Smart packaging and display system

A smart display system for a plurality of product packages comprising:

• a product display having a display shelf with a plurality of product package locations disposed thereon for positively positioning each of said plurality of product packages, said display shelf being moveable between a home position and a forward position, said forward position being an extended position that facilitates restocking of product packages;
• a control system having a processor, a concomitant memory, a plurality of inputs and outputs operatively connected to said processor, a user interface, and a near-field communication antenna operatively connected to said processor;
• and
• a proximity sensor comprising an output operably connected to said control system, said proximity sensor being configured to detect said display shelf being moved into said home position and communicate said detection of the display shelf being moved into said home position to said processor of said control system;
• wherein said processor is configured to initiate a read operation via said near-field communication antennae to determine presence or absence of said product packages in said plurality of product package locations in response to receiving said communication from said proximity sensor indicating detection of said display shelf being moved into said home position;
• wherein said near-field communication antenna is positioned proximate said plurality of product package locations.

A method for displaying and tracking a product in a smart display system comprising:

• providing a product display comprising a display shelf with a plurality of product package locations disposed on a first side of said display shelf for positively positioning each of a plurality of product packages;
• providing a control system comprising a processor, a concomitant memory, a plurality of inputs and outputs operatively connected to said processor, a user interface, and a near-field communication antenna operatively connected to said processor;
• providing a drawer of said display shelf removable from a home position in said product display and a sensor for determining when said drawer has been placed in said home position,
• positioning said near-field communication antenna proximate said plurality of product package locations at a second side of said display shelf, said second side of said display shelf being opposite said first side of said display shelf, wherein said display shelf comprises an opening positioned between said near-field communication antenna and said plurality of product package locations;
• providing an identification tag for each of said plurality of product packages, said identification tag capable of near-field communication with said near-field communication antenna, said identification tag being secured at a predetermined location on each of said plurality of product packages, said identification tag being positioned proximate said near-field communication antenna when each of said product packages are positioned in a respective one of said plurality of product package locations;
• transmitting and receiving data, via said control system, to and from each of said plurality of identification tags on said product packages when said drawer is placed in said home position, wherein said received data comprises identification tag data;
• and
• storing said identification tag data read from each of the identification tags by said control system via said near-field antenna for each of said plurality of product packages.