Smart refrigeration system

Abstract

A smart refrigeration system includes at least one rotatable shelf having at least one storage compartment, the at least one storage compartment having an identification unit for identifying an item in the at least one storage compartment, where the smart refrigeration system is configured to track at least one of weight and freshness information of the item. The identification unit is configured to capture an image of the item or scan a barcode of the item. The smart refrigeration system further includes a reminder unit notifying a user to restock the item. The smart refrigeration system further includes a temperature control unit configured to adjust the temperature of the at least one storage compartment independently from other storage compartments in the smart refrigeration system.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A smart refrigeration system comprising:
 at least one rotatable shelf having at least one storage compartment;   the at least one storage compartment having an identification unit for identifying an item in the at least one storage compartment;   wherein the smart refrigeration system is configured to track at least one of weight and freshness information of the item.   
     
     
         2 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein the identification unit is configured to capture an image of the item or scan a barcode of the item. 
     
     
         3 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 1  further comprising a reminder unit notifying a user to restock the item. 
     
     
         4 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 1  further comprising a temperature control unit configured to adjust a temperature of the at least one storage compartment independently from other storage compartments in the smart refrigeration system. 
     
     
         5 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 1  further comprising a user interface for a user to enter inventory information. 
     
     
         6 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 5  wherein the user interface includes a touch screen panel. 
     
     
         7 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 5  wherein the user interface is configured to display inventory information. 
     
     
         8 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein the smart refrigeration system has a cylindrical shape or a cuboid shape. 
     
     
         9 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein the smart refrigeration system includes a plurality of sensor units. 
     
     
         10 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 1  further comprising a door, wherein at least a portion of the door is transparent, and wherein the transparency is adjustable. 
     
     
         11 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein the smart refrigeration system is configured to adjust a temperature of the at least one storage compartment in response to a user command. 
     
     
         12 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one storage compartment is an automatically retractable storage compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one rotatable shelf is configured to rotate in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. 
     
     
         14 . A smart refrigeration system comprising:
 at least one rotatable shelf having at least one storage compartment;   the at least one storage compartment having an identification unit for identifying an item in the at least one storage compartment;   a communication unit for providing inventory information of the item to a portable device through a wireless link.   
     
     
         15 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 14  wherein the at least one rotatable shelf is configured to rotate in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. 
     
     
         16 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 14  further comprising a temperature control unit configured to adjust the temperature of the at least one storage compartment independently from other storage compartments in the smart refrigeration system. 
     
     
         17 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 16  wherein the temperature of the at least one storage compartment is adjusted by a user command through the portable device. 
     
     
         18 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 14  wherein the smart refrigeration system has a cylindrical shape or a cuboid shape. 
     
     
         19 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 14  further comprising a plurality of sensing units, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensing units includes at least one of a weight sensor or a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The smart refrigeration system of  claim 14  wherein the at least one storage compartment is an automatically retractable storage compartment.