INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
First Claim
1. An inventory monitoring system which comprises:
- a plurality of merchandise detectors, each of said merchandise detectors comprising at least one elongate array of photosensors that are each configured to detect the presence or absence of products in a predetermined merchandise position and to emit a detect signal confirming such presence or absence, and each of said merchandise detectors including a transmitter connected to the photosensors and configured to transmit the detect signal; and
at least one gateway device with a receiver that is configured to receive the detect signals from the merchandise detectors, and a transmitter that is configured to compile a merchandise data signal from the detect signals, and to transmit said merchandise data signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inventory monitoring system (10) is provided, which includes a number of merchandise detectors (12) that each include a number of sensors that are configured to detect the presence or absence of products in a predetermined merchandise position, a position on a shelf in a retail space, and to emit a detect signal confirming such presence or absence. Each of the merchandise detectors (12) also includes a rear unit (28) with a transmitter that is connected to the sensor and that transmits the detect signal. The system (10) includes one or more gateway device (36,40) that receives the detect signals from the merchandise detectors (12) and compiles a merchandise data signal from the detect signals, and transmits it a computer (42) to be used in monitoring and managing inventory.
24 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An inventory monitoring system which comprises:
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a plurality of merchandise detectors, each of said merchandise detectors comprising at least one elongate array of photosensors that are each configured to detect the presence or absence of products in a predetermined merchandise position and to emit a detect signal confirming such presence or absence, and each of said merchandise detectors including a transmitter connected to the photosensors and configured to transmit the detect signal; and at least one gateway device with a receiver that is configured to receive the detect signals from the merchandise detectors, and a transmitter that is configured to compile a merchandise data signal from the detect signals, and to transmit said merchandise data signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 26, 27)
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4. (canceled)
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5. (canceled)
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7. (canceled)
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8. (canceled)
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9. (canceled)
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10. A merchandise detector which comprises:
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a base layer; a plurality of photosensors proximity fitted on the base layer in an elongate array, each said photosensor proximity being configured to detect the presence or absence of an object on one side of the base layer and to emit a detect signal confirming such presence or absence; electronic circuitry connected to the photosensors sensors to receive the detect signals from the photosensors sensors; and a transmitter connected to the electronic circuitry and configured to transmit the detect signals. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 17, 28, 29)
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14. (canceled)
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15. (canceled)
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16. (canceled)
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18. A method of inventory management, said method comprising:
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monitoring the presence or absence of products in predetermined merchandise positions, in a plurality of merchandise detectors, each merchandise detector including an elongate array of photosensors that are each configured to detect the presence or absence of the products in one of the merchandise positions; emitting a detect signal from each merchandise detector, said detect signal confirming such presence or absence of products in each of the merchandise positions; receiving the detect signals from the merchandise detectors in at least one gateway device; compiling a merchandise data signal; transmitting the merchandise data signal from the gateway device; and receiving said merchandise data signal in at least one computer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 31)
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23. (canceled)
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24. (canceled)
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25. (canceled)
Specification