NETWORKED NOTIFICATION FOR DISPENSABLE UNITS

摘要

A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.

主权项

1. A system for controlling distribution of sensitive dispensable units comprising:
a container holding a plurality of dispensable units subject to managed distribution according to a number of rules; a dispensing system operable to dispense the plurality of dispensable units from the container; a processor and a memory operatively connected to the container and the dispensing system, the processor configured to dispense one or more of the plurality of dispensable units according to a predetermined schedule and the number of rules; and a network interface coupling the processor to a data network, wherein the processor is configured to receive an update to the predetermined schedule or the number of rules from a remote resource through the data network.