IP Library Granted Patent US 11,581,079
Granted Patent B1
US 11,581,079 · App. 16/657,464 · Granted Feb 14, 2023

System and method for virtual review of a pharmaceutical product filling process

Inventors: Nimesh S. Jhaveri (Kildeer, IL); Laura Jean Tebbe (Antioch, IL); Dejan Kozic (Wadsworth, IL); Fuli E (Mundelein, IL)
Assignee: WALGREEN CO.
G16H20/13G05B15/02
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,581,079
App. No.
16/657,464
Granted
Feb 14, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

Image based and network controlled, security systems and methods are disclosed herein for securely dispensing pharmaceutical products onsite at a physical location. A server receives scanned prescription image corresponding to a prescription of a user and determines a pharmaceutical product and a pharmaceutical product amount of the pharmaceutical product. The server receives, from a pharmaceutical product imaging device positioned within a physically secured pharmacy area, images of the pharmaceutical product, and then transmits, to a visualization user interface application executing on a network computer positioned outside the physically secured pharmacy area, a visual confirmation of the pharmaceutical product and the pharmaceutical product amount. The server receives, from the visualization user interface application, a verification of the visual confirmation, and updates, based on the verification, the user account with a ready state corresponding to the prescription, wherein the ready state indicates that the user may receive the pharmaceutical product.

Claims (36)

1. An image based and network controlled, security system configured to securely dispense pharmaceutical products onsite at a physical location, the image based and network controlled, security system comprising:

a pharmaceutical product imaging device positioned within a physically secured pharmacy area, the pharmaceutical product imaging device configured to capture a plurality of images of pharmaceutical products from multiple viewpoints;

a server communicatively coupled, through a computer network, to the pharmaceutical product imaging device, the server configured to store an account of a user; and

a visualization user interface application configured to execute on a network computer positioned outside the physically secured pharmacy area, the network computer communicatively coupled, via a computer network, to the server,

wherein the server is configured to:

receive, via the computer network, a scanned digital prescription image corresponding to a prescription of the user,

determine, by a software program reading the scanned digital prescription image, a pharmaceutical product and a pharmaceutical product amount of the pharmaceutical product,

receive, from the pharmaceutical product imaging device, digital images of the pharmaceutical product, the digital images captured from multiple viewpoints depicting features in the digital images such as shape, dimension, and/or markings of pharmaceutical product;

transmit, to the visualization user interface application executing on the network computer positioned outside the physically secured pharmacy area, a visual confirmation of the pharmaceutical product and the pharmaceutical product amount, the visual confirmation based on the one or more digital images of the pharmaceutical product,

receive, from the visualization user interface application, a verification of the visual confirmation, and

update, based on the verification, the user account with a ready state corresponding to the prescription, wherein the ready state indicates that the user may receive the pharmaceutical product.

2. The image based and network controlled, security system of claim 1 , wherein the physically secured pharmacy area is at a first physical location, and wherein the network computer is at a second physical location, the first physical location remote to the second physical location.

3. The image based and network controlled, security system of claim 1 further comprising an automated counting device, the automated counting device configured to generate an automated confirmation of the pharmaceutical product amount, wherein the visual confirmation is based on upon the automated confirmation.

4. The image based and network controlled, security system of claim 3 , wherein the automated counting device is a computer vision-based device.

5. The image based and network controlled, security system of claim 4 , wherein computer vision-based device is configured to capture one or more digital images of a vial containing the pharmaceutical product and a prescription label affixed to the vial, the prescription label corresponding to the pharmaceutical product.

6. The image based and network controlled, security system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more images of the prescription label are stored in a memory communicatively coupled to the server.

7. The image based and network controlled, security system of claim 6 , wherein one or more images of each of the scanned digital prescription image, the prescription label, and the pharmaceutical product are transmitted to the network computer positioned outside the physically secured pharmacy area.

8. The image based and network controlled, security system of claim 7 , wherein the server performs a visual comparison the one or more digital images of each of the scanned digital prescription image, the prescription label, and the pharmaceutical product, wherein the visual confirmation includes the visual comparison.

9. The image based and network controlled, security system of claim 7 , wherein the network computer positioned outside the physically secured pharmacy area transmits to the server an indication of acceptance or denial of the pharmaceutical product, the ready state based on the indication.

10. The image based and network controlled, security system of claim 1 , wherein the network computer is a mobile device.

11. An image based and network controlled, security method for securely dispensing pharmaceutical products onsite at a physical location, the image based and network controlled, image based and network controlled, security method comprising:

receiving, at a server via a computer network, a scanned digital prescription image corresponding to a prescription of a user, wherein the server is configured to store an account of a user;

determining, by a software program reading the scanned digital prescription image, a pharmaceutical product and a pharmaceutical product amount of the pharmaceutical product;

receiving, from a pharmaceutical product imaging device, digital images of the pharmaceutical product, wherein the digital images are captured from multiple viewpoints depicting features in the digital images such as shape, dimension, and/or markings of pharmaceutical product, and wherein the pharmaceutical product imaging device is positioned within a physically secured pharmacy area and is configured to capture a plurality of images of pharmaceutical products from multiple viewpoints;

transmitting, to a visualization user interface application executing on a network computer positioned outside the physically secured pharmacy area, a visual confirmation of the pharmaceutical product and the pharmaceutical product amount, the visual confirmation based on the one or more digital images of the pharmaceutical product;

receiving, from the visualization user interface application, a verification of the visual confirmation; and

updating, based on the verification, the user account with a ready state corresponding to the prescription, wherein the ready state indicates that the user may receive the pharmaceutical product.

12. The image based and network controlled, security method of claim 11 , wherein the physically secured pharmacy area is at a first physical location, and wherein the network computer is at a second physical location, the first physical location remote to the second physical location.

13. The image based and network controlled, security method of claim 11 further comprising generating, by an automated counting device an automated confirmation of the pharmaceutical product amount, wherein the visual confirmation is based on upon the automated confirmation.

14. The image based and network controlled, security method of claim 13 , wherein the automated counting device is a computer vision-based device.

15. The image based and network controlled, security method of claim 14 , wherein computer vision-based device is configured to capture one or more digital images of a vial containing the pharmaceutical product and a prescription label affixed to the vial, the prescription label corresponding to the pharmaceutical product.

16. The image based and network controlled, security method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more digital images of the prescription label are stored in a memory communicatively coupled to the server.

17. The image based and network controlled, security method of claim 16 , wherein one or more digital images of each of the scanned digital prescription image, the prescription label, and the pharmaceutical product are transmitted to the network computer positioned outside the physically secured pharmacy area.

18. The image based and network controlled, security method of claim 17 , wherein the server performs a visual comparison the one or more digital images of each of the scanned digital prescription image, the prescription label, and the pharmaceutical product, wherein the visual confirmation includes the visual comparison.

19. The image based and network controlled, security method of claim 17 , wherein the network computer positioned outside the physically secured pharmacy area transmits to the server an indication of acceptance or denial of the pharmaceutical product, the ready state based on the indication.

20. The image based and network controlled, security method of claim 11 , wherein the network computer is a mobile device.

Assignments (3)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2025
From: WALGREEN CO.
To: SIXTH STREET LENDING PARTNERS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072606/0878 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2025
From: WALGREEN CO.; DUANE READE; WALGREENS SPECIALTY PHARMACY LLC; WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072679/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2019
From: JHAVERI, NIMESH S.; TEBBE, LAURA JEAN; KOZIC, DEJAN; E, FULI
To: WALGREEN CO.
Reel/Frame 050775/0578 →
Continuity (1)
Continuation 13443302 · Apr 10, 2012
Cited By (2)
US 12,437,854 US 12,580,061