U.S. patent application number 13/800368 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-14 for smart cabinet.
This patent application is currently assigned to eBay Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Eric J. Farraro, Krystal Rose Higgins, John Tapley. Invention is credited to Eric J. Farraro, Krystal Rose Higgins, John Tapley.
Application Number | 20140229343 13/800368 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51298145 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140229343 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Higgins; Krystal Rose ; et
al. |
August 14, 2014 |
SMART CABINET
Abstract
An apparatus is provided including a processor, a memory, and a
door. A scale is configured to, when the door is opened, measure
the weight of an item placed in the apparatus. A scanner is then
configured to, when the door is opened, scan an item placed in the
apparatus. The processor is then configured to track the weight of
the item when the item is placed in the apparatus and to
automatically reorder more of the item in response to a
determination that the weight of the item has fallen below a
predefined threshold.
Inventors: |
Higgins; Krystal Rose;
(Sunnyvale, CA) ; Tapley; John; (Santa Clara,
CA) ; Farraro; Eric J.; (San Jose, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Higgins; Krystal Rose
Tapley; John
Farraro; Eric J. |
Sunnyvale
Santa Clara
San Jose |
CA
CA
CA |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
eBay Inc.
San Jose
CA
|
Family ID: |
51298145 |
Appl. No.: |
13/800368 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61763811 |
Feb 12, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07G 1/0072 20130101;
G06Q 10/087 20130101; G01G 23/3728 20130101; G06K 7/1413 20130101;
G06Q 20/208 20130101; G01G 19/4146 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/28 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/08 20120101
G06Q010/08 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory; a door; a scale
configured to, when the door is opened, measure a weight of an item
placed in the apparatus; a scanner configured to, when the door is
opened, scan the item placed in the apparatus; the processor
configured to track the weight of the item when the item is placed
in the apparatus and to automatically reorder more of the item in
response to a determination that the weight of the item has fallen
below a predefined threshold.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scanner is a near-field
communication (NFC) scanner.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scanner is a radio
frequency identification (RFID) scanner.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a
cabinet.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking of the weight of
the item includes subtracting a total weight of the apparatus after
the item is placed in the apparatus from a total weight of the
apparatus immediately prior to the item being placed in the
apparatus.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tracking of the weight of
the item includes comparing the weight of the item after the item
is placed in the apparatus to a previous weight for the item
measured prior to the item having been previously removed from the
apparatus.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a nutritional
tracking module configured to determine total calories consumed of
the item by using the comparison between the weight of the item
after the item is placed in the apparatus to a previous weight for
the item measured prior to the item having been previously removed
from the apparatus along with nutritional information about the
item retrieved from a database.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the database is accessed via
an Internet.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the nutritional tracking
module is further configured to cause the display of the total
calories consumed of the item via a user interface.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the user interface is located
on a mobile device distinct from the apparatus.
11. A method comprising: scanning an item as the item is placed in
a cabinet; measuring a weight of the item using a scale in the
cabinet; maintaining information about the item and the weight of
the item in a memory for comparison with subsequent weights for the
item to determine amounts of the item consumed.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining if the
weight of the item is below a predefined threshold; and in response
to a determination that the weight of the item is below the
predefined threshold, automatically reordering the item from a
merchant.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: identifying an
expiration date for the item; and automatically reordering the item
from a merchant in response to a determination that the expiration
date is within a predefined number of days from a current date.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein measuring the weight of the
item includes subtracting a total weight of the apparatus after the
item is placed in the apparatus from a total weight of the
apparatus immediately prior to the item being placed in the
apparatus.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising tracking total
calories consumed of the item by using the comparison between the
weight of the item after the item is placed in an apparatus to a
previous weight for the item measured prior to the item having been
previously removed from the apparatus along with nutritional
information about the item retrieved from a database.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising causing a display of
the total calories consumed of the item via a user interface.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising causing the display
of a suggested more nutritious option via the user interface, the
more nutrition option being of a similar type as the item but
having fewer calories.
18. The method of claim 11, further comprising tracking a total
cost consumed of the item by using the comparison between the
weight of the item after the item is placed in an apparatus to a
previous weight for the item measured prior to the item having been
previously removed from the apparatus along with cost information
about the item retrieved from a database.
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising: compiling an
inventory of available items using, at least in part, information
about a plurality of items in an apparatus; retrieving one or more
recipes that that can be prepared using the available items; and
causing display of the one or more recipes on a user interface.
