Patent ID: 7844509

Claim:
A computer implemented method for monitoring a real-time depletion of an item in a storage unit, the computer implemented method comprising: identifying an item placed on a mass sensor shelf in the storage unit to form an identified item, wherein the identified item is placed anywhere on the mass sensor shelf; generating a mass footprint of the identified item, wherein the mass footprint comprises information regarding an estimated location of the identified item and an impression of a portion of the identified item in contact with the mass sensor shelf; detecting a change in a mass sensor data from the mass sensor shelf, wherein the mass sensor shelf has a mass sensor grid, and wherein each mass sensor in the mass sensor grid detects a mass of the identified item based upon the mass footprint of the identified item; associating the change in the mass sensor data with the identified item to form a current mass for the identified item; and determining a depletion of the identified item based on a difference between the current mass and a previous mass for the identified item.