorts the data and sums like data to generate a summary report. Thus, personnel at the host system 1 may immediately see at a glance the status of goods storage and delivery from each of the secondary warehouses, although these are at remote geographic locations. Thus, the system at each of the secondary warehouses may work independently and process storage and delivery data which takes into account local matters such as locally sourced goods and delivery procedures. However, data such as prices and product codes are kept in conformity with all other data and summarised versions of the data are used to update the databases in the host apparatus 1.Thus, the maximum benefits of centralised control are achieved in combination with efficiency at the local level, without the expense for installation and operation of hierarchial system.

Finally, the third category of data which is sorted in the filter 30 is adjustment data which is transmitted from a subsystem 2(a) or 2(b). Such adjustment data arises where warehouse picking personnel note that an inventory which "should" be present in the warehouse is not actually present.

When this happens, the actual quantities are inputted at a terminal connected to the multiplexer 24 and this is in turn transmitted via the network 20 to the central processor 3.

The data adjustment circuit 20 processes this data and generates updating signals for the active database in the fixed disk 8. In addition, revised picking lists and despatch reports may be generated. An advantage of the circuit 40 is that inventory levels of the primary warehouse are automatically updated and corrected and manual correction of reports is not required.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described, but may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims (4)

1. A goods delivery data processing apparatus comprising: a central processor connected to an input interface console, a back-up tape drive, a memory circuit and to a storage device; a database of goods delivery reference data for a primary warehouse and a plurality of secondary warehouses; an active database of stored data relating to goods delivery from the warehouses; at least one terminal server in a network connected to the central processor; a plurality of terminals connected to each terminal server; a communications controller connected to the central processor and being pre-programmed for communication with processing apparatus at the secondary warehouses;; a data filter means in the central processor comprising means for identifying the source of received data as being a network terminal, a processing apparatus at a secondary warehouse, or a processing apparatus at a primary warehouse; a verifier in the central processor for automatically verifying received secondary warehouse data by comparing it with stored reference data; a summary report generator in the central processor for sorting and summing the verified secondary warehouse data, generating printing instructions for a summary report, and for updating the active database; a warehouse picking circuit in the central processor comprising means for automatically comparing product location data from the reference database with product data of the network terminal data, to generate printing instructions for a warehouse picking list, and to direct transmission of the list to the primary warehouse apparatus; and a route processing circuit in the central processor comprising means for automatically comparing route information in the network terminal data with stored reference data, for generating printing instructions for a route despatch report, and for directing transmission of the instructions via the network multiplexer and modem to the primary warehouse apparatus.

2. A goods delivery data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central processor includes a data adjustment circuit having means for retrieving feedback adjustment data in the primary warehouse and for transmitting updating signals to the route processing and warehouse picking circuits for generation of updated printing instructions.

3. A goods delivery data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the route processing circuit further comprises means for generating a set of goods demand of data sorted according to customer and for outputting a signal indicating goods demand at periodic intervals.

4. A data processing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.