20. The method of claim 11, wherein an apparatus is the cabinet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/763,811, filed Feb. 12, 2013, which application
is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This application relates generally to hybrid
electronic/non-electronic components. More specifically, the
application relates to a smart cabinet.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Every household contains at least one cabinet, whether it be
a storage cabinet, pantry cabinet, kitchen cabinet, garage cabinet,
medicine cabinet, or other type of cabinet. The goal of most of
these cabinets is simply to store items. Users have varying degrees
of reliability when it comes to tracking the items placed in these
cabinets (to remember, for example, which item is in which cabinet,
and the expiration dates of items in the cabinet) and to track the
inventory levels of the cabinets (to remember, for example, to
purchase more of an item when shopping).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a network diagram depicting a client-server
system, within which one example embodiment may be deployed.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating marketplace and
payment applications that, in one example embodiment, are provided
as part of the networked system.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a smart cabinet
in accordance with an example embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating various scenarios in
accordance with an example embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a screen capture illustrating a user interface in
accordance with an example embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 6 is another screen capture illustrating the user
interface in accordance with an example embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 7 is another screen capture illustrating the user
interface in accordance with another example embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 8 is another screen capture illustrating the user
interface in accordance with another example embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 9 is another screen capture illustrating the user
interface in accordance with another example embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in
accordance with an example embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method in
accordance with an example embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating components of a
machine, according to some example embodiments, able to read
instructions from a machine-readable medium (e.g., a
machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the
methodologies discussed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The description that follows includes illustrative systems,
methods, techniques, instruction sequences, and computing machine
program products that embody illustrative embodiments. In the
following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous
specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding
of various embodiments of the inventive subject matter. It will be
evident, however, to those skilled in the art, that embodiments of
the inventive subject matter may be practiced without these
specific details. In general, well-known instruction instances,
protocols, structures, and techniques have not been shown in
detail.
[0017] In an example embodiment, a smart cabinet is provided that
tracks which items are placed within it, and as these items are
used/consumed, tracks the amount of these items that remains. In
some example embodiments, the system may then remind users when
item inventory is low so that the user may reorder the item, or in
some cases the system may reorder the item automatically.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a network diagram depicting a client-server system
100, within which one example embodiment may be deployed. A
networked system 102, in the example form of a network-based
marketplace or publication system, provides server-side
functionality, via a network 104 (e.g., the Internet or a wide area
network (WAN)) to one or more clients. FIG. 1 illustrates, for
example, a web client 106 (e.g., a browser, such as the Internet
Explorer browser developed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,
Wash. State) and a programmatic client 108 executing on respective
smart cabinets 110 and 112.
[0019] An API server 114 and a web server 116 are coupled to, and
provide programmatic and web interfaces respectively to, one or
more application servers 118. The application servers 118 host one
or more marketplace applications 120 and payment applications 122.
The application servers 118 are, in turn, shown to be coupled to
one or more database servers 124 that facilitate access to one or
more databases 126.
[0020] The marketplace applications 120 may provide a number of
marketplace functions and services to users who access the
networked system 102. The payment applications 122 may likewise
provide a number of payment services and functions to users. The
payment applications 122 may allow users to accumulate value (e.g.,
in a commercial currency, such as the U.S. dollar, or a proprietary
currency, such as "points") in accounts, and then later to redeem
the accumulated value for products (e.g., goods or services) that
are made available via the marketplace applications 120. While the
marketplace and payment applications 120 and 122 are shown in FIG.
1 to both form part of the networked system 102, it will be
appreciated that, in alternative embodiments, the payment
applications 122 may form part of a payment service that is
separate and distinct from the networked system 102.
[0021] Further, while the system shown in FIG. 1 employs a
client-server architecture, the embodiments are, of course not
limited to such an architecture, and could equally well find
application in a distributed, or peer-to-peer, architecture system,
for example. The various marketplace and payment applications 120
and 122 could also be implemented as standalone software programs,
which do not necessarily have networking capabilities.
[0022] The web client 106 accesses the various marketplace and
payment applications 120 and 122 via the web interface supported by
the web server 116. Similarly, the programmatic client 108 accesses
the various services and functions provided by the marketplace and
payment applications 120 and 122 via the programmatic interface
provided by the API server 114. The programmatic client 108 may,
for example, be a seller application (e.g., the TurboLister
application developed by eBay Inc., of San Jose, Calif.) to enable
sellers to author and manage listings on the networked system 102
in an off-line manner, and to perform batch-mode communications
between the programmatic client 108 and the networked system
102.
[0023] FIG. 1 also illustrates a third party application 128,
executing on a third party server machine 130, as having
programmatic access to the networked system 102 via the
programmatic interface provided by the API server 114. For example,
the third party application 128 may, utilizing information
retrieved from the networked system 102, support one or more
features or functions on a website hosted by the third party. The
third party website may, for example, provide one or more
promotional, marketplace, or payment functions that are supported
by the relevant applications of the networked system 102.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating marketplace and
payment applications 120 and 122 that, in one example embodiment,
are provided as part of the networked system 102. The applications
120 and 122 may be hosted on dedicated or shared server machines
(not shown) that are communicatively coupled to enable
communications between server machines. The applications 120 and
122 themselves are communicatively coupled (e.g., via appropriate
interfaces) to each other and to various data sources, so as to
allow information to be passed between the applications 120 and 122
or so as to allow the applications 120 and 122 to share and access
common data. The applications 120 and 122 may furthermore access
one or more databases 126 via the database servers 124.
[0025] The networked system 102 may provide a number of publishing,
listing, and price-setting mechanisms whereby a seller may list for
publish information concerning) goods or services for sale, a buyer
can express interest in or indicate a desire to purchase such goods
or services, and a price can be set for a transaction pertaining to
the goods or services. To this end, the marketplace and payment
applications 120 and 122 are shown to include at least one
publication application 200 and one or more auction applications
202, which support auction-format listing and price setting
mechanisms (e.g., English, Dutch, Vickrey, Chinese, Double, Reverse
auctions etc.). The various auction applications 202 may also
provide a number of features in support of such auction-format
listings, such as a reserve price feature whereby a seller may
specify a reserve price in connection with a listing and a
proxy-bidding feature whereby a bidder may invoke automated proxy
bidding.
[0026] A number of fixed-price applications 204 support fixed-price
listing formats (e.g., the traditional classified
advertisement-type listing or a catalogue listing) and buyout-type
listings. Specifically, buyout-type listings (e.g., including the
Buy-it-Now (BIN) technology developed by eBay Inc., of San Jose,
Calif.) may be offered in conjunction with auction-format listings,
and allow a buyer to purchase goods or services, which are also
being offered for sale via an auction, for a fixed-price that is
typically higher than the starting price of the auction.
[0027] Store applications 206 allow a seller to group listings
within a "virtual" store, which may be branded and otherwise
personalized by and for the seller. Such a virtual store may also
offer promotions, incentives, and features that are specific and
personalized to a relevant seller.
[0028] Reputation applications 208 allow users who transact,
utilizing the networked system 102, to establish, build, and
maintain reputations, which may be made available and published to
potential trading partners. Consider that where, for example, the
networked system 102 supports person-to-person trading, users may
otherwise have no history or other reference information whereby
the trustworthiness and credibility of potential trading partners
may be assessed. The reputation applications 208 allow a user (for
example, through feedback provided by other transaction partners)
to establish a reputation within the networked system 102 over
time. Other potential trading partners may then reference such a
reputation for the purposes of assessing credibility and
trustworthiness.
[0029] Personalization applications 210 allow users of the
networked system 102 to personalize various aspects of their
interactions with the networked system 102. For example a user may,
utilizing an appropriate personalization application 210, create a
personalized reference page at which information regarding
transactions to which the user is (or has been) a party may be
viewed. Further, a personalization application 210 may enable a
user to personalize listings and other aspects of their
interactions with the networked system 102 and other parties.
[0030] The networked system 102 may support a number of
marketplaces that are customized, for example, for specific
geographic regions. A version of the networked system 102 may be
customized for the United Kingdom, whereas another version of the
networked system 102 may be customized for the United States. Each
of these versions may operate as an independent marketplace or may
be customized (or internationalized) presentations of a common
underlying marketplace. The networked system 102 may accordingly
include a number of internationalization applications 212 that
customize information (and/or the presentation of information) by
the networked system 102 according to predetermined criteria (e.g.,
geographic, demographic or marketplace criteria). For example, the
internationalization applications 212 may be used to support the
customization of information tier a number of regional websites
that are operated by the networked system 102 and that are
accessible via respective web servers 116.
[0031] Navigation of the networked system 102 may be facilitated by
one or more navigation applications 214. For example, a search
application (as an example of a navigation application 214) may
enable key word searches of listings published via the networked
system 102. A browse application may allow users to browse various
category, catalogue, or inventory data structures according to
which listings may be classified within the networked system 102.
Various other navigation applications 214 may be provided to
supplement the search and browsing applications.
[0032] In order to make listings available via the networked system
102 as visually informing and attractive as possible, the
applications 120 and 122 may include one or more imaging
applications 216, which users may utilize to upload images for
inclusion within listings. An imaging application 216 also operates
to incorporate images within viewed listings. The imaging
applications 216 may also support one or more promotional features,
such as image galleries that are presented to potential buyers. For
example, sellers may pay an additional fee to have an image
included within a gallery of images for promoted items.
[0033] Listing creation applications 218 allow sellers to
conveniently author listings pertaining to goods or services that
they wish to transact via the networked system 102, and listing
management applications 220 allow sellers to manage such listings.
Specifically, where a particular seller has authored and/or
published a large number of listings, the management of such
listings may present a challenge. The listing management
applications 220 provide a number of features (e.g.,
auto-relisting, inventory level monitors, etc.) to assist the
seller in managing such listings. One or more post-listing
management applications 222 also assist sellers with a number of
activities that typically occur post-listing. For example, upon
completion of an auction facilitated by one or more auction
applications 202, a seller may wish to leave feedback regarding a
particular buyer. To this end, a post-listing management
application 222 may provide an interface to one or more reputation
applications 208, so as to allow the seller conveniently to provide
feedback regarding multiple buyers to the reputation applications
208.
[0034] Dispute resolution applications 224 provide mechanisms
whereby disputes arising between transacting parties may be
resolved. For example, the dispute resolution applications 224 may
provide guided procedures whereby the parties are guided through a
number of steps in an attempt to settle a dispute. In the event
that the dispute cannot be settled via the guided procedures, the
dispute may be escalated to a third party mediator or
arbitrator.
[0035] A number of fraud prevention applications 226 implement
fraud detection and prevention mechanisms to reduce the occurrence
of fraud within the networked system 102.
[0036] Messaging applications 228 are responsible for the
generation and delivery of messages to users of the networked
system 102 (such as, for example, messages advising users regarding
the status of listings at the networked system 102 (e.g., providing
"outbid" notices to bidders during an auction process or to provide
promotional and merchandising information to users). Respective
messaging applications 228 may utilize any one of a number of
message delivery networks and platforms to deliver messages to
users. For example, messaging applications 228 may deliver
electronic mail (e-mail), instant message (IM), Short Message
Service (SMS), text, facsimile, or voice (e.g., Voice over IP
(VoIP)) messages via the wired (e.g., the Internet), plain old
telephone service (POTS), or wireless (e.g., mobile, cellular,
WiFi, WiMAX) networks.
[0037] Merchandising applications 230 support various merchandising
functions that are made available to sellers to enable sellers to
increase sales via the networked system 102. The merchandising
applications 230 also operate the various merchandising features
that may be invoked by sellers, and may monitor and track the
success of merchandising strategies employed by sellers.
[0038] The networked system 102 itself, or one or more parties that
transact via the networked system 102, may operate loyalty programs
that are supported by one or more loyalty/promotions applications
232. For example, a buyer may earn loyalty or promotion points for
each transaction established and/or concluded with a particular
seller, and be offered a reward for which accumulated loyalty
points can be redeemed.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a smart cabinet
in accordance with an example embodiment. The cabinet 300 may
include a scale 302 located under a wooden plank 304. The wooden
plank 304 may represent a bottom shelf of an interior of the
cabinet 300. Also located in the cabinet 300 is a near-field
communication (NFC) compatible smartphone 306. The NFC compatible
smartphone 306 acts to automatically register new items placed in
the smart cabinet 300. Each of these items may contain, for
example, an NFC tag 308, such as depicted with respect to item 310.
Upon placement of the item 310 inside the cabinet, the NFC
compatible phone 306 can register that the item has been placed in
the cabinet. If this is a new item, the NFC compatible phone 306
may then add the item 310 to an inventory list for this cabinet
300. Additionally, the scale 302 may be used to register the weight
of the item, which would be the difference between the total weight
registered by the scale 302 after the item 310 has been placed back
on the wooden plank 304 and the total weight previously
registered.
[0040] If the user has merely put back the item 310 after having
removed it, the system may then utilize the scale 302 to determine
how much the weight of the item has changed. The NFC compatible
phone 306 may previously had recorded the weight of the item 310
before it was removed from the cabinet 300. As such, the NFC
compatible phone 306 may then determine how much the weight of the
item 310 has decreased since it was removed from the cabinet 300,
which can be used to determine how much was consumed (or at least
removed from the item 310).
[0041] It should be noted that while a NFC compatible smartphone
306 is described, the tracking and processing of item information
for items 310 in the cabinet 300 could be performed by other
electronic devices. Using an NFC compatible smartphone 306 allows
for the items 310 to be tracked using NFC and also allows data from
the cabinet 300 to be wirelessly transmitted by, for example, a
cellular or data service, to a server for tracking. For example,
the user could log in to a web page, which can access the server
and provide details about the items 310 in the cabinet 300.
Additionally, the NFC compatible smartphone 306 could also
wirelessly transmit alerts, notifications, or other messages to the
user or other entities (e.g., merchants) to perform various tasks
described in more detail below. But there is no necessity that an
NFC compatible smartphone 306 be used, and indeed many other types
of devices could perform these or similar functions. For example,
rather than an NFC component, a bar code scanner could be included
to scan bar codes of items 310 as they are added to the cabinet
300.
