Control system and method for a bulk product weighing system

Abstract

Control system and method for a bulk product weighing system. Certain aspects of the invention relate to a control system (2000), a bulk product weighing system (1000), and a method (400). The control system (2000) comprises one or more processors (220) and at least one memory device (230) configured to store product data (310, 320), the product data comprising information associated with a bulk product and a corresponding bulk product dispenser (110a, 110b) for the product.The control system is configured to: receive, from a sensor (112a, 112b) associated with the bulk product dispenser, a detection signal indicating that a dispensing event has been detected at the bulk product dispenser; identify the bulk product corresponding to the bulk product dispenser based on the product data (310, 320); output a control signal to activate a display device (142) of the weighing system to display an indication of the bulk product; and, based on a threshold expiration time period elapsed since the detection of the dispensing event, output a control signal to the display device (142) to clear the bulk product indication. See Figure 1 for abbreviations.

Description

Title of the invention: Control system and method for a bulk product weighing system

[0001] The invention relates to a control system, a bulk product weighing system and a computer-implemented method. CONTEXT

[0002] To reduce packaging waste, retailers are increasingly supplying products using bulk product weighing systems. These systems include a dispenser with a hopper or other container for storing a large quantity of bulk product. A customer operates the dispenser to dispense a desired quantity of product into a container and weighs the dispensed product on a scale to produce a label for scanning at the point of sale. In this way, the customer can reuse containers to reduce packaging waste and choose a customized quantity of product to purchase.

[0003] It may be desirable to detect dispensing events, i.e. to detect each time a dispenser is activated to monitor the number of transactions expected for the product, in order to predict which products will next be weighed to improve the customer experience at the scale.

[0004] Such monitoring is associated with a number of problems. In some cases, a customer may activate a dispenser more than once while filling only one container, which can lead to an overestimation of the number of expected transactions. In other cases, a customer may deliberately or accidentally activate a dispenser without intending to purchase the product. Thus, the products expected on the scale may be inaccurate.

[0005] The examples disclosed herein make it possible to solve one or more of the aforementioned problems. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to a control system, a bulk product weighing system and a computer-implemented method according to the attached claims.

[0007] According to a first aspect, a control system is provided for a bulk product weighing system, the control system comprising: one or more processors; at least one memory device configured to store product data, the product data comprising information associated with a bulk product and a corresponding bulk product dispenser; in which The control system is configured to: receive, from a sensor associated with the wholesale product dispenser, a detection signal indicating that a dispensing event has been detected at the wholesale product dispenser; identify the wholesale product corresponding to the wholesale product dispenser based on the product data; provide an output control signal to control a display device of the weighing system to display an indication of the wholesale product; and based on a threshold expiration period elapsed since the detection of the dispensing event, provide an output control signal to the display device to remove the indication of the wholesale product.Advantageously, a customer using the weighing event has easy selection of the product that has just been weighed, and distribution events that have not been weighed in time (due to loss or incorrect counting) are discarded after a threshold period to prevent the display device from being cluttered with irrelevant products.

[0008] The control system can be configured to: receive, from a user input device associated with the weighing system, a weighing request for the bulk product; provide an output control signal to command a weighing device of the weighing system to weigh the bulk product; and depending on the weighing of the bulk product, provide an output control signal to the display device to remove the indication of the bulk product.

[0009] Optionally, the control system is configured to store a dispensing counter indicating a number of dispensing events for the bulk product detected in a previous window corresponding to the threshold expiration time period.

[0010] The control system can be configured to: receive, from the sensor associated with the bulk product dispenser, another detection signal indicating that another dispensing event has been detected at the bulk product dispenser; and increment the dispensing counter based on the receipt of this other detection signal. In this way, the control system can track several dispensing events for a single product simultaneously.

[0011] The control system can be configured to: determine if the time between the detection of the next dispensing event and the detection of a previous dispensing event at the wholesale product dispenser is less than a threshold event time; and if the time is determined to be less than the threshold event time, suppress the incrementing of the dispensing counter. Advantageously, the control system can account for the sensor being activated multiple times by a single customer filling a single container without mistakenly classifying this as multiple dispensing events. The event threshold time can be less than five seconds. For example, the event threshold time can be 2 s, 3 s, or 4 s.

[0012] Optionally, the control system is configured to: start a respective expiration timer upon receipt of each other detection signal; and, depending on each respective expiration timer reaching its threshold expiration time, decrement the dispensing counter. In this way, the control system can track several dispensing events for a single product simultaneously.

[0013] The control system can also be configured to decrement the dispensing counter according to each weighing of the product in bulk by a weighing device of the weighing system.

[0014] The control system can be configured to retain the indication of the bulk product displayed on the display device if the dispensing counter is non-zero. Thus, the product is displayed on the screen even if there are unresolved dispensing events for the product within the previous threshold expiration time.

[0015] Optionally, the product data includes a loss counter indicating the number of unweighed dispensing events for the product; and the control system is configured to increment the loss counter in response to the threshold expiration time period elapsed since the detection of the dispensing event without the product being weighed. Advantageously, this allows the retailer to automatically monitor the number of losses at each dispenser and take appropriate action.

[0016] Optionally, the display device is a user interface, and the wholesale product indication includes an icon for selecting the wholesale product at the display device level.

[0017] Optionally, the threshold expiration time is between 5 minutes and 60 minutes. For example, the threshold expiration time can be 30 minutes, 20 minutes, or 40 minutes. In some examples, the control system is configured to receive a selection signal indicating user input to select the threshold expiration time, and to adjust the threshold expiration time accordingly. Advantageously, this allows the threshold expiration time to be adapted appropriately for retailers of different sizes.

[0018] According to another aspect, a bulk product weighing system is provided, the bulk product weighing system comprising: a control system as described in this document; a bulk product dispenser arranged to store and dispense a bulk product; a sensor arranged to detect a dispensing event at the bulk product dispenser; a weighing device configured to weigh the dispensed bulk product; and an associated display device to the weighing device arranged to display an indication of the product in bulk to a user based on the detection of the dispensing event by the sensor.

[0019] According to another aspect, a computer-implemented method is proposed for controlling a bulk product weighing system, the method comprising: storing product data, the product data including information associated with a bulk product and a corresponding bulk product dispenser for the product; receiving, from a sensor associated with the bulk product dispenser, a detection signal indicating that a dispensing event is detected at the bulk product dispenser; identifying the bulk product corresponding to the bulk product dispenser based on the product data; controlling a display device of the weighing system to display an indication of the bulk product; and, based on a threshold expiration time period elapsed since the detection of the dispensing event, controlling the display device to remove the indication of the bulk product. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] Embodiments of the invention are further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] [Fig.1] is a schematic illustration of a bulk product weighing system according to one embodiment;

[0022] [Fig.2] is a schematic illustration of a 2000 control system according to one embodiment;

[0023] [Fig.3] illustrates an example of product data 310, 320;

[0024] [Fig.4] shows a flowchart of a process 400 according to one embodiment;

[0025] [Fig.5] shows a flowchart of a process 500 according to one embodiment;

[0026] [Fig. 6] illustrates an example of product data 610, 620; and

[0027] Fig. 7A, Fig. 7B and Fig. 7C illustrate screens displayed on a display device over time according to an example of implementation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The examples described in this document relate to a wholesale product weighing system. With reference to [Fig. 1], a schematic illustration of a 1000 wholesale product weighing system according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The 1000 wholesale product weighing system is generally located in a retail environment, such as a supermarket or similar establishment, where a retailer can facilitate the wholesale or bulk purchase of goods.

[0029] The bulk product weighing system 1000 comprises one or more bulk product dispensers 110a, 110b. The illustrated system 1000 comprises two dispensers 110a, 110b, but in other embodiments the system 1000 may may include only one 110a distributor, or may include additional distributors.

[0030] Each wholesale product dispenser 110a, 110b is arranged to store a wholesale product and dispense the wholesale product to customers. For example, the wholesale product hopper 110a, 110b can be arranged to store a wholesale food product such as cereals, pasta, coffee, or the like. The wholesale product dispenser 110a, 110b can be used to store any product that can be dispensed and sold by weight in the retail environment. Typically, a respective dispenser 110a, 110b will be provided for each type of wholesale product sold by the retailer.

[0031] The bulk product dispenser 110a, 110b includes a dispensing spout 114a, 114b and an actuator (not shown) such as a handle, a button, or the like. In use, a customer activates the actuator, for example by pulling a handle, which causes the dispensing spout 114a, 114b of the dispenser to open and the product contained in the dispenser 110a, 110b to be dispensed. The customer can choose to stop the dispensing of the product, for example by releasing the actuator, which causes the dispensing spout 114a, 114b to close and the flow of the product to stop.

