METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAPPING CONTENT DESCRIPTIONS TO REUSABLE CONTAINERS

• US 20080052202A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Watt, Stephen James, Bodin, William Kress, Masterson, Michael Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for mapping a content description to a container. The process identifies a container placed in a storage unit to form an identified container. The identified container includes an unidentified content. The process displays a set of predictive content descriptions for the unidentified content. In response to receiving a selection of a content description from the set of predictive content descriptions, the process maps the selected content description to the unidentified container.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for mapping a content description to a container, the computer implemented method comprising:

identifying a container placed in a storage unit to form an identified container, wherein the identified container includes an unidentified content;

displaying a set of predictive content descriptions for the unidentified content; and

responsive to receiving a selection of a content description from the set of predictive content descriptions, mapping a selected predictive content description to the unidentified container.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the storage unit is selected from a group consisting of a refrigeration unit, a pantry, a cupboard, a set of shelves, and a cabinet.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to failing to receive a selection of a content description from the set of predictive content descriptions, prompting the user to manually enter a content description.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3 wherein entering a content description comprises:

verbally entering the content description.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein an identifier tag is associated with the container, and wherein the identifier tag is a radio frequency identification tag.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the set of predictive content descriptions is generated based on a consumed inventory for a predetermined time period prior to generating the set of predictive content descriptions.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6 further comprising:

responsive to receiving a location query regarding the location of a described content, determining a location of a container corresponding to the described content, wherein a container identifier for the container is mapped to a content description corresponding to the described content.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the set of predictive content descriptions is generated based on usage trends.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the set of predictive content descriptions is generated based on seasonal trends.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the set of predictive content descriptions is generated based on a most recent meal plan provided by a meal planner application.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating an alert, wherein the alert includes a location of the container in the storage unit.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to detecting the removal of the identified container from the storage unit, un-mapping the selected content description from the identified container.

13. An apparatus for mapping a content description to a container, the apparatus comprising:

a user interface;

a tag reader; and

a controller, wherein the controller further comprises;

a bus;

a storage device connected to the bus, wherein the storage device contains a computer usable program product; and

a processor unit, wherein the processor unit executes the computer usable program product to identify a reusable container placed in a storage unit to form an identified container, wherein the identified container includes an unidentified content;

display a set of predictive content descriptions for the unidentified content; and

map the selected content description to the unidentified container, in response to receiving a selection of a content description from the set of predictive content descriptions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the storage unit is selected from a group consisting of a refrigeration unit, a pantry, a cupboard, a set of shelves, and a cabinet.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the set of predictive content descriptions is generated based on seasonal trends.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the set of predictive content descriptions is generated based on a most recent meal plan provided by a meal planner application.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the set of predictive content descriptions is generated based on usage trends.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

executing the computer usable program product to determine a location of a container corresponding to the described content, wherein a container identifier for the container is mapped to a content description corresponding to the described content, in response to receiving a location query regarding the location of a described content,

19. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer usable program code for mapping a content description to a container, the computer program product comprising;

computer usable program code for identifying a reusable container placed in a storage unit to form an identified container, wherein the identified container includes an unidentified content;

computer usable program code for displaying a set of predictive content descriptions for the unidentified content; and

computer usable program code for mapping the selected content description to the unidentified container, in response to receiving a selection of a content description from the set of predictive content descriptions.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the storage unit is selected from a group consisting of a refrigeration unit, a pantry, a cupboard, a set of shelves, and a cabinet.