Portable electronic terminal and data processing system

• US 20030061113A1
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Bridgelall, Raj, Roslak, Thomas K., Petrovich, Adam, Swartz, Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a personal shopping system for combined use in both the home of a user and a shopping establishment. The system includes a host computer which is coupled to a host modem and, optionally, to at least one wireless multi-access point. At least one shopping establishment kiosk cradle is employed to interface with a portable terminal which is also part of the system. The portable terminal can be used in both the shopping establishment and the home of the user. It is configured to read bar codes associated with items related to shopping, and includes a memory, a bar code reader, a wireless transceiver, and a data interface. The data interface of the terminal communicates with a data interface of the shopping establishment kiosk cradle. A home cradle for the portable terminal is also provided and is adapted to remain in the home of the user. It includes a home portable terminal-receiving station and a home data interface to communicate with the data interface of the portable terminal. A home data transfer circuit is also included to permit data exchange between the home data interface and the modem coupled to the host computer. The portable terminal can be provided with unique identifying indicia so that the terminal can serve as a form of identification for a user of the system. Database management of shopping lists for multiple establishments, including customer preferences, can be performed.

Claims

1. A personal shopping system for combined use in both a home of a user and at least one shopping establishment, said system comprising:

a host computer;

a host modem coupled to said host computer;

at least one shopping establishment kiosk cradle coupled to said host computer, said at least one shopping establishment kiosk cradle in turn comprising;

a kiosk portable terminal-receiving station; and

a kiosk data interface associated with said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station;

a home cradle associated with the home of the user, said home cradle in turn comprising;

a home portable terminal-receiving station;

a home data interface associated with said home portable terminal-receiving station; and

a home data transfer circuit, said home data transfer circuit being coupled to said home data interface for data exchange therewith, said home data transfer circuit being configured for data exchange with said host modem; and

a portable terminal, said portable terminal in turn comprising;

a memory for storing data associated with bar codes which are in turn associated with items related to shopping; and

a two-way terminal data interface coupled to said memory, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said kiosk data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said home data interface when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for reading the bar codes associated with the items related to shopping;

wherein;

said home data transfer circuit supplies said host computer with the data associated with the bar codes when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station;

said shopping establishment kiosk cradle accepts the data associated with the bar codes from said portable terminal through said kiosk data interface and said terminal data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, and then downloads the data associated with the bar codes to said host computer; and

said host computer receives the data associated with the bar codes and stores the data in a shopping list database.

2. The personal shopping system of claim 1, further comprising at least one point-of-sale checkout terminal associated with the shopping establishment and coupled to said host computer.

3. The personal shopping system of claim 1, wherein said portable terminal further comprises intrinsic identifying indicia to identify the user to said host computer.

4. The personal shopping system of claim 1, wherein said home data transfer circuit comprises an interface card for coupling said home cradle to a separate home personal computer and home modem, which in turn communicate with said host modem.

5. The personal shopping system of claim 1, wherein said home data transfer circuit comprises a home modem which communicates with said host modem.

6. The personal shopping system of claim 1, wherein said portable terminal further comprises:

a display for displaying information to the user; and

a plurality of control keys for permitting the user to interact with the display.

7. The personal shopping system of claim 1, wherein:

said kiosk data interface is a kiosk data interface;

said home data interface is a home data interface;

said two-way terminal data interface is a two-way terminal data interface; and

said portable terminal further comprises an elongate pen-shaping housing having an end with an optically transparent passage therethrough, said memory and said two-way terminal data interface being arranged in said housing with said two-way terminal data interface positioned for data communication through said transparent passage.

8. The personal shopping system of claim 1, further comprising at least one wireless multi-access point associated with the shopping establishment and coupled to said host computer, wherein said portable terminal further comprises:

a wireless transceiver coupled to said memory and configured for wireless communication with said at least one wireless multi-access point; and

a position-sensing module which senses position of the user within the shopping establishment and which enables communication with the user when the user has deviated from an optimal shopping path in the shopping establishment.

46. The system of claim 6, wherein each of said portable terminals station, said terminal data interface being configured for reading the bar codes;

wherein;

said home data transfer circuit supplies said host computer with the data associated with the bar codes when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station;

said kiosk cradle accepts the data associated with the bar codes from said portable terminal through said kiosk data interface and said terminal data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, and then downloads the data associated with the bar codes to said host computer; and

said host computer receives the data associated with the bar codes and stores the data in a database.

69. The personal shopping system according to claims 1, 9 or 16, further comprising a shopping list derived from one or more recipes that is provided to said kiosk cradle and said portable terminal from said host computer.

