System and method for securing, releasing, and managing inventory

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system, method, and apparatus for managing a packaging article secured via a locking unit alterable between a locked state and an unlocked state. An indication that a user desires to handle the article may be received and an authorization of the user to handle the article may be performed. An actuator may cause the locking unit to alter from the locked state to the unlocked state, for example, based on the user being authorized to handle the article. Based on the user desiring to purchase the article, inventory information of the article may be updated by decreasing the number of articles in inventory by the article purchased. An account of the user may be charged a cost of the article. An indication may be provided to the user that the article has been purchased.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for managing an article comprising:
 securing the article via a locking unit, the locking unit being alterable between a locked state and an unlocked state;   receiving, via a communication device, an indication that a user desires to handle the article;   performing an authorization of the user to handle the article, wherein the authorization of the user is based on financial information of the user;   causing, via an actuator, the locking unit to alter from the locked state to the unlocked state based on the user being authorized to handle the article;   receiving, via the communication device, an indication of whether the user desires to purchase the article; and   based on the user desiring to purchase the article:
 updating inventory information of the article by decreasing the number of articles in inventory by the article purchased; 
 charging an account of the user a cost of the article; and 
 providing an indication to the user that the article has been purchased. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein based on the user desiring not to purchase the article, the method further comprising:
 indicating to the user to return the article to the locking unit; 
 determining whether a correct article has been returned to the locking unit; and 
 providing an indication to the user that the correct article has been returned to the locking unit, based on a determination that the correct article has been returned to the locking unit. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein at least one or more of an RFID reader, weight scale, scanner, or optical camera is used to determine whether a correct article has been returned to the locking unit. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising storing identification information of the article, the identification information comprising at least one of a name of the article, a brand of the article, a model of the article, a color of the packaged article, or a location of the article. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising updating inventory information with the identification information of the article that was purchased, based on the user desiring to purchase the article. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the locking unit is a hook. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the hook is configured to hold the article via a peg hook packaging. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the locking unit is at least one of a tongue and groove, cable, enclosure with releasable barriers, or a magnet. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 securing the article via the locking unit by coupling the locking unit to a surface in the locked state; and 
 releasing the article via the locking unit by uncoupling the locking unit from the surface in the unlocked state. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 securing the article via the locking unit by rising the locking unit until a free end of the locking unit is coupled to a surface in the locked state; and 
 releasing the article via the locking unit by lowering the locking unit until a free end of the locking unit is uncoupled from the surface in the unlocked state. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is at least one of a servo motor or a solenoid. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a quantity of the article indicated to be in-stock; 
 determining a rate of sale of the article; and 
 ordering additional articles based on the quantity of the article indicated to be in-stock and the rate of sale of the article. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein additional articles are ordered a number of days prior to an estimated sell-out date, the number of days prior to the estimated sell-out date being equivalent to the quantity of the articles indicated to be in-stock divided by the rate of sale of the article. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining a location of the article, the location of the article being equivalent to the location of the locking unit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing, via the communication device, directions to a location of the article. 
     
     
         16 . A method for managing articles comprising:
 providing a plurality of locking units, each of the plurality of locking units being configured to hold a respective article and being alterable between a locked state and an unlocked state;   receiving, via a communication device, an indication that a user desires to return the article to at least one of the plurality of locking units, wherein the article is returnable to any of the plurality of locking units;   determining whether a correct article has been returned to the at least one of the plurality of locking units;   providing an indication to the user that the correct article has been returned to the at least one of the plurality of locking units based on a determination that the correct article has been returned to the locking unit; and   updating inventory information of the article by increasing the number of articles in inventory by the returned article.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the determination that the correct article has been returned to the at least one of the plurality of locking units is based on at least one of an RFID scan of the returned article, a weighing of the returned article, or an image of the returned article. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 performing an authorization of the user to return the article; and 
 causing the at least one of the plurality of locking units to alter from an locked state to an unlocked state based on the user being authorized to return the article.