# US 12,004,492 B2 · Networked weight scale for smart ordering > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,492 B2 - Document ID: US12004492B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/167,556 - Filed: 2021-02-04 - Published: 2022-08-04 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-04 - Assignees: Radio Systems Corporation - Applicants: Radio Systems Corporation - Inventors: Ryan P. Anderson; Jonathan W. Huber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004492B2 ## CPC - A01K 5/0291: {with timing mechanisms, e.g. pet feeders} - A01K 5/0283: {by weight} - G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders - G06Q 10/08726: {for replenishment processing, procedures, or recommendations using forecasting or optimisation} - G06Q 10/08772: {Inventory counting methods} - G01G 19/00: Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups {(electric measuring arrangements involving comparison with a reference value G01R17/00)} - G01G 23/00: Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) ## Abstract A system is described including a scale device for measuring weight of a food container, wherein one or more applications run on at least one processor of the scale device and are configured to detect weight of the food container and its contents using the scale device. The one of more applications are configured to detect a first weight measurement of the food container, wherein the first weight measurement includes weight of the food container and a first amount of food, to detect a second weight measurement of the food container, wherein the second weight measurement includes the weight of the food container, the first amount of food, and a second amount of food, wherein the second weight measurement is an updated weight measurement of the food container, to subsequently log weight measurements of the food container at time intervals, and to intermittently adjust and monitor the updated weight measurement. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising, a scale device for measuring weight of a food container when the food container is removably positioned on the scale device, wherein the scale device comprises at least one processor, wherein one or more applications are configured to run on the at least one processor, wherein the one or more applications are configured to detect weight of the food container and its contents using the scale device; the one of more applications configured to detect a first weight measurement of the food container, wherein the first weight measurement includes weight of the food container and a first amount of food to establish a threshold weight measurement; the one of more applications configured to detect a second weight measurement of the food container, wherein the second weight measurement includes the weight of the food container, the first amount of food, and a second amount of food, wherein the second weight measurement is an updated weight measurement of the food container, the one or more applications configured to subsequently log weight measurements of the food container and its present contents at time intervals; the one of more applications configured to intermittently adjust the updated weight measurement; and the one of more applications configured to provide an alert when the updated weight measurement is equal to or less than the threshold weight measurement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the threshold weight measurement comprises the first weight measurement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the updated weight measurement comprises subtracting the most recently logged weight measurement from the most recent value of the updated weight measurement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the scale device comprises a proximity detector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the proximity detector comprises at least one of an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a capacitive sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the logging the weight measurements occurs when the proximity detector detects motion of an object in a proximity to the scale device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the time intervals comprise fixed time intervals. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the logged weight measurements include a timestamp for each logged weight measurement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, the one or more applications configured to use the logged weight measurements and corresponding timestamps to estimate a rate by which food is removed from the food container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, the one or more applications configured to use the rate for predicting a future time when the updated weight measurement is equal to or less than the threshold weight measurement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, the one or more applications configured to use the rate for scheduling the time intervals of the logged weight measurements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the scheduling comprises reducing length of the time intervals as present time approaches the predicted future time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises a visual communication delivered through an electronic interface of the scale device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more applications are communicatively coupled with a remote application running on a processor of a smartphone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the alert comprises sending a communication to the remote application, wherein the remote application provides the alert to an electronic display of the smartphone. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more applications are communicatively coupled with at least one application running on a remote server. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the providing the alert includes initiating communication with the at least one application for ordering additional food to replenish the food container. ### Claim 18 A method, comprising, measuring weight of a food container and its contents, wherein the measuring comprises detecting a first weight measurement of the food container, wherein the first weight measurement includes weight of the food container and a first amount of food to establish a threshold weight measurement, wherein the measuring comprises detecting a second weight measurement of the food container, wherein the second weight measurement includes the weight of the food container, the first amount of food, and a second amount of food, wherein the second weight measurement is an updated weight measurement of the food container, wherein weight of the food container and its present contents are subsequently logged at time intervals; intermittently adjusting the updated weight measurement; and providing an alert when the updated weight measurement is equal to or less than the threshold weight measurement. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the threshold weight measurement comprises the first weight measurement. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the adjusting the updated weight measurement comprises subtracting the most recently logged weight measurement from the most recent value of the updated weight measurement. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the scale device comprises a proximity detector, wherein the proximity detector comprises at least one of an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a capacitive sensor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the logging the weight measurements occurs when the proximity detector detects motion of an object in a proximity to the scale device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the time intervals comprise fixed time intervals. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the logged weight measurements include a timestamp for each logged weight measurement. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, comprising using the logged weight measurements and corresponding timestamps to estimate a rate by which food is removed from the container. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, comprising using the rate for predicting a future time when the updated weight measurement is equal to or less than the threshold weight measurement. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, comprising using the rate for scheduling the time intervals of the logged weight measurements. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the scheduling comprises reducing length of the time intervals as present time approaches the predicted future time. ### Claim 29 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the alert comprises a visual communication delivered through an electronic interface of the scale device.