70. The personal shopping system of claim 69, wherein said shopping list can be modified by said user.

71. The personal shopping system of claim 69, wherein said shopping list includes a server multiplier for adjusting said shopping list according to a desired number of servings.

73. The personal shopping system of claim 71, wherein said shopping list can be modified by said user.

74. The personal shopping system of claim 71, wherein said shopping list includes a server multiplier for adjusting said shopping list according to a desired number of servings.

9. A personal shopping system home station adapted for use with a personal shopping system which is in turn adapted for use in both a home of a user and at least one shopping establishment, the personal shopping system including a host computer coupled to a host modem, the personal shopping system also including a shopping establishment kiosk cradle having a kiosk portable terminal-receiving station and a kiosk data interface, said home station comprising:

a home cradle associated with the home of the user and adapted to remain therein, said home cradle in turn comprising;

a home portable terminal-receiving station;

a home data interface associated with said home portable terminal-receiving station; and

a home data transfer circuit, said home data transfer circuit being coupled to said home data interface for data exchange therewith, said home data transfer circuit being configured for data exchange with the host modem; and

a portable terminal which is portable between the home of the user and the at least one shopping establishment, said portable terminal in turn comprising;

a memory for storing data associated with bar codes which are in turn associated with items related to shopping; and

a two-way terminal data interface coupled to said memory, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said kiosk data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said home data interface when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for reading the bar codes associated with the items related to shopping;

wherein;

said home data transfer circuit supplies the host computer with the data associated with the bar codes when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station;

the shopping establishment kiosk cradle accepts the data associated with the bar codes from said portable terminal through the kiosk data interface and said terminal data interface when said portable terminal is received in the kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, and then downloads the data associated with the bar codes to the host computer; and

the host computer receives the data associated with the bar codes and stores the data in a shopping list database.

10. The personal shopping system home station of claim 9, wherein said portable terminal further comprises intrinsic identifying indicia to identify the user to the host computer.

11. The personal shopping system home station of claim 9, wherein said home data transfer circuit comprises an interface card for coupling said home cradle to a separate home personal computer and home modem, which in turn communicate with the host modem.

12. The personal shopping system home station of claim 9, wherein said home data transfer circuit comprises a home modem which communicates with the host modem.

13. The personal shopping system home station of claim 9, wherein said portable terminal further comprises:

a display for displaying information to the user; and

a plurality of control keys for permitting the user to interact with the display.

14. The personal shopping system home station of claim 9, wherein:

the kiosk data interface is a kiosk data interface;

said home data interface is a home data interface;

said two-way terminal data interface is a two-way terminal data interface; and

said portable terminal further comprises an elongate pen-shaping housing having an end with an optically transparent passage therethrough, said memory and said two-way terminal data interface being arranged in said housing with said two-way terminal data interface positioned for data communication through said transparent passage.

15. The personal shopping system home station of claim 9, adapted for use with a personal shopping system which has at least one wireless multi-access point associated with the shopping establishment and coupled to the host computer, wherein said portable terminal further comprises:

a wireless transceiver coupled to said memory and configured for wireless communication with the at least one wireless multi-access point; and

a position-sensing module which senses position of the user within the shopping establishment and which enables communication with the user when the user has deviated from an optimal shopping path in the shopping establishment.

72. The personal shopping system according to claims 4 or 11, further comprising a shopping list derived from one or more recipes that is provided to said kiosk cradle and said portable terminal from said home personal computer.

16. A personal shopping system portable terminal adapted for use with a personal shopping system which is in turn adapted for use in both a home of a user and at least one shopping establishment, the personal shopping system including a host computer coupled to a host modem, the personal shopping system also including a shopping establishment kiosk cradle coupled to the host computer and having a kiosk portable terminal-receiving station and a kiosk data interface, the personal shopping system further including a home cradle having a home portable terminal-receiving station and a home data interface, said personal shopping system portable terminal comprising:

a memory for storing data associated with bar codes which are in turn associated with items related to shopping;

a two-way terminal data interface coupled to said memory, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said kiosk data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said home data interface when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for reading the bar codes associated with the items related to shopping; and

intrinsic identifying indicia, contained in said portable terminal, to identify the user to the host computer;

wherein;

said home data transfer circuit supplies the host computer with the data associated with the bar codes when said portable terminal is received in the home portable terminal-receiving station;

the shopping establishment kiosk cradle accepts the data associated with the bar codes from said portable terminal through the kiosk data interface and said terminal data interface when said portable terminal is received in the kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, and then downloads the data associated with the bar codes to the host computer; and

the host computer receives the data associated with the bar codes and stores the data in a shopping list database.