[0042] Additionally pictured in a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port
312, which may be used to directly connect another device, such as
a laptop computer 314, to the cabinet 300. This would allow for the
direct access of data stored by the cabinet 300, and could also be
used for configuration purposes.
[0043] It should be noted that the cabinet 300 depicted only has
one shelf: wooden plank 304. If the cabinet 300 is large enough,
there may be a desire to have additional shelves located higher
than the wooden plank 304, which represents the bottom of the
cabinet 300. In such instances, the measurement of items 310 may be
accomplished in different ways. In one example embodiment, the
scale 302 is placed underneath the entire cabinet 300, not just
under a bottom shelf, although in many cabinets 300 the bottom
shelf is the structural bottom of the cabinet 300 anyway. In
another example embodiment, a separate scale 302 could be provided
for each shelf, or even portions of shelves. In another example
embodiment, the interior of the cabinet 300 may be designed so that
the weight on higher shelves is transferred to the wooden plank
304, such as if vertical members connecting the upper shelves to
the wooden plank are provided and used as shelf supports.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating various scenarios in
accordance with an example embodiment. In a first scenario 400, a
user places an item into a cabinet. At 402, an NFC compatible phone
scans an NFC tag on the item. At 404, a weight measurement of the
cabinet is taken. A database 406 is then used to store the item and
weight. This database 406 may be located at the smart cabinet
itself, such as on the NFC compatible phone, or alternatively may
be located on a separate server. A client application 408 can then
use the updated inventory and weight to perform a number of
different activities, described below.
[0045] In a second scenario, 410, a user removes an item from the
cabinet. At 412, the NFC compatible phone scans an NFC tag of the
item and at 414 a weight measurement of the cabinet is taken. The
database 416 then marks the item as "checked out". When the user
then puts the item back, at 418 an arrival scan is performed for
the item, and at 420 the weight of the cabinet is measured again.
The database 416 then updates its records with the new weight and
marks the item as checked in.
[0046] FIG. 5 is a screen capture illustrating a user interface in
accordance with an example embodiment. The user interface 500 may
include selectable buttons, including an inventory button 502, a
shopping list button 504, a subscriptions button 506, a consumed
button 508, and a recipe match button 510. In this screen capture,
the user has selected the inventory button 502, which has brought
up a selectable list of items 512a, 512b, 512c in the cabinet. Next
to each item 512a, 512b, 512c is a quantity indicator 514a, which
indicates the remaining quantity of the item 512a in the cabinet.
Additionally, a subscription button 516 allows the user to easily
subscribe to the item 512a. Subscribing to an item 512a allows the
system to automatically order more of the item 512a, or
automatically add the item 512a to a shopping list. This may be
performed when the quantity of the item 512a is low (i.e., falls
below a certain threshold, which may be either set by the system or
by the user). Alternatively, the subscription may be based on time
(e.g., reorder once a month).
[0047] In this screen capture, the user has selected a box of
cereal 512a, which brings up an information window. The information
window may provide various information obtained from outside
sources, such as information servers. For example, nutritional
information 518 may be provided, retrieved from a server linking
the product identification (such as scanned NFC tag) to a product
database. A discount area 520 may also be provided, which provides
details on discounts available for the item 512a at, for example,
stores local to the user's address 522 (online sources for the item
512a could also be listed).
[0048] A number of additional pieces of information could be
provided to help people who are watching their food intake (e.g.,
dieters) or people watching their finances. This includes
information on the amount consumed 524. This may be presented in
various time periods, such as the amount consumed today and the
amount consumed this month. Calories consumed can be calculated
using the nutritional information 518 and displayed to the user in
this area as well, which is helpful for dieters in seeing just how
many calories they have consumed from their food. Additionally,
cost estimates can also be provided which can help people who are
watching their finances realize what exactly they are spending
their money on. For example, in this screen capture, the user has
consumed 1 bowls of this cereal today, resulting in 176 calories
and costing $1.11. This may not sounds like a lot, but for the
month, the user has consumed 8 boxes of the cereal, resulting in
9920 calories and $37.50. A nutritious alternative area 526 may be
provided, presenting a suggestion as to a different item that has
fewer calories. After seeing how many total calories the user has
consumed of this product a month, he or she may be more likely to
select a nutritious alternative, especially if one is
suggested.
[0049] FIG. 6 is another screen capture illustrating the user
interface in accordance with an example embodiment. Here, the user
has selected a "more nutritious option" and been presented with
user interface 600, which includes the original item 602a along
with the more nutritious item 602b side-by-side. This allows the
user to easily compare, for example, the nutritional information of
both items 602a and 602b.
