The Versatile Warehouse™ provides a single, vastly configurable interface to Host systems supplying high-level warehouse management functions. In turn, it directly interfaces to all control devices utilized during order fulfillment operations within the automated warehouse. This design eliminates the requirement for the Host to interface to multiple application subsystems for inventory operations involving automated material handling equipment.
For less complex interface requirements, the Versatile Warehouse™ is easily configured to use a limited set of required download information, and likewise, limit the amount of information to be passed up to the Host. To accommodate a variety of messaging scenarios, even more flexibility has been provided by the incorporation of message layout format utilities so that the Host system can utilize pre-existing or standard interface libraries.
The VWare™ Host Interface has been designed to accommodate data transfer methods using either file-based or peer-to-peer messaging schemes. It may also be configured to allow a combination of both concurrently. Within the Windows NT/2000 run-time environment, data connections may be implemented across a variety of platforms using LANs or WANs.