Storage container with inventory control
Systems and methods of the invention relate to managing an inventory of items within a storage container. A storage container can house one or more items for distribution among one or more users such as, for instance, employees. The storage container discussed herein provides authentication of a user, tracking of the inventory each user removes or returns, video/image capture of user during access of the storage container, wireless tracking of items housed within the storage container, among others.
1. An inventory system, comprising:
a storage container having an interior volume with a first shelf and a second shelf, the storage container houses one or more items on the first shelf or the second shelf, wherein the first shelf is above the second shelf;
the storage container includes a first door and a second door providing access to the interior volume, wherein the first door is hinged on a side of the storage container and the second door is hinged on an opposite side of the side of the storage container;
a lock mechanism for the storage container that secures an access to the interior volume through the first door and the second door based upon a verification of an input from the user, wherein the input from the user is wirelessly transmitted;
a camera system that comprises:
a first camera that is affixed to an exterior surface of the storage container, the first camera focused outwardly toward a location in front of the first door and the second door configured to capture image data of the user; and
a second camera that is affixed to an interior side of the first door for movement with the first door, wherein the second camera is positioned on a corner of the interior side of the first door, is focused on the first shelf or the second shelf, and is activated based on release of the lock mechanism, and wherein the first door includes a motion limiting device for assisting the second camera to maintain focus on the first shelf or the second shelf when the first door is open;
a wireless tracking system configured to track a collection of items available to the user during a transaction, the wireless tracking system comprises:
a wireless transmitter on at least one of an item of the collection of items within the interior volume on at least one of the first shelf or the second shelf; and
a wireless receiver that receives a wireless signal from the wireless transmitter; and
a controller component that is configured to record media from the first camera and the second camera upon release of the lock mechanism, wherein the controller component is configured to determine that the transaction is complete, and in response to determining that the transaction is complete, determine a quantity of the collection of items in the storage container based on the wireless signal received by the wireless receiver of the wireless tracking system.
2. The inventory system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third camera that is affixed to an interior side of the second door for movement with the first or the second door, wherein the third camera is focused on the first shelf or the second shelf and activated based on release of the lock mechanism; and
the controller component is further configured to record media from the third camera upon release of the lock mechanism.
3. The inventory system of claim 1 , further comprising an additional wireless receiver configures to receive one or more wireless signals.
4. The inventory system of claim 1 , further comprising a verification component that is configured to receive a portion of data as the input from a user to complete a verification of the input from the user.
5. The inventory system of claim 4 , wherein the portion of data received by the verification component is at least one of a biometric data of the user, a barcode, an identification badge, a number, a code, a face detection of the user, a fingerprint of the user, or a wireless communication from the user.
6. The inventory system of claim 1 , wherein the controller component monitors at least one of a first amount of the first item or a second amount of the second item based on at least one of the wireless signal.
7. The inventory system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless receiver is located on at least one of the first door or the second door.
8. The inventory system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless receiver is located on at least one of the first shelf or the second shelf.
9. The inventory system of claim 1 , further comprising a notification component that is configured to communicate a notification via a network based upon a movement of the item or a change in quantity of the item.
10. An inventory container system, comprising:
a container defining an interior volume with an open side;
a first door moveably hinged on a first side of the open side of the container to provide access to the interior volume through the open side;
a second door moveably hinged on a second side of the open side, opposed to the first side, to provide access to the interior volume through the open side;
a locking component that secures the first door and the second door;
a verification component that selectively activates and deactivates the locking component with respect to at least one of the first door and the second door based on a verification input;
a camera system that comprises:
a first camera that is affixed to an exterior surface of the container and focuses at a position in front of the first door and the second door to capture image data of the user;
a second camera that is affixed to an interior side of the first door, wherein the second camera is positioned on a corner of the interior side of the first door and is focused on the interior volume, and wherein the first door includes a motion limiting device for assisting the second camera to maintain focus on the interior volume when the first door is open; and
a third camera that is affixed to an interior side of the second door, wherein the third camera is focused on the interior volume;
a wireless tracking system configured to track a collection of items available to the user during a transaction, the wireless tracking system comprises:
a wireless transmitter on at least one of an item of the collection of items within the interior volume; and
a wireless receiver that receives a wireless signal from the wireless transmitter; and
a controller component that is configured to record media from one of the first camera, the second camera, or the third camera, wherein the controller component is configured to determine that the transaction is complete, and in response to determining that the transaction is complete, determine a quantity of the collection of items in the container based on the wireless signal received by the wireless receiver of the wireless tracking system.
11. The inventory container system of claim 10 , further comprising a first power source and a second power source, wherein at least one of the first power source and the second power source is a battery backup.
12. The inventory container system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first door and the second door is at least partially transparent.
13. The inventory container system of claim 10 , further comprising a remote access component that provides remote control of at least one of the verification component, the locking component, the camera system, the controller component, or the wireless tracking system.
14. The inventory system of claim 10 , further comprising:
the first door and the second door are movable in a first direction to open the storage container and a second direction to close the storage container;
the first direction is a swinging outward motion away from the storage container; and
the second direction is a swinging inward motion toward the storage container.
15. An inventory system, comprising:
a storage container having an interior volume with a first shelf and a second shelf, the storage container houses one or more items on the first shelf or the second shelf, wherein the first shelf is above the second shelf;
the storage container includes a first door and a second door providing access to the interior volume, wherein the first door is hinged on a side of the storage container and the second door is hinged on an opposite side of the side of the storage container;
a lock mechanism for the storage container that secures an access to the interior volume through the first door and the second door based upon a verification of an input from the user, wherein the input from the user is wirelessly transmitted;
a camera system that includes a first camera and a second camera, wherein:
the first camera is affixed to an exterior surface of the storage container; and
the second camera is affixed to an interior side of the first door or the second door for movement with the first door or the second door respectively, wherein the first door includes a motion limiting device for assisting the second camera to maintain focus on the first shelf or the second shelf when the first door is open;
a wireless tracking system configured to track a collection of items available to the user during a transaction, the wireless tracking system comprises:
a wireless transmitter on at least one of an item of the collection of items within the interior volume on at least one of the first shelf or the second shelf; and
a wireless receiver that receives a wireless signal from the wireless transmitter; and
a controller component that is configured to record media from the first camera, the second camera, and the third camera upon release of the lock mechanism, wherein the controller component is configured to determine that the transaction is complete, and in response to determining that the transaction is complete, determine a quantity of the collection of items in the storage container based on the wireless signal received by the wireless receiver of the wireless tracking system.
16. The inventory system of claim 15 , further comprising a notification component affixed to an exterior of the storage container that is illuminated for service by a signal.
17. The inventory system of claim 16 , the notification component is further configured to communicate a notification via a network based upon a movement of the item or a change in quantity of the item.
18. The inventory system of claim 15 , wherein the controller component monitors at least one of a first amount of the first item or a second amount of the second item based on at least one of the wireless signal.