Scale for weighing and determining a price of an item

• US 20030168259A1
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Premark FEG LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Premark FEG LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, David Scott, Pevoar, Lawrence A., Dickey, Clare Cecelia, Collins, Harry Winn, Crew, Joe Howard
• Granted Patent: US 6,884,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/25.15
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

A scale for weighing an item and determining a price for the item includes a weighing station for receiving the item, the weighing station producing at least one weight indicative signal. A scale controller receives the weight indicative signal and determines the price for the item based upon the weight indicative signal. A remote interface link includes associated communication software. A web server associated with the controller serves user interface web page data to the remote interface link for transfer to a remotely located device. Advanced functions such as a monitoring function and service functions may be enabled by remote connection to the scale via the remote interface link.

Claims

1. A scale for weighing an item and determining a price for the item, comprising:

a weighing station for receiving the item, the weighing station producing at least one weight indicative signal;

a scale controller for receiving the weight indicative signal and determining the price for the item based upon the weight indicative signal;

a resident interface link including an associated display screen;

a remote interface link for providing remote access by external devices; and

a web server associated with the controller for serving user interface web page data to one or both of (1) the resident interface link for display on the display screen and (2) the remote interface link for transfer to an external device.

2. The scale of claim 1 wherein the resident interface link includes web page viewing software and the remote interface link includes communication software.

3. The scale of claim 2 wherein the remote interface link further includes one of a hardware interface port and a wireless communication unit.

4. The scale of claim 2 wherein the web page viewing software comprises a web browser.

5. The scale of claim 4 wherein the web browser is functional with the remote interface link for enabling a resident user to connect with external web servers.

6. The scale of claim 1 wherein the controller and web server are operable together in at least one mode to serve similar web page data to both the resident interface link and the remote interface link for enabling remote viewing of on-going scale operations in real time.

7. The scale of claim 6 wherein certain of the similar web page data is interactive when served to the resident interface link and is view only when served to the remote interface link.

8. The scale of claim 1 wherein the controller and web server are operable together in at least one mode to serve first web page data to the resident interface link and second web page data to the remote interface link.

9. The scale of claim 1 wherein the controller includes login control software accessed through the web server for limiting web page data served to the resident interface link and the remote interface link.

10. The scale of claim 9 wherein the login control software includes at least a first level login for basic scale operations and a second level login for performing monitoring functions.

11. The scale of claim 9 wherein the login control software includes at least a first level login for basic scale operations and a second level login for performing service functions.

12. The scale of claim 9 wherein a given user'"'"'s login level is established according to entered login information of the user.

13. The scale of claim 1 wherein the user interface web page data comprises one or more of HTML, Javascript, ASP, and Java Applets.

14. A scale for weighing an item and determining a price for the item, comprising:

a weighing station for receiving the item, the weighing station producing at least one weight indicative signal;

a scale controller for receiving the weight indicative signal and determining the price for the item based upon the weight indicative signal;

a remote interface link for providing remote access by one or more remote devices; and

a web server associated with the controller for serving user interface web page data to the remote interface link for transfer to an external device.

15. The scale of claim 14 wherein the remote interface link includes associated communication software.

16. The scale of claim 14 wherein the controller includes login control software accessed through the web server for controlling web page data served to the remote interface link.

17. The scale of claim 16 wherein the login control software includes at least a first level login and a second level login.

18. A system for use in weighing items and determining prices for weighed items, comprising:

a scale according to claim 14;

a store computer network, the remote interface link of the scale connected to the store computer network, the store computer network including at least one computer connected thereto and having a web browser associated therewith;

wherein the computer web browser connects to the scale web server by pointing to a network address assigned to the scale web server.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

an Internet access gateway associated with the store computer network for enabling the scale to be accessed by web browsers over the Internet.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the scale further includes a resident interface link including web page viewing software and an associated display screen, and wherein the controller and web server are operable together in at least one mode to serve similar web page data to both the resident interface link and the remote interface link for enabling remote viewing of on-going scale operations in real time.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein certain of the similar web page data is interactive when served to the resident interface link and is view only when served to the remote interface link.

22. A system for use in weighing items and determining a price for weighed items, comprising:

a plurality of scales according to claim 14;

a store computer network, the remote interface link of a multiplicity of the scales connected to the store computer network via there respective remote interface links, the store computer network including at least one computer connected thereto and having a web browser associated therewith;

each of the multiplicity of scales including a respective network address assigned thereto;

wherein the computer web browser connects to a given one of the multiplicity of scales by pointing the computer web browser to the assigned network addresses of the given one of the multiplicity of scales.

23. A method for interfacing users of a scale both at the scale and remotely, the scale operable for weighing and determining prices of items, the method comprising the steps of:

providing in the scale a web server;

providing in the scale a resident interface display screen;

providing in the scale a remote interface link;

serving user interface web page data from the web server for display on the resident interface display screen; and

serving user interface web page data to the remote interface link for transfer to a remote device.

24. A method for assisting a scale operator in troubleshooting a certain scale configured to weigh and determine a price for items, the scale including a web server and an associated remote interface link connected to a network, the method comprising the steps of:

communicating with the scale operator;

identifying a network address associated with the certain scale;

remotely connecting to the scale using a web browser by pointing to the identified network address;

receiving an interactive login web page from the scale; and

logging in to the scale via the remote connection.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

interactively accessing an advanced mode login page; and

logging in to the advance mode of the scale.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the advanced mode enables access to a at least one web page for adjusting scale settings.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the scale is connected to an associated wrapper mechanism, and the advanced mode enables access to at least one web page for adjusting at least one wrapper setting.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the advanced mode comprises a monitor mode that enables remote monitoring of on-going scale operations, the scale further including a resident interface link, the web server serving similar web page data to both the resident interface link and the remote interface link during the monitor mode.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein certain of the similar web page data is interactive when served to the resident interface link and is view only when served to the remote interface link.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein the communicating step involves one of receiving an electronic communication from the scale operator and receiving a telephone call from the scale operator.

31. A method for monitoring operations of a certain scale configured to weigh and determine a price for items, the scale including a web server and an associated remote interface link connected to a network, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a network address associated with the certain scale;

remotely connecting to the scale using a web browser by pointing to the identified network address;

receiving at least one interactive login web page from the scale;

logging in to the scale via the remote connection; and

receiving automatically provided web page data via the remote connection, the web page data being updated in real time to reflect on-going operations of the scale.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the scale further includes a resident interface link, the scale serving similar web page data to the resident interface link and the remote interface link during monitoring.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein at least some of the similar web page data is served to the resident interface link in an interactive format and to the remote interface link in a view only format.