Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system for digitizing and tracing products. Background Art

Various systems for digitizing and tracing products are known which are used by a seller entity selling said products to make a digital inventory of products for sale and/or in stock.

In particular, this type of systems makes use of at least one device for acquiring at least one indicative datum of a product to be digitized and at least one storage device configured to store said acquired datum.

This way, each digitized product is digitally represented by the respective identification datum stored inside the storage device.

Furthermore, this type of systems makes use of control devices which are configured to selectively remove the identification datum from the storage device if the corresponding product is sold or is no longer in the possession of the seller entity. For example, the use is known of additional acquisition devices configured to acquire the identification datum of a product when the product is sold and configured to remove the identification datum of the storage device. This way, the data contained inside the storage device are constantly updated, allowing the seller entity to quickly and easily verify the inventory content of the products for sale and/or of the products sold.

Nevertheless, this type of systems can be improved in terms of its functionality. In fact, the identification data acquired by the systems of known type only signal the presence or absence of a previously digitized product inside the inventory, i.e. the presence of its identification code inside the storage device, without providing any additional information.

Thus, having ascertained that the identification code is stored inside the storage device, the seller entity, depending on the needs of the moment, is forced to personally determine other characteristics of the product, e.g., the type of product and/or its location within the shop, warehouse or the like.

Furthermore, this type of systems are configured to be accessible only by the seller entity, thus preventing external parties, such as, e.g., buyer entities, from checking whether a certain product is present in the inventory.

These drawbacks make the use of the systems of known type inconvenient. Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a system for digitizing and tracing products which allows the identification data of digitized products to be enriched with additional information.

A further object of the present invention is to devise a system for digitizing and tracing products which allows facilitating the tracing of the digitized products. An additional object of the present invention is to devise a system for digitizing and tracing products which allows increasing the accessibility of the data stored in the system by multiple parties.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a system for digitizing and tracing products which allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as affordable solution.

The aforementioned objects are achieved by the present system for digitizing and tracing products having the characteristics of claim 1.

The aforementioned objects are achieved by the present method for digitizing and tracing products having the characteristics of claim 8.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a system for digitizing and tracing products, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the accompanying tables of drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic view of the system according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a view of a possible embodiment of the system according to the invention.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a system for digitizing and tracing products. The system 1 for digitizing and tracing products comprises: at least one digitization group 7 provided with: acquisition means 14 of at least one identification datum of a product 2 to digitize it; storage means 3 of the identification datum; obtaining means 15 of at least one additional datum characteristic of the product 2 of which the identification code has been acquired; data processing means 11 configured to logically associate the identification datum with the additional datum, the storage means 3 being configured to store the identification datum accompanied by the additional datum.

In the remainder of this treatise, the term “logical association” is to be understood as any logical digital correlation which, starting from one datum, makes it possible to go back to all other data which are digitally correlated to the latter.

Preferably, the storage means 3 are of the type of an electronic data storage device, such as, e.g., a PC, a generic memory unit or the like.

Advantageously, the identification datum is of the type selected out of at least one of: at least one identification code 17 of the product 2 to be digitized; at least one digital representation 18 of the product to be digitized.

Preferably, the acquisition means 14 comprise at least one code acquisition device 4 configured to acquire at least one code, e.g., of the type of a barcode, QR code and the like, applied to the product 2 to digitize it.

Furthermore, the acquisition means 14 comprise at least one image acquisition device 5 configured to acquire the digital representation of the product 2 to digitize it.

Preferably, the code acquisition device 4 and the image acquisition device 5 coincide with each other. In fact, the acquisition means 14 preferably comprise at least one processing unit 6 configured to automatically identify the identification code inside the acquired digital representation.

In particular, the processing unit 6 is of the type of electronic image recognition means configured to recognize the presence of the identification code 17 in the acquired digital representation 18.

Advantageously, the identification datum is of the type selected out of at least one of: at least one descriptive text of the product 2; at least one digital image of the product 2; the GPS position 19 of the product 2.

In particular, the obtaining means 15 are configured to automatically acquire the GPS position 19 of the product 2 when the acquisition means 14 acquire the identification datum thereof.