[0032] The system 1000 includes a weighing device 130 for weighing the dispensed product. The weighing device 130 includes a balance, such as a digital gauge or other weighing mechanism, for measuring the weight of the dispensed product.

[0033] The system 1000 further includes a user interface, UI 140, associated with the weighing device 130. The UI 140 includes a display device 142 for displaying product information to the user. In some embodiments, the UI 140 may also include an input device 144 for receiving user input from a customer indicating a selected product. The input device 144 may be a keyboard, a touchscreen, or the like. In some embodiments, the input device is integrated into the display device 142, for example, in the form of a touchscreen display device 142. Once a customer has dispensed a product from the dispenser 110a, 110b, they can bring the dispensed product to the weighing device 130 for weighing.The customer can order the weighing device via the UI 140 by selecting the product type at the UI 140 level and weigh the dispensed product on the weighing device 130. The system 1000 can also include a printer 150 to print a label indicating the product type, weight and price for a scan at a point of sale.

[0034] To improve the customer experience at the level of the 1000 bulk product weighing system, it may be desirable for the system to be able to predict which product will then weighed by a customer. In this way, the display device 142 can preemptively display the predicted product for customer selection at the FUI 140 level. This can be particularly advantageous in a large retail environment with a large number of products and therefore a large number of dispensers 110a, 110b in the wholesale product weighing system 1000, which forces the customer to search among a large number of product types at the UI 140 level. For this purpose, the wholesale product weighing system 1000 is configured to detect each time a dispensing event occurs at each dispenser 110a, 110b, and to communicate this information to the UI 140.

[0035] To facilitate the detection of dispensing events, the bulk product weighing system 1000 includes a sensor 112a, 112b associated with each bulk product dispenser 110a, 110b. Each sensor 112a, 112b is arranged to detect a dispensing event at the bulk product dispenser 110a, 110b. For example, the sensor 112a, 112b can be arranged to capture the actuation of a handle of the dispenser 110a, or detect a flow of product from the spout 114a, 114b of the respective dispenser 110a, 110b.

[0036] The bulk product weighing system 1000 includes a control system 120 configured to receive data from each sensor 112a, 112b indicating each time a dispensing event is detected.

[0037] Turning to [Fig. 2], a schematic illustration of a control system 2000 according to one embodiment is shown. The control system 2000 can correspond to the control system 120 shown in [Fig. 1], and can thus be part of the bulk weighing system 1000.

[0038] The control system 2000 comprises at least one control module, or control device 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the control system comprises a single control device 200, but in other embodiments, the control system may comprise a plurality of control devices 200 that may be distributed around the bulk weighing system 1000. Each control device 200 of the control system may be connected via communication. The connection may be made via a wired or wireless connection via one or more networks, such as a local area network (LAN) in a store or the Internet. Thus, while the function of the control system will be described with reference to a single control device 200, this functionality may be distributed among a plurality of control devices 200 in any suitable manner.In some embodiments, the control device 200 can be located locally on the weighing device 130, but in other embodiments, the control device 200 can be partially or totally remote.

[0039] The control device 200 includes at least one processor 220, a communication module 210 and a memory 230.

[0040] The memory 230 may comprise one or more memory devices, which may be located locally relative to the control device 200, remotely from the control device 200, or in a combination thereof. In the case of a remote memory device 230, the memory device may communicate wirelessly with the processor 220 of the control device 200.

[0041] Memory 230 is configured to store product data 234. With reference to [Fig. 3], the product data 234 may include product data 310, 320 for each type of wholesale product dispensed in the wholesale weighing system 1000. Each product data 310, 320 includes product information 311, 321 associated with a wholesale product and dispenser information 312, 322 identifying a corresponding wholesale dispenser for the product. The product information 311, 321 may include one or more of the following: a product name, a product identifier, pricing information such as a price per weight, and a product image. The dispensing information 312, 321 includes information identifying the wholesale dispenser in the system 1000 that is arranged to dispense the product.The distributor information 312, 321 can be an identifier of the distributor 110a, 110b, or an identifier of the associated sensor 112a, 112b.