17. The personal shopping system portable terminal of claim 16, wherein said memory is configured to store multiple lists of data associated with the bar codes, as multiple shopping lists corresponding to multiple shopping establishments.

18. The personal shopping system portable terminal of claim 16, wherein said portable terminal further comprises:

a display for displaying information to the user; and

a plurality of control keys for permitting the user to interact with the display.

19. The personal shopping system portable terminal of claim 16, wherein:

the kiosk data interface is a kiosk- data interface;

the home data interface is a home data interface;

said two-way terminal data interface is a two-way terminal data interface; and

said portable terminal further comprises an elongate pen-shaping housing having an end with an optically transparent passage therethrough, said memory and said two-way terminal data interface being arranged in said housing with said two-way terminal optical interface positioned for optical communication through said transparent passage.

20. The personal shopping system portable terminal of claim 16, adapted for use with a personal shopping system which has at least one wireless multi-access point associated with the shopping establishment and coupled to the host computer, said portable terminal further comprising:

a wireless transceiver coupled to said memory and configured for wireless communication with the at least one wireless multi-access point; and

a position-sensing module which senses position of the user within the shopping establishment and which enables communication with the user when the user has deviated from an optimal shopping path in the shopping establishment.

21. A method of placing an order for items including at least one of goods and services, said method comprising the steps of:

reading bar codes associated with the items with a two-way terminal data interface of a portable terminal;

storing data associated with the bar codes in a memory of said portable terminal;

transferring the data associated with the bar codes to a host computer for storage in a shopping list database, said transferring step including the sub-steps of;

transferring the data associated with the bar codes from said memory of said portable terminal to said two-way terminal data interface of said portable terminal;

transferring the data associated with the bar codes from said two-way terminal data interface to a data interface of one of;

a kiosk portable terminal-receiving station of a shopping establishment kiosk cradle which is coupled to said host computer; and

a home portable terminal-receiving station of a home cradle associated with a home of a user, said home cradle being coupled to said host computer; and

then transferring the data to said host computer; and

transmitting identifying indicia to said host computer to identify the user to the host computer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting intrinsic identifying indicia, contained in said portable terminal, from said portable terminal to said host computer to identify the user to the host computer.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the data associated with the bar codes is transferred to said data interface of said home portable terminal-receiving station, said method further comprising the additional steps of:

reading a bar code associated with a shopping establishment with said two-way terminal data interface of said portable terminal; and

automatically contacting the shopping establishment when said portable terminal is placed in said home portable terminal-receiving station of said home cradle, on the basis of information encoded in the bar code associated with the shopping establishment.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the additional step of displaying relevant portions of said shopping list database on a display of said portable terminal.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the data associated with the bar codes is transferred to said data interface of said home portable terminal-receiving station, further comprising the additional step of sending at least one verification query from said host computer to said home cradle to verify at least one of correctness and validity of an order which is based on said shopping list database.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of sending said verification query includes sending said verification query as a human language audible query to a telephone which is coupled to said home cradle.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of sending said verification query includes sending said verification query as a signal which triggers visual display of verification information on said portable terminal.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of sending said verification query includes verifying caller ID of a telephone number associated with said home portable terminal-receiving station.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein:

the data associated with the bar codes is transferred to said data interface of said home portable terminal-receiving station; and

the data associated with the bar codes is transferred from said home portable terminal-receiving station, through an interface card, to a separate home personal computer of the user, and then through a home modem to said host computer;

said method further comprising the additional steps of;

sending at least one verification query from said host computer to the separate home computer; and

responding to said at least one verification query with at least one response emanating from the separate home computer.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the data associated with the bar codes is transferred to said data interface of said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said method further comprising the additional step of printing a hard copy shopping list from said kiosk cradle in response to the data associated with the bar codes.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the data associated with the bar codes is transferred to said data interface of said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said method further comprising the additional steps of:

scanning new items required to be purchased, in the shopping establishment, with said portable terminal; and

updating an electronic list in said memory of said portable terminal to indicate that a given one of the new items has been obtained.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the additional step of periodically replacing said portable terminal in said kiosk portable-terminal receiving station of the shopping establishment in order to check said updated electronic list.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the data associated with the bar codes is transferred to said data interface of said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said method further comprising the additional step of producing an optimized shopping list for the user in response to:

said shopping list database; and

information, contained in said host computer, about locations of the items within the shopping establishment;

said optimized shopping list being ordered to direct the user through the shopping establishment in an efficient path.

