Secure smart container assembly, systems, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11468404-B2
Application number	US-202117203672-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2021
Priority date	Jun 27, 2019
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

A bin assembly, bin identification system and method are disclosed. A container bin assembly includes a bin body, a latching mechanism, and controller. A method includes receiving, via a communication interface, an authenticated request to access the smart container, actuating an electromechanical latch to disengage a fastening hook, thereby initiating a mechanical movement of an access component to make an internal compartment accessible, outputting, via an audiovisual element, an alert to identify the container, confirming that the electromechanical latch has re-engaged with the fastening hook, thereby securing the internal compartment, determining a change in a local inventory, and updating the local inventory in a non-volatile data store according to the change.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bin assembly, comprising:
a bin housing adapted to receive bins of varying sizes, the bin housing including a vertical mounting structure;
an audiovisual device;
a bin comprising a latching hook and the bin defining a bin volume, wherein the bin is movable relative to the bin housing to permit access to the bin volume in an open position and to prevent access to the bin volume in a closed position;
an electromechanical latching mechanism coupled to the bin housing, the electromechanical latching mechanism comprising a latching member, wherein the latching member engages the latching hook in a locked position to retain the bin in the closed position and the latching member is spaced apart from the latching hook in a released position; and
a controller configured to:
receive a wireless control signal indicating a user request to access a respective bin of the bin housing;
control movement of the latching member, based at least in part on the wireless control signal, to permit access to the bin volume; and
output, upon movement of the latching member, an alert via the audiovisual device to identify the respective bin and the bin housing from other bins and other bin housings and identify that access to the bin volume is provided.

2. The bin assembly of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
confirm that the electromechanical latching mechanism has re-engaged with the latching hook, thereby securing the bin volume;
determine, after confirming that the electromechanical latching mechanism has re-engaged with the latching hook, a change in a local inventory based on a measurement provided by a sensor within the bin housing; and
update the local inventory in a non-volatile data store responsive to determining the change in the local inventory.

3. The bin assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a load sensor comprising a load cell configured to measure a mass of items within housing,
wherein determining the change in the local inventory comprises:
measuring the mass of items within the housing; and
estimating a changed in an item quantity based on measuring the mass of items within the housing to estimate the change in the local inventory.

4. The bin assembly of claim 3 , further comprising:
a location sensor configured to determine a geographic location of the bin assembly;
wherein the controller is further configured to:
determining an attempt to tamper with or divert contents within the bin housing occurred based on estimating the change in the item quantity; and
responsive to determining that the attempt to tamper with or divert the contents occurred:
determine, based on measurements from the location sensor, a current location and a location history of the bin assembly; and
communicate the current location, the location history, and a status of the local inventory to a computing device remote from a user for display with an alert to the user.

5. The bin assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a temperature and humidity sensors,
wherein the controller is further configured to, after confirming that the electromechanical latching mechanism has re-engaged with the latching hook:
measure temperature and humidity inside the bin volume using the temperature and humidity sensors;
determining an attempt to tamper with or divert contents within the bin housing occurred based on measuring the temperature and humidity inside the bin housing; and
communicate the temperature and humidity inside the bin volume and a status of the local inventory to a computing device remote from the user for display with an alert to a user.

6. The bin assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a location sensor configured to determine a geographic location of the bin assembly;
wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to determining that the attempt to tamper with or divert the contents occurred:
determine, based on measurements from the location sensor, a current location and a location history of the bin assembly;
communicate the current location, the location history, and a status of the local inventory to a computing device remote from the user for display with an alert to a user.

7. The bin assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
one or more shock and vibration sensors;
a location sensor configured to determine a geographic location of the bin assembly;
wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a force applied to the bin assembly responsive to receiving a signal from the one or more shock and vibration sensors;
determine that force applied to the bin assembly satisfies a predetermined detection threshold;
determine, based on the force satisfying the predetermined detection threshold, an attempt to tamper with or divert contents within the bin housing occurred,
determine, based on measurements from the location sensor, a current location and a location history of the bin assembly, and
communicate the current location, the location history, and a status of the local inventory to a computing device remote from a user for display with an alert to the user.

8. A bin identification system, comprising:
a plurality of bin assemblies, wherein each bin assembly of the plurality of bin assemblies comprises:
a bin housing adapted to receive bins of varying sizes, the bin housing including a vertical mounting structure;
an audiovisual device;
a bin comprising a latching hook and the bin defining a bin volume, wherein the bin is movable relative to the bin housing to permit access to the bin volume in an open position and to prevent access to the bin volume in a closed position, wherein each of the bin assemblies of the plurality of bin assemblies is disposed horizontally adjacent or vertically adjacent to a neighboring bin assembly of the plurality of bin assemblies;
an electromechanical latching mechanism configured to engage the latching hook of a respective bin assembly of the plurality of bin assemblies in a locked position to retain the bin of the respective bin assembly of the plurality of bin assemblies in the closed position and to disengage the latching hook of the respective bin assembly of the plurality of bin assemblies in a released position; and
a controller configured to:
receive a wireless control signal indicating a user request to access a respective bin of a respective bin assembly; and
control engagement of the latching hook, based at least in part on the wireless control signal, to permit access to the bin volume;
output, upon movement of the latching hook, an alert via the audiovisual device to identify the respective bin and respective bin assembly, from other bins and the other bin assemblies of the plurality of bin assemblies, and to identify that access to the respective bin is provided.

9. The bin identification system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
confirm that the electromechanical latching mechanism has re-engaged with the latching hook, thereby securing the bin volume;
determine, after confirming that the electromechanical latching mechanism has re-engaged with the latching hook, a change in a local inventory based on a measurement provided by a sensor within the bin housing; and
update the local inventory in a non-volatile data store responsive to determining the change in the local inventory.

10. The bin identification system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a load sensor comprising a load cell configured to measure a mass of items within housing,
wherein determining the change in the local inventory comprises:
measuring the mass of items within the housing; and
estimating a changed in an item quantity based on measuring the m

Assignees

• Carefusion 303 Inc

Inventors

• Rahilly Michael K
• Burgess Brendan John
• Subramanian Ramkumar
• Yusufi Mustafa
• Wyly Monica

Classifications

• G06Q50/08

  Construction · CPC title

• G16H20/13

  delivered from dispensers · CPC title

• G06Q20/3278

  RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices · CPC title

• G06Q20/4012

  Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN] · CPC title

• A61J7/0454

  for dispensing of multiple drugs · CPC title