[0042] For example, in the illustrated example, memory 230 stores initial product data 310 associated with a first product stored in the first dispenser 110a. The initial product data 310 includes initial product information 311. For example, the initial product information 311 may include the following information: [Tables 1] Product type: Fusilli pasta Product ID: 462823 Price per kg: £1.00 Product image: Fusilli.jpg

[0043] The first product data 310 further include first distributor information 312 such as a sensor identifier 112a associated with the first distributor 110a.

[0044] The memory 230 further stores second product data 320 associated with a second product stored in the second dispenser 110b. The second product data 320 includes second product information 321. For example, the second piece of product information 321 might include the following information: [Tables 2] Product type: Coffee beans; Product ID: 362826; Price per kg: £5.00; Product image: Coffee.jpg

[0045] The second product data 320 further include second distributor information 322 including an identifier for the sensor 112b associated with the second distributor 110b.

[0046] Product data 234 may include other product data corresponding to each additional product within system 1000, if system 1000 includes distributors in addition to the two shown in [Fig.1].

[0047] Returning to [Fig.2], the processor 220 is arranged to carry out a process according to instructions 232 stored in memory 230. The communication module 210 is configured to communicate with each sensor 112a, 112b, the weighing device 130 and the UI 140. The communication module 210 may include electrical connections to connect to the system components 1000 via a wired connection and / or may include hardware to perform wireless communication such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or similar.

[0048] The communication module 210 is arranged to receive a detection signal 211 from the sensor(s) 112a, 112b. The detection signal 211 indicates that a dispensing event is detected at the wholesale product dispenser 110a, 110b associated with the sensor 112a, 112b. The detection signal 211 further includes information identifying the wholesale product dispenser 110a, 110b, such as an identifier of the sensor 112a, 112b.

[0049] The control device 200 is then configured to identify the wholesale product corresponding to the wholesale product dispenser 110a, 110b according to the product data 234. In other words, the control device 200 uses the identifier of the sensor 112a, 112b to search for the product information 311, 321 corresponding to this dispenser in the product data 234.

[0050] The communication module 210 is then configured to output a first control signal 212 to control the display device 142 to display an indication of the identified wholesale product, such as a product image stored in the product data 234, to allow a customer to easily select the relevant product at the UI 140 level. The indication may include a selection icon at the UI 140 level. The customer then typically provides a Input at the UI 140 requests the weighing of the dispensed product, for example, by selecting the icon of the bulk product identified on the display device 142. A weighing request is communicated from the UI 140 to the control system 120. The control system 120 then outputs a weighing control signal to command the weighing device 130 to weigh the product. In response to the product being weighed, the control system 120 outputs a second control signal 214 to the display device 142 to clear the bulk product indication.

[0051] However, in certain circumstances, the customer may not subsequently select the product at the UI 140 for weighing. This may be the case if the dispensing event was accidental, or in the event of intentional theft. By leaving the indication of each identified bulk product on the display device 142, the display device 142 may then become cluttered with unweighed products, thus negating the benefit of allowing the customer to easily find the most recently weighed products. The control device 200 is therefore arranged to monitor a period of time elapsed since the detection of the dispensing event, for example, a period of time elapsed since the receipt of the detection signal 211 from the sensor 112a, 112b.If a threshold expiry time period elapses without the product being weighed, the communication module 210 is configured to output the second control signal 214 to the display device 142 in order to remove the indication of the identified bulk product.

[0052] The threshold expiration time can be adjusted according to the retailer's requirements. For example, for a large store with a large number of dispensers 110a, 110b in system 1000, a longer threshold expiration time may be appropriate for a small store with a small number of dispensers. This is because a customer may dispense multiple products, and the average time between dispensing and weighing may be longer in a larger store. In some embodiments, the control device 200 can receive a selection signal indicating user input to select the threshold expiration time and adjust the threshold expiration time stored in memory 230 according to the user selection. For typical storage, for example, the threshold expiration time can be set between 5 and 60 minutes, for example, 30 minutes, 20 minutes, or 40 minutes.

[0053] Figure 4 illustrates a process 400 according to one embodiment. The process 400 can to be carried out by the control system 120, 2000.

[0054] In block 402, the control system 120 stores product data 234 in memory 230. In block 404, the detection signal 211 is received from a sensor 112a associated with a wholesale product dispenser 110a, the detection signal 211 indicating a dispensing event detected at the dispenser. 110a. In block 406, the control system 120 identifies the wholesale product corresponding to dispenser 110a by retrieving product data 234. In block 408, the control system 120 outputs the first control signal 212 to command the display device 142 to display an indication of the identified wholesale product. In block 410, the control system 120 determines whether the threshold expiration time period has elapsed since the detection of the dispensing event. When the threshold expiration time period has elapsed, in block 412, the control system 120 outputs the second control signal 214 to remove the wholesale product indication from the display device 142.