[0050] FIG. 7 is another screen capture illustrating the user
interface in accordance with another example embodiment. Here, a
different view is presented of inventory in the smart cabinet, with
the user interface 700 depicting items 702a-702e side-by-side. A
bar graph 704a-704e under each item indicates how much inventory is
left, which is also indicated numerically at 706a-706e. Items
702a-702e whose quantities have fallen below a threshold may be
renewed automatically (if a subscription is in place), such as with
item 702e. Additionally, the expiration dates of the items
702a-702e may be tracked and displayed. Items 702a-702e that are
past their expiration may be marked as such, such as with item
702b. The expiration dates may also be used to proactively order
additional quantities, such as if the expiration date falls within
the next few days, the system may initiate a message to reorder or
pick up the item 702b.
[0051] FIG. 8 is another screen capture illustrating the user
interface in accordance with another example embodiment. Here, the
user has selected a "subscriptions" option and been presented with
user interface 800, depicts a listing of items 802a, 802b to which
the user has subscribed. The subscription may indicate the merchant
from which to reorder the item 802a or 802b, as well as an
indication of how often to renew (e.g., as needed, once a week,
once a month, etc.)
[0052] FIG. 9 is another screen capture illustrating the user
interface in accordance with another example embodiment. Here, the
user has selected a "recipe match" option and been presented with
user interface 900, depicts a listing of recipes 902a, 902b that
can be made with the items 702a-702e in the user's cabinet 300. In
some embodiments, it is not necessary for all the ingredients to be
owned by the user in order for the recipe to be shown. Recipes may
be shown if the user owns the majority of the items 702a-702e in
the recipe, or the major items to make the recipe.
[0053] It should be noted that while the above descriptions focus
on a single smart cabinet, in some embodiments multiple smart
cabinets may be networked and may exchange information. Thus, for
the recipe match option described above, the system may know that,
for example, some of the items 702a-702e for the recipe are located
in a pantry cabinet and some are located in a refrigerator.
[0054] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 1000 in
accordance with an example embodiment. At operation 1002, a weight
of a cabinet 300 is recorded. This weight may reflect the weight of
the cabinet prior to an item being added or removed. This recording
may be accomplished by, for example, periodically establishing a
weight measurement and recording that weight measurement. In one
example embodiment, the weight may be recorded once a minute,
although one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the
period may be varied.
[0055] At operation 1004, an NFC scan of an item may be detected.
This may be prompted by, for example, movement of the item over or
near an NFC scanner. The movement may reflect either an item being
added or an item being removed. At operation 1006, it is determined
whether the item is being added or removed. This may be
accomplished by, for example, comparing information about the item
as scanned by the NFC scanner to an inventory list to determine
whether the item has been previously "checked out". It may be
assumed that if the NFC scan occurs after an item had previously
been checked out, or no item information is contained in memory
about the item, that the item is being added to the cabinet.
Otherwise, the item is being removed.
[0056] Assuming the item is being added, at operation 1008, a
current weight of the cabinet is obtained. Then, at operation 1010
the weight of the item is determined by subtracting the current
weight of the cabinet from the previously recorded (e.g., at
operation 1002) weight of the cabinet. At operation 1012, item
information and the weight of the item can be added to memory.
[0057] If it was determined that the item is being removed, then at
operation 1014, a current weight of the cabinet is obtained. Then
at operation 1016, the weight of the item is determined by
subtracting the previously recorded (e.g., at operation 1102)
weight of the cabinet from the current weight of the cabinet. At
operation 1018, the weight for the item may be updated in memory
(it previously having been recorded when the item was added to the
cabinet).
[0058] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method 1100 in
accordance with an example embodiment. This method 1100 utilizes a
scanner 1102, scale 1104, processor 1106, memory 1108, nutrition
tracking module 1110, and cost tracking module 1112. At operation
1114, an item is detected by the scanner 1102. At operation 1116,
information about the item is passed to the processor 1106. At
operation 1118, the processor 1106 initiates a scale 1104
measurement. At 1120, the scale 1104 takes a weight. This weight is
passed to the processor 1106 at operation 1122. It should be noted
that an additional step may then be performed by the processor 1106
involving computing the weight of the actual item, if the scale
1104 is unable to calculate that on its own. At operation 1124, the
weight of the item is compared to a predefined threshold and the
item is reordered, if necessary. At operation 1126, the weight and
item in formation is stored in memory 1108.
[0059] At operation 1128, weight and item information is retrieved
from the memory 1108 by the nutrition tracking module 1110. At
operation 1130, the total calories consumed is determined by the
nutrition tracking module 1110. At operation 1132, weight and item
information is retrieved from the memory 1108 by the cost tracking
module 1112. At operation 1134, the total cost consumed is
determined by the nutrition tracking module 1110.
