Storage container with inventory control

• US 9,098,825 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3 Strike LLC
• Original Assignee: Leonard Bashkin
• Inventors: Bashkin, Leonard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilder, Hunter
• Application Number:
  US14/036,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20140297487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 720/639, 720/657
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/00 Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/02 Shelves movable shelves coupled to doors A47B96/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/02 for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets A47F10/06 takes precedence; hand-carts B62B; baskets B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/46 for drawers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/462 for two or more drawers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/70 Multimodal biometrics, e.g. combining information from different biometric modalities
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/08 Insulation or absorption of undesired vibrations or sounds
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Systems and methods of the invention relate to managing an inventory of items within a storage container. A storage container can house one or more items for distribution among one or more users such as, for instance, employees. The storage container discussed herein provides authentication of a user, tracking of the inventory each user removes or returns, video/image capture of user during access of the storage container, wireless tracking of items housed within the storage container, among others.

Claims

1. An inventory system, comprising:

a storage container having a first shelf and a second shelf, the storage container houses a first item on the first shelf and a second item on the second shelf, wherein the first item includes a first amount and a second item includes a second amount and the first shelf is above the second shelf;

the storage container includes a first door and a second door, wherein the first door is hinged on a side of the storage container and the second door is hinged on an opposite side of the side of the storage container;

a first camera that is affixed to an exterior surface of the storage container;

a second camera that is affixed to an interior side of the first door for movement with the first door, wherein the second camera is positioned on a corner of the interior side of the first door and is focused on the first shelf, the first door having a motion limiting device for assisting the second camera to maintain focus on the first shelf;

a third camera that is affixed to an interior side of the first door or the second door for movement with the first or the second door, wherein the third camera is focused on the second shelf;

a verification component that is configured to receive a portion of data from a user to complete a verification of the user;

a lock mechanism for the storage container that secures an access to the first door and the second door based upon the verification of the user;

a motion sensor that provides a motion signal based on detected motion in proximity to the storage container;

a camera system that comprises;

the first camera focused at a position in front of the first door and the second door to capture image data of the user and activated in response to the motion signal;

the second camera focused on at least the first item on the first shelf and activated based on release of the lock mechanism and the verification of the user; and

the third camera focused on the second item on the second shelf and activated based on release of the lock mechanism and the verification of the user;

a controller component that is configured to record media from the first camera, the second camera, and the third camera upon activation based on motion or release of the lock mechanism and verification of the user;

a scanning device that provides a scan of a portion of the first item or a portion of the second item to indicate a removal from the storage container;

the controller component monitors at least one of the first amount of the first item or the second amount of the second item based on at least one of the scan or recorded media; and

the controller component stores at least one of the portion of data, the scan, or the recorded media.

2. The inventory system of claim 1, wherein the portion of data received by the verification component is at least one of a biometric data of the user, a barcode, an identification badge, a number, a code, a face detection of the user, a fingerprint of the user, or a wireless communication from the user.

3. The inventory system of claim 1, further comprising:

a scale system that measures a weight associated with at least one of the first item or the second item to determine at least one of the first amount or the second amount; and

a signal representing the at least one of the first amount or the second amount is transmitted after the weight remains stable for a preset time.

4. The inventory system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display component configured to locally display a status of the storage container, the first item, or the second item; and

a notification component that is configured to communicate a notification via a network based upon the status of the storage container, the first item, or the second item.

5. The inventory system of claim 1, further comprising:

the scanning device provides a scan of a portion of the first item or a portion of the second item to indicate a return to the storage container;

wherein the controller component is further configured to monitor the return of at least one of the first item or the second item.

6. The inventory system of claim 1, further comprising a fourth camera of the camera system, the fourth camera focuses on an area inside the storage container distinct from that of the first shelf or the second shelf.

7. The inventory system of claim 1, wherein the controller component is further configured to provide an estimation of consumption for at least one of the first item or the second item based upon collected historical data related to removal of the first item or the second item from the storage container.

8. The inventory system of claim 4, wherein the status indicates the first item is exhausted, and wherein the display component further displays an alternative location where the first item is in inventory.

9. The inventory system of claim 4, wherein the display component further displays usage patterns associated with at least one user of the storage container.

10. The inventory system of claim 1, further comprising a remote access component that provides remote control of at least one of the verification component, the lock mechanism, the camera system, the controller component, or the scanning device.

11. The inventory system of claim 1, further comprising a security sector that securely isolates the first item from the second item in the storage container, the security sector is unsecured based at least in part upon verification distinct from the portion of data from the user that allows access to the storage container.