In particular, the GPS position 19 of the product 2 acquired by the obtaining means 15 coincides with the GPS position of the same obtaining means 15 when they acquire the additional datum of the product 2.

Furthermore, the data processing means 11 are configured to logically and automatically associate the GPS position 19 acquired by the obtaining means 15 with the identification datum of a corresponding product 2 when the acquisition means 14 acquire the identification datum thereof.

Furthermore, the data processing means 11 are configured to logically associate a plurality of additional data with the identification datum.

For example, the data processing means 11 are configured to logically associate with the identification datum a plurality of additional data of the type of digital images and at least one additional datum of the type of a description of the product 2.

Conveniently, the obtaining means 15 comprise at least one image acquisition device 8 configured to acquire a digital image of the product 2.

Furthermore, the obtaining means 15 comprise at least one digitization device 9 configured to acquire the descriptive text.

Again, the obtaining means 15 comprise at least one GPS tracking device 10 configured to acquire the GPS position 19 of the product 2.

Preferably, the obtaining means 15 coincide with the acquisition means 14 and are of the type of an electronic data processing device, such as e.g., a smartphone, tablet, PC and the like.

Advantageously, the data processing means 11 are configured to logically associate with the identification datum acquired by the acquisition means 14 at least an additional datum, stored inside the storage means 3 and associated with an identification datum identical to the acquired one.

In particular, identical identification data distinguish two identical products 2.

The need is, in fact, known to digitize several products 2 of the same type, i.e. having identical identification codes.

Nevertheless, the data processing means 11 are configured to logically associate with identification data identical with each other different additional data, such as, e.g., different GPS positions.

In other words, the data processing means 11 are configured to logically associate with the identification data of products 2 that are the same as the previously digitized products 2, thus having identical identification data, the additional data logically associated with the identification data of the previously digitized products 2.

In fact, the data processing means 11 are configured to compare the identification datum acquired by the acquisition means 14 with the indicative data stored in the storage means 3.

This way, the data processing means 11 are configured to check the presence or absence of a stored identification datum identical to the acquired identification datum.

Furthermore, having ascertained the presence of a stored identification datum identical to the acquired identification datum, the data processing means 11 are configured to check the presence of additional data logically associated with the stored identification datum.

This way, the data processing means 11 are configured to logically associate with the acquired identification datum at least one additional datum logically associated with a corresponding stored identification datum, identical to the acquired identification datum and acquired prior to the latter.

Conveniently, the system 1 comprises a plurality of digitization groups 7. Furthermore, the data processing means 11 are configured to associate with the identification datum acquired by the acquisition means 14 of a digitization group 7 at least one additional datum, associated with an identification datum identical to the acquired one and stored inside the storage means 3 of another digitization group 7.

In other words, the data processing means 11 are configured to logically associate with the identification data of products 2 that are the same as products 2 previously digitized by other digitization groups 7, the additional data logically associated with the latter.

Advantageously, the data processing means 11 are configured to compare the identification datum acquired by the acquisition means 14 of a digitization group 7 with the indicative data stored in the storage means 3 of at least another digitization group 7.

This way, the data processing means 11 are configured to check inside the storage means 3 of one or more storage means 3 the presence or absence of an identification datum identical to the identification datum acquired by the acquisition means 14 of another digitization group 7.

Preferably, the data processing means 11 perform such a comparison whenever a digitization group 7 acquires an identification datum.

Furthermore, having ascertained the presence of a stored identification datum identical to the acquired identification datum, the data processing means 11 are configured to check the presence of additional data logically associated with the stored identification datum.

This way, the data processing means 11 are configured to logically associate with the identification datum acquired by the acquisition means 14 of a digitization group 7 the additional data logically associated with a corresponding identification datum, stored inside the storage means 3 of another digitization group 7 and identical to the acquired identification datum.

This way, the system 1 allows a digitization group 7 that digitizes a product 2 which is identical to a product 2 already previously digitized by another digitization group 7 to logically associate with that product 2 the additional data associated with the identical product 2 previously digitized by the other digitization group 7.

