Storage container with inventory control
First Claim
Patent Images
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 first shelf having a front side and a backside opposite thereto, the first shelf is positioned at an angle in comparison to a groundlevel, wherein the angle is created from the front side of the first shelf being lower than the backside of the first shelf in comparison to the groundlevel;
the second shelf having a front side and a backside opposite thereto, the second shelf is positioned at an angle in comparison to a groundlevel, wherein the angle is created from the front side of the second shelf being lower than the backside of the second shelf in comparison to the groundlevel;
a first container that is supported by the first shelf and the first container having a magnet affixed thereto to restrict movement on the first shelf, wherein the first container houses the first item;
a second container that is supported by the second shelf and the second container having a magnet affixed thereto to restrict movement on the second shelf, wherein the second container houses the second item;
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, wherein the second camera is positioned on a corner of the interior side of the first door and is focused on the first shelf;
a third camera that is affixed to an interior side of the first door 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.
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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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inventory system, comprising:
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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 first shelf having a front side and a backside opposite thereto, the first shelf is positioned at an angle in comparison to a groundlevel, wherein the angle is created from the front side of the first shelf being lower than the backside of the first shelf in comparison to the groundlevel; the second shelf having a front side and a backside opposite thereto, the second shelf is positioned at an angle in comparison to a groundlevel, wherein the angle is created from the front side of the second shelf being lower than the backside of the second shelf in comparison to the groundlevel; a first container that is supported by the first shelf and the first container having a magnet affixed thereto to restrict movement on the first shelf, wherein the first container houses the first item; a second container that is supported by the second shelf and the second container having a magnet affixed thereto to restrict movement on the second shelf, wherein the second container houses the second item; 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, wherein the second camera is positioned on a corner of the interior side of the first door and is focused on the first shelf; a third camera that is affixed to an interior side of the first door 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An inventory system, comprising:
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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; 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; the first shelf having a front side and a backside opposite thereto, the first shelf is positioned at an angle in comparison to a groundlevel, wherein the angle is created from the front side of the first shelf being lower than the backside of the first shelf in comparison to the groundlevel; the second shelf having a front side and a backside opposite thereto, the second shelf is positioned at an angle in comparison to a groundlevel, wherein the angle is created from the front side of the second shelf being lower than the backside of the second shelf in comparison to the groundlevel; the third shelf having a front side and a backside opposite thereto, the third shelf is positioned at an angle in comparison to a groundlevel, wherein the angle is created from the front side of the third shelf being lower than the backside of the third shelf in comparison to the groundlevel; a first container that is supported by the first shelf and the first container having a magnet affixed thereto to restrict movement on the first shelf, wherein the first container houses the first item; a second container that is supported by the second shelf and the second container having a magnet affixed thereto to restrict movement on the second shelf, wherein the second container houses the second item; a third container that is supported by the third shelf and the third container having a magnet affixed thereto to restrict movement on the third shelf, wherein the third container houses the third 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, 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, wherein the third camera is positioned on a bottom corner of the interior side of the first door; a fourth camera that is affixed to the interior side of the second door, wherein the fourth camera is positioned on a corner of the interior side of the second door; 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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An inventory system, comprising:
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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 non-sliding first shelf, the non-sliding second shelf, and the non-sliding third shelf each have a respective angle in comparison to the groundlevel of the storage container; two or more containers each having a magnet affixed thereto to restrict movement on the at least one of the non-sliding first shelf, the non-sliding second shelf, and the non-sliding third shelf, wherein the two or more containers house one or more items; 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, 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, 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; a fourth camera that is affixed to an interior side of the second door, wherein the fourth camera is positioned on the non-transparent portion of the second door; 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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification