Apparatus and Method for Customized Product Data Management

• US 20140252091A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Be Associates Co., iTrack Everything, LLC
• Original Assignee: Business Expectations LLC, Company Tours Incorporated
• Inventors: Dobson, Melissa K., Morse, Bradd A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,412,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• 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 integrated with a product storage unit comprising:

a code scanner;

a product labeled with a unique identifier;

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 said product for a particular storage area that monitors and records data pertaining to said product information into said data storage medium;

correlating said product information of said product with said data storage medium, said product; and

receiving, at a universally accessible server system a request identifying said particular storage unit with said unique identifier;

wherein said unique identifier is a code comprising a plurality of information internally linked to said code and a plurality of information extrinsically linked to said code through said universally accessible server system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said code scanner is positioned at a periphery of said particular storage area.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said storage 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 1, wherein said code is created on a microchip or a nanochip.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said microchip or said nanochip comprises a MEMS device and electronic components.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said microchip or said nanochip comprises a global positioning system (GPS).

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of said code scanners at an entry into a location or an exit from said one or more locations.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said code scanner is positioned throughout a defined area for containing one or more products, persons, or both.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a camera or imaging device.

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

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said code is a passively activated by the scanner or battery operated.

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

moving said product through said code scanner and scanning said unique identifier of said product;

receiving information pertaining to said code of said unique identifier from said processor or from said data storage medium; and

correlating said information with said data storage medium; and

correlating said information with said data storage medium.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of receiving, at a universally accessible server system a request identifying said particular storage unit with said unique identifier.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of moving and scanning occur simultaneously to facilitate automatic detection of said unique identifier.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of tracking a plurality of said products, each having a unique identifier recorded in said data storage medium.

25. The system of claim 2, wherein said storage unit is utilized in healthcare and research.

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

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

16. A 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

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

an internal data storage component accessible from a mobile device;

wherein said unique identifier comprises a plurality of information linked to said internal data storage component.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein said internal data storage component is linked to a shared network that integrates product information.

18. The refrigerator of claim 17, 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.

19. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein said scanning unit includes a camera or imaging device that integrates collected information into said internal data storage component.

20. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein said at least one door includes a touch screen surface of a computer interface.

21. The refrigerator of claim 16, 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.

22. The refrigerator of claim 16, further comprising a display for computer access, video or audio connection.

23. The refrigerator of claim 16, further comprising a touch-sensitive surface integrated with opening, closing, or locking said door.

24. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein said one or more storage compartments comprise at least one weight-sensitive scale linked to said scanning unit.