Bundled unit identification and tracking
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- capturing at least a first image of at least a portion of a first bundled set of items by a first imaging device at a first time, wherein the first bundled set of items comprises at least a first item wrapped at least in part by a first binding agent, wherein the portion of the first bundled set of items includes a portion of the first binding agent, and wherein the first bundled set of items is in a first location at the first time;
generating a first digital identifier of the first bundled set of items based at least in part on the first image by at least one computer processor;
identifying information regarding the first bundled set of items by the at least one computer processor;
storing the information regarding the first bundled set of items in association with the first digital identifier in the at least one data store;
causing the first bundled set of items to be transported from the first location to a second location prior to a second time;
capturing at least a second image of at least the portion of the first bundled set of items by a second imaging device at the second time, wherein the first bundled set of items is in the second location at the second time;
generating a second digital identifier of the first bundled set items based at least in part on the second image by the at least one computer processor;
identifying a plurality of digital identifiers of bundled sets of items stored in at least one data store, wherein each of the digital identifiers was generated prior to the first time based at least in part on at least one image of a bundled set of items comprising at least one item wrapped at least in part by at least one binding agent;
performing a comparison of the second digital identifier to at least some of the plurality of digital identifiers according to at least one image comparison algorithm by the at least one computer processor;
selecting one of the plurality of digital identifiers based at least in part on the comparison of the second digital identifier to the at least some of the plurality of digital identifiers by the at least one computer processor, wherein the selected one of the plurality of digital identifiers is the first digital identifier;
identifying information stored in association with the selected one of the plurality of digital identifiers in the at least one data store, wherein the information stored in association with the selected one of the plurality of digital identifiers is the information regarding the first bundled set of items; and
determining that the information stored in association with the selected one of the plurality of digital identifiers in the at least one data store is associated with the first bundled set of items.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A unique digital identifier of a bundled set of items may be generated based on imaging data or other information captured from the bundled set, stored, and used for any purpose. The imaging data or other information may depict or describe the bundled set after the items have been wrapped or otherwise combined in a unique manner using a binding agent, e.g., a sheet of shrink wrap, a rubber band, or any other materials. Unique digital identifiers of bundled sets of items may be stored in association with information regarding the items. When a bundled set of items is recognized based on its unique digital identifier, information regarding the bundled set may be accessed and used for any purpose, such as to identify a common container for the bundled set based on attributes of any of the items or an order with which the bundled set is associated.
16 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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capturing at least a first image of at least a portion of a first bundled set of items by a first imaging device at a first time, wherein the first bundled set of items comprises at least a first item wrapped at least in part by a first binding agent, wherein the portion of the first bundled set of items includes a portion of the first binding agent, and wherein the first bundled set of items is in a first location at the first time; generating a first digital identifier of the first bundled set of items based at least in part on the first image by at least one computer processor; identifying information regarding the first bundled set of items by the at least one computer processor; storing the information regarding the first bundled set of items in association with the first digital identifier in the at least one data store; causing the first bundled set of items to be transported from the first location to a second location prior to a second time; capturing at least a second image of at least the portion of the first bundled set of items by a second imaging device at the second time, wherein the first bundled set of items is in the second location at the second time; generating a second digital identifier of the first bundled set items based at least in part on the second image by the at least one computer processor; identifying a plurality of digital identifiers of bundled sets of items stored in at least one data store, wherein each of the digital identifiers was generated prior to the first time based at least in part on at least one image of a bundled set of items comprising at least one item wrapped at least in part by at least one binding agent; performing a comparison of the second digital identifier to at least some of the plurality of digital identifiers according to at least one image comparison algorithm by the at least one computer processor; selecting one of the plurality of digital identifiers based at least in part on the comparison of the second digital identifier to the at least some of the plurality of digital identifiers by the at least one computer processor, wherein the selected one of the plurality of digital identifiers is the first digital identifier; identifying information stored in association with the selected one of the plurality of digital identifiers in the at least one data store, wherein the information stored in association with the selected one of the plurality of digital identifiers is the information regarding the first bundled set of items; and determining that the information stored in association with the selected one of the plurality of digital identifiers in the at least one data store is associated with the first bundled set of items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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capturing at least a first image of at least a portion of a first bundled set of items by a first imaging device at a first time, wherein the first bundled set of items comprises at least a first item wrapped at least in part by a first binding agent, and wherein the portion of the first bundled set of items includes a portion of the first binding agent; generating a first digital identifier of the first bundled set of items based at least in part on the first image by at least one computer processor; identifying a plurality of digital identifiers of bundled sets of items stored in at least one data store, wherein each of the digital identifiers was generated prior to the first time based at least in part on at least one image of a bundled set of items comprising at least one item wrapped at least in part by at least one binding agent; performing a comparison of the first digital identifier to at least some of the plurality of digital identifiers according to at least one image comparison algorithm by the at least one computer processor; selecting one of the plurality of digital identifiers based at least in part on the comparison to the at least some of the plurality of digital identifiers by the at least one computer processor; identifying information stored in association with the selected one of the plurality of digital identifiers in the at least one data store; determining that the information stored in association with the selected one of the plurality of digital identifiers in the at least one data store is associated with the first bundled set of items; selecting a container for the first bundled set of items based at least in part on the information stored in association with the selected one of the plurality of digital identifiers; and causing the first bundled set of items to be packaged in the selected container. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification