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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A household consumable item automatic replenishment system for
automatically maintaining a desired inventory of household consumable
items, the household consumable item automatic replenishment system
comprising:
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;
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;
an automated inventory system comprising:
a plurality of sensors configured to provide information representative of
an inventory of the refrigerated compartment and the unrefrigerated
compartment;
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
items which are to be replenished; and
an automated ordering system comprising a telecommunications device coupled
to cooperate with the inventory processor to communicate at least a
portion of the list to at least one vendor.
2. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system of claim 1,
wherein at least one of the sensors is a weight sensor.
3. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system of claim 1,
wherein at least one of the sensors is a presence sensor.
4. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system of claim 1,
wherein the inventory processor comprises a dedicated computer.
5. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system of claim 1,
wherein the inventory processor comprises a signal processing device such
as a personal computer, set-top-box or a purpose-built electronic
entertainment apparatus.
6. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system of claim 1,
wherein the telecommunications device comprises a modem.
7. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system of claim 1,
wherein the telecommunications device is configured to communicate at
least a portion of the list to at least one vendor via an Internet
connection.
8. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system of claim 2,
wherein the inventory processor is configured to add an item to the list
when a weight of the item decreases to below a predetermined threshold.
9. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system of claim 1,
wherein the inventory processor is configured to add an item to the list
after the item has been in at least one of the refrigerated compartment
and the unrefrigerated compartment for a predetermined length of time.
10. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system of claim
1, wherein the outdoor access of the refrigerated compartment and the
outdoor access of the unrefrigerated compartment comprise at least one
lockable door.
11. The household consumable item automatic replenishment system of claim
1, wherein the outdoor access of the refrigerated compartment and the
outdoor access of the unrefrigerated compartment comprise at least one of
a key lock, a card key lock and an electronic password lock configured to
limit access to the refrigerated compartment and the unrefrigerated
compartment.
12. A method for automatically maintaining a desired inventory of household
consumable items, the method comprising the steps of:
removing items from at least one of a refrigerated compartment and an
unrefrigerated compartment via an indoor access thereof;
sensing information representative of an inventory of the refrigerated
compartment and the unrefrigerated compartment;
processing information representative of the inventory of the refrigerated
compartment and the unrefrigerated compartment so as to make a list of
items which are to be replenished;
automatically communicating at least a portion of the list to at least one
vendor to effect automatic ordering; and
restocking at least one of the refrigerated and the unrefrigerated
compartments via an outdoor access thereto.
13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of sensing
information representative of an inventory of the refrigerated compartment
and the unrefrigerated compartment comprises sensing a weight of at least
one item.
14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of sensing
information representative of an inventory of the refrigerated compartment
and the unrefrigerated compartment comprises sensing a presence of at
least one item.
15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of processing
information representative of an inventory of the refrigerated compartment
and the unrefrigerated compartment comprises processing the information
with a dedicated computer.
16. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of processing
information representative of an inventory of the refrigerated compartment
and the unrefrigerated compartment comprises processing the information
with a signal processing device such as a personal computer, set-top-box
or a purpose-built electronic entertainment apparatus.
17. The method as recited in claim 12, the step of automatically
communicating at least a portion of the list to at least one vendor
comprises communicating via a modem.
18. The method as recited in claim 12, the step of automatically
communicating at least a portion of the list to at least one vendor
comprises communicating via an Internet connection.
19. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of processing
information representative of the inventory of the refrigerated
compartment and the unrefrigerated compartment so as to make a list of
items which are to be replenished comprises adding at least one item to
the list when a weight of the item decreases to a predetermined threshold.
20. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of processing
information representative of the inventory of the refrigerated
compartment and the unrefrigerated compartment so as to make a list of
items which are to be replenished comprises adding at least one item to
the list when the item has been in at least one of the refrigerated
compartment and the unrefrigerated compartment for a predetermined length
of time.
21. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of restocking at
least one of the refrigerated and the unrefrigerated compartments via an
outdoor access thereto comprises unlocking at least one door.
22. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of restocking at
least one of the refrigerated and the unrefrigerated compartments via an
outdoor access thereto comprises unlocking at least one door via one of a
key lock, a card key lock and an electronic password lock.
23. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of making a list
comprises comparing an actual inventory to a desired inventory.
24. An intelligent refrigerator comprising:
a refrigerated compartment for storing perishable food items;
an automated inventory system comprising:
a plurality of sensors configured to provide information representative of
an inventory of the refrigerated compartment, at least one of the sensors
further configured to trigger a start of a storage time in the
refrigerated compartment; and
an inventory processor coupled to the sensors for processing the
information representative of the inventory of the refrigerated
compartment so as to make a list of items which are to be replenished, the
inventory processor being configured to add an item to the list after the
item has been in the refrigerated compartment for a predetermined length
of time.
25. The intelligent refrigerator of claim 24, wherein the refrigerated
compartment comprises an indoor access through which consumable items are
removed for use and an outdoor access through which the refrigerated
compartment is restocked.
26. The intelligent refrigerator of claim 24, further comprising an
automated ordering system comprising a telecommunications device coupled
to cooperate with the inventory processor to communicate at least a
portion of the list to at least one vendor.
27. The intelligent refrigerator of claim 26, wherein the
telecommunications device comprises a modem.
28. The intelligent refrigerator of claim 26, wherein the
telecommunications device is configured to communicate at least a portion
of the list to at least one vendor via an Internet connection.
29. The intelligent refrigerator of claim 24, wherein at least one of the
sensors is a weight sensor.
30. The intelligent refrigerator of claim 24, wherein at least one of the
sensors is a presence sensor.
31. The intelligent refrigerator of claim 24, wherein the inventory
processor comprises a dedicated computer.
32. The intelligent refrigerator of claim 24, wherein the inventory
processor comprises a personal computer.
33. The intelligent refrigerator of claim 24, wherein the inventory
processor is configured to add an item to the list when a weight of the
item decreases to below a predetermined threshold.
34. The intelligent refrigerator of claim 24, wherein the inventory
processor is configured to add an item to the list when a quantity of the
item decreases to below a predetermined threshold.
35. The intelligent refrigerator of claim 24, wherein the outdoor access of
the refrigerated compartment comprises at least one lockable door.
36. The intelligent refrigerator of claim 24, wherein the outdoor access of
the refrigerated compartment comprises at least one of a key lock, a card
key lock and an electronic password lock configured to limit access to the
refrigerated compartment.
37. A method for automatically maintaining a desired inventory of
consumable items in a refrigerator, the method comprising the steps of:
sensing information representative of an inventory of the refrigerator;
trigerring a start of storage time for the inventory of refrigerator; and
processing information representative of the inventory of refrigerator so
as to make a list of items which are to be replenished, the inventory
processor being configured to add an item to the list after the item has
been in the refrigerator for a predetermined length of time.
38. The method as recited in claim 37, further comprising the step of
displaying the list on a display proximate the refrigerator.
39. The method as recited in claim 37, further comprising the steps of
removing consumable items from the refrigerator for use via an indoor
access and restocking the refrigerator via an outdoor access.
40. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein the step of restocking the
refrigerator via an outdoor access comprises unlocking a lockable door
defining the outdoor access.
41. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein the step of restocking the
refrigerator via an outdoor access comprises using at least one of a key
lock, a card key lock and an electronic password lock to open the outdoor
access.
42. The method as recited in claim 37, further comprising the step of
automatically ordering at least some of the items on the list.
43. The method as recited in claim 37, further comprising the step of
automatically ordering at least some of the items on the list via a
telecommunications device coupled to an inventory processor of the
refrigerator.
44. The method as recited in claim 37, further comprising the step of
automatically ordering at least some of the items on the list via a modem.
45. The method as recited in claim 37, further comprising the step of
automatically ordering at least some of the items on the list via an
Internet connection.
46. The method as recited in claim 37, wherein the step of sensing
information representative of an inventory of the refrigerator comprises
sensing a presence of at least one item stored within the refrigerator.
47. The method as recited in claim 37, wherein the step of sensing
information representative of an inventory of the refrigerator comprises
sensing a weight of at least one item stored within the refrigerator.
48. The method as recited in claim 37, wherein the step of processing
information representative of the inventory of the refrigerator comprises
processing information with a dedicated computer.
49. The method as recited in claim 37, wherein the step of processing
information representative of the inventory of the refrigerator comprises
processing information with a personal computer.
50. The method as recited in claim 37, further comprising the step of
adding an item to the list when a weight of the item decreases to below a
predetermined threshold.
51. The method as recited in claim 37, further comprising the step of
adding an item to the list when a quantity of the item decreases to below
a predetermined threshold.
52. The method as recited in claim 37, wherein the step of making a list
comprises comparing an actual inventory to a desired inventory. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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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 1/4 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 towels, hand soaps, laundry
detergent, etc., since the weight of the quantity of a particular item is
clearly indicative of the quantity thereof. Thus, for example, the
inventory processor may be configured to replenish chicken soup when the
total weight of all cans of chicken soup falls below three pounds.
At least some of the sensors may comprise presence sensors, which provide a
signal which is only indicative of the presence or absence of a particular
consumable item. The use of presence sensors is particularly applicable in
those instances wherein the consumable item is generally consumed in its
entirety. For example, canned goods are typically utilized in their
entirety (rather than having a portion thereof being utilized and the
remaining portion returned to a cupboard for later use).
Such presence sensors may comprise on-off switches, pressure switches,
laser beam switches, ultrasonic sensors, or any other type of sensor which
provides a binary, i.e., on-off, output.
Alternatively, the sensors may be configured to sense an electronic or
magnetic identification tag attached to each household consumable item, so
as to facilitate the maintenance of an accurate inventory of household
consumable items. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, various
different electronic tags, transponders, or other identification means are
suitable.
As a further alternative, delivery personnel may manually enter an
identification for one or more of the household consumable items, during
delivery thereof. This may be necessary, for example, when a new item is
added to the household inventory.
The inventory processor preferably comprises a dedicated computer, which is
built into a common cabinet, along with the refrigerated compartment and
the unrefrigerated compartment. The inventory processor thus comprises a
program which monitors the sensors, so as to determine the actual
inventory of desired household consumable items. The actual inventory is
compared to a desired inventory, and a list is made of those items which
are part of the desired inventory, but are not present in the actual
inventory.
Thus, the inventory processor is configured to add an item to the list when
the weight of the item decreases to below a predetermined level, for each
item which is placed upon a weight sensor. Similarly, the inventory
processor is configured to add an item to the list for each absent item
which is associated with a presence sensor.
Alternatively, the inventory processor comprises a personal computer which
communicates with the sensors, preferably via an interface which is built
into the cabinet. The interface performs any necessary signal conditioning
and/or connectively, so as to provide an output which is compatible with
the personal computer. Alternatively, the interface may be omitted and the
personal computer configured to communicate directly with the sensors.
The telecommunications device preferably comprises a first modem which
allows the computer to communicate with a store shopping server over
ordinary telephone lines. A second modem typically facilitates
communication of the store shopping server over the ordinary telephone
lines. Optionally, the computer communicates with the store shopping
server via an Internet connection. However, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that various different types of communication between the
computer and the store shopping server are likewise suitable. For example,
a radio connection (via a radio modem, for example) may alternatively be
utilized.
Further, the inventory processor is configured to add an item to the list
after the item has been in either the refrigerated compartment or the
unrefrigerated compartment for a predetermined length of time. In this
manner, spoilage is mitigated by replacing perishable consumable items
prior to spoilage thereof. Thus, a smart refrigerator is defined which
mitigates food spoilage and/or maintains a desired inventory.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outdoor
access of the refrigerated compartment and the outdoor access of the
unrefrigerated compartment comprise at least one lockable door.
Preferably, either a key lock, a card key lock, or an electronic password
lock is utilized to limit access to the refrigerated compartment and the
unrefrigerated compartment. The outdoor access may be configured such that
one lock limits access to all of the doors thereof. Alternatively, each
door may comprise a dedicated, separate lock.
The present invention alternatively comprises a smart refrigerator which
lacks both indoor and outdoor access thereto, but which utilizes one or
more sensors to determine the length of time that a perishable consumable
item has been stored therein, so that the perishable consumable item may
be replaced prior to spoilage thereof, as discussed above. Optionally,
such a smart refrigerator maintains a desired inventory of food items.
In any instance, the refrigerator optionally comprises a smart ordering
terminal, whereby a person may modify a preexisting inventory processor
generated replenishment list or may place an order entirely independent of
the inventory processor. Thus, when a replenishment list is displayed upon
a display of the refrigerator, for example, a person may add items to or
delete items from the list, as desired. Further, the user may generate a
separate order list, comprised of items which may not even be part of the
normal household inventory, so as to effect automatic ordering of the
desired items.
Further, the standard household inventory is preferably modifiable via
either a touch screen display (preferably the display of the refrigerator
itself) or via a personal computer.
These, as well as other advantages of the present invention will be more
apparent from the following description and drawings. It is understood
that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made
within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic illustration of the outside of a house
having a household consumable item automatic replenishment system
according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic illustration of the interior of a cabinet
having an unrefrigerated compartment, a refrigerated compartment and a
built-in computer as viewed from an indoor access to the cabinet according
to a first embodiment of the present invention wherein the built-in
computer facilitates communication with a remotely located store shopping
server;
FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic illustration of the indoor portion of the
cabinet of FIG. 2, having a dedicated display; and
FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic illustration of the interior of a cabinet
having an unrefrigerated compartment, a refrigerated compartment and a
computer interface as viewed from an indoor access, according to a second
embodiment of the present invention wherein a personal computer
facilitates communication with a remotely located store shopping server;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended
drawings is intended as description of the presently preferred embodiments
of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which
the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets
forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and
operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It
is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and
sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also
intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The household consumable item automatic replenishment system including
intelligent refrigerator of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS.
1-4, which depict two presently preferred embodiments thereof.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the household consumable item automatic
replenishment system, including intelligent refrigerator, of the present
invention generally comprises a cabinet 12 which is constructed at least
partially within a home 10 and configured so as to have an indoor access
13 (FIG. 3) and an outdoor access 11 (FIG. 1). The indoor access 13
facilitates removal of desired household consumable items therefrom, such
that the items may be used. The outdoor access 11 facilitates restocking
of the cabinet 12 with household consumable items. The cabinet 12 may be
disposed mostly indoors, mostly outdoors, or so as to have any desired
portion thereof indoors or outdoors. It is merely necessary that the
indoor access 13 be indoors, so as to facilitate convenient access to
consumable household items stored within the cabinet 12 and that the
outdoor access 11 be readily accessible to a delivery person. Indeed, the
outdoor access 11 may be located in a shed, garage, porch, or other
enclosed area, if desired.
The outdoor access 11 of cabinet 12 comprises door 16, having handle 17,
for facilitating access to second 22B and third 22C sections of
refrigerated compartment 22 (FIGS. 2 and 4), a door 18 having handle 19
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