34. The method of claim 21, further comprising the additional steps of:

generating an optimized shopping list which is ordered to direct the user through the shopping establishment in an efficient path;

sensing location of said portable terminal, and thus of the user, within the shopping establishment; and

communicating a message to the user when the user has deviated from the efficient path.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein said storing step includes storing data pertaining to a given shopping establishment, further comprising the additional steps of:

repeating said reading step for items associated with another given shopping establishment; and

repeating said storing step for said items associated with said another given shopping establishment;

whereby multiple lists of items for at least two different shopping establishments are stored in said portable terminal.

75. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

generating a shopping list derived from one or more recipes; and

providing said list to said kiosk cradle and said portable terminal.

76. The method of claim 75, further comprising the step of modifying said shopping list by said user.

77. The method of claim 75, further comprising the step of adjusting said shopping list according to a servings multiplier.

36. A system for ordering and supplying selected goods and services, comprising:

a host computer having a host computer memory for providing centrally stored data;

one or more stackable cradle assemblies coupled to and in communication with said host computer, each of said cradle assemblies in turn comprising;

a plurality of docking stations each having a corresponding cradle data interface;

a data transfer circuit coupled to said cradle data interface for exchanging said centrally stored data and newly entered personnel management data therewith, said data transfer circuit being configured for exchanging said centrally stored and newly entered data with said host computer; and

a plurality of portable terminals for displaying said centrally stored data and for providing said newly entered data to said host computer, each of said portable terminals in turn comprising;

a memory for storing said centrally stored and newly entered, personnel management data; and

a terminal data interface coupled to said memory, said terminal data interface being configured for exchanging said centrally stored and newly entered data with said cradle data interface when said portable terminal is docked within said corresponding one of said cradle docking stations;

wherein said cradle data transfer circuit supplies said host computer with said newly entered data when said portable terminal is docked within said corresponding one of said cradle docking stations, and said host computer receives said newly entered data and stores said newly entered data in said host computer memory.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

a plurality of said cradle assemblies; and

a plurality of stacking elements connected to said cradle assemblies for interconnecting said plurality of said cradle assemblies in a stacked configuration.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said stacked configuration comprises an arrangement of n cradles, wherein the bottommost cradle is the first cradle and the topmost cradle is the n-th cradle, and wherein each cradle i for i=1 to n requires n-i sets of said stacking elements attached to the backside of thereof, and wherein each cradle i for i=1 to n requires i−

1 sets of said stacking elements attached thereunder.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein said data transfer circuit provides serial data communications between each of said portable terminals and said host computer.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein said data transfer circuit provides Ethernet-based data communications between each of said portable terminals and said host computer.

41. The system of claim 36, further comprising a plurality of said stackable cradle assemblies daisy chained to one another.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein at least one of said stackable cradle assemblies comprises a data transfer circuit for providing serial data communications between each of said portable terminals and said host computer.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein at least one of said stackable cradle assemblies comprises a data transfer circuit for providing Ethernet-based data communications between each of said portable terminals and said host computer.

44. The system of claim 36, wherein each of said stackable cradle assemblies comprises a plurality of visual indicators for displaying the operational status of said portable terminals.

45. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

means for detecting the presence and status of said portable terminals connected to said docking stations and corresponding cradle data interfaces;

means for automatically synchronizing said portable terminals with said host computer.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein said portable terminal further comprises intrinsic identifying indicia to identify the user to said host computer.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein said home data transfer circuit comprises an interface card for coupling said home cradle to a separate home personal computer and home modem, which in turn communicate with said host modem.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein said portable terminal further comprises:

a display for displaying information to the user; and

a plurality of control keys for permitting the user to interact with the display.

54. The system of claim 50, wherein said portable terminal further comprises an elongate pen-shaping housing having an end with an optically transparent passage therethrough, said memory and said two-way terminal data interface being arranged in said housing with said two-way terminal data interface positioned for data communication through said transparent passage.

55. The system of claim 50, further comprising at least one wireless multi-access point coupled to said host computer, wherein said portable terminal further comprises:

a wireless transceiver coupled to said memory and configured for wireless communication with said at least one wireless multi-access point; and

a position-sensing module which senses position of the user and which enables communication with the user.

56. In system for ordering and supplying selected goods and services, said system having a portable bar code reader having a battery, a bar code scanning motor and a bar code scanner laser source, a method for minimizing the power consumption of said portable bar code reader, said method comprising the steps of:

activating said scanner motor; and

activating said laser source after said bar scanner motor has been powered.

