MANAGING INVENTORY IN A SHOPPING STORE

• US 20140195374A1
• Filed: 10/30/2013
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bassemir, Richard T., Forestier, Eric, Mendoza, Alfredo V., Petitprez, Didier, Tonkin, Andrew G.
• Application Number:
  US14/066,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20140195374A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations

Abstract

A method for managing inventory includes detecting a shopping list on a communication device, transmitting the detected list to a server associated with the shopping store, transmitting images to the server, checking whether at least one item of the shopping list is present in an aisle based on a location of a consumer, scanning the images to identify images including the at least one item, and dynamically sorting the items in the shopping list based on the checking performed. The method also includes displaying the sorted list along with image links on the communication device, where at least one item in the sorted list is highlighted or placed on top based on the check performed, and where each of the image links includes an image with at least one augmented item. The method further includes determining items that need to be restocked in the shopping store.

Claims

1. A method for managing inventory comprising a plurality of items of a shopping store, wherein the shopping store comprises the plurality of items arranged in a plurality of aisles, the method comprising:

detecting, by a second communication device associated with an aisle, a shopping list comprising one or more items on a first communication device, wherein a consumer inputs the list on the first communication device;

transmitting, by the second communication device, the detected list to a server associated with the shopping store;

transmitting, by a plurality of image capturing devices, a plurality of images to the server, wherein the plurality of images are transmitted at a predefined time interval;

checking, by the server, whether at least one item of the received list is present in an aisle associated with the at least one second communication device from which the shopping list is received based on an identified location of the consumer;

scanning, by the server, the plurality of images to identify one or more images including the at least one item;

dynamically sorting, by the server, the one or more items in the received list based on the checking performed;

displaying the dynamically sorted list along with one or more image links on the first communication device, wherein the at least one item in the sorted list is at least one of highlighted or placed on top based on the check performed, further wherein each of the image links comprises an image with at least one augmented item; and

determining, by the server, whether one or more items need to be restocked in a plurality of shelves in the shopping store to maintain the inventory of the plurality of items based on the plurality of images.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device comprises a smart phone having a shopping application configured to:

communicate with the plurality of second communication devices, the plurality of image capturing devices, and the server; and

receive one or more images from the server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the server comprises a database configured to maintain details about the plurality of items present in the shopping store and the plurality of images.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of image capturing devices are configured to transmit the plurality of images and update the database at beginning of day, and before opening of the shopping store.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the consumer to input a plurality of shopping lists associated with a plurality of shopping stores on the first communication device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying, by the server, a current location of the consumer based on the shopping list received from the second communication device, wherein each of the second communication devices is assigned a unique identity (ID); and

re-sorting, by the server, the one or more items of the sorted list dynamically based on the current location of the consumer in the shopping store, wherein the consumer is moving in the shopping store.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more items in the shopping list are dynamically sorted and re-sorted based on location of the one or more items in the plurality of aisles with respect to an identified location of the consumer in the shopping store, further wherein the closest item is highlighted and placed on the top in the displayed list along with an image link.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

sorting, by the server, the identified one or more images based on the scanning of the plurality of images; and

augmenting, by the server, the at least one item in the plurality of images in a colored box which identifies exact location of the at least one item in a shelf of the plurality of shelves.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

analysing, by the server, the plurality of images; and

determining, by the server, whether the plurality of shelves in the plurality of aisles require re-stocking based on the analysis.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising allowing the consumer to disable the at least one highlighted item by selecting the at least one highlighted item after picking the item from it'"'"'s respective location in the shelf.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the server is located in the premises of the shopping store.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the server is located at a remote location outside the premises of the shopping store.