Methods systems and computer program products for monitoring inventory and prices

• US 8,666,847 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Blank, Bennett R., Glover, Ryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen, Nicholas D
• Application Number:
  US13/195,822
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/7.12, 705/7.29, 705/7.31
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for an inventory story monitor are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves predicting a number of inventory items on a future date based at least in part upon a number of the inventory items on the current date and a rate of consumption of the inventory items, which is determined based on prior sales of the inventory items. The method also involves determining a price trend of the inventory items. In addition, the method involves determining whether to purchase the inventory items on the current date based at least in part upon the predicted number of inventory items, a rate of consumption of the inventory items, and a price trend of the inventory items. Further, the method involves displaying to the user an indicator of whether to purchase the inventory items on the current date or on a later date.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for notifying a user about replenishing an inventory item, the method comprising:

receiving, at a computer, electronic data indicating a number of the inventory item purchased by a user in the past and electronic data indicating prior sales of the inventory item;

determining, with the computer, a number of the inventory item on a current date based on the number of the inventory item purchased by the user in the past and the prior sales of the inventory item;

predicting, with the computer, a number of the inventory item on a future date based at least in part upon the number of the inventory item on the current date and a rate of consumption of the inventory item determined based on the prior sales of the inventory item;

determining, with the computer, a price trend for the inventory item and whether to purchase the inventory item on the current date based at least in part upon the predicted number of the inventory item, the rate of consumption of the inventory item, and the price trend for the inventory item; and

displaying to the user an indicator of whether to purchase the inventory item on the current date or on a later date.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the price trend for the inventory item is determined based on at least one of past prices of raw materials used to manufacture the inventory item, past retail prices of the inventory item, and past wholesale prices of the inventory item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to purchase the inventory item on the current date is additionally based on a sales trend for the inventory item.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sales trend for the inventory item is based at least in part upon past seasonal sales trends for the inventory item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes instructions relating to one of buy the inventory item now, buy the inventory item later, and neutral regarding buying the inventory item.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator is sent to the user by an electronic message sent from the computer to at least one of a computing device and a mobile communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator is displayed to the user by a real time display on at least one of a computing device and a mobile communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator is at least one of a visual indicator and an auditory indicator.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises providing the user with a means to buy the inventory item.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the means to buy the inventory item is an actionable link to buy the inventory item.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the actionable link to buy the inventory item allows the user to purchase the inventory item directly from a merchant selling the inventory item.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the actionable link to buy the inventory item allows the user to purchase the inventory item from a merchant selling the inventory item via a financial institution.

13. The method of claim 1, the electronic data indicating the number of the inventory item purchased by the user in the past being received from a financial management system associated with the computer.

14. The method of claim 13, the electronic data indicating the number of the inventory item purchased by the user in the past being received by the financial management system from a computer of a financial institution at which the user has an account.

15. The method of claim 1, the electronic data indicating prior sales of the inventory item being received from a financial management system associated with the computer.

16. The method of claim 15, the electronic data indicating prior sales of the inventory item being received by the financial management system from a computer of a financial institution at which the user has an account.

17. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium embodying one or more instructions executable by a computer to perform a process for notifying a user about replenishment status of an inventory item, the process comprising:

receiving, at the computer, electronic data indicating a number of the inventory item purchased by the user in the past, and electronic data indicating prior sales of the inventory item;

determining, with the computer, a number of the inventory item on a current date based on the number of the inventory item purchased by the user in the past and the prior sales of the inventory item;

predicting, with the computer, a number of the inventory item on a future date based at least in part upon the number of the inventory item on the current date and a rate of consumption of the inventory item determined based on the prior sales of the inventory item;

determining, with the computer, a price trend for the inventory item, and whether to purchase the inventory item on the current date based at least in part upon the predicted number of the inventory item, a rate of consumption of the inventory item, and the price trend for the inventory item; and

displaying to the user an indicator of whether to purchase the inventory item on the current date or on a later date.

18. A system for notifying a user about a replenishment status of an inventory item, the system comprising:

an intermediate computer operably coupled to a source of inventory item data through a first network and operably coupled to a computing device of a user through a second network; and

replenishment status program executing on or accessible by the intermediate computer, the replenishment status program being configured to receive electronic data indicating a number of the inventory item purchased by the user in the past;

to receive electronic data indicating prior sales of the inventory item;

to determine a number of the inventory item on a current date based on the number of the inventory item purchased by the user in the past and the prior sales of the inventory item;

to predict a number of the inventory item on a future date based at least in part upon the number of the inventory item on the current date and a rate of consumption of the inventory item determined based on the prior sales of the inventory item;

to determine a price trend for the inventory item;

to determine whether to purchase the inventory item on the current date based at least in part upon the predicted number of the inventory item, a rate of consumption of the inventory item, and the price trend for the inventory item; and

to display to the user an indicator of whether to purchase the inventory item on the current date or on a later date.