Smart packaging and display system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10951269-B2
Application number	US-201916388402-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2019
Priority date	Apr 20, 2018
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

A smart packaging system and a smart display system and methods relating thereto are disclosed herein. In various embodiments, the packaging system may include an inner package, an outer package, and an identification tag disposed between said inner package and said outer package. Said identification tag may be a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, a near-field communication (NFC) identification tag, or any variation thereof. In various embodiments, the display system may include a display shelf for positively positioning a plurality of product packages, at least one near-field communication antenna, and a control system. Each of said plurality of product packages may include said identification tag. Said control system may transmit and receive product information data to and from said identification tag for each of said plurality of product packages.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A smart display system for a plurality of product packages comprising:
a product display comprising a display shelf having a plurality of product package locations for positively locating said plurality of product packages on a first side of said display shelf and a plurality of openings in said display shelf, said display shelf further comprising a drawer movable from a home position in said product display;
a sensor for determining when said drawer has been placed in said home position; and
a control system comprising a processor, a concomitant memory, a plurality of inputs and outputs operatively connected to said processor, a user interface, and a plurality of near-field communication antennae operatively connected to said processor, wherein each of said plurality of near-field communication antennae is positioned proximate a respective one of said plurality of product package locations and each of said plurality of openings in said display shelf at a second side of said display shelf that is opposite said first side of said display shelf;
wherein each of said plurality of product packages has an identification tag capable of near-field communication with one of said plurality of near-field communications antennae, each of said identification tags being secured to a respective one of the plurality of product packages at positions proximate a respective one of said plurality of near-field communication antennae when each of said plurality of product packages are positioned in a respective one of said plurality of product package locations;
wherein said processor is configured to transmit and receive data to and from the identification tag of each of said plurality of product packages when said drawer is placed in said home position.

2. The smart display system of claim 1 , wherein said display shelf comprises:
a plurality of slots for holding each of said plurality of product packages in spaced relation with said near-field communication antennae, wherein each of said plurality of product packages are of a predetermined shape.

3. The smart display system of claim 1 , wherein said control system transmits and receives product identification data to and from said identification tag at periodic intervals.

4. The smart display system of claim 3 further comprising:
a communications interface operably connected to said processor; and
a server having a concomitant database in communication with said processor for collecting said product identification data.

5. The smart display system of claim 1 , wherein said identification tag includes data relating to at least one of an inventory identification, a brand identification, and a pack identification; and
wherein said processor transmits said data to said server at predetermined intervals.

6. The smart display system of claim 4 , wherein said processor denotes a missing product package as a sold product; and
wherein said processor transmits data representing sold products to said server.

7. The smart display system of claim 1 , wherein said identification tag includes data related to product marketing information.

8. The smart display system of claim 1 , wherein said display shelf comprises a non-metallic material.

9. A smart display system for a plurality of product packages comprising:
a product display having a display shelf with a plurality of product package locations disposed thereon for positively positioning each of said plurality of product packages, said display shelf being moveable between a home position and a forward position, said forward position being an extended position that facilitates restocking of product packages;
a control system having a processor, a concomitant memory, a plurality of inputs and outputs operatively connected to said processor, a user interface, and a near-field communication antenna operatively connected to said processor; and
a proximity sensor comprising an output operably connected to said control system, said proximity sensor being configured to detect said display shelf being moved into said home position and communicate said detection of the display shelf being moved into said home position to said processor of said control system;
wherein said processor is configured to initiate a read operation via said near-field communication antennae to determine presence or absence of said product packages in said plurality of product package locations in response to receiving said communication from said proximity sensor indicating detection of said display shelf being moved into said home position;
wherein said near-field communication antenna is positioned proximate said plurality of product package locations.

10. The smart display system of claim 9 further comprising:
each of said plurality of product packages having an identification tag capable of near-field communication secured at a predetermined location thereto, said identification tag being positioned proximate said near-field communication antenna when each of said product packages are positioned in a respective one of said plurality of product package locations.

11. The smart display system of claim 10 further comprising:
a communications interface operably connected to said processor; and
a server having a concomitant database in communication with said processor for collecting product identification data.

12. The smart display system of claim 11 , wherein said identification tag includes data relating to at least one of an inventory identification, a brand identification, and a pack identification; and
wherein said processor transmits said product identification data to said server at predetermined intervals.

13. The smart display system of claim 12 , wherein said identification tag includes data relating to product marketing and advertising, and wherein said processor includes a communication link for providing said marketing and advertising information to a remote user.

14. The smart display system of claim 9 further comprising:
each of said plurality of product packages having a radio-frequency identification tag secured at a predetermined location thereto, said radio-frequency identification tag being positioned proximate said near-field communication antenna when each of said product packages are positioned in a respective one of said plurality of product package locations.

15. The smart display system of claim 9 further comprising:
each of said plurality of product packages having a reverse-on-metal radio-frequency identification tag secured at a predetermined location thereto, said reverse-on-metal radio-frequency identification tag being positioned proximate said near-field communication antenna when each of said product packages are positioned in a respective one of said plurality of product package locations.

16. The smart display system of claim 9 further comprising:
each of said plurality of product packages having an radio-frequency identification tag secured at a predetermined location thereto, the radio-frequency identification tag being positioned proximate said near-field communication antenna when said product package is positioned in said at least one product package location when each of said product packages are positioned in a respective one of said plurality of product package locations.

17. The smart display system of claim 9 further comprising:
each of said plurality of product packages having a near-field communication identification tag secured at a predetermined location thereto, said near-field communication identification tag being positioned proxi

Assignees

• Reynolds Tobacco Co R
• Imec Taiwan Co

Inventors

• Sebastian Andries Don
• Sur Rajesh
• Phillips Percy
• Yeh Chung-Hsuan

Classifications

• G06K7/10237 Primary

  the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag · CPC title

• H04B5/20 Primary

  characterised by the transmission technique; characterised by the transmission medium · CPC title

• G06K19/0723

  the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs · CPC title

• G06F3/0484

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• H01Q1/2216

  used in interrogator/reader equipment · CPC title