Automatic resupply of consumable commodities
OwnerGary Stephen Shusterinventor
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Abstract
Methods and systems for facilitating initiation of resupply orders for consumable commodities include using a stand-alone electronic or audio-generating device incorporated into retail product packaging. The stand-alone device is equipped with a rudimentary processor or logic circuit, a memory, and a wireless transmitter. A simple user interface/activation device such as a push button or membrane switch is coupled to the logic circuit or processor. The stand-alone device is incorporated into or with product packaging, and may be configured with a resupply code at or after a point of sale. A user may activate the user interface of the device when the product needs resupplying, causing the resupply code to be transmitted to an access point or terminal that initiates a reorder sequence for the product.
Claims8
A method by a client device, comprising:
- receiving a digitally-encoded signal encoding a registered code configured for indicating that consumption of a defined quantity of a commodity in a package has occurred, wherein receiving the signal comprises photographing an image encoding the registered code, using a camera operatively coupled to the client device;
- decoding the signal to recognize the registered code, using a processor coupled to the client device;
- determining, based on the registered code, a designated network address operative for receiving an electronic message initiating an automated purchase order for an additional amount of the commodity to be delivered to a designated physical address;
- and
- transmitting the registered code to the designated network address, in response to the determining.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.