This solution allows the system 1 to speed up the digitization of the products 2 and to maintain at the same time a high degree of additional information relating to the digitized products 2.

Conveniently, the system comprises at least one tracing group 12 of the digitized products 2, separate from the digitization group 7, and configured to show to at least one user, one of either the identification datum or the additional datum of at least one product 2 identical to a reference datum.

In particular, the group 12 is configured to show the GPS position 19, the descriptive text, the digital image and/or the digital representation 18 of at least one product 2 of which an indicative datum or an additional datum identical to a reference datum has been acquired.

In other words, the tracing group 12 is configured to show the identification datum and/or at least one additional datum of at least one product 2, which is identical to the reference datum.

Advantageously, the tracing group 12 is configured to show the GPS position of each product 2 of which an indicative datum or an additional datum identical to a reference datum has been acquired.

In particular, the tracing group 12 is configured to detect the GPS position 19 of the group itself and consequently of the user thereof. This way, the tracing group 12 is configured to show to at least one user the GPS position 19 of at least one product 2 of which an indicative datum or an additional datum identical to a reference datum has been acquired with respect to the GPS position of the user itself.

Advantageously, the tracing group 12 comprises at least one acquisition system 13 configured to acquire the reference datum of a product 2 to be traced.

Preferably, the reference datum is of the type selected between at least one of either a reference code or a digital picture of a product 2 to be searched. In particular, the reference code and/or the digital picture show the reference datum of the searched product 2. Conveniently, the data processing means 11 are configured to compare the reference datum acquired by the acquisition system 13 with the identification datum and/or the additional datum stored inside the storage means 3.

For example, the data processing means 11 are configured to compare the acquired digital picture of the acquisition system 13 with the digital image or the digital representation acquired by the acquisition system 13 and by the obtaining means 15, respectively.

More in detail, the data processing means 11 are configured to compare the digital picture with the digital image or the digital representation of each digitization group 7.

This way, the data processing means 11 are configured to check the presence of indicative data and/or additional data stored inside the storage means 3 identical to the reference datum acquired by the acquisition system 13.

This solution allows the tracing group 12 to show a user the identification datum and/or at least one additional datum of the digitized products 2 having at least one of said data coinciding with the reference datum.

In other words, the tracing group 12 is configured to acquire the identification datum and/or at least one additional datum of products 2 identical to the product 2 searched according to the reference datum.

Preferably, the tracing group 12 is of the type of an electronic data processing device, e.g., a PC, a smartphone, a tablet or the like.

In particular, the tracing group 12 is a device/component of the system 1 completely separate from the digitization group 7.

In fact, according to the invention, the digitization group 7 is preferably owned by a seller entity who uses it to digitize the products for sale. The tracing group 12, on the other hand, is preferably owned by a buyer entity employing it to trace the GPS position of the products of specific interest, facilitating their tracing.

Advantageously, the system 1 comprises a plurality of tracing groups 12, e.g. employed by different users.

Preferably, the system 1 comprises communication means, not shown in the illustrations, configured to set one or more digitization groups 7, one or more tracing groups 12 and the data processing means 11 in communication with each other.

In particular, the communication means allow the data processing means 11 to compare with each other, identification data, additional data and reference data. In other words, the communication means allow the aforementioned data to be transferred between one or more digitization groups 7, one or more tracing groups 12 and the data processing means 11.

Preferably, the communication means are of the type of electronic communication means, e.g. such as network cards and the like, configured to connect the aforementioned components together by means of a data transmission network known in itself, for example such as the internet network and the like.

A schematic representation of the main components of the system 1 according to the invention is shown in Figure 1, wherein the system 1 comprises a plurality of digitization groups 7, data processing means 11 and a tracing group 12. Further embodiments of the system 1 wherein the same comprises a plurality of tracing groups 12 and a plurality of data processing means 11 cannot however be ruled out.

Figure 2, on the other hand, shows a particular embodiment of the components of the system 1, wherein the acquisition means 14 coincide with the obtaining means 15 and are of the type of a smartphone, the storage means 3 are of the type of a PC, the data processing means 11 are of the type of a server and the tracing group 12 is of the type of a tablet.

