Item position indicator and optimized item retrieval for a sensor equipped storage unit

• US 7,495,561 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Watt, Stephen James, Bodin, William Kress, Masterson, Michael Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US11/467,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20080055084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/10.1, 340/825.69, 705/22, 235/462.01
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for communicating the shelf position of an item within a storage unit. An item to be located in the storage unit is identified. The storage unit system determines the shelf position of the identified item. The system then communicates the shelf position of the identified item to the user. If the user requests multiple items, the optimal sequence of retrieval for the items is determined based on a user configurable algorithm.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for communicating a shelf position of an item within a storage unit, the computer implemented method comprising:

identifying the item to be located, to form an identified item;

determining a shelf position of the identified item on a shelf in a set of shelves in the storage unit, wherein determining the shelf position further comprises;

receiving a signal from an identification tag associated with the identified item by a set of entry/exit readers coupled to the set of shelves; and

determining the shelf position based on the signal from the identification tag, wherein the shelf position is a precise location of the identified item on the shelf in the set of shelves; and

communicating the shelf position of the identified item to a user.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the storage unit is one of a refrigeration unit, a freezer, an ice box, a retail store, a stockroom, a pantry, a cupboard, a cabinet, a furnace, or a warehouse shelf.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein communicating the shelf position of the identified item further comprises:

activating an item indicator associated with the set of shelves.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3 wherein the item indicator is selected from a group consisting of at least one of a graphic on a display screen, an auditory device, an LED display, a light panel, or a combination visual and auditory device.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 4 wherein the indicator is an audio device providing a text-to-voice message providing the shelf position of the item to the user.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the indicator is a display providing a diagram of the shelf indicating the identified item to the user.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining an optimal retrieval sequence of a set of items, wherein the set of items comprises the identified item; and

communicating the optimal retrieval sequence of the set of items.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein identifying the item further comprises:

receiving, by a radio frequency identifier reader, a unique radio frequency identifier signal from a radio frequency identifier tag associated with the item.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein identifying the item further comprises:

receiving, by a universal product code scanner, a universal product code identification number from a universal product code associated with the item.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising determining an approximate location of the identified item based on a strength and direction of the signal from the identification tag.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the set of entry/exit readers comprises at least three entry/exit readers, wherein determining the shelf position further comprises:

triangulating a set of approximate coordinates generated by three or more entry/exit readers to form the shelf position, wherein the shelf position comprises a set of precise coordinates for the precise location of the identified item on the shelf in the set of shelves.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the shelf comprises a set of mass sensors, wherein determining the shelf position further comprises:

receiving mass footprint data from the set of mass sensors; and

determining the shelf position based on the mass footprint data.

13. A computer implemented method for communicating a shelf position of an item within a storage unit, the computer implemented method comprising:

identifying the item to be located, to form an identified item;

determining a shelf position of the identified item on a shelf in a set of shelves in the storage unit, wherein determining the shelf position further comprises;

receiving a signal from an identification tag associated with the identified item by an entry/exit reader coupled to the set of shelves; and

determining the shelf position based on a strength and direction of the signal from the identification tag, wherein the shelf position is an approximate location of the identified item on the shelf in the set of shelves; and

communicating the shelf position of the identified item to a user.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 13 wherein communicating the shelf position of the identified item further comprises:

activating an item indicator associated with the set of shelves.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 14 wherein the indicator is a display providing a diagram of the shelf indicating the identified item to the user.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining an optimal retrieval sequence of a set of items, wherein the set of items comprises the identified item; and

communicating the optimal retrieval sequence of the set of items.

17. A computer implemented method for communicating a shelf position of an item within a storage unit, the computer implemented method comprising:

identifying the item to be located, to form an identified item;

determining a shelf position of the identified item on a mass sensor shelf in a set of shelves in the storage unit, wherein determining the shelf position further comprises;

receiving mass sensor data from a set of mass sensors on the mass sensor shelf; and

determining the shelf position of the identified item based on the mass sensor data,

wherein the shelf position is a precise location of the identified item on the mass sensor shelf; and

communicating the shelf position of the identified item to a user.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 17, wherein communicating the shelf position of the identified item is performed by activating an item indicator, wherein the indicator is a display providing a diagram of the shelf indicating the identified item to the user.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 17 further comprising:

determining an optimal retrieval sequence of a set of items, wherein the set of items comprises the identified item; and

communicating the optimal retrieval sequence of the set of items.