Cloud-based item storage system

• US 10,387,943 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2016
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arash Esmailzadeh
• Original Assignee: Arash Esmailzadeh
• Inventors: Esmailzadeh, Arash
• Primary Examiner(s): Parsons, Theodore C
• Application Number:
  US15/187,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20160379291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0246 Traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/085 Secret sharing or secret splitting, e.g. threshold schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system for storing items may include a refrigerator comprising a scanner that is positioned to scan codes from packaging of items as they are placed into the refrigerator or removed from the refrigerator, a cloud storage system that maintains a list of items in the refrigerator, wherein the cloud storage system is programmed to receive, from the refrigerator, the list of items in the refrigerator; and a trash bin comprising a scanner that is positioned to scan codes from the packaging of items as they are placed into the trash bin.

Claims

1. A system for storing items, the system comprising:

a refrigerator comprising a scanner that is positioned to scan codes from packaging of items as they are placed into the refrigerator or removed from the refrigerator;

a cloud storage system that maintains a list of items in the refrigerator, wherein the cloud storage system is programmed to;

receive, from the refrigerator, the list of items in the refrigerator;

analyze usage of the items in the refrigerator based on a frequency of the items in the refrigerator being scanned; and

generate a forecasted recommendation list of needed items based on the usage; and

a trash bin comprising a scanner that is positioned to scan codes from the packaging of the items as they are placed into the trash bin.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the list of items in the refrigerator is uploaded to the cloud storage system via a Wi-Fi or LAN connection.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the list of items in the refrigerator is stored in a secure vault level of the cloud storage system assigned specifically to a particular user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the refrigerator further comprises an on-board chip that controls the scanner and stores the list of items in the refrigerator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the scanner of the refrigerator is located on a door of the refrigerator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the cloud storage system is also programmed to process the list of items to determine a lowest available price.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the lowest available price comprises a local price.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the lowest available price comprises an online price.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the cloud storage system is also programmed to process the list of items in the refrigerator to determine if any coupons are available for the list of items in the refrigerator.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the cloud storage system is also programmed to process the list of items in the refrigerator to determine a closest market location for purchasing one or more items on the list of items in the refrigerator.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the cloud storage system is also programmed to download the list of items in the refrigerator to a mobile device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the cloud storage system is also programmed to download the list of items in the refrigerator to an online shopping cart.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the scanner of the refrigerator comprises a laser scanner.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the scanner of the refrigerator comprises an RFID scanner.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the scanner of the refrigerator comprises a camera.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the cloud storage system is also programmed to generate a list of items that are not in the refrigerator but which complement items in the refrigerator.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the cloud storage system is also programmed to generate a list of items that are not in the refrigerator but which are available for sale.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the refrigerator further comprises a console located on a door of the refrigerator that is configured to receive input checking off items from the list of items in the refrigerator.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the scanner on the trash bin is used to determine a list of items that have been consumed from the list of items in the refrigerator.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the list of items in the refrigerator is dissected by the cloud storage system using a randomized algorithm into a plurality of parts that are sent to a plurality of independent data storage locations to protect user data.

21. A method for storing items, the method comprising:

scanning codes from packaging of items as they are placed into a refrigerator or removed from the refrigerator using a scanner on the refrigerator;

maintaining a list of items in the refrigerator on a cloud storage system;

receiving, at the cloud storage system, the list of items in the refrigerator from the refrigerator;

analyzing, at the cloud storage system, usage of the items in the refrigerator based on a frequency of the items in the refrigerator being scanned;

generating, at the cloud storage system, a forecasted recommendation list of needed items based on the usage; and

scanning codes from the packaging of the items as they are placed into a trash bin using a scanner on the trash bin.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the list of items in the refrigerator is uploaded to the cloud storage system via a Wi-Fi or LAN connection.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the list of items in the refrigerator is stored in a secure vault level of the cloud storage system assigned specifically to a particular user.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the refrigerator further comprises an on-board chip that controls the scanner and stores the list of items in the refrigerator.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the scanner of the refrigerator is located on a door of the refrigerator.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising processing, by the cloud storage system, the list of items to determine a lowest available price.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the lowest available price comprises a local price.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the lowest available price comprises an online price.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising processing, by the cloud storage system, the list of items in the refrigerator to determine if any coupons are available for the list of items in the refrigerator.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising processing, by the cloud storage system, the list of items in the refrigerator to determine a closest market location for purchasing one or more items on the list of items in the refrigerator.

31. The method of claim 21, further comprising downloading, by the cloud storage system, the list of items in the refrigerator to a mobile device.

32. The method of claim 21, further comprising downloading, by the cloud storage system, the list of items in the refrigerator to an online shopping cart.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the scanner of the refrigerator comprises a laser scanner.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the scanner of the refrigerator comprises an RFID scanner.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein the scanner of the refrigerator comprises a camera.

36. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating, by the cloud storage system, a list of items that are not in the refrigerator but which complement items in the refrigerator.

37. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating, by the cloud storage system, a list of items that are not in the refrigerator but which are available for sale.

38. The method of claim 21, wherein the refrigerator further comprises a console located on a door of the refrigerator that is configured to receive input checking off items from the list of items in the refrigerator.

39. The method of claim 21, wherein the scanner on the trash bin is used to determine a list of items that have been consumed from the list of items in the refrigerator.

40. The method of claim 21, wherein the list of items in the refrigerator is dissected by the cloud storage system using a randomized algorithm into a plurality of parts that are sent to a plurality of independent data storage locations to protect user data.