[0060] FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating components of a
machine 1200, according to some example embodiments, able to read
instructions from a machine-readable medium (e.g., a
machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the
methodologies discussed herein. Specifically, FIG. 12 shows a
diagrammatic representation of the machine 1200 in the example
forth of a computer system and within which instructions 1224
(e.g., software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, or
other executable code) for causing the machine 1200 to perform any
one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed.
In alternative embodiments, the machine 1200 operates as a
standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other
machines 1200. In a networked deployment, the machine 1200 may
operate in the capacity of a server machine or a client machine in
a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a
peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine 1200
may be a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer
(PC), a tablet computer, a laptop computer 314, a netbook, a
set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular
telephone, a smartphone, a web appliance, a network router, a
network switch, a network bridge, or any machine 1200 capable of
executing the instructions 1224, sequentially or otherwise, that
specify actions to be taken by that machine 1200. Further, while
only a single machine 1200 is illustrated, the term "machine" shall
also be taken to include a collection of machines 1200 that
individually or jointly execute the instructions 1224 to perform
any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
[0061] The machine 1200 includes a processor 1202 (e.g., a central
processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital
signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit
(ASIC), a radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), or any
suitable combination thereof), a main memory 1204, and a static
memory 1206, which are configured to communicate with each other
via a bus 1208. The machine 1200 may further include a graphics
display 1210 (e.g., a plasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting
diode (LED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a projector,
or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The machine 1200 may also include an
alpha-numeric input device 1212 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor
control device 1214 (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, a
joystick, a motion sensor, or other pointing instrument), a storage
unit 1216, a signal generation device 12118 (e.g., a speaker), and
a network interface device 1220.
[0062] The storage unit 1216 includes a machine-readable medium
1222 on which is stored the instructions 1224 embodying any one or
more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The
instructions 1224 may also reside, completely or at least
partially, within the main memory 1204, within the processor 1202
(e.g., within the processor's cache memory), or both, during
execution thereof by the machine 1200. Accordingly, the main memory
1204 and the processor 1202 may be considered as machine-readable
media 1222. The instructions 1224 may be transmitted or received
over a network 1226 via the network interface device 1220.
[0063] As used herein, the term "memory" refers to a
machine-readable medium 1222 able to store data temporarily or
permanently and may be taken to include, but not be limited to,
random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), buffer memory,
flash memory, and cache memory. While the machine-readable medium
1222 is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the
term "machine-readable medium" should be taken to include a single
medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed
database, or associated caches and servers) able to store
instructions 1224. The term "machine-readable medium" shall also be
taken to include any medium, or combination of multiple media, that
is capable of storing instructions 1224 for execution by a machine
(e.g., machine 1200), such that the instructions 1224, when
executed by one or more processors 1202 of the machine 1200 (e.g.,
processor 1202), cause the machine 1200 to perform any one or more
of the methodologies described herein. Accordingly, a
"machine-readable medium" refers to a single storage apparatus or
device, as well as "cloud-based" storage systems or storage
networks that include multiple storage apparatus or devices. The
term "machine-readable medium" shall accordingly be taken to
include, but not be limited to, one or more data repositories in
the form of a solid-state memory, an optical medium, a magnetic
medium, or any suitable combination thereof.
[0064] The instructions 1224 may further be transmitted or received
over a communications network. 1226 using a transmission medium via
the network interface device 1220 and utilizing any one of a number
of well-known transfer protocols (e.g., HTTP). Examples of
communication networks include a local area network (LAN), a wide
area network (WAN), the Internet, mobile telephone networks, POTS
networks, and wireless data networks (e.g., WiFi and WiMAX
networks). The term "transmission medium" shall be taken to include
any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or
carrying instructions 1224 for execution by the machine 1200, and
includes digital or analog communications signals or other
intangible medium to facilitate communication of such software.
[0065] Throughout this specification, plural instances may
implement components, operations, or structures described as a
single instance. Although individual operations of one or more
methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one
or more of the individual operations may be performed concurrently,
and nothing requires that the operations be performed in the order
illustrated. Structures and functionality presented as separate
components in example configurations may be implemented as a
combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and
functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as
separate components. These and other variations, modifications,
additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject
matter herein.
[0066] Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic
or a number of components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules may
constitute either software modules (e.g., code embodied on a
machine-readable medium or in a transmission signal) or hardware
modules. A "hardware module" is a tangible unit capable of
performing certain operations and may be configured or arranged in
a certain physical manner. In various example embodiments, one or
more computer systems (e.g., a standalone computer system, a client
computer system, or a server computer system) or one or more
hardware modules of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a group
of processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application
or application portion) as a hardware module that operates to
perform certain operations as described herein.
[0067] In some embodiments, a hardware module may be implemented
mechanically, electronically, or any suitable combination thereof.
For example, a hardware module may include dedicated circuitry or
logic that is permanently configured to perform certain operations.
For example, a hardware module may be a special-purpose processor,
such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an ASIC. A
hardware module may also include programmable logic or circuitry
that is temporarily configured by software to perform certain
operations. For example, a hardware module may include software
encompassed within a general-purpose processor or other
programmable processor 1202. It will be appreciated that the
decision to implement a hardware module mechanically, in dedicated
and permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configured
circuitry configured by software) may be driven by cost and time
considerations.
[0068] Accordingly, the phrase "hardware module" should be
understood to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that
is physically constructed, permanently configured (e.g.,
hardwired), or temporarily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate
in a certain manner or to perform certain operations described
herein. As used herein, "hardware-implemented module" refers to a
hardware module. Considering embodiments in which hardware modules
are temporarily configured (e.g., programmed), each of the hardware
modules need not be configured or instantiated at any one instance
in time. For example, where a hardware module comprises a
general-purpose processor 1202 configured by software to become a
special-purpose processor 1202, the general-purpose processor 1202
may be configured as respectively different special-purpose
processors 1202 (e.g., comprising different hardware modules) at
different times. Software may accordingly configure a processor
1202, for example, to constitute a particular hardware module at
one instance of time and to constitute a different hardware module
at a different instance of time.
[0069] Hardware modules can provide information to, and receive
information from, other hardware modules. Accordingly, the
described hardware modules may be regarded as being communicatively
coupled. Where multiple hardware modules exist contemporaneously,
communications may be achieved through signal transmission (e.g.,
over appropriate circuits and buses) between or among two or more
of the hardware modules. In embodiments in which multiple hardware
modules are configured or instantiated at different times,
communications between such hardware modules may be achieved, for
example, through the storage and retrieval of information in memory
structures to which the multiple hardware modules have access. For
example, one hardware module may perform an operation and store the
output of that operation in a memory device to which it is
communicatively coupled. A further hardware module may then, at a
later time, access the memory device to retrieve and process the
stored output. Hardware modules may also initiate communications
with input or output devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g.,
a collection of information).
[0070] The various operations of example methods described herein
may be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors
1202 that are temporarily configured (e.g., by software) or
permanently configured to perform the relevant operations. Whether
temporarily or permanently configured, such processors 1202 may
constitute processor-implemented modules that operate to perform
one or more operations or functions described herein. As used
herein, "processor-implemented module" refers to a hardware module
implemented using one or more processors 1202.
[0071] Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least
partially processor-implemented, a processor 1202 being an example
of hardware. For example, at least some of the operations of a
method may be performed by one or more processors 1202 or
processor-implemented modules. Moreover, the one or more processors
1202 may also operate to support performance of the relevant
operations in a "cloud computing" environment or as a "software as
a service" (SaaS). For example, at least some of the operations may
be performed by a group of computers (as examples of machines
including processors), with these operations being accessible via a
network 1226 (e.g., the Internet) and via one or more appropriate
interfaces (e.g., an application program interface (API)).
[0072] The performance of certain of the operations may be
distributed among the one or more processors 1202, not only
residing within a single machine 1200, but deployed across a number
of machines 1200. In some example embodiments, the one or more
processors 1202 or processor-implemented modules may be located in
a single geographic location (e.g., within a home environment, an
office environment, or a server farm). In other example
embodiments, the one or more processors 1202 or
processor-implemented modules may be distributed across a number of
geographic locations.
[0073] Although an overview of the inventive subject matter has
been described with reference to specific example embodiments,
various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments
without departing from the broader spirit and scope of embodiments
of the present invention. Such embodiments of the inventive subject
matter may be referred to herein, individually or collectively, by
the term "invention" merely for convenience and without intending
to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single
invention or inventive concept if more than one is, in fact,
disclosed.
[0074] The embodiments illustrated herein are described in
sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the teachings disclosed. Other embodiments may be used and derived
therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and
changes may be made without departing from the scope of this
disclosure. The Detailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken
in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments is
defined only by the appended along with the full range of
equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
[0075] As used herein, the term "or" may be construed in either an
inclusive or exclusive sense. Moreover, plural instances may be
provided for resources, operations, or structures described herein
as a single instance. Additionally, boundaries between various
resources, operations, modules, engines, and data stores are
somewhat arbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in a
context of specific illustrative configurations. Other allocations
of functionality are envisioned and may fall within a scope of
various embodiments of the present invention. In general,
structures and functionality presented as separate resources in the
example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure
or resource. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a
single resource may be implemented as separate resources. These and
other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall
within a scope of embodiments of the present invention as
represented by the appended claims. The specification and drawings
are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a
restrictive sense.
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