Method and system for automating inventory management of consumer items

• US 7,979,309 B1
• Filed: 09/15/1999
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast MO Group Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Stimmel, Carol L., Stevens, J. Clarke
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCHANAN, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US09/396,612
• Time in Patent Office: 4,318 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/28, 705/29
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• 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 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A method and system for automating the management of an inventory of consumer items at a consumer location uses a programmed device that accepts input data and executes control logic for automating inventory management. At least one shopping list is received, a shopping list trend is established, and a smart list is generated with the control logic, in accordance with the shopping list trend, such that the smart list predictive of a next shopping list.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer processor, a series of shopping lists, each shopping list including at least one item;

establishing, by the computer processor, a shopping list trend based on the series of shopping lists;

generating, by the computer processor, an output list in accordance with the shopping list trend such that the output list is predictive of a next shopping list;

receiving, by the computer processor, a plurality of item price lists from a corresponding plurality of shopping locations; and

recommending, by the computer processor, a shopping location based on the plurality of item price lists and the output list.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a shopping list of the series of shopping lists further comprises:

determining a shopping list of a shopping trip;

storing information indicative of the shopping list on a data storage medium; and

thereafter, retrieving the information from the data storage medium.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a shopping list of the series of shopping lists further comprises:

determining a shopping list of a shopping trip;

sending information indicative of the shopping list over a network; and

receiving the information from the network.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at least one consumed item list including at least one item that has been consumed, wherein the shopping list trend is further based on the at least one consumed item list.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving the at least one consumed item list further comprises:

identifying an item upon consumption thereof, the item having a tag and the item being identified by recognizing the tag.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the tag is a bar code and the tag is recognized by scanning the bar code.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving the at least one consumed item list further comprises:

identifying an item upon consumption thereof by recognizing the item with a camera.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing the output list with the next shopping list; and

modifying the shopping list trend based on the comparison.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the output list further comprises:

receiving an item list for a recipe; and

generating the output list further based on the item list for the recipe.