초록 ▼

In accordance with the present invention, a storage area is provided within a particular home for storing food-related items. A database of intended food-related inventory items for the storage area is adjusted by a controller according to food-related inventory preferences received at the controlle

In accordance with the present invention, a storage area is provided within a particular home for storing food-related items. A database of intended food-related inventory items for the storage area is adjusted by a controller according to food-related inventory preferences received at the controller. The controller updates the database of intended food-related inventory items according to inputs from a monitoring device that monitors the addition and removal of food-related items within the storage area. A communication medium coupled to the controller transmits a selection of items from among the database of intended inventory items that are absent from the storage area.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for managing inventory, said method comprising the steps of: receiving food-related inventory preferences for a each of a plurality of users at a controller for a particular storage area that monitors current food-related inventory in said particular storage area; r

What is claimed is: 1. A method for managing inventory, said method comprising the steps of: receiving food-related inventory preferences for a each of a plurality of users at a controller for a particular storage area that monitors current food-related inventory in said particular storage area; receiving food-related inventory preferences for a particular user from among said plurality of users at said controller from a personal electronic memory digital data storage device proffered by said particular user at said controller; adjusting a current database of intended food-related inventory for said particular storage area at said controller according to said food-related inventory preferences; and determining a selection of food-related items from among said database of intended inventory items that are absent from said particular storage area, such that food-related inventory that is intended for said particular storage area is managed. 2. The method for managing inventory according to claim 1, said step of receiving food-related inventory preferences for a each of a plurality of users at a controller for a particular storage area that monitors current food-related inventory in said particular storage area, further comprising the step of: receiving food-related inventory preferences for each of said plurality of users at said controller from a plurality of portable computer systems. 3. The method for managing inventory according to claim 1, said step of receiving food-related inventory preferences for a each of a plurality of users at a controller for a particular storage area that monitors current food-related inventory in said particular storage area, further comprising the step of: receiving food-related inventory preferences for a particular user from among said plurality of users at said controller via a particular universally accessible server system according to a particular universal identifier associated with said particular user. 4. The method for managing inventory according to claim 1, said step of receiving food-related inventory preferences for a each of a plurality of users at a controller for a particular storage area that monitors current food-related inventory in said particular storage area, further comprising the step of: receiving food-related inventory preferences in an extensible mark-up language data format. 5. The method for managing inventory according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of: periodically receiving records of additions and removals of food-related items from said particular storage area at said controller. 6. The method for managing inventory according to claim 1, said step of adjusting a database of intended food-related inventory for said particular storage area at said controller according to said food-related inventory preferences, further comprising the step of: adding said food-related inventory preferences to a base list of amounts of food-related items intended to be maintained in inventory of said particular storage area. 7. The method for managing inventory according to claim 1, said step of adjusting a database of intended food-related inventory for said particular storage area at said controller according to said food-related inventory preferences, further comprising the step of: adding said food-related inventory preferences to previously received food-related inventory preferences for amounts of food-related items intended to be maintained in inventory of said particular storage area. 8. The method for managing inventory according to claim 1, said step of adjusting a database of intended food-related inventory for said particular storage area at said controller according to said food-related inventory preferences, further comprising the step of: adjusting amounts of food-related items included in said database of intended food-related inventory according to additions and removal of food-related items detected from said particular storage area. 9. The method for managing inventory according to claim 1, said step of adjusting a database of intended food-related inventory for said particular storage area at said controller according to said food-related inventory preferences, further comprising the step of: combining said food-related inventory preferences for each of said plurality of users. 10. The method for managing inventory according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of: transmitting said selection of food-related items that are absent from said particular storage area to a store. 11. The method for managing inventory according to claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of: receiving a request from a particular store for said selection of food-related items that are absent from said particular storage area at a universally accessible server system according to a particular universal identifier associated with said particular storage area; enabling access to said selection of food-related items that are absent from said particular storage area if said particular store is included in a plurality of allowable requesters for said particular storage area. 12. A method for managing inventory by a portable computer system, said method comprising the steps of: receiving food-related inventory preferences for each of a plurality of users at a portable computer system that monitors current food-related inventory in a particular storage area; receiving food-related inventory preferences for a particular user from among said plurality of users at said controller from a personal electronic memory digital data storage device proffered by said particular user proffered by said particular user at said controller; adjusting a current database of intended food-related inventory for said particular storage area at said portable computer system according to said food-related inventory preferences; and determining a selection of food-related items from among said database of intended inventory items that are absent from said particular storage area, such that food-related inventory that is intended for said particular storage area is managed by said portable computer system.