12. The inventory system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the verification component, the lock mechanism, the controller component, or the scanning device is selectively powered based on the motion signal.

14. The inventory system of claim 4, wherein the display component further displays information related to a shelf life of at least one of the first item or the second item.

13. An inventory system, comprising:

a storage container that houses a first item and a second item, wherein the first item includes a first amount and a second item includes a second amount;

the storage container further includes;

a first shelf at a first location within the storage container supporting at least the first item;

a second shelf at a second location within the storage container supporting at least the second item; and

a third shelf at a third location within the storage container supporting at least one of a third item, the first item, or the second item;

a verification component that is configured to receive a code entry from a user and complete a verification of the user based on verification of the code entry;

a lock mechanism for the storage container that secures an access thereto based upon the code entry from the user, the lock mechanism is engaged or released based at least in part on the verification;

the storage container includes a first door and a second door, wherein the first door is hinged on a side of the storage container and the second door is hinged on an opposite side of the side of the storage container;

a first camera that is affixed inside the storage container focused outwardly toward a location in front of the first door and the second door;

a second camera that is affixed to an interior side of the first door for movement with the first door, wherein the second camera is positioned on a top corner of the interior side of the first door;

a third camera that is affixed to the interior side of the first door for movement with the first door, wherein the third camera is positioned on a bottom corner of the interior side of the first door, the first door having a first motion limiting device for assisting the second camera and the third camera to maintain focus within the storage container;

a fourth camera that is affixed to the interior side of the second door for movement with the second door, wherein the fourth camera is positioned on a corner of the interior side of the second door, the second door having a second motion limiting device for assisting the fourth camera to maintain focus within the storage container;

an inventory control component that is configured to monitor at least one of the first amount of the first item or the second amount of the second item based on imagery collected from the first camera, the second camera, the third camera, or the fourth camera; and

a data storage component to store at least one of imagery from the first camera, the second camera, third camera or the fourth camera.

15. The inventory system of claim 13, wherein the first camera captures imagery of the location in front of the first door and the second door after verification of the user and release of the lock mechanism.

16. The inventory system of claim 13, wherein the first shelf is fixed and positioned above and parallel to the second shelf that is fixed.

17. The inventory system of claim 13, further comprising:

the first door and the second door are movable in a first direction to open the storage container and a second direction to close the storage container;

the first direction is a swinging outward motion away from the storage container; and

the second direction is a swinging inward motion toward the storage container.

18. An inventory system, comprising:

a storage container having a non-sliding first shelf, a non-sliding second shelf, and a non-sliding third shelf, the storage container houses one or more items on the non-sliding shelves;

the storage container includes a first door and a second door, wherein the first door is hinged on a side of the storage container and the second door is hinged on an opposite side of the side of the storage container;

the first door and the second door are movable in a first direction to open the storage container and a second direction to close the storage container;

the first door is rectangular-shaped and includes an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the first door includes a transparent portion to view the one or more items on the non-sliding shelves and a non-transparent portion on a perimeter of the first door;

the second door is rectangular-shaped and includes an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the second door includes a transparent portion to view the one or more items on the non-sliding shelves and a non-transparent portion on a perimeter of the first door;

a first camera that is affixed to an interior top-side of the storage container, wherein the first camera is focused outwardly and toward the first direction that the first door and the second door are moveable to open the storage container;

a second camera that is affixed to an interior side of the first door for movement with the first door, wherein the second camera is positioned on the non-transparent portion of the first door and on a top corner of the interior side of the first door;

a third camera that is affixed to an interior side of the first door for movement with the first door, wherein the third camera is positioned on the non-transparent portion of the first door and on a bottom corner of the interior side of the first door, the first door having a first motion limiting device for assisting the second camera and third camera to maintain focus within the storage container;

a fourth camera that is affixed to an interior side of the second door for movement with the second door, wherein the fourth camera is positioned on the non-transparent portion of the second door, the second door having a second motion limiting device for assisting the fourth camera to maintain focus within the storage container;

a controller component that is configured to activate the first camera to record an imagery based on a release of a lock mechanism and a verification of a code entry;

the controller component is further configured to collect data to generate a notification for a service on the first camera, the second camera, the third camera, or the fourth camera of the storage container; and

a data storage component that stores the imagery from the first camera or imagery from the second camera, third camera or the fourth camera.

19. The inventory system of claim 18, wherein the first direction is a swinging outward motion away from the storage container and the second direction is a swinging inward motion toward the storage container.

20. The inventory system of claim 18, further comprising a notification component affixed to an exterior of the storage container that is illuminated for service or by a remote access signal.