Methods and systems for inventorying personal property and business equipment with backend business development system

• US 10,387,941 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Protectovision, LLC
• Original Assignee: Protectovision, LLC
• Inventors: Fanelli, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Zare, Scott A
• Application Number:
  US14/103,210
• Time in Patent Office: 2,078 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

Methods and systems for documenting an inventory of items by accessing an inventory algorithm for creating an inventory list, adding two or more items to the inventory list, adding details about one or more of the items in the inventory list, identifying one or more real properties containing items in the inventory list, and linking one or more images with one or more of the items in the inventory list. The inventory can be created by providing a user with an access code to access the inventory list corresponding to the user, providing a reseller with access to the inventory algorithm for setting up a new user account and providing an authorized inventory professional with access to the inventory algorithm for creating the inventory list for the user.

Claims

1. An inventory documenting and recognition system for items comprising:

a computer processor;

an inventory software program stored in a memory connected to the computer processor, the inventory program including instructions executable by the computer processor;

an access port configured to;

allow a user to access the inventory software program and generate a user inventory list storable in a user database,

allow a software reseller to access the inventory software program and sell access to the inventory software program for generating the user inventory list and storing the user inventory list, and

allow an authorized inventory professional to access the inventory software program, sell use of the inventory software program, and create the user inventory list for a fee,

a graphical user interface configured to;

allow the inventory professional to select the fee from an hourly rate, a percentage of sales or a commission;

allow the software reseller to access status of client program sales;

the graphical user interface comprising;

an inventory item field configured to allow the user to add items to the user inventory list;

a plurality of detail fields configured to allow the user to add detailed information for each of the items in the user inventory list, wherein the plurality of detail fields include an item name field, a property field, a location field and a category field;

one or more input devices for inputting data, images, documents and video corresponding to one or more of a plurality of items in a room, the one or more input devices comprising a scanner for scanning at least one of a bar code or a scan code on the one or more of the plurality of items in the room, a portable camera for providing digital pictures and videos of the one or more of the plurality of items in the room, a document scanner for scanning one or more documents in the room, and a video surveillance camera system for providing surveillance video that includes the one or more of the plurality of items in the room;

the inventory software program comprising;

a stored recognition database;

interfaces configured to download digital data from the one or more input devices, the digital data related to the one or more of the plurality of items in the room, the digital data comprising a bar code, a digital photograph or video, a digital document, and a surveillance video,

computer vision technology configured to automatically recognize inventory items visually found in the digital photograph or video, using the stored recognition database;

the computer vision technology configured to automatically recognize inventory items found in the surveillance video, using the stored recognition database;

the computer vision technology further configured to automatically generate an itemized inventory list that lists the inventory items automatically recognized by the computer vision technology;

instructions to automatically populate an item name corresponding to a recognized barcode or scan code using the stored recognition database, and add the item name to the user inventory list;

instructions to identify new and existing inventory items for subsequent entry into an inventory item detail information page.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of detail fields further comprise:

one or more of a date, a beneficiary, and a purchase price.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the property field allows the user to identify plural properties each separately identifiable by a different postal address corresponding to one of a residential property postal address and a business property postal address.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more remember fields corresponding to each of the property field, location field, and category field to automatically pre-populate the plurality of detail fields corresponding to the one or more remembered item details; and

a save and add new item field to save an entered item and add a next new item to the inventory list with the item name field cleared and the remembered item detail fields pre-populated.

5. The inventory system of claim 1 wherein the authorized inventory professional access further comprises:

a certified field to allow the authorized inventory professional to check a certified box showing that a specified item has been observed to exist.

6. The inventory system of claim 1 wherein the software reseller access further comprises:

access to client account information including account number, name, email address, phone number, start up and renewal date and transactional information including commissions generated from inventory software sales.

7. The inventory system of claim 1 wherein the authorized inventory professional access further comprises:

access to list of clients associated with the authorized inventory professional including account number, name, email address, phone number, start up and renewal date, and transactional information including commissions generated from inventory sales and inventory lists completed.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third party access option to allow the user to authorize a third party to have read only access to one or more portions of an inventory account of the user, wherein a third party login name and corresponding password are assigned to allow access to said inventory account of the user, and

a third party access history recording access of the inventory account of the user by authorized third parties.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the third party access option further comprises:

an automatic email notification to the user whenever a third party access occurs.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an input port configured to upload information corresponding to scanning one or more of an identifiable bar code, scan code, or a QR code placed on the item.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a search field and filter field to allow the user to sort an inventory item list based on item name, property, location, category, date, date range, beneficiary, purchase price, and replacement cost.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

an input port for uploading one or more documents for each item.