ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR IMAGE FILES WITH EMBEDDED INVENTORY DATA

• US 20120037700A1
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alex Gerchikov, Riaz Walji
• Original Assignee: Alex Gerchikov, Riaz Walji
• Inventors: WALJI, Riaz, GERCHIKOV, Alex
• Application Number:
  US13/208,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20120037700A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices are provided for documenting and tracking assets such as inventory items, contents, structural repairs, administrative line items and instructions and the like, in particular as it pertains to the contents restoration and insurance property claims industry. A mobile device such as a smartphone or digital camera is provided with onboard camera and wireless capabilities and is used to record identifying information and descriptive detail of inventory items on-site, including barcode or other indicia identifying the inventory items. This data is embedded in an image file representing a photograph of the inventory item for uploading to a database or other storage location for later processing.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a digital imaging subsystem;

a data store;

a wireless communication subsystem;

at least one input subsystem; and

at least one processor in communication with the digital imaging subsystem, the data store, the wireless communication subsystem, and the at least one input subsystem, the at least one processor being configured to;

receive input data via the at least one input subsystem defining an inventory item;

receive via the digital imaging subsystem image data for a captured image of the inventory item;

receive via the digital imaging subsystem tag data comprising indicator information associated with the inventory item;

embed the input data and the tag data in an image file comprising the image data and store said image file comprising said embedded input data and tag data in the data store; and

upload said image file comprising said embedded input data and tag data to a receiving device via the wireless communication subsystem.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a smartphone.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the embedded input data and tag data is stored in EXIF format.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured to communicate with the receiving device at least in part over a wireless network, and the receiving device comprises a server.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input data comprises voice memo data, the voice memo data being embedded in the image file.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input data comprises accessory relationship data, the accessory relationship data indicating a parent-child relationship with a further inventory item.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive further input data via the at least one input subsystem defining the further inventory item;

receive via the digital imaging subsystem further image data for a captured image of the further inventory item;

receive via the digital imaging subsystem further tag data comprising indicator information associated with the further inventory item; and

embed the further input data and the further tag data for said further inventory item in a further image file comprising the further image data and store said further image file in the data store.

9. A method implemented at an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving input data via at least one input subsystem defining an inventory item;

receiving via a digital imaging subsystem image data for a captured image of the inventory item;

receiving via the digital imaging subsystem tag data comprising indicator information associated with the inventory item;

embedding the input data and the tag data in an image file comprising the image data and store said image file comprising said embedded input data and tag data in a data store; and

uploading said image file comprising said embedded input data and tag data to a receiving device via a wireless communication subsystem.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a smartphone.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the embedded input data and tag data is stored in EXIF format.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising uploading said image file at least in part over a wireless network, and the receiving device comprises a server.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the input data comprises voice memo data, the voice memo data being embedded in the image file.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the input data comprises accessory relationship data, the accessory relationship data indicating a parent-child relationship with a further inventory item.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving further input data via the at least one input subsystem defining the further inventory item;

receiving via the digital imaging subsystem further image data for a captured image of the further inventory item;

receiving via the digital imaging subsystem further tag data comprising indicator information associated with the further inventory item; and

embedding the further input data and the further tag data for said further inventory item in a further image file comprising the further image data and storing said further image file in the data store.

17. A non-transitory electronic device-readable medium storing code, which when executed by an electronic device, causes said electronic device to:

receive input data via an at least one input subsystem defining an inventory item;

receive via a digital imaging subsystem image data for a captured image of the inventory item;

receive via the digital imaging subsystem tag data comprising indicator information associated with the inventory item;

embed the input data and the tag data in an image file comprising the image data and store said image file comprising said embedded input data and tag data in a data store; and

upload said image file comprising said embedded input data and tag data to a receiving device via a wireless communication subsystem.