US 5,691,684 AGranted

Article storage container with bar code scanning

AssigneeSymbol Technologies, Inc.

InventorJudy Murrah

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Abstract

A method for on-premise processing of articles such as food items bearing linear or two-dimensional bar code symbols comprises the steps of defining an on-premise storage unit such as a refrigerator or pantry for releasable storage of the articles, scanning and storing the bar codes of articles entering and withdrawn from the storage unit, scanning and storing the bar codes of articles returned to the storage unit following the withdrawal thereof from the storage unit and providing output indication of failure of correspondence of storage of stored bar codes in the steps of entry and withdrawal scanning and return scanning. A "shopping list" or inventory readout is obtainable from the failures of correspondence. Methods are provided also for processing two-dimensional bar codes symbols wherein messages encoded therein are selectively audibilized in connection with a refrigerator or pantry.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A method for processing of consumable articles bearing bar code symbols indicative of their character, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a set of storage units comprising at least a refrigerator and a pantry for releasable containment of said articles;
(b) sensing article entry and article withdrawal from each of said units;
(c) providing sensing output based upon the sensing of article entry and article withdrawal from each of said units;
(d) scanning and storing the bar codes of articles on initial entry thereof into each of said units;
(e) scanning and storing the bar codes of articles withdrawn from each of said units;
(f) scanning and storing the bar codes of articles entered into each of said units following withdrawal from each of said units;
and
(g) providing output indication of failure of correspondence between the stored bar codes resulting from entry and withdrawal of articles from each of said units;
whereby steps (d), (e) and (f) are practiced in part by providing separate storage facilities for scanned bar codes respectively in article entry and withdrawal, and step (g) is practiced by reading out a stored bar code from one of said separate storage facilities and determining whether the read out bar code is stored in the other of said separate storage facilities.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/530,806Filed 20 Sep 1995
Granted: 25 Nov 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G06Q 10/087
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…
G06Q 10/08774
By inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting: using consumer inventory reporting
G06V 20/68
Type of objects: food, e.g. fruit or vegetables
G06Q
Information and communication technology [ict] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial