WO2017091183A1

WO2017091183A1 - Method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets

Info

Publication number: WO2017091183A1
Application number: PCT/UA2016/000138
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oleksandr Serhiiovych Mytskevych
Original assignee: Oleksandr Serhiiovych Mytskevych
Priority date: 2015-11-26
Filing date: 2016-11-25
Publication date: 2017-06-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to processes of data processing specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or prognosticating goals, in particular, to methods for automated control of inventory levels of items distributed at sales outlets, and calculation of the quantity or volume of the items distributed at a particular time, allowing to obtain a sequence of time referenced data on distribution of these items to enable further comparison with respective advertising actions and campaigns. The invention discloses a method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets. This method can be used in the field of trade and marketing, including a free-of-charge distribution of items, i.e. things which are not commodity products, especially through retail or small-scale wholesale outlets or establishments which may form a trading network (stores, cafes, pharmacies, bars, etc.). The present invention provides a universal method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets, comprising calculation of the quantity or volume of these items distributed at a particular time, adapted to obtaining a sequence of time referenced data on distribution of these items and automated transmission of these data to a limited number of interested persons.

Description

METHOD FOR AUTOMATED RECEIVING

AND PROCESSING INVENTORY LEVELS DATA ON AT LEAST ONE

ITEM TYPE AT SALES OUTLETS The present invention relates to processes of data processing specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or prognosticating goals, in particular, to methods for automated control of inventory levels of items distributed at sales outlets, and calculation of the quantity or volume of the items distributed at a particular time, allowing to obtain a sequence of time referenced data on distribution of these items to enable further comparison with respective advertising actions and campaigns. The invention discloses a method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets. This method can be used in the field of trade and marketing, including a free-of-charge distribution of items, i.e. things which are not commodity products, especially through retail or small-scale wholesale outlets or establishments which may form a trading network (stores, cafes, pharmacies, bars, etc.).

Suppliers, i.e. companies that produce and sell consumer goods (food, household chemicals, medicines, etc.), and marketing specialists would appreciate the need to organize