57. In system for ordering and supplying selected goods and services, said system having a portable bar code reader having a battery, a bar code scanning motor and a bar code scanner laser source, a method for preventing complete drainage of the battery during a bar code scanning action, said method comprising the steps of:

activating said bar scanner motor;

sampling the battery voltage of said battery;

comparing said sampled battery voltage to a threshold battery voltage, and

activating said laser source only if said sampled battery voltage exceeds said threshold battery voltage.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising the steps of:

sampling the battery voltage a plurality of additional times if said originally sample battery voltage equals or is less than said threshold battery voltage;

storing readings corresponding to said additional battery voltage sampling step;

determining whether a majority of said readings exceed said battery voltage threshold; and

activating said laser source only if a majority of said readings exceed said battery voltage threshold.

59. The method according to claim 58, further comprising the step of activating a low battery indicator to a user when said battery voltage is below said battery voltage threshold.

60. A portable hand-held terminal device for use with a host computing device, comprising:

a scanning device for reading bar code data and for generating a corresponding digital bar code pattern;

a scanner decoder coupled to said scanning device for interpreting said digital bar code pattern and generating corresponding decoded bar code data

a communications interface coupled to said scanner decoder for converting said decoded bar code data for further processing, said communications interface comprising memory means for storing a terminal operating system, terminal application programs and related data; and

a microprocessor coupled to said communications interface for processing said converted decoded bar code data, executing said terminal operating system and said terminal applications, and controlling the operation of said terminal device, said microprocessor in turn comprising;

an interface for coupling said microprocessor to a touch sensitive display;

one or more interfaces for receiving user-activated function commands; and

a synchronization port for automatically synchronizing said terminal to said host computing device.

61. The terminal device of claim 60, further comprising an infrared link.

62. The terminal device of claim 60, further comprising an audio indicator.

63. The terminal device of claim 60, further comprising a device for wireless communications.

64. An improved portable terminal device comprising:

a housing having a generally elongated rectangular design which fits into user'"'"'s hand, said housing having a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface and two side surfaces;

a touch sensitive display disposed on said front surface,

a touch sensitive area within said touch sensitive display for receiving data inputs from a stylus pen;

a plurality of buttons disposed on said front surface wherein each of said buttons is associated with at least one application upon activation;

a bar code reader for reading bar codes, said bar code reader having a visible light source for displaying the area of reading for the bar code reader upon activation of a bar code reading function on said terminal, said bar code reader being configured to transmit the visible light away from said top surface of said terminal'"'"'s housing such that said light is visible to said user holding said terminal; and

at least two bar code activation buttons located on said two side surfaces of said housing such that said user'"'"'s hand is supporting said terminal from said bottom and side surfaces of said terminal upon activation of said bar code reader with either of said bar code actuation buttons, whereby the user can view said display and said visible light source upon actuation of either of said bar code actuation buttons.

65. The terminal of claim 64, wherein said bar code reader outputs a digital bar code pattern and said terminal further comprises:

a bar code decoder coupled to said bar code reader for interpreting said digital bar code pattern and generating corresponding decoded bar code data

a communications interface coupled to said bar code decoder for converting said decoded bar code data for further processing, said communications interface comprising memory means for storing a terminal operating system, terminal application programs and related data; and

a microprocessor coupled to said communications interface for processing said converted decoded bar code data, executing said terminal operating system and said terminal applications, and controlling the operation of said terminal device, said microprocessor in turn comprising;

an interface for coupling said microprocessor to said touch sensitive display;

one or more interfaces for receiving user-activated function commands via activation of said buttons; and

a synchronization port for automatically synchronizing said terminal to a host computing device.

66. The terminal device of claim 65, further comprising an infrared link.

67. The terminal device of claim 65, further comprising an audio indicator.

68. The terminal device of claim 65, further comprising a device for wireless communications.

78. In an information system having a host computer and at least one portable terminal having a bar code reader, a shopping method comprising the steps of:

generating a list of ingredients based of one or more recipes stored in said host computer;

generating bar codes corresponding to said list;

forwarding said bar codes and list to said portable terminal;

displaying said list at said portable terminal;

scanning, as required, goods corresponding to said ingredients until all goods corresponding to said ingredients have been scanned;

logging said scanning of goods to verify complete scanning of said goods corresponding to said ingredients.

79. The method of claim 78, further comprising the step of adjusting said the quantities of said goods to be scanned in accordance to a servings multiplier.

80. The method of claim 78, further comprising the step of modifying said list as required via said portable terminal by a user.