System for Monitoring the Contents of a Refrigerator

Abstract

A system for monitoring the contents of a refrigerator. The system comprises a plurality of cameras mounted within a refrigerator, a wireless transceiver adapted to transmit image data to a mobile electronic device, and a computer-based logic for implementing commands relayed to the present system from the mobile electronic device. The cameras are arranged within the interior of the refrigerator to provide users with a complete view of the contents of their refrigerators. The present system assists users in grocery shopping and planning meals when not at home.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring the contents of a refrigerator, comprising:
 a refrigerator having a housing, at least one hingedly attached door, interior lights, and a plurality of shelves contained therein;   a plurality of cameras disposed within the interior of said refrigerator housing;   a transceiver adapted to wirelessly send images captured by said cameras to a mobile electronic device;   a logic adapted to selectively activate said cameras and activate said interior lights;   a user interface adapted to be executed by a mobile electronic device, said user interface adapted to receive said images captured by said cameras and selectively view said images.   
     
     
         2 . The system for monitoring the contents of a refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein said cameras are disposed such that said cameras are disposed adjacently to a single one of said shelves. 
     
     
         3 . The system for monitoring the contents of a refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface allows users to selectively activate said cameras and sequentially view said images captured by said cameras. 
     
     
         4 . The system for monitoring the contents of a refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface allows users to selectively activate said cameras and simultaneously view a plurality of said images captured by said cameras. 
     
     
         5 . A computer system, comprising:
 a refrigerator having a housing, at least one hingedly attached door, interior lights, and a plurality of shelves contained therein;   a plurality of cameras disposed within the interior of said refrigerator housing;   one or more processors;   a non-transitory computer readable medium operatively connected to said one or more processors;   a logic stored in said non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executed by said one or more processors from the computer readable medium, causes said computer to activate said cameras, capture images, and relay an image signal to a mobile electronic device by at least:   receiving an activation signal;   detecting whether said interior lights are activated;   if said interior lights are not activated, activating said interior lights;   selectively activating at least one of said cameras and initiating image capture;   translating said captured image into an image signal;   transmitting said image signal to said mobile electronic device for visualization of said images thereon.   
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a user interface adapted to be executed by a mobile electronic device, said user interface adapted to allow users to sequentially view said captured images.   
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a user interface adapted to be executed by a mobile electronic device, said user interface adapted to simultaneously display a plurality of said captured images.