[0055] The control system 120 can receive a respective detection signal 211 each time a dispensing event is detected by any of the sensors 112a, 112b in the system, and store in memory 230 a dispensing counter indicating the number of unresolved dispensing events detected for each product in bulk. A respective dispensing counter for the product can therefore be associated with each product data 310, 320. The dispensing counter is incremented each time a dispensing event is detected for the product, and decremented each time the product is weighed, or each time the threshold expiration time period for the dispensing event elapses.

[0056] With reference to [Fig. 5], another process 500 is shown according to one embodiment. The control device 200 can be configured to carry out process 500 whenever a detection signal 211 is received, for example within process 400.

[0057] In block 502, a detection signal 211 is received from a sensor 112a, 112b of the system. The detection signal 211 indicates a dispensing event being detected and includes information identifying the wholesale product dispenser 110a, 110b associated with the dispensing event. The control device 200 identifies the wholesale product dispenser 110a from the detection signal and identifies the corresponding product information with reference to the product data 310, 320.

[0058] In block 504, the control device 200 determines whether the time between the dispensing event and a previous dispensing event at the same wholesale distributor exceeds a threshold event time. The threshold event time can be set to define a time below which the dispensing event is unlikely to be a new event, due to its proximity to the previous event. For example, the threshold event time can be less than five seconds, for example 2 seconds, 3 seconds, or 4 seconds, and can be configured by the retailer. In one embodiment, the The event threshold time is 3 seconds. If the time elapsed between dispensing events at the same dispenser is less than the event threshold time, the process terminates and the dispensing counter is not incremented for that event. If the time elapsed since the previous event is greater than the event threshold time, the process proceeds to block 506.

[0059] In block 506, the control device 200 increments the dispensing counter for the dispensed product. In block 508, the control device 200 can output a first control signal 212 to the display device 142 to display an indication of the dispensed product, if no indication of the dispensed product is currently displayed on the display device 142. In block 510, the control device 200 starts a new expiration timer for the dispensed product. Blocks 506, 508, and 510 can be implemented in any order.

[0060] When the expiration timer is running, the control device 200 is configured to determine 512 whether the product has been weighed, i.e., whether a request to weigh the product has been received from FUI 140. The control device 200 is also configured to determine 514 whether the expiration timer has reached the threshold expiration time. If at any time the product is weighed or if the expiration timer reaches the threshold expiration time, the process proceeds to block 516. In block 516, the expiration timer finishes and the product dispensing counter is decremented.

[0061] In block 518, the control device 200 determines whether the product dispensing counter is non-zero. If the product dispensing counter is non-zero, this means that another expiration timer is still running for the product. The control device 200 therefore maintains the wholesale product indication displayed on the display device 142. If the dispensing counter has reached zero, there are no unresolved dispensing events for the product within the threshold expiration time, and the process proceeds to block 520. In block 520, the control device 200 outputs the second control signal 214 to the display device 142 to clear the product indication.

[0062] In particular, the method 500 can be implemented each time a new detection signal is received from a sensor in the system. Thus, at any given time, several expiration timers can be executed on the control device 200 for a particular product. This can be the case if a number of customers sequentially use the same dispenser 110a, 110b. Only when all unresolved dispensing events for a product have either been weighed or have expired does the control device 200 remove the product indication from the display device 142.

[0063] With reference to [Fig. 6], examples of product data 610, 620 are illustrated according to one embodiment. The product data 610, 620 may be part of the product data 234 stored in memory 230. The product data 610, 620 comprise at least some first product data 610 associated with a first product and some second product data 620 associated with a second product.

[0064] Product data 610, 620 include product information 611, 612 associated with the product and distributor information 612, 612 indicating the wholesale distributor stocking the respective product, as described previously with reference to [Fig. 3]. Each product data 610, 620 also includes the dispensing counter 613, 623 for the respective product as described with reference to [Fig. 5].

