Systems and Methods for Estimating Product Inventory
Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for estimating product inventory in a retail facility. A system for inventory management comprises: a reusable container comprising a series of computer readable markings stacked vertically along a sidewall of the container such that each computer readable marking corresponds to a possible fill line level of a product in the container, a handheld device, and a control circuit configured to obtain scan data from a computer readable marking that corresponds to a fill line level of the product in the container, and estimate a weight of the product in the container at the particular fill line level by comparing the particular fill line level to a known weight of the product in the container.
1 . A system for estimating product inventory, the system comprising:
a reusable container;
a series of computer readable markings stacked vertically along a sidewall of the container such that each computer readable marking corresponds to a possible fill line level of a product in the container;
a handheld device configured to scan the computer readable markings;
a product database containing product information; and
a control circuit coupled to the handheld device and the product database, the control circuit configured to:
obtain scan data, via the handheld device, from a computer readable marking that corresponds to a fill line level of the product in the container; and
estimate a weight of the product in the container at the particular fill line level by comparing the particular fill line level to a known weight of the product in the container.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the known weight of the product in the container corresponds to a baseline fill line level.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises an inventory database, and the control circuit is further configured to:
detect a change in an inventory level of the product by comparing successive scans of computer readable markings corresponding to different fill line levels of the product in the container at different times; and
update the inventory database with a new inventory level when a change in the inventory level is detected.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further conjured to automatically provide an alert when the estimated weight of the product in the container falls below a predetermined value.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyester, epoxy resin, phenolic resin, polystyrene, polycarbonate, and combinations thereof.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the series of computer readable markings comprises a series of barcodes stacked vertically along the sidewall of the container.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the series of computer readable markings is arranged vertically on an internal surface of the sidewall of the container.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the container comprises a transparent section disposed vertically along the sidewall of the container, and the series of computer readable markings is arranged vertically on an internal or external surface of the transparent section of the container.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the container comprises a transparent section disposed vertically along the sidewall of the container, and the series of computer readable markings is arranged vertically on an internal surface of the container opposite the transparent section such that the series of computer readable markings is visible through the transparent section of the container from outside the container.
10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of reusable containers, each container comprising a series of computer readable markings stacked vertically along sidewall of the container such that each computer readable marking corresponds to a possible fill line level of a product in the container, and each computer readable marking is associated with a weight of the product at the corresponding fill line level in the container.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein each container contains a same product.
12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein each container contains a different product.
13 . An apparatus for estimating product inventory comprising:
a reusable container configured to store a plurality of products, the reusable container comprising a plurality of sidewalls and a base, each of the plurality of sidewalls being connected to the base; and
a series of computer readable markings stacked vertically along one of the plurality of sidewalls such that each of the computer readable markings corresponds to a possible fill line level of the plurality of products in the container,
wherein each of the computer readable markings contains data corresponding to a weight of the plurality of products at its respective fill line level and each of computer readable markings is capable of conveying said data when scanned or otherwise detected.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the series of computer readable markings is arranged vertically on an internal surface of the one of the plurality of sidewalls.
15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the one of the plurality of sidewalls includes a transparent section disposed vertically along the one of the plurality of sidewalls, and the series of computer readable markings is arranged vertically on an internal or external surface of the transparent section of the one of the plurality of sidewalls.
16 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the container comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the second sidewall being disposed opposite the first sidewall,
the first sidewall includes a transparent section that is disposed vertically along the first sidewall, and
the series of computer readable markings is arranged vertically on a portion of an internal surface of the second side wall that is opposite the transparent section of the first sidewall, such that the series of computer readable markings on the internal surface of the second sidewall is visible through the transparent section of the first sidewall from outside the container.
17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the transparent section of the first sidewall is configured to allow the series of computer readable markings on the internal surface of second sidewall to be scanned or otherwise detected through the transparent section of the first sidewall.
18 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the container is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyester, epoxy resin, phenolic resin, polystyrene, polycarbonate, and combinations thereof.
19 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the series of computer readable markings comprises a series of barcodes stacked vertically along the one of the plurality of sidewalls of the container.
20 . A method for estimating product inventory, the method comprising:
providing a reusable container comprising a series of computer readable markings stacked vertically along a sidewall of the container such that each computer readable marking corresponds to a possible fill line level of a product in the container;
scanning, via a handheld device, a computer readable marking on the container that corresponds to a fill line level of the product in the container; and
estimating a weight of the product in the container at the particular fill line level by comparing the particular fill line level to a known weight of the product in the container.