Systems and methods for managing an inventory
First Claim
1. A method of packaging and labelling a plurality of portions of a product sold as a random weight item by modifying a product label code standard, the method comprising:
- assigning an at least one digit batch number to a respective plurality of portions of a product sold as a random weight item;
creating a plurality of product label codes in accordance with a product label code standard wherein each of the product label codes corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of portions of the product sold as a random weight item; and
wherein the step of creating the plurality of product label codes comprises modifying each product label code by replacing a selected field with the at least one digit batch number that is not provided by the product label code standard.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Effectively re-stocking, re-organizing and removing items on display may reduce instances of dissatisfaction amongst shoppers/patrons and also may improve the profitability of a store. However, previous methods for managing displays of products that have limited shelf lives are sometimes time consuming and prone to errors. In contrast, some embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for managing the inventory of random weight items in such a way as to reduce the potential that consumers will purchase expired or past-date portions of items offered for sale.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of packaging and labelling a plurality of portions of a product sold as a random weight item by modifying a product label code standard, the method comprising:
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assigning an at least one digit batch number to a respective plurality of portions of a product sold as a random weight item; creating a plurality of product label codes in accordance with a product label code standard wherein each of the product label codes corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of portions of the product sold as a random weight item; and wherein the step of creating the plurality of product label codes comprises modifying each product label code by replacing a selected field with the at least one digit batch number that is not provided by the product label code standard. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for managing an inventory of portions of at least one product sold as a random weight item comprising:
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at least one electronic weigh scale operable to print a plurality of labels for a plurality of portions of a product sold as a random weight item, wherein each label comprises portion information comprising a batch number value for indicating that the portion belongs to the plurality of portions; a weigh scale manager connectable to the at least one electronic weigh scale for receiving the portion information for each portion in the plurality of portions from the at one electronic weigh scale; an inventory database for storing at least one record containing portion information about a plurality of portions of a product sold as a random weight item, and wherein the inventory database is connectable to the weigh scale manager to receive the portion; and
,a Point-Of-Sale (POS) controller connectable to the inventory database for scheduling queries of the inventory database to retrieve portion information. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for checking an effective date of a random weight item from information in a product label code for random weight items, the product label code having respective fields for storing an item code value, a batch number value, and an item type value wherein the batch number value is representative of a particular plurality of portions of a product sold as a random weight item and the item type value indicates that a scanned product is a portion of a plurality of a product sold as a random weight item, the method comprising:
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scanning the product label code to retrieve the item code value, the batch number value and the item type value; and polling an inventory database using the item code value, batch number value and item type value to retrieve an effective date. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for managing an inventory of portions of at least one product sold as a random weight item comprising:
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at least one electronic weigh scale operable to print a plurality of labels for a plurality of portions of a product sold as a random weight item, wherein each label comprises portion information comprising a batch number value for indicating that the portion belongs to the plurality of portions; a weigh scale manager connectable to the at least one electronic weigh scale for receiving the portion information for each portion in the plurality of portions from the at one electronic weigh scale; an inventory database for storing at least one record containing portion information about a plurality of portions of a product sold as a random weight item, and wherein the inventory database is connectable to the weigh scale manager to receive the portion information; and
,a local inventory database, connectable to the inventory database, for receiving and storing at least a portion of the information stored on the inventory database.
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Specification