System and Method for Control of Bailment Inventory

Abstract

Provided is a system and method for control of bailment inventory is disclosed. The method includes receiving a customer identifier and a bailment item from the customer. A digital identification device is stored with the bailment item. Subsequently, during check-out, the customer identifier is received for a second time and a signal is sent to the digital identification device causing it to alert the attendant, allowing the bailment items to be retrieved. Also provided is a method for control of bailment inventory, comprising the steps of: receiving a customer identifier for a first time from a customer, the customer identifier received for the first time on any of two or more input devices configured to receive the customer identifier, receiving from the customer at least one customer item for bailment; associating the customer identifier with a digital identification device; optionally attaching the digital identification device directly or indirectly to the bailment item; storing the bailment item with the attached digital identification device; receiving the customer identifier from the customer for a second time, the customer identifier received for the second time capable of being received on any of the two or more input devices; sending a signal to the digital identification device (DID) to cause an action that draws attention to the digital identification device; and retrieving the bailment item, wherein receiving the customer identifier for the first time and the second time can be with same or different of the two or more input devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A method for control of bailment inventory, comprising the steps of:
 a. receiving a customer identifier for a first time from a customer, the customer identifier received for the first time on any of two or more mobile input devices configured to receive the customer identifier, the two or more input devices configured to directly communicate with each other at least in absence of connection to a server,   b. receiving from the customer at least one customer item for bailment;   c. receiving the customer identifier from the customer for a second time, the customer identifier received for the second time capable of being received on any of the two or more input devices, wherein receiving the customer identifier for the first time and the second time can be with same or different of the two or more input devices;   d. updating of bailment information on the input devices by direct communication between the input device; and   e. retrieving the bailment item;   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the two or more input devices communicate with each other on a local master. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the input devices communicate in a peer-to-peer network. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the network between the input devices is disabled as a default when a communication with a server through internet is established. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the network is WiFi (wireless Fidelity) direct or Bluetooth. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the input devices are configured to communicate with the server over a communication network, and the server is configured to update the input devices. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the step of associating is carried out through coupling at a distance of less than one meter. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the step of associating further comprises configuring the input devices to communicate with NFC (Near Field Communication). 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the customer identifier is selected from the group consisting of at least one of a phone number, an identification number, a biometric fingerprint, facial recognition, a credit card having a chip, a credit card having a magnetic strip, a barcode, a mobile application-generated barcode, and a mobile payment identification. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein in absence of a connection to a server, communication between the input devices is carried out with a local master or peer-to-peer. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the method can be carried out in the absence of an internet connection to a server. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the input device is a tablet computer. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the bailment item is a coat. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the bailment item is selected from the group consisting of: a coat, clothing, an automobile, a suitcase, a bag, electronics, a camera, a ski, sports equipment, a computer, a boat, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a motorcycle, jewelry, gold, money, valuable chattel, toys, headphones, roller skates, and a bicycle. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the steps b and e are carried out by an attendant. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the input devices are configured to communicate with a cloud based server with WiFi, and in event of a failure of the WiFi, to communicate to the server through a cellular network, and in event of failure of both the WiFi and the cellular network, to operate without the cloud based server. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the bailment item is a coat, and the coat is placed on a hanger, the hanger configured to communicate with the input devices for associating the customer identifier with a digital identification device. 
     
     
         65 . A computer-implemented bailment system comprising:
 a. two or more mobile input devices configured to receive a customer identifier,   b. one of following configurations when a server/client communication is not established
 i) a master/slave configuration where a local master updates the input devices, 
 ii) a peer-to-peer configuration among the input devices; 
   wherein the system is configured to receive the customer identifier at check-in and check-out at any one of the plurality of input devices.   
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 65 , wherein the master/slave and peer-to-peer communication is disabled when communication is carried out with the server/client configuration. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 65 , wherein the master/slave and peer-to-peer communication is carried out with a network selected from the group consisting of WiFi (wireless Fidelity) direct and Bluetooth.