Procedure and arrangement for supervision of a store- room and delivery of merchandise

• US 20030004814A1
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rutger Roseen
• Original Assignee: Rutger Roseen
• Inventors: Roseen, Rutger
• Application Number:
  US10/070,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004814A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

The invention concerns a procedure and an arrangement for attendance-free retail trade. The arrangement comprises a space (2) closed by a door (4) and provided for the exposure of goods (6). Within the space cameras (7) are present for registering of take-outs, and these cameras send the pictures taken to an image processing unit (9), which supplies inventory lists to a central computer (10). Unlocking of the door (4) can take place through cellphone communication with the central computer, or by means of a card provided with a magnetic strip, which is read in a reader equipped with a keypad (12)

Claims

1. Procedure for supervision of a store-room and delivery of merchandise from a room sealed by means of a door or scuttle provided with a lock device, without direct assistance of any staff, characterized in that the locking device of the door (4) by means of a key, an electronically active contactor means or radio waves from a cellphone (20) is influenced to an open position, whereupon the space (2) becomes accessible for the person, who shall gather goods, that concurrently with the opening of the door stock-in-trade is photographed by one or more electronic cameras (7), and that when the door is shut after the take-out of the goods, the stock-in-trade is photographed anew.

2. Procedure according to claim 1, characterized in that the camera (7) digitalizes the pictures, and sends these to an image processing equipment (9), which converts the pictures to inventory lists, which are stored in a central computer (10).

3. Procedure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the central computer (10) is called from the cellphone (20) and after identifying the cellphone the central computer submits a code which is indicated on the display of the phone and which can be entered on a key pad (12) in order to open the door (4).

4. Procedure according to claim 3, characterized in that after the door (4) has been locked the central computer (10) performs a comparison between the two inventory lists received from the image processing unit (9), based on pictures taken by the cameras (7) at the opening and closing of the door respectively, calculates the cost for the articles taken out, and transmits this value to be presented on the display of the cellphone.

5. Procedure according to claim 4, characterized in that the central computer (10) automatically prints out a specified invoice, which is sent to the person having gathered the goods.

6. Procedure according to claim 2, characterized in that the central computer (10) indicates when the quantity of a certain article in the stock is below a chosen order point.

7. Arrangement for sale or delivery of goods without assistance of any attendance staff, characterized by a space (2) provided with a locked door (4) and containing a stock-in-trade (6), one or more electronic cameras (7) fixed in the space, a lock for locking of the door operable by a key or electronically, an image processing unit (9) connected to the camera (7), and a central computer (10) for storing of data from the image processing unit (9) and for external communication, wherein at delivery of goods the lock of the door is effected to open position and concurrently with the opening of the door the stock-in trade is photographed by the cameras (7) and when the door is locked after the delivery the stock-in trade is again photographed.

8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the space (2) is surrounded, wholly or partly, by transparent walls.

9. Arrangements according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the central computer (10) is equipped for two-way communication with cellphones.

10. Arrangements according to any of the claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the lock is designed as an electronically controlled code lock, operated by the central computer (10).

11. Arrangements according to any of the claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the lock is designed as an electronically controlled code lock operated by a magnetic strip of a credit card.

12. Arrangements according to any of the claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the lock is designed as an electronically controlled code lock operated by a so-called smart card.