Smart cabinet

Abstract

An apparatus is provided including a processor, a memory, and a door. A scale is configured to, when the door is opened, measure the weight of an item placed in the apparatus. A scanner is then configured to, when the door is opened, scan an item placed in the apparatus. The processor is then configured to track the weight of the item when the item is placed in the apparatus and to automatically reorder more of the item in response to a determination that the weight of the item has fallen below a predefined threshold.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a memory;   a door;   a scale configured to, when the door is opened, measure a weight of an item placed in the apparatus;   a scanner configured to, when the door is opened, scan the item placed in the apparatus;   the processor configured to track the weight of the item when the item is placed in the apparatus and to automatically reorder more of the item in response to a determination that the weight of the item has fallen below a predefined threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the scanner is a near-field communication (NFC) scanner. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the scanner is a radio frequency identification (RFID) scanner. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a cabinet. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking of the weight of the item includes subtracting a total weight of the apparatus after the item is placed in the apparatus from a total weight of the apparatus immediately prior to the item being placed in the apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the tracking of the weight of the item includes comparing the weight of the item after the item is placed in the apparatus to a previous weight for the item measured prior to the item having been previously removed from the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a nutritional tracking module configured to determine total calories consumed of the item by using the comparison between the weight of the item after the item is placed in the apparatus to a previous weight for the item measured prior to the item having been previously removed from the apparatus along with nutritional information about the item retrieved from a database. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the database is accessed via an Internet. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the nutritional tracking module is further configured to cause the display of the total calories consumed of the item via a user interface. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface is located on a mobile device distinct from the apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 scanning an item as the item is placed in a cabinet;   measuring a weight of the item using a scale in the cabinet;   maintaining information about the item and the weight of the item in a memory for comparison with subsequent weights for the item to determine amounts of the item consumed.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining if the weight of the item is below a predefined threshold; and   in response to a determination that the weight of the item is below the predefined threshold, automatically reordering the item from a merchant.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 identifying an expiration date for the item; and   automatically reordering the item from a merchant in response to a determination that the expiration date is within a predefined number of days from a current date.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein measuring the weight of the item includes subtracting a total weight of the apparatus after the item is placed in the apparatus from a total weight of the apparatus immediately prior to the item being placed in the apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising tracking total calories consumed of the item by using the comparison between the weight of the item after the item is placed in an apparatus to a previous weight for the item measured prior to the item having been previously removed from the apparatus along with nutritional information about the item retrieved from a database. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising causing a display of the total calories consumed of the item via a user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising causing the display of a suggested more nutritious option via the user interface, the more nutrition option being of a similar type as the item but having fewer calories. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising tracking a total cost consumed of the item by using the comparison between the weight of the item after the item is placed in an apparatus to a previous weight for the item measured prior to the item having been previously removed from the apparatus along with cost information about the item retrieved from a database. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 compiling an inventory of available items using, at least in part, information about a plurality of items in an apparatus;   retrieving one or more recipes that that can be prepared using the available items; and   causing display of the one or more recipes on a user interface.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein an apparatus is the cabinet.