The operation of the system 1 is described by the following method comprising at least the phases of: provision of a system 1 ; acquisition of at least one identification datum of a product 2 to digitize it; obtaining at least one additional datum characteristic of the product 2; logical association of the identification datum with the additional datum; storing of the identification datum accompanied by the additional datum. Advantageously, the acquisition phase provides for the acquisition of at least one of either an identification code or a digital representation of the product 2 in order to digitize it. In particular, the code and/or the digital representation define the identification datum of the product 2.

The acquisition phase is carried out by means of the acquisition means 14.

On the other hand, the obtaining phase comprises a step of obtaining the GPS position 19 of the product 2 of which the identification code has been acquired. Preferably, the obtaining step is carried out by the obtaining means 15.

In particular, the step of obtaining the GPS position 19 is carried out automatically as a result of the acquisition of the identification datum.

The phase of obtaining also comprises a step of comparison of the acquired identification datum with the previously stored identification data and/or the additional data. Preferably, the comparison step is carried out by the data processing means 11.

In particular, the comparison step provides for comparing the identification code acquired by a digitization group 7 with the identification data and/or the additional data stored inside the storage means 3.

More in detail, the comparison step is carried out between the acquired identification code and the identification data and/or the additional data stored inside the storage means 3 of one or more digitization groups 7.

Preferably, the comparison step is carried out between the acquired identification code and the identification data and/or the additional data stored inside the storage means 3 of each digitization group 7.

Furthermore, the phase of obtaining comprises: at least one step of obtaining at least one digital image and/or a descriptive text, carried out when the acquired identification datum is different from the identification data and/or from the additional data with which it has been compared; at least one step of obtaining a stored additional datum and logically associated with the identification datum and/or additional datum which, as a result of the step of comparison, is identical to an acquired identification datum.

The logical association phase, on the other hand, provides for logically associating one or more additional data, obtained by means of the obtaining phase, with the acquired identification datum. In other words, the identification datum and one or more corresponding added data are correlated with each other by means of techniques that are in themselves known. Preferably, the association phase is carried out by means of data processing means 11.

The storage phase, on the other hand, provides for storing the acquired identification datum and one or more additional data logically associated with said acquired datum inside the storage means 3.

Conveniently, the method comprises at least one phase of searching for at least one digitized product 2, preferably carried out by the tracing group 12.

In particular, the searching phase comprises a step of indicating the searched product 2 to at least one digitization group 7.

Preferably, the searching phase provides for performing an indication step of the searched product 2 to each digitization group 7.

In particular, the indication step comprises a step of indicating a reference datum. The reference datum is preferably of the type selected between at least one of either an identification code or a digital picture of the searched product 2. In fact, the identification code and/or the graphic picture define a reference datum of the searched product 2.

In particular, the indication step comprises an acquisition step for acquiring the identification code or the digital picture of the product 2 to be searched, preferably carried out by means of the acquisition system 13.

Moreover, the searching phase comprises a step of comparing the reference datum with the indicative data and/or the additional data stored in the storage means 3. Such comparison step allows the system 1 to identify the presence of identification data stored inside the storage means 3 and identical to the reference datum of the searched product 2.

In fact, the searching phase comprises a step of presentation of an identification datum and/or at least one additional datum of the searched products 2 according to the acquired identification code or digital picture, in this case the indicated reference datum.

For example, as shown in Figure 2, the searching phase comprises a step of presentation of the GPS position 19 of the searched products 2 according to the acquired identification code or digital picture, in this case of the indicated reference datum.

In particular, the step of presentation provides for showing the GPS position 19 of the products 2 having an identification datum and/or an additional datum identical to the indicated reference datum stored in the storage means 3.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects.

In particular, the fact is underlined that the obtaining means allow acquiring additional data characteristic of the digitized products, so as to increase the information available concerning the digitized products.

In addition, the data processing means allow the additional data logically associated with digitized products to also be associated with identical subsequently digitized products. This way, the additional stored data are logically associated automatically with corresponding acquired identification data, inasmuch as logically associated beforehand with identification data identical to those acquired.

Furthermore, the tracing group allows increasing and facilitating the access to the data stored by the system.