Method and apparatus for mapping content descriptions to reusable containers

• US 8,032,430 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Watt, Stephen James, Bodin, William Kress, Masterson, Michael Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Gort; Elaine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hayles; Ashford S.
• Application Number:
  US11/467,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20080052202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 340/571.2
• 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:

using a computer having a processor connected to a memory, a user interface, and a mass sensor shelf, storing instructions in the memory adapted to cause the processor to perform steps comprising;

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

responsive to receiving the identifier code for the identified container, generating an alert;

displaying a plurality of predictive content descriptions for the unidentified content on the user interface, wherein the plurality of predictive content descriptions is generated based on either a daily meal trend, a seasonal meal trend, a last recommended meal plan, a last recommended set of potential meal plans, or a set of items removed from the storage unit within a predefined preceding period of time;

selecting a predictive content description from the plurality of predictive content descriptions;

responsive to receiving the predictive content description from the plurality of predictive content descriptions, associating the predictive content description with the identifier code, and mapping the predictive content description to the identified container;

responsive to mapping the predictive content description to the identified container, calculating a current mass using the mass sensor shelf and associating the identified container with the current mass; and

responsive to calculating the current mass, determining a depletion of the identified container based on the current mass and a non-depleted mass for the identified 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 the predictive content description from the plurality of predictive content descriptions, prompting a user to manually enter a content description.

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

verbally entering the content description.

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

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

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

responsive to receiving a location query regarding a location of the predictive content description, determining the location of the identified container corresponding to the predictive content description, wherein the identified container is mapped to the predictive content description.

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

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

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

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

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

generating a plurality of meal plans based on a nutritional policy;

selecting a meal plan from the plurality of meal plans;

responsive to receiving the meal plan, comparing a list of required ingredients for the meal plan and an amount for each of the required ingredients with a plurality of identified containers; and

generating a new list of required ingredients that are not provided in the plurality of identified containers in the amount required by the meal plan.

10. 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 wherein the computer usable program product contains a plurality of instructions; and

a processor unit connected to the bus, wherein the plurality of instructions causes the processor unit to perform steps comprising;

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

responsive to receiving the identifier code for the identified container, generating an alert;

displaying the plurality of predictive content descriptions for the unidentified content on the user interface, wherein the plurality of predictive content descriptions is generated based on either a daily meal trend, a seasonal meal trend, a last recommended meal plan, a last recommended set of potential meal plans, or a set of items removed from the storage unit within a predefined preceding period of time;

selecting a predictive content description from the plurality of predictive content descriptions;

responsive to receiving the predictive content description from the plurality of content descriptions, associating the predictive content description with the identifier code, and mapping the predictive content description to the identified container;

responsive to mapping the predictive content description to the identified container;

calculating a current mass using a mass sensor shelf and associate the identified container with the current mass; and

responsive to calculating the current mass, determining a depletion of the identified container based on the current mass and a non-depleted mass for the identified container.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 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.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

responsive to receiving a location query regarding a location of the predictive content description, determining the location of the identified container corresponding to the predictive content description.

13. A computer program product comprising:

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

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

responsive to receiving the identifier code for the identified container, generating an alert;

displaying a plurality of predictive content descriptions for the unidentified content on a user interface, wherein the plurality of predictive content descriptions is generated, based on either a daily meal trend, a seasonal meal trend, a last recommended meal plan, a last recommended set of potential meal plans, or a set of items removed from the storage unit within a predefined preceding period of time;

selecting one of the predictive content description from the plurality of predictive content descriptions;

the predictive content description from the plurality of predictive content descriptions, associating the predictive content description with the identifier code and mapping the predictive content description to the identified container;

responsive to mapping the predictive content description to the identified container, calculating the current mass using the mass sensor shelf and associating the identified container with the current mass; and

responsive to calculating the current mass, determining the depletion of the identified container based on the current mass and the non-depleted mass for the identified container.

14. The computer program product 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.