[0065] It may be desirable to monitor product loss within the bulk product weighing system 1000. For this purpose, the product data 610, 620 also include a loss counter 614, 624 indicating the number of unweighed dispensing events for each product. In some embodiments of the process 500, the control device 200 can increment the loss counter 614, 624 for the product in question if the expiration timer exceeds the threshold in block 514. In other words, if the threshold expiration time elapses without the product being weighed, the control device 200 can determine that the dispensed product will not be purchased and therefore that a loss has occurred for the product.

[0066] The loss counter 614, 616 for each product can be stored in the memory 230 of the control system 2000, or can, alternatively or in addition, be communicated by the control system 2000 to an external device for monitoring. The loss counter 614, 616 can be used by the retailer to inform decisions regarding product placement, security, and the like. For example, knowledge of products associated with a high loss counter can enable retailers to group products appropriately and add security measures.

[0067] In certain embodiments, the control system 120, 2000 can monitor the loss counter 614, 624 for each product and automatically alert a user, such as a system administrator 1000, if a loss counter 614, 624 exceeds a predefined threshold. The alert can take the form of a notification, alarm, or similar communication from the control system 120, 2000 to a user device of the administrator. The alert can include information such as that contained within the product data 610, 620 for the product exceeding the threshold.

[0068] An example of implementation of the method 400, 500 is described with reference to Figures 7A to 7C, which each show a representation of a screen 700 displayed on the display device 142 at three different points in time.

[0069] The displayed screen 700 includes a menu 710 which the customer can navigate to discover the full range of products that can be weighed at the weighing unit 130. A customer can therefore search the menu 710 to identify the product they wish to weigh. However, to improve the user experience, the displayed screen 700 can be adaptively updated to include icons 720, 730, and 740 representing recently distributed products, in order to help the customer identify the product in question.

[0070] An example of a timeline is shown below. [Tables 3] Time Event T1 The customer dispenses item 1, start timer 1 T2 The customer dispenses item 2, start timer 2 T3 The customer dispenses item 3, start timer 3 T4 The customer weighs item 1 T5 Timer 2 expires T6 Timer 3 expires

[0071] Figure 7A shows the screen 700 displayed before the first time point TL. No product has been recently dispensed, so the screen 700 displays only the menu 710. At time point T1, a customer dispenses item 1 at dispenser 1, and the control system 120 starts the expiration timer 1. At time point T2, a customer dispenses item 2 at dispenser 2, and the control system 120 starts the expiration timer 2. At time point T3, a customer dispenses item 3 at dispenser 3, and the control system 120 starts the expiration timer 3.

[0072] Figure 7B shows screen 700 between time points T3 and T4. At this point, three items 1 to 3 have recently been dispensed, and three associated expiration timers are running. The customer has not yet weighed items 1 to 3. Screen 700 therefore displays a first icon 720 for item 1, a second icon 730 for item 2, and a third icon 740 for item 3.

[0073] At time T4, the customer weighs item 1 and the first icon 720 is removed from the screen 700. At time T5, timer 2 reaches the expiration threshold, for example, 30 minutes have elapsed between time T2 and time T5. The system therefore concludes that the dispensing event at time T2 is a loss. The loss counter is incremented for item 2, and the second icon 730 is removed from the screen.

[0074] Figure 7C shows the 700 screen between time points T5 and T6. At this time, only the third expiration timer is still running, and only the third icon 740 is displayed on the 700 screen. Then, at time T6, timer 3 reaches the expiration threshold, and the system concludes that the distribution event at time T3 is a loss. The loss counter is incremented for item 3, and the third icon 740 is removed from the 700 screen.

[0075] It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in the form of hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or non-volatile storage, such as, for example, a storage device like read-only memory (ROM), whether erasable or rewritable, or in the form of memory, such as random access memory (RAM), memory chips, devices, or integrated circuits, or on an optically or magnetically readable medium, such as, for example, a CD, DVD, magnetic disk, or magnetic tape. It will be appreciated that storage devices and storage media are machine-readable storage embodiments suitable for storing a program or programs that, when executed, implement embodiments of the present invention.Therefore, embodiments provide a program comprising code for implementing a system or method according to any one of the preceding claims and machine-readable storage for such a program. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention can be transmitted electronically via any medium such as a communication signal carried over a wired or wireless connection, and embodiments appropriately encompass these.

[0076] Throughout the description and claims of this document, the words "include" and "contain," and their variants, are interpreted as meaning "comprising, but not limited to," and are not intended to exclude (and do not exclude) other fractions, additives, components, integers, or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this document, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the document is to be understood as considering plurality, as well as singularity, unless the context otherwise requires.

