Method, non-transitory computer-readable media, and system for e-commerce replacement or replenishment of consumable

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12046328-B2
Application number	US-202218055469-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2022
Priority date	Dec 31, 2014
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

Methods and systems for replenishing a consumable include order satisfaction responsive to an indication of imminent failure or depletion of a consumable based on detected parameters. A sensor reading may indicate that a consumable is performing below a threshold, or has limited remaining capacity. Responsive to a determination that a replacement is necessary, the method may recommend one or more alternatives. The recommendation may be made based on how closely a candidate replacement's performance or other characteristic (e.g. cost, capacity) matches that of a currently-used consumable. The recommendation may be based on one or more attributes of a candidate replacement compared to a currently-used consumable. An order may be automatically placed according to the currently-used consumable or the recommended alternative(s). The order may be delivered with instructions regarding where and when to replace the consumable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of replacing a consumable, the method comprising:
filtering a fluid with the consumable disposed at a device;
sensing a volumetric filtration characteristic of the filtered fluid with an on-body sensor disposed at the device, the volumetric filtration characteristic being associated with contaminants in the fluid after filtering the fluid;
comparing the sensed volumetric filtration characteristic with a threshold to determine an effectiveness of the consumable;
receiving sensor settings of an environment within which the device is used by a user of the device from an off-body sensor placed within the environment, the environment being affected by an output of the device and the sensing relating to sensing an effect of the output of the device on the environment;
responsive to the effectiveness of the consumable being below a threshold and the settings of the environment, determining an availability of a first replacement consumable;
receiving user habits relating to use of the consumable by the user of the consumable;
responsive to a determination that the first replacement consumable is unavailable, identifying a second replacement consumable as an alternative to the first replacement consumable based on:
a specification of the consumable;
the user habits relating to the consumable; and
the second replacement consumable exceeding the volumetric filtration specification of the consumable; and

automatically placing an order for the second replacement consumable.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user habits are measurable with a sensor and relate to one of a length of time, a time of usage, and a purpose for which the consumable is used.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the order is placed based on an expected timing of exhaustion of the consumable or a characteristic of an operating state of the consumable.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second replacement consumable includes a characteristic upon which the identifying of the second replacement consumable is based, the characteristic selected from the group consisting of: size, capacity, price, availability, and delivery time.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the second replacement consumable is a result of a determination that the second replacement consumable performs at a level at least equal to a level of performance of the consumable.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the placing of the order is timed to provide an expected delivery of the second replacement consumable within a pre-definable time period before depletion of the consumable.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the second replacement consumable is further based on improved performance of the second replacement consumable as compared to the consumable when used in a manner consistent with the user habits.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable media containing instructions, which, in response to being executed by one or more processors, causes a system to perform operation, the operations comprising:
filtering a fluid with a consumable disposed at a device;
sensing a volumetric filtration characteristic of the filtered fluid with an on-body sensor disposed at the device, the volumetric filtration characteristic being associated with contaminants in the fluid after filtering the fluid;
comparing the sensed volumetric filtration characteristic with a threshold to determine an effectiveness of the consumable;
receiving sensor settings of an environment within which the device is used by a user of the device from an off-body sensor placed within the environment, the environment being affected by an output of the device and the sensing relating to sensing an effect of the output of the device on the environment;
responsive to the effectiveness of the consumable being below a threshold and the settings of the environment, determining an availability of a first replacement consumable;
receiving user habits relating to use of the consumable by the user of the consumable;
responsive to a determination that the first replacement consumable is unavailable, identifying a second replacement consumable as an alternative to the first replacement consumable based on:
a specification of the consumable;
the user habits relating to the consumable; and
the second replacement consumable exceeding the volumetric filtration specification of the consumable; and
automatically placing an order for the second replacement consumable.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the user habits are measurable with a sensor and relate to one of a length of time, a time of usage, and a purpose for which the consumable is used.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the order is placed based on an expected timing of exhaustion of the consumable or a characteristic of an operating state of the consumable.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the second replacement consumable includes a characteristic upon which the identifying of the second replacement consumable is based, the characteristic selected from the group consisting of: size, capacity, price, availability, and delivery time.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein identifying the second replacement consumable is a result of a determination that the second replacement consumable performs at a level at least equal to a level of performance of the consumable.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the placing of the order is timed to provide an expected delivery of the second replacement consumable within a pre-definable time period before depletion of the consumable.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein identifying the second replacement consumable is further based on improved performance of the second replacement consumable as compared to the consumable when used in a manner consistent with the user habits.

15. A system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more non-transitory computer-readable media containing instructions, which, in response to being executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
filtering a fluid with a consumable disposed at a device;
sensing a volumetric filtration characteristic of the filtered fluid with an on-body sensor disposed at the device, the volumetric filtration characteristic being associated with contaminants in the fluid after filtering the fluid;
comparing the sensed volumetric filtration characteristic with a threshold to determine an effectiveness of the consumable;
receiving sensor settings of an environment within which the device is used by a user of the device from an off-body sensor placed within the environment, the environment being affected by an output of the device and the sensing relating to sensing an effect of the output of the device on the environment;
responsive to the effectiveness of the consumable being below a threshold and the settings of the environment, determining an availability of a first replacement consumable;
receiving user habits relating to use of the consumable by the user of the consumable;
responsive to a determination that the first replacement consumable is unavailable, identifying a second replacement consumable as an alternative to the first replacement consumable based on:
a specification of the consumable;
the user habits relating to the consumable; and
the second replacement consumable exceeding the volumetric filtration specification of the consumable;

Assignees

• Ebay Inc

Inventors

• Glasgow Dane
• Maclaurin Matthew Brett
• Ramadge David
• Sherman Corinne Elizabeth

Classifications

• G16B30/20 Primary

  Sequence assembly · CPC title

• G16B30/10

  Sequence alignment; Homology search · CPC title

• G06F16/2365

  Ensuring data consistency and integrity · CPC title

• G06Q30/0601 Primary

  Electronic shopping [e-shopping] · CPC title

• G07F9/026

  for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty · CPC title