Apparatus and method for customized product data management

• US 9,412,086 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Be Associates Co., iTrack Everything, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bradd A. Morse, Melissa K. Dobson
• Inventors: Morse, Bradd A., Dobson, Melissa K.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUDORF, LAURA A
• Application Number:
  US13/789,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20140252091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/375, 705/28, 705/22, 340/5.92
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/583 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/70 of video data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90 Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The invention is an electronic identification system that integrates with consumer purchased products for management of data in digital form by way of an interconnected computing system, network, and/or mobile device. The system utilizes a scanning system and coded labels that facilitate a uniform identification of goods within a sales setting or within a household. Such a system would enable the use of SMART technology systems in household appliances, warehouses and retail such that the system implements mobile applications and interfacing through a high-speed network.

Claims

1. A self-monitoring analysis and reporting technology (SMART) system comprising:

a perimeter scanning unit comprising a microchip or nanochip reader, the perimeter scanning unit integral with a perimeter of an entrance and exit and defining a scanned area;

a plurality of products labeled with unique identifiers, said unique identifiers comprising an encoded microchip or nanochip, and which are encoded systems that store information on the product, such information to include any recorded data, said microchip or nanochip further including a global positioning system (GPS);

a processor or one or more computer control devices;

a data storage medium comprising a computer storage unit, an external storage unit, or a cloud computing storage, and coupled to said processor or to one or more interconnects coupled to said processor;

said data storage medium comprising computer program code comprising instructions executable by said processor and configured for;

receiving product information from said unique identifier of each said product upon entry into a scanned area and removal from said scanned area;

correlating said product information of said product with said data storage medium in real-time, such that a compilation of data is associated with said product in a product information database that is interconnected with said data storage medium;

storing said product information, including said compilation of data in said data storage medium;

receiving, at a universally accessible server system a request identifying said scanned area and said compilation of data associated with said unique identifier; and

updating the product information database in real-time, as assessable via electronic and mobile devices;

wherein one or more of said computer control devices include a mobile device that interfaces and communicates with the perimeter scanning unit to determine each said product and said compilation of data associated with each said product; and

wherein during said step of receiving product information, said plurality of products enter or exit the scanned area simultaneously and said data storage medium records said plurality of products and said product information from each product simultaneously upon entry into and out of the scanned area to track past and present locations of the plurality of products; and

wherein said compilation of data comprises a variety of product information, including ingredients, volumes and weights of said product, expiration date, manufacturing times and locations, pricing, storage conditions, temperature, humidity, and pricing included as updated measures in the product information database.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein when the variety of product information is recorded, calculations are performed as to current conditions, settings, and attributes as desired by the consumer, and correlated within the system during the step of updating.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said scanned area comprises a warehouse, distribution outlet, vehicle, transport trailer, refrigeration unit, freezer unit, pantry, retail store, restaurant, research facility, an inventory management area, and capacity control area.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said inventory management area is within a laboratory setting, research facility, or healthcare setting.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a medical storage unit, a medicine refrigeration unit, and a research refrigeration unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said microchip or nanochip tracks living organisms including viruses, bacteria, persons and animals.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said microchip or said nanochip comprises a Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) device and electronic components.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising security measures that track said living organisms.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said perimeter scanning units positioned at an entry into a location or an exit from said one or more locations.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said perimeter scanning unit is positioned throughout a defined area for containing one or more products, persons, or both.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a camera or three-dimensional (3D) imaging device implemented with said perimeter scanning unit.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said data storage medium is incorporated by a scanned area and has an inventory database accessible through a mobile device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said microchip or nanochip is passively activated by the perimeter scanning unit or battery operated.

14. A method for utilizing the SMART system of claim 1 comprising the steps of:

moving said plurality of products through said perimeter scanning unit and scanning said unique identifiers of said products;

receiving information pertaining to said encoded microchip or nanochip from said processor and from said product information database; and

correlating said information with said data storage medium in real-time.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of receiving, at a universally accessible server system a request identifying said scanned area with said unique identifiers.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of moving and scanning occur simultaneously to facilitate automatic detection of said unique identifiers.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of tracking a plurality of said products, each having a unique identifier recorded in said data storage medium.

18. A refrigerator having the self-monitoring analysis and reporting technology system of claim 1, the refrigerator comprising:

two or more surfaces defining an internal area to preserve storage products and having an opening to access one or more storage compartments positioned therein;

at least one door positioned at said opening and having access to said one or more storage compartments; and

said perimeter scanning unit positioned within said internal opening and capable of identifying labels encoded with said unique identifier; and

said data storage medium accessible from said mobile device.

19. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein said product information comprises one or more of:

a specific code, product name, manufacturer, production site, production lot, date and time of manufacturing, weight, amount, volume, nutritional values, ingredients, global positioning location, position where stored in a warehouse, location upon a particular shelf or in a particular compartment, allocation of product to distributors, price, purchaser, location of product, frequency of use, and any custom fields identifiable within an industry.

20. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein said scanning unit includes a camera or imaging device that integrates collected information into said internal data storage component.

21. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein said at least one door includes a touch screen surface of a computer interface.

22. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein said at least one door comprises a touch-sensitive surface transformable to a plurality of colors, two-dimensional and three-dimensional images, holograms, patterns, shapes, and transparency.

23. The refrigerator of claim 18, further comprising a display for computer access, video or audio connection.

24. The refrigerator of claim 18, further comprising a touch-sensitive surface integrated with opening, closing, or locking said door.

25. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein said one or more storage compartments comprise at least one weight-sensitive scale linked to said perimeter scanning unit.