Back to results
US 7,792,711 B2Granted
System for inventory management
AssigneeRTC Industries, Inc.
InventorsJohn Wesley Swafford, Jr., Michael Alvin Lembke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a system for tracking product on a shelf. In an embodiment, an indicia strip is placed on a self coiling sheet, and a sensor is configured to read the indicia strip. The data on the indicia strip corresponds to the location of a pusher assembly. In an embodiment, a store computer can use the data regarding the location of the pusher assembly to determine the amount of inventory on the shelf. In an embodiment, the store computer can automatically order additional inventory based on the levels of inventory on the shelf. In an embodiment, a deviation from normal customer purchasing habits can be used to prompt security measures so as to reduce the possibility of product theft.
Claims33
A system for detecting and communicating the position of a pusher assembly on a shelf, comprising:
- an indicia strip containing a pattern of bits;
- a sensor assembly comprising a transmitter configured to send a signal to a processing device, the sensor assembly configured to detect the position of the pusher assembly by scanning the indicia strip and determining a code based on the pattern of bits scanned, the sensor assembly positioned on a pusher and configured to transmit the code representative of the position of the pusher assembly for further processing;
- and
- the processing device configured to receive the transmitted code, and further configured to determine the movement of the pusher assembly and a rate of change in a product level, and further configured to provide a notification when a deviation in the typical movement of the pusher assembly and rate of change of product level has occurred.
1 more element
A system for inventory management on a shelf, including a pusher assembly on the shelf, comprising:
- an indicia strip mounted on a coiled spring on the pusher assembly and configured to provide a representation in a pattern reflecting the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf;
- a sensor assembly comprising a transmitter configured to send a signal to a store computer, the sensor assembly configured to transmit a pusher code, the pusher code based on the representation on the indicia strip;
- and
- the store computer configured to receive the pusher code from the sensor assembly, and further configured to determine a movement of the pusher assembly and a rate of change in a product level, and further configured to provide a notification when a deviation in the typical movement of the pusher assembly and rate of change of product level has occurred.
1 more element
A system for aiding in the prevention of theft of inventory, comprising:
- a sensor assembly comprising a transmitter configured to send a signal to a store computer, the sensor assembly associated with a pusher assembly having an indicia strip, the sensor assembly positioned on a pusher and configured to scan a pattern of bits on the indicia strip to determine a code based on the pattern of bits scanned and transmit the code relating to the position of the pusher assembly;
- and
- the store computer configured to receive the code and to transmit a signal in response to the code and compare the code to a previous pusher code, and further configured to determine a movement of the pusher assembly and a rate of change in a product level, and further configured to provide a notification when a deviation in the typical movement of the pusher assembly and rate of change of product level has occurred.
A system for inventory management, comprising:
- an indicia strip mounted on a coiled spring on the pusher assembly and configured to provide a representation in a pattern reflecting a position of a pusher assembly;
- a sensor assembly comprising a transmitter configured to send a signal to a store computer, the sensor assembly configured to scan and transmit a pusher code based on the representation contained on the indicia strip;
- an access point configured to receive the pusher code from the sensor assembly and to transmit a signal;
- a central access point configured to received the signal;
- and
- the store computer configured to process the signal received by the central access point, and further configured to determine a movement of the pusher assembly and a rate of change in a product level, and further configured to provide a notification when a deviation in the typical movement of the pusher assembly and rate of change of product level has occurred.
3 more elements
A inventory management system for a facing on a shelf, comprising:
- a sensor assembly comprising a transmitter configured to send a signal to a store computer, the sensor assembly configured for automatic determination of the amount of inventory in a facing;
- the sensor assembly configured to scan an indicia strip mounted on a coiled spring on the pusher assembly, the indicia strip containing data including a pattern representing the position of a pusher assembly and transmit the data representing the position of a pusher assembly;
- and
- the store computer configured to receive and process data from the sensor assembly, and further configured to determine a movement of the pusher assembly and a rate of change in a product level, and further configured to provide a notification when a deviation in the typical movement of the pusher assembly and rate of change of product level has occurred.
1 more element
A system for sensing the removal of a product from a shelf, comprising:
- a pusher assembly mounted to the shelf;
- an indicia strip mounted on a coiled spring on the pusher assembly and configured to provide a representation in a pattern reflecting the position of the pusher assembly;
- a sensor associated with the pusher assembly, the sensor configured to scan the indicia strip;
- and
- a controller configured to measure the position of the pusher assembly via the sensor, the controller being responsive to movement of the pusher assembly, the controller further configured to determine a movement of the pusher assembly and a rate of change in a product level, and further configured to provide a notification when a deviation in the typical movement of the pusher assembly and rate of change of product level has occurred.
2 more elements
An inventory management system for a store, comprising:
- a sensor assembly comprising a transmitter configured to send a signal to a store computer, the sensor assembly configured to automatically provide data regarding inventory in a facing on a shelf, the data including a pattern on an indicia strip representing the position of a pusher assembly, the sensor assembly positioned on a pusher;
- and
- the store computer configured to receive the data from the sensor assembly, wherein the store computer is configured to determine a movement of the pusher assembly and a rate of change in a product level, and further configured to provide a notification when a deviation in the typical movement of the pusher assembly and rate of change of product level has occurred.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.