Method and system for reducing waste due to product spoilage within a grocery environment

• US 7,487,913 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Adema, Roger Lee, Hoblit, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLY, RAFFERTY D
• Application Number:
  US11/457,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20080011836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 235/451, 235/492, 235/383, 235/385, 340/540, 705/28
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1424 Electronic display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0096 Identification of the cart or merchandise, e.g. by barcodes or radio frequency identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for tracking time sensitive items in a container. A barcode scanned item is placed into a container. The system stores the time of the scan and links the item identification number scanned to the inventory control system. As the time since the item was scanned increases, the system determines whether the item has exceeded a time-based alert threshold. Responsive to exceeding the time-based alert threshold, personnel are alerted to the abandoned container. The system provides data to the personnel to aid in dispositioning the item following abandonment.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for tracking time sensitive items in a cart, the computer implemented method comprising:

identifying a cart determined as an abandoned cart, the abandoned cart containing an item identified by a barcode that has been scanned, wherein the cart is determined as abandoned after a period of inactivity;

determining whether the item in the abandoned cart has exceeded a time-based alert threshold; and

responsive to determining that the item has exceeded the time-based alert threshold, alerting personnel of the abandoned cart.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step further comprises:

notifying personnel of the item in the abandoned cart.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises:

calculating a spoilage rate for the item based on a time sensitivity and an ambient temperature of the environment of the item in the abandoned cart.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises:

determining whether the item in the abandoned cart has exceeded the time-based alert threshold based on a spoilage rate and an elapsed time in the abandoned cart.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein the determining step further comprises:

determining whether the item has exceeded the time-based alert threshold based on the spoilage rate of the item, the elapsed time in the abandoned cart, and exceeding a monetary value in the abandoned cart.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

dispositioning the item in the abandoned cart, using a calculated spoilage rate based on an elapsed time in the abandoned cart and a time sensitivity factor.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises:

determining whether the item in the abandoned cart has exceeded the time-based alert threshold based on a superseding factor.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the alerting step further comprises:

informing personnel of a location of the abandoned cart.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the period of inactivity that determines whether the cart is abandoned comprises an elapsed time the cart is stationary.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the period of inactivity that determines whether the cart is abandoned comprises an elapsed time since a mobile scanning system was active.