System and method for sensing and analyzing inventory levels and consumer buying habits

• US 20050086133A1
• Filed: 01/08/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Star Tech Innovations, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Star Tech Innovations, Ltd.
• Inventors: Bane, Ronald L., Scherer, William H.
• Application Number:
  US10/755,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20050086133A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and methods for sensing and analyzing inventory levels and consumer buying habits. The system includes a sensor pad that can be easily installed on a display shelf by simply resting the panel on the shelf. Sensors are mounted inside the sensor pad that are hardwired to circuitry collectively called a smart hub. The hub is a programmable device with an integrated paging transceiver for communicating with a remotely located server that is managed by the inventory sensing service provider. The hub periodically transmits a report, which is highly configurable, to the service provider'"'"'s server, preferably as a text message over the paging network, which arrives at a service provider'"'"'s server after being converted to an e-mail. This server converts the information in the reports into inventory data and stores this data in a database that customers of the inventory service can access remotely. The server also generates reports reflecting inventory data and consumer purchasing behavior for the various display racks equipped with a smart hub.

Claims

1. A system for sensing inventory levels of an item on a display rack, comprising:

A. a means for sensing a characteristic of the items mounted on the display rack;

B. a means for retrieving item information from the sensing means;

C. a means for storing the item information retrieved by the retrieving means;

D. a means associated with the display rack for generating an electronic message based on selected portions of the item information stored in the storing means in which the message further includes a unique identifier that identifies the display rack to which the message is related;

E. a means for sending the message to a server over a wireless data communications network;

F. a means for receiving and storing the message sent by the sending means;

G. a means for determining whether the message originated from an authorized message generating means;

H. a means for storing the contents of the message in a database indexed at least by the unique identifier;

I. a means for analyzing the stored information for a particular message generating means to determine the current level of inventory of items on the display rack;

J. a means for comparing the current level of inventory of items on the display rack with an acceptable inventory level; and

K. a means for reporting the current inventory level to a distributor of the items that is responsible for maintaining the inventory of items above the acceptable level.