Automating inventory management of consumer items

• US 8,359,240 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2011
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast MO Group Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Stevens, J. Clarke, Stimmel, Carol L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCHANAN, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US13/154,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20110238522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/26.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A method and system for automating the management of an inventory of consumer items at a consumer location uses a programmed device that accepts input data and executes control logic for automating inventory management. At least one shopping list is received, a shopping list trend is established, and a smart list is generated with the control logic, in accordance with the shopping list trend, such that the smart list predictive of a next shopping list.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a series of shopping lists, each shopping list including at least one item;

establishing, by the computing device, a shopping list trend based on the series of shopping lists;

generating, by the computing device, an output list in accordance with the shopping list trend such that the output list is predictive of a next shopping list;

receiving, by the computing device, a plurality of item price lists from a corresponding plurality of stores; and

providing, by the computing device, a recommendation of a store based on the plurality of item price lists and the output list.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the series of shopping lists includes:

determining a shopping list of a shopping trip;

storing information indicative of the shopping list on a data storage medium; and

thereafter, retrieving the information from the data storage medium.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the series of shopping lists includes:

determining a shopping list of a shopping trip; and

sending information indicative of the shopping list over a network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one consumed item list including at least one item that has been consumed, wherein the shopping list trend is further based on the at least one consumed item list.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the at least one consumed item list includes:

identifying an item upon consumption thereof, the item having a tag and the item being identified by recognizing the tag.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the tag is a bar code and the tag is recognized by scanning the bar code.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the at least one consumed item list includes:

identifying an item upon consumption thereof by recognizing the item with a camera.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the output list with the next shopping list; and

modifying the shopping list trend based on the comparison.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the output list includes:

receiving an item list for a recipe; and

generating the output list further based on the item list for the recipe.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive a series of shopping lists, each shopping list including at least one item;

establish a shopping list trend based on the series of shopping lists;

generate an output list in accordance with the shopping list trend such that the output list is predictive of a next shopping list;

receive a plurality of item price lists from a corresponding plurality of stores; and

provide a recommendation of a store based on the plurality of item price lists and the output list.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein receiving the series of shopping lists includes:

determining a shopping list of a shopping trip;

storing information indicative of the shopping list on a data storage medium; and

thereafter, retrieving the information from the data storage medium.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein receiving the series of shopping lists includes:

determining a shopping list of a shopping trip;

sending information indicative of the shopping list over a network; and

receiving the information from the network.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory stores additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive at least one consumed item list including at least one item that has been consumed, wherein the shopping list trend is further based on the at least one consumed item list.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein receiving the at least one consumed item list includes:

identifying an item upon consumption thereof, the item having a tag and the item being identified by recognizing the tag.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the tag is a bar code and the tag is recognized by scanning the bar code.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein receiving the at least one consumed item list includes:

identifying an item upon consumption thereof by recognizing the item with a camera.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory stores additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

compare the output list with the next shopping list; and

modify the shopping list trend based on the comparison.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein generating the output list includes:

receiving an item list for a recipe; and

generating the output list further based on the item list for the recipe.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a series of shopping lists, each shopping list including at least one item;

receiving, by the computing device, instructions to ignore certain items of the series of shopping lists;

establishing, by the computing device, a shopping list trend based on the series of shopping lists and the instructions to ignore certain items of the series of shopping lists;

generating, by the computing device, an output list in accordance with the shopping list trend, the output list being predictive of a next shopping list;

receiving, by the computing device, a plurality of item price lists from a corresponding plurality of stores; and

providing, by the computing device, a recommendation of a store based on the plurality of item price lists and the output list.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein establishing the shopping list trend is further based on consumed item information, and,

wherein generating the output list is additionally based on one of budget or dietary information.