Intelligent Item Containers for Sensing, Monitoring, Remembering and Tracking Container Contents

An electronic system, said electronic system configured to be coupled with and to be operable with a container which is configured to contain, carry, transport, store or enclose one or more portable items, said electronic system comprising:

• an item sensor which is configured to detect unique item signatures, each unique item signature associated with a respective specific portable item of the plurality of portable items;
• a memory which is configured to store an expected item signature of an expected portable item which is expected to be in substantial proximity to the container during a contents assessment activity;
• and
• a hardware processor communicatively coupled with the item sensor and with the memory, and which is configured to:
• receive from the item sensor any portable item signatures detected by the item sensor during the contents assessment activity;
• compare the any portable item signatures received from the item sensor during the contents assessment activity with the stored, expected item signature of the expected portable item;
• and
• assess based on the comparison that an expected portable item is in substantial proximity to the container or is not in substantial proximity to the container during the contents assessment activity.

A computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor associated with and coupled to a container, said container configured to receive and contain a plurality of portable items and to enable the addition and removal of portable items, causes the hardware processor to execute a method for monitoring the contents of the container, the method comprising:

• causing an item sensor, which is coupled with the container and communicatively coupled with the hardware processor, to detect unique item signatures, each unique item signature associated with a respective specific portable item of the plurality of portable items;
• receiving at the hardware processor, from a memory which is communicatively coupled with the hardware processor, a stored item signature of an expected item signature of an expected portable item which is expected to be in substantial proximity to the container during a contents assessment activity;
• receiving at the hardware processor, from the item sensor, any portable item signatures detected by the item sensor during the contents assessment activity;
• comparing via the hardware processor any portable item signatures received from the item sensor during the contents assessment activity with the stored, expected item signature of the expected portable item;
• and
• assessing by the hardware processor, based on the comparison, that an expected portable item is in substantial proximity to the container or is not in substantial proximity to the container during the contents assessment activity.