Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-22
2001-03-20
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S870030, C232S019000, C232S020000, C232S021000, C221S002000, C235S2010FS
Reexamination Certificate
active
06204763
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to automated inventory systems and relates more particularly to a household consumable item automatic replenishment system and method, including an intelligent refrigerator. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system automatically maintains a desired inventory of refrigerated and/or unrefrigerated household consumable items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Refrigerators for storing refrigerated consumable food items such as milk, butter and cheese, are well known. Cupboards for storing unrefrigerated consumable items, both food and non-food, are also well known. Typically, home refrigerators and cupboards are restocked by opening each, noting those items requiring replenishment, traveling to a store to purchase the necessary items, bringing the purchased items home and placing the purchased items in the refrigerator and/or cupboard.
However, this contemporary restocking process is extremely time consuming and requires substantial effort. It is well appreciated that people tend to value their time more highly now than in the past. This tendency to more highly value time nowadays is evidenced by a trend toward modern conveniences, frequently at the expense of financial considerations. For example, the increasing proliferation of convenience stores clearly indicates a desire to make purchases easily and quickly, even when the cost of such purchases is substantially higher than when the same purchases are made at a more distant supermarket. Thus, it is clear that people are becoming more willing to pay a premium for time saving conveniences.
In an effort to mitigate the inconvenience associated with purchasing household consumable items at retail stores, many consumers have turned to other means of shopping such as placing orders via the telephone, via fax, and/or via the Internet. While such telephone, fax, and Internet shopping is substantially more convenient than in-person shopping at a retail store, it still involves substantial time and inconvenience. A person must still determine which items are to be ordered, typically make a list of those items, and then place the telephone, fax or Internet order. Further, it will be appreciated that such telephone, fax, and/or Internet ordering typically occurs only after a person notices that particular item's need to be ordered. This typically occurs when such items are completely depleted from household inventory. Thus, such telephone, fax and/or Internet ordering frequently occurs at a much later point in time than is desirable. It would certainly be preferable to restock those items which are in short supply prior to completely depleting the supply thereof.
Automated inventory systems for facilitating the replenishment of goods, particularly at manufacturing and wholesale facilities, are also well known. Such automated inventory systems comprise sensors for detecting the presence of desired inventory items, and an inventory processor for facilitating restocking of those items whose stock level has fallen below a predetermined level.
It is also known to construct refrigerators and cupboards such that access thereto is provided at two different locations, such as on two opposite sides of a common wall. Such dual entry cupboards and refrigerators are frequently used at retail locations, wherein customers remove items to be purchased via a first access thereto which is located on the retail floor and service personnel, e.g., typically vendors and/or store employees, restock the cupboards and refrigerators from the second access thereto which is typically located within a stock room.
Although such dual access cupboards and refrigerators are common in commercial establishments, their benefits have not yet been fully appreciated in the home environment. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide dual access cupboards and/or refrigerators which are adapted for use in the home.
Additionally, one problem commonly associated with home refrigerators is that of undesirable perishable food spoilage. It is not unusual for perishable food items to be purchased and placed in a refrigerator, and then not be consumed entirely prior to spoilage thereof. Not only is such a practice wasteful, but it also may result in ruined meal plans, when necessary food items are not available.
In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a household consumable item automatic replenishment system which facilitates the easy and convenient replacement of household consumable items as necessary to maintain a desired inventory thereof and which also facilitates the replacement of perishable food items prior to spoilage thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates the above-mentioned deficiencies associated with the prior art. More particularly, the present invention comprises a household consumable item automatic replenishment system and method, including an intelligent refrigerator. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system automatically maintains a desired inventory of refrigerated and/or unrefrigerated household consumable items. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system has a refrigerated compartment having an indoor access through which consumable items are removed for use and having an outdoor access through which the refrigerated compartment is restocked. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system also has an unrefrigerated compartment having an indoor access through which consumable items are removed for use and having an outdoor access through which the unrefrigerated compartment is restocked. Easy restocking of both the refrigerated and unrefrigerated compartments by vendor or delivery personnel is facilitated as discussed in detail below.
An automated inventory system maintains a desired inventory of the household consumable items and comprises a plurality of sensors configured to provide information representative of an inventory of the refrigerated compartment and the unrefrigerated compartment. The sensors provide an indication of the presence and/or weight of desired household consumable items.
The automated inventory system further comprises an inventory processor coupled to the sensors for processing the information representative of the inventory of the refrigerated compartment and the unrefrigerated compartment, so as to make a list of those items which are to be replenished. Household consumable items may be replenished when either a quantity or weight thereof falls below a desired inventory level or threshold.
An automated ordering system comprises a telecommunications device which is coupled to cooperate with the inventory processor so as to communicate at least a portion of the list of items to be replenished made by the inventory processor to at least one vendor. In this manner, one or more vendors are notified of an order for those household consumable items which are necessary to maintain the desired inventory thereof. The vendor then either delivers or has delivered the required items.
According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, at least one of the sensors comprises a weight sensor. The use of a weight sensor allows more precise control over inventory by measuring the quantity of partially consumed items remaining. For example, the weight of a carton of milk is representative of the amount of milk remaining in the carton and may thus be utilized to determine when milk should be reordered.
Thus, a predetermined threshold is utilized so as to determine when restocking of partially consumable item should occur. For example, for a gallon of milk the predetermined threshold may be specified as two pounds (approximately ¼ of a gallon). Thus, when the carton of milk is emptied to the point where it weighs two pounds or less, then milk is added to the list by the inventory processor. Optionally, such weight sensors may be used to similarly monitor the inventory of other items, such as canned goods and household supplies, e.g., paper tow
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Jujitsu Limited
Pham Toan
Wu Daniel J.
LandOfFree
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