Apparatus and Method for Customized Product Data Management

Abstract

The invention is an electronic identification system that integrates with consumer purchased products for management of data in digital form by way of an interconnected computing system, network, and/or mobile device. The system utilizes a scanning system and coded labels that facilitate a uniform identification of goods within a sales setting or within a household. Such a system would enable the use of SMART technology systems in household appliances, warehouses and retail such that the system implements mobile applications and interfacing through a high-speed network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 two or more surfaces defining an internal area to preserve storage products and having an opening to access one or more storage compartments positioned therein;   at least one door positioned at said opening and having access to said one or more storage compartments; and   a scanning unit positioned within said internal opening and capable of identifying labels encoded with a unique identifier; and   an internal data storage component accessible from a mobile device;   
       wherein said unique identifier comprises a plurality of information linked to said internal data storage component. 
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein said internal data storage component is linked to a shared network that integrates product information. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein said product information comprises one or more of: a specific code, product name, manufacturer, production site, production lot, date and time of manufacturing, weight, amount, volume, nutritional values, ingredients, global positioning location, position where stored in a warehouse, location upon a particular shelf or in a particular compartment, allocation of product to distributors, price, purchaser, location of product, frequency of use, and any custom fields identifiable within an industry. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein said scanning unit includes a camera or imaging device that integrates collected information into said internal data storage component. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one door includes a touch screen surface of a computer interface. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one door comprises a touch-sensitive surface transformable to a plurality of colors, two-dimensional and three-dimensional images, holograms, patterns, shapes, and transparency. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a display for computer access, video or audio connection. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a touch-sensitive surface integrated with opening, closing, or locking said door. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more storage compartments comprise at least one weight-sensitive scale linked to said scanning unit. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein said scanning unit is utilized in healthcare and research. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said internal area is managed within a laboratory setting, a research facility, or a healthcare setting. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator is a medical storage unit, a medicine refrigeration unit, and a research refrigeration unit, alone or in combination.