Methods and apparatus for automatic replenishment of inventory using embedded sensor system and electronic marketplace
First Claim
1. A computer-based method of automatically controlling an inventory of items, the method comprising the steps of:
- automatically collecting information relating to a status associated with at least one inventory item; and
automatically accessing at least one electronic marketplace in order to determine one or more optimal parameters, based on the collected status information, to be used for replenishing the at least one inventory item via the at least one electronic marketplace.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are provided for automatically replenishing inventory by exploiting the use of electronic marketplaces. In one aspect of the invention, a system for automatically controlling an inventory of items comprises one or more sensors operative to automatically obtain information relating to a status associated with an inventory item. Preferably, the sensors are embedded in the equipment containing the inventory that they are monitoring. The system also comprises one or more computer systems (referred to herein as “brokers”) which are operatively coupled to the one or more sensors and which receive the status information from the one or more sensors. Each broker is further operative to automatically access one or more electronic marketplaces in order to determine one or more optimal parameters, based on the collected status information, to be used for replenishing an inventory item in accordance with one or more providers of the item via the one or more electronic marketplaces. The system further may comprise one or more other computer systems (referred to herein as “gateways”) which are operatively coupled between the one or more sensors and the one or more broker computer systems.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer-based method of automatically controlling an inventory of items, the method comprising the steps of:
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automatically collecting information relating to a status associated with at least one inventory item; and
automatically accessing at least one electronic marketplace in order to determine one or more optimal parameters, based on the collected status information, to be used for replenishing the at least one inventory item via the at least one electronic marketplace. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-based method of performing machine-to-machine inventory control, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, in accordance with a first machine, a data signal generated by a sensor system indicative of a status of an inventory of items being monitored by the sensor system; and
procuring, in accordance with a second machine via at least one electronic marketplace, additional such items for an end consumer based on the data signal and depending on one or more optimal market conditions associated with the items. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26)
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15. Apparatus for automatically controlling an inventory of items, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor operative to;
(i) receive automatically collected information relating to a status associated with at least one inventory item; and
(ii) automatically access at least one electronic marketplace in order to determine one or more optimal parameters, based on the collected status information, to be used for replenishing the at least one inventory item via the at least one electronic marketplace; and
memory, coupled to the at least one processor, for storing at least the collected status information.
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25. A system for automatically controlling an inventory of items, the system comprising:
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at least one sensor operative to automatically obtain information relating to a status associated with at least one inventory item; and
at least one computer system, operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, operative to receive the status information and to automatically access at least one electronic marketplace in order to determine one or more optimal parameters, based on the collected status information, to be used for replenishing the at least one inventory item in accordance with at least one provider of the item via the at least one electronic marketplace.
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Specification