Method and Apparatus for Monitoring Inventory

• US 20100169190A1
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frito-Lay North America Incorporated (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Frito-Lay North America Incorporated (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Inventors: ALLISON, Chris, FOSHA, Allen, CHOKSHI, Kuntesh R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,406,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/02 for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets A47F10/06 takes precedence; hand-carts B62B; baskets B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2010/025 using stock management systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0006 Hangers for hanging articles on bars, tringles, bracket arms or the like dress holders, e.g. for clothing, shoes, A47G25/00; packages for hanging B65D; lockable clothing holders E05B69/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method for monitoring inventory on a shelf and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes a method for determining the number of packages on a shelf or hanger. The number of packages on a shelf or hanger are determined by detecting the presence of a package on the shelf and adding all detections together to determine the number of product on a shelf. In another embodiment, the product is identified by an identifying device such as an SKU reader. Thus, the quantity and type of product located on a shelf or hanger is known. Such information allows a store to know the type and quantity of packages needed to restock a specific shelf.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring inventory on a shelf, said shelf comprising at least one product support comprising capacity for a plurality of packages and comprising at least one package, said method comprising:

detecting the presence of said at least one package on said at least one product support with at least one detector.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises identifying the product type.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said identifying step comprises reading a package Stock Keeping Unit.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein a single device detects the presence of said at least one package and identifies the product type.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising relaying data collected by said detector to a harvesting device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said harvesting device is in communication with a network.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein both of said at least one detector and said harvesting device are in communication via a wireless network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting is accomplished by utilizing Optical Character Recognition software and hardware.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said hardware comprises a camera.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein said detecting and said identifying is accomplished by utilizing Optical Character Recognition software and hardware.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising ascertaining the number of packages on each product support by detecting the presence of each package on each product support.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said ascertaining comprises moving at least one detector along said product support.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting comprises moving at least one of said at least one detector laterally relative to said shelf such that one detector detects packages located on two or more product supports.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting is accomplished on a manual shelf.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting is accomplished on a self-adjusting shelf.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting comprises utilizing a digital sensor.

24. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising an identifying device.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said identifying device comprises at least one Stock Keeper Unit reader.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said shelf comprises at least two product supports, and further wherein at least one of said at least one identifying device is capable of moving laterally relative to said shelf such that one identifying device is capable of identifying packages located on two or more product supports.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said identifying device comprises Optical Character Recognition software and hardware.

17. An apparatus for storing and monitoring inventory comprising:

a shelf comprising at least one product support, wherein said product support is capable of supporting a plurality of packages; and

at least one detector located on said shelf, wherein said detector is capable of detecting packages.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said shelf comprises a plurality of product supports.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein each of said product supports comprises at least one detector.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said apparatus comprise a tracking ability.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said detector is in communication with a harvesting device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said detector and said harvesting device are in communication via a wireless network.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said harvesting device harvests data relating to shelf location.

28. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said shelf comprises at least two product supports, and further wherein at least one of said at least one detector is capable of moving laterally relative to said shelf such that one detector is capable of detecting packages located on two or more product supports.

29. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said detector is capable of moving along said product support.

30. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said shelf is a manual shelf.

31. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said shelf is a self-adjusting shelf.

32. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said detector is a digital sensor.