Method and apparatus for monitoring usage of items

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor can be operable to transmit a radio frequency signal directed to a radio frequency identifier tag carried by a first item, receive usage information from the radio frequency identifier tag, determine a measure of wear and tear of the first item from the usage information, compare the measure of wear and tear to a threshold, detect from the comparison a state of usage of the first item, and submit a notice representative of the state of usage of the first item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:   receiving a measure of wear via an identifier tag that is carried by a first item;   responsive to determining that the measure of wear exceeds a threshold:
 receiving point of sale information, wherein the point of sale information was stored at the first item; 
 identifying a replacement item for the first item according to information in a user profile and the point of sale information; and 
 sending a communication associated with the replacement item to a client device of a user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first item comprises a shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining the user profile according to media consumption behavior data, demographic information, and location information associated with the user.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 collecting media consumption behavioral data according to media content consumed by the user.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 collecting demographic information that is associated with a subscription account of the user.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 collecting location information from the client device of the user.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the measure of wear comprises a plurality of wear observations that are tracked and aggregated at the first item, and wherein each wear observation of the plurality of wear observations is captured by a sensor that is carried on the first item. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the point of sale information includes a description of the first item, warranty information that is associated with the first item, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a point of sale terminal transmits to the identifier tag a signal comprising the point of sale information. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining a replacement proposal including replacing the first item with a second item having substantially similar characteristics to the first item, replacing the first item with a third item having a plurality of distinct characteristics to the first item, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the second item represents a lateral replacement of the first item, and wherein the third item represents a non-lateral replacement of the first item. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 collecting activity information from the client device of the user; and   determining a psychographic pattern of behavior of the user according to the activity information, wherein the user profile further comprises the psychographic pattern of behavior.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 updating the user profile responsive to determining that the measure of wear exceeds the threshold.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the point of sale information includes a purchase price at a time when the first item was purchased, an identification of a merchant who sold the first item, a date when the first item was sold, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 generating a measure of wear of a first item;   transmitting a first signal including the measure of wear to a device by way of an identifier tag that is carried by the first item, wherein the device determines if the measure of wear exceeds a threshold; and   transmitting a second signal including point of sale information to the device by way of the identifier tag responsive to the measure of wear exceeding the threshold, wherein the device identifies a replacement item for the first item according to information in a user profile and the point of sale information, and wherein the device sends a communication associated with the replacement item to a client device of a user.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving a third signal including the point of sale information by way of the identifier tag; and   storing the point of sale information at the first item.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the user profile is determined by the device according to media consumption behavior data, demographic information, and location information associated with the user. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the point of sale information includes a description of the first item, warranty information that is associated with the first item, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a measure of wear associated with a first item, wherein the measure of wear is received from the first item by way of an identifier tag that is carried by the first item;   responsive to determining that the measure of wear exceeds a threshold:
 receiving, by the processing system, point of sale information, wherein the point of sale information was stored at the first item; 
 identifying, by the processing system, a replacement item for the first item according to information in a user profile and the point of sale information; and 
 sending, by the processing system, a communication associated with the replacement item to a client device of a user. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the measure of wear comprises a plurality of wear observations that are tracked and aggregated at the first item.