Retail center analysis and instruction system

• US 5,867,823 A
• Filed: 09/15/1995
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Butcher Co. (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Butcher Co. (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Richardson, Owen
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bainbridge, Barton L.
• Application Number:
  US08/529,223
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 395/201, 395/202, 395/208, 395/209, 395/211, 395/232, 364/468.01-468.06, 364/705.06, 364/709.04, 364/710.03, 364/710.04, 705/1, 705/2, 705/8, 705/9, 705/11, 705/32
• US Class Current: 705/7.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/025 adapted to a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group

Abstract

The present invention relates to a maintenance analysis and instruction system particularly useful for a retail center such as a grocery store. In preferred aspects, the invention provides systems and methods that comprise a portable-device that can instruct a retail center or other worker to attend to various incidents that may occur at a retail center or other location such as product spills, and systems and methods for maintaining an accurate and reliable record of sweeping, mopping and other tasks completed at the retail center. In another preferred aspect, the invention provides systems and methods for accurately tracking work completed at the retail center or other location such as sweeping, spill clean-up or inspection of various areas of the retail center or other location.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning a product spill by a worker at a store comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a worker at a store with a portable programmable bar coded indicia reading, recording and display device,

(b) the worker reading bar coded indicia with said device to input to the device the identity of the product which caused the spill in the store and which is to be cleaned, said device in response to said indicia displaying to the worker instructions regarding safety and disposal procedures and instructions to clean the particular spilled product,

(c) the worker cleaning said spill following said procedures and instructions to clean the spill and dispose of same, and

(d) the device recording the identity and location of the product spill and that said product spill has been cleaned by the worker.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the device records 1) the identity of the spilled product, 2) the location of the spilled product within the store, and 3) the time period over which the cleaning is carried out by the worker.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the device generates a written report of the recorded information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the store is a grocery store.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the device provides the worker one or more safety procedures to be employed for cleaning the product spill.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the device requests that the worker confirm compliance with the safety procedures.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the worker causes the device to read said indicia on said product container which resulted in the spilled product.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the worker also causes the device to read indicia representing the approximate position of the spilled product in the store.

9. The method of claim 7 in which the indicia reading device reads bar coded indicia and wherein the bar coded indicia is on the said product container.

10. A method of cleaning a product spill by a worker at a health care facility or hospitality facility comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a worker at a health care facility or hospitality facility with a portable programmable bar coded indicia reading, recording and display device,

(b) the worker reading bar coded indicia with said device to input to the device the identity of the product which caused the spill in the health care facility or hospitality facility and which is to be cleaned, said device in response to said indicia displaying to the worker instructions regarding safety and disposal procedures and instructions to clean the particular spilled product,

(c) the worker cleaning said spill following said procedures and instructions to clean the spill and dispose of same, and

(d) the device recording the identity and location of the product spill and that said product spill has been cleaned by the worker.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the worker is at a health care facility.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the worker is at a hospitality facility.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the worker causes the device to read indicia indicia on the product which resulted in the spill.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the device provides the worker one or more safety procedures to be employed for cleaning the product spill.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the device generates a written report of the recorded information.