System for storage shelving and methods of use thereof
AssigneeThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University
InventorsWallace Woon-Fong Leung, King-Lun Kwok, Mau-Wah Chan, So-Lam Sze
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system for product storage and methods of categorizing, storing, and delivering products to end users via the system, the system's components including a processor, a “smart shelving” device, boxes for insertion into and utilization by the “smart shelving” device, and ID readers. Through the present invention, products are able to be securely and more certainly delivered to the proper recipient of the products.
Claims18
An interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products, comprising:
- a shelving device having a plurality of slots;
- one or more storage boxes adapted to be inserted into any of said slots, wherein each of the storage boxes has a unique ID, and each of the storage boxes contains a product associated with a unique product ID;
- a processor configured to associate the unique ID of the storage box with the unique product ID, to associate the unique ID of the storage box with a slot location after a sensor detected that the storage box is fully inserted in one of the slots, and to release the storage box from the interactive system for further use by disassociating the unique ID of the storage box with the unique product ID, and disassociating the unique ID of the storage box with the slot location after the product of the storage box is removed;
- at least one ID reader configured to read the unique product ID and automatically unlock the storage box that contains the product associated with the unique product ID;
- and
- at least one lock configured to lock the storage box when the storage box is fully inserted into one of the slots.
A method for storing, securing, and retrieving products, comprising the steps of:
- making at least one storage box available;
- engaging said at least one storage box, each of the storage boxes has a unique ID and each of the storage boxes contains a product associated with a unique product ID;
- inserting said storage box in any of a plurality of slots of a shelving device;
- locking said storage box in said slot when the storage box is fully inserted in the slot;
- associating the unique ID of the storage box with the unique product ID, and associating the unique ID of the storage box with a slot location after the sensor detected that the storage box is fully inserted in one of the slots, and releasing the storage box from the interactive system for further use by disassociating the unique ID of the storage box with the unique product ID, and disassociating the unique ID of the storage box with the slot location after the product of the storage box is removed;
- unlocking said storage box that contains the product associated with the unique product ID when the unique product ID is read by an ID reader;
- and
- removing the product from one of said storage box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.