System and method for household grocery management

Abstract

A system for household grocery management is provided. The system includes a bar code scanner ( 22 ) operable to scan a bar code on a grocery item and to provide bar code data obtained thereby. The system also includes a computer system ( 20 ) coupled to receive the bar code data provided by the bar code scanner ( 22 ). The computer system ( 20 ) has a fixed data storage storing a grocery inventory ( 26 ) and a processor executing a grocery management application ( 24 ). The grocery management application ( 24 ) operates to process the bar code data to identify a scanned grocery item, to maintain the grocery inventory ( 26 ), and to generate a replenishment list ( 32 ) of grocery items based upon differences between current grocery inventory ( 26 ) and defined full levels for the household ( 10 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for household grocery management, comprising: 
 a bar code scanner operable to scan a bar code on a grocery item and to provide bar code data obtained thereby; and    a computer system coupled to receive the bar code data provided by the bar code scanner, the computer system comprising: 
 a fixed data storage storing a grocery inventory; and  
 a processor executing a grocery management application, the grocery management application operating: 
 to process the bar code data to identify a scanned grocery item;  
 to maintain the grocery inventory; and  
 to generate a replenishment list of grocery items based upon differences between current grocery inventory and defined full levels for the household.  
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the grocery inventory further includes information cross referencing bar codes to grocery items.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the grocery inventory further includes information defining full levels for grocery items in the household.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the grocery management application further operates to communicate the replenishment list to a grocery store across a communications network.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the grocery management application further operates to communicate the replenishment list to a grocery clearing house across a communications network, the grocery clearing house providing service to a plurality of grocery stores.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the grocery management application further operates: 
 to add the scanned grocery item to the grocery inventory if the scanned grocery item is new;    to delete the scanned grocery item from the grocery inventory if the scanned grocery item is used.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the bar code scanner is further operable to provide data indicating whether a scanned grocery item is new or used; and    the grocery management application uses the indicating data to determine whether to add or delete the scanned grocery item from the grocery inventory.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the bar code scanner has a first mode and a second mode selectable by a user, and wherein the bar code scanner indicates that a scanned grocery item is new when the bar code scanner is in the first mode, and the bar code scanner indicates that a scanned grocery item is used when the bar code scanner is in the second mode.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a bar code scanner is further operable to scan a bar code on a coupon and to provide coupon data obtained thereby, the coupon data including a discounted grocery item and an expiration date;    the fixed data storage further stores a coupon list, the coupon list representing coupons; and    the grocery management application further operates to process the coupon data, to add a scanned coupon to the coupon list, and to delete expired coupons from the coupon list.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the grocery management application further operates to suggest grocery items to be included in the replenishment list based upon coupons in the coupon list.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the fixed data storage further stores a recipe book, the recipe book including a plurality of recipes for making meals; and    the grocery management application further operates to process a selected recipe and to add grocery items to the replenishment list if needed as ingredients for the selected recipe.    
     
     
         12 . A method for household grocery management, comprising: 
 maintaining a grocery inventory for a household using a bar code scanner to scan new and used grocery items;    determining shortages based upon current grocery inventory and defined full inventory levels; and    generating a replenishment list based upon the determined shortages.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising sending the replenishment list to a grocery store across a communications network.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising sending the replenishment list to a grocery clearing house across a communications network, the grocery clearing house servicing a plurality of grocery stores.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 determining additional grocery items needed as ingredients for selected recipes from a recipe book; and    adding the additional grocery items to the replenishment list.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 maintaining a coupon list of currently valid coupons;    suggesting grocery items to be added to the replenishment list based upon expiring coupons; and    allowing modifications to be made to the replenishment list.    
     
     
         17 . A method for household grocery management, comprising: 
 allowing a user to select a recipe from a recipe book;    determining unavailable ingredients based upon current grocery inventory;    identifying substitutes from the current grocery inventory for the unavailable ingredients; and    displaying the recipe including the substitutes identified for the user to use in preparing a meal.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 obtaining meal parameters from the user if a recipe is not selected;    analyzing recipes in the recipe book together with the current grocery inventory and meal parameters; and    displaying a suggested recipe to the user based upon the current grocery inventory and meal parameters.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the meal parameters obtained comprise a type of meal and a number of people to be served.