SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING INVENTORY HISTORY
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of managing inventory, comprising:
- associating a sensor with the container, the sensor configured to determine an indication of the amount of a substance stored in the container;
receiving a first indication of the amount of the substance from the sensor at each of a plurality of points in time; and
storing a second indication of the amount derived from the first indication of the amount with each point in time as a usage history.
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Abstract
A method and system of managing inventory of consumables stored in containers including associating with a container a sensor configured to determine an indication of the amount of an attribute, such as an indication of an amount of substance stored in the container, and storing the indication of amount at various times as a usage history.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of managing inventory, comprising:
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associating a sensor with the container, the sensor configured to determine an indication of the amount of a substance stored in the container; receiving a first indication of the amount of the substance from the sensor at each of a plurality of points in time; and storing a second indication of the amount derived from the first indication of the amount with each point in time as a usage history. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of managing inventory, comprising:
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sensing at least one attribute of a domestic consumable substance stored in a portable container at each of a plurality of points in time during a usage period; transmitting information about the at least one attribute and an identifier; receiving the information at each of a plurality of points in time during the usage period; and storing the information with each point in time as a usage history. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of managing inventory, comprising:
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sensing at least one attribute of quantity of a domestic consumable substance stored in a portable container at each of a plurality of points in time during a usage period; storing the information with each point in time as a usage history; associating an expected unit cost with the substance; receiving current price and quantity data from at least one provider of the substance; calculating a current unit price based on the current price and quantity data; calculating the usage rate of the substance from the usage history; and determining from the current amount and the usage rate and the current unit price if an additional amount should be purchased. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A system for managing inventory of a plurality of portable containers of substance, each having a sensor configured to determine a first indication of the amount of a substance stored in the container and a transmitter configured to transmit the first indication of the amount, the system comprising:
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a receiver capable of receiving the first indications of the amount from each container of substance at each of a plurality of points in time; a data processing system capable of processing the first indication of the amount to determine a second indication of the amount; and
capable of processing a plurality of second indications of the amount generated at a plurality of points in time to generate a usage history; anda data storage system capable of storing the second indications of the amount and the usage history of each substance.
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Specification