Automated shopping apparatus and method in response to consumption
First Claim
1. A product tracking and purchasing apparatus, comprising:
- a transceiver configured to couple with and receive communications from over a distributed network;
a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and
a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to;
receive, through the transceiver and from over a distributed network, multiple product data from a restockable customer product storage unit located at a remote customer residence, wherein each of the multiple product data comprises product tracking information corresponding to one of multiple consumable products tracked over time by the product storage unit of the multiple products stored by and detected by the product storage unit;
receive a set of customer specified thresholds corresponding to a set of products associated with the customer residence;
override predefined thresholds corresponding to the set of products with the customer specified thresholds and incorporate the customer specified thresholds into a customer profile associated with the customer residence;
evaluate each of the multiple product data relative to one or more thresholds, comprising the customer specified thresholds, within the customer profile associated with the customer residence;
update the customer profile associated with the customer residence in response to each modification in product information associated with the customer residence;
identify, based on the evaluation of each of the product data, one or more products of the multiple consumable products to be replenished as a function of the updated customer profile;
automatically cause a purchase, on behalf of a customer associated with the customer residence, of at least a first product to replenish at least one of the one or more products to be replenished;
obtain payment from a source associated with the customer for at least the first product purchased;
cause a notification of the purchase of the first product to be communicated to the product storage unit in response to causing the purchase of the first product, wherein the notification identifies the first product;
receive, through the transceiver and from over the distributed network, replenish product data from the product storage unit confirming receipt of at least the first product purchased, wherein the receipt of the replenish product data is received in response to the notification that the first product was purchased and the product storage unit detecting the purchased first product being added to the product storage unit; and
update product information for at least the first product, in response to receiving the replenish product data confirming receipt of the first product, to include an increased quantity of the first product corresponding to the quantity of the purchased first product.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in tracking product consumption. Some embodiments provide a product purchasing apparatus comprising: a transceiver; a control circuit; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: receive multiple product data from a restockable customer product storage unit located at a customer residence; evaluate each of the multiple product data relative to one or more thresholds within a continuously updated customer profile; identify one or more products to be replenished as a function of the continuously updated customer profile; automatically cause a purchase, on behalf of the customer, of at least a first product to replenish at least one of the one or more products to be replenished; and obtain payment from a source associated with the customer.
114 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A product tracking and purchasing apparatus, comprising:
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a transceiver configured to couple with and receive communications from over a distributed network; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to; receive, through the transceiver and from over a distributed network, multiple product data from a restockable customer product storage unit located at a remote customer residence, wherein each of the multiple product data comprises product tracking information corresponding to one of multiple consumable products tracked over time by the product storage unit of the multiple products stored by and detected by the product storage unit; receive a set of customer specified thresholds corresponding to a set of products associated with the customer residence; override predefined thresholds corresponding to the set of products with the customer specified thresholds and incorporate the customer specified thresholds into a customer profile associated with the customer residence; evaluate each of the multiple product data relative to one or more thresholds, comprising the customer specified thresholds, within the customer profile associated with the customer residence; update the customer profile associated with the customer residence in response to each modification in product information associated with the customer residence; identify, based on the evaluation of each of the product data, one or more products of the multiple consumable products to be replenished as a function of the updated customer profile; automatically cause a purchase, on behalf of a customer associated with the customer residence, of at least a first product to replenish at least one of the one or more products to be replenished; obtain payment from a source associated with the customer for at least the first product purchased; cause a notification of the purchase of the first product to be communicated to the product storage unit in response to causing the purchase of the first product, wherein the notification identifies the first product; receive, through the transceiver and from over the distributed network, replenish product data from the product storage unit confirming receipt of at least the first product purchased, wherein the receipt of the replenish product data is received in response to the notification that the first product was purchased and the product storage unit detecting the purchased first product being added to the product storage unit; and update product information for at least the first product, in response to receiving the replenish product data confirming receipt of the first product, to include an increased quantity of the first product corresponding to the quantity of the purchased first product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of purchasing products on behalf of customers, comprising:
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by a control circuit of a product tracking system; receiving, through a transceiver and from over a distributed network, multiple product data from a restockable customer product storage unit located at a remote customer residence, wherein each of the multiple product data comprises product tracking information corresponding to one of multiple consumable products tracked over time by the product storage unit of the multiple products stored by and detected by the product storage unit; receiving a set of customer specified thresholds corresponding to a set of products associated with the customer residence; overriding predefined thresholds corresponding to the set of products with the customer specified thresholds and incorporating the customer specified thresholds into a customer profile associated with the customer residence; evaluating each of the multiple product data relative to one or more thresholds within an updated customer profile associated with the customer residence; updating the customer profile associated with the customer residence in response to modifications in product information associated with the customer residence; identifying, based on the evaluation of each of the product data, one or more products of the multiple consumable products to be replenished as a function of the updated customer profile; automatically causing a purchase, on behalf of a customer associated with the customer residence, of at least a first product to replenish at least one of the one or more products to be replenished; obtaining payment from a source associated with the customer for at least the first product purchased; causing a notification of the purchase of the first product to be communicated to the product storage unit in response to causing the purchase of the first product, wherein the notification identifies the first product; receiving, through the transceiver and from over the distributed network, replenish product data from the product storage unit confirming receipt of at least the first product purchased, wherein the receipt of the replenish product data is received in response to the notification that the first product was purchased and the product storage unit detecting the purchased first product being added to the product storage unit; and updating product information for at least the first product, in response to receiving the replenish product data confirming receipt of the first product, to include an increased quantity of the first product corresponding to the quantity of the purchased first product. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification