Retail identification and inventory system
An interactive retail identification system for identifying a retail object based upon known or identified features of master object is disclosed, wherein the system utilizes a graphical user interface having a computer display screen for displaying a plurality of input fields related to a retail object and an input device for selecting variables based upon a physical inspection of a known master object having known or identifiable features. The graphical user interface is electronically connected to a database which identifies a specific retail object equivalent to the master object through comparison of the retail object variables. The systems includes a plurality of compartments for holding retail objects based upon the retail object variables and an indicator for identifying the compartment having the retail object is provided.
1. An interactive retail identification system for identifying one or more retail objects based upon known or identified features of a master object, said system comprising:
a user interface located at a first structure comprising an input device for prompting a user with one or more input choices related to a physical attribute of the master object based upon a physical inspection of the master object;
a database containing information related to a plurality of retail objects for identifying one or more specific retail objects that match the inputs selected by the user;
a plurality of storage locations for holding retail objects, said storage locations located at a second structure away from said first structure;
a plurality of indicators each located at a storage location for identifying the storage locations of one or more retail objects identified by the database; and
wherein said database is configured to narrow the field of retail objects that match the physical attribute input by a user and update all indicators related to retail objects that match the input choices in real time.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a tracking component for recording and monitoring variables related to utilization of the system.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the variables recorded and monitored by the tracking component include information related to inventory levels of the retail objects in the storage locations.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the system operates over a computerized network.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the database is selectively updated via the computerized network and wherein the computerized network is selected from the group consisting of: a local area network, a wide area network and the internet.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the tracking component transmits the variables related to utilization of the system over the computerized network.
7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a user help component for providing the user with assistance in operating the system.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the retail object is a fastener article.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fastener article is selected from the group consisting of: a screw, a nut, a bolt, a washer, a pin, or a hook.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is configured to confirm that the retail object matches the features of the master object.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the system further comprises a radio frequency identification device.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator further comprises: an LCD display configured to displaying information related to the identified retail object.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the LCD display configured to display the price of the retail object.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the user interface is a touch screen display.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of storage locations comprises at least one spiral compartment configured to holding retail objects.
16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a motor operably connected to the spiral compartment and configured to rotating the spiral compartment to reveal spiral compartments having the identified retail object.