[0077] The features, integers, characteristics, compounds, fractions, or chemical groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example of the invention shall be understood as applicable to any other aspect, embodiment, or example described herein, except where inconsistent with it. All the features disclosed in this document (including any one of the claims, the abstract, and the accompanying drawings), and / or all the steps of any method or process thus disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except for combinations where at least some of these features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not limited to the details of any of the aforementioned embodiments.The invention extends to any new feature, or new combination, of features disclosed in this document (including any of the claims, the abstract and the attached drawings), or to any new step, or new combination, of steps of any method or process as disclosed.

[0078] The reader's attention is drawn to all papers and documents filed concurrently with or prior to this description in connection with this application and which are liable to be publicly inspected with this description, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated in this memorandum by way of reference.

Claims

Claims

1. A control system for a bulk product weighing system, the control system comprising: one or more processors; at least one memory device configured to store product data, the product data comprising information associated with a bulk product and a corresponding bulk product dispenser for the product; wherein the control system is configured to: receive, from a sensor associated with the bulk product dispenser, a detection signal indicating that a dispensing event is detected at the bulk product dispenser; identify the bulk product corresponding to the bulk product dispenser based on the product data; output a control signal to control a display device of the weighing system to display an indication of the bulk product;and based on a threshold expiration time period elapsed since detection of the dispensing event, outputting a control signal to the display device to eliminate the indication of the bulk product.;

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to: receive, from a user input device associated with the weighing system, a weighing request for the bulk product; output a control signal to control a weighing apparatus of the weighing system to weigh the bulk product; and based on the weighing of the bulk product, output a control signal to the display device to eliminate the indication of the bulk product.

3. The control system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the control system is configured to store a dispensing counter indicating a number of dispensing events for the wholesale product detected in a previous window corresponding to the threshold expiration time period.

4. The control system of claim 3, wherein the control system is configured to: receive, from the sensor associated with the wholesale product dispenser, another detection signal indicating that a dispensing event is detected at the wholesale product dispenser; and increment the dispensing counter based on receipt of the another detection signal.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the control system is configured to: determine whether a time between detection of the further dispensing event and detection of a previous dispensing event at the wholesale distributor is less than a threshold event time; and if the time is determined to be less than the threshold event time, suppress incrementing of the dispensing counter.

6. The control system of claim 5, wherein the threshold event time is less than five seconds.

7. The control system of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the control system is configured to: start a respective expiration timer based on receipt of each further detection signal; and based on each respective expiration timer reaching the threshold expiration time, decrement the dispensing counter.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the control system is further configured to decrement the dispensing counter based on each weighing of the bulk product by a weighing apparatus of the weighing system.

9. The control system of any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the control system is configured to retain the indication of the wholesale product displayed on the display device if the dispensing counter is non-zero.

10. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein: the product data comprises a waste counter indicating a number of unweighed dispensing events for the product; and the control system is configured to increment the loss counter in response to the threshold expiration time period elapsed since the dispensing event was detected without the product being weighed.

11. An ordering system according to any preceding claim, wherein the display device is a user interface, and wherein the indication of the wholesale product comprises an icon for selection of the wholesale product at the display device.

12. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the threshold expiration time is between 5 minutes and 60 minutes.

13. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control system is configured to receive a selection signal indicating user input to select the threshold expiration time, and to adjust the threshold expiration time based on the selection signal.

14. A bulk product weighing system, the bulk product weighing system comprising: the control system of any preceding claim; a bulk product dispenser arranged to store and dispense a bulk product; a sensor arranged to detect a dispensing event at the bulk product dispenser; a weighing apparatus configured to weigh the dispensed bulk product; and a display device associated with the weighing apparatus arranged to display an indication of the bulk product to a user based on the sensor detecting the dispensing event.

15. A computer-implemented method for controlling a bulk product weighing system, the method comprising: storing product data, the product data comprising information associated with a bulk product and a corresponding bulk product dispenser for the product; receiving, from a sensor associated with the bulk product dispenser, a detection signal indicating that a dispensing event is detected at the bulk product dispenser; identification of the wholesale product corresponding to the wholesale product distributor based on the product data; controlling a display device of the weighing system to display an indication of the bulk product; and based on a threshold expiration time period elapsed since detection of the dispensing event, controlling the display device to eliminate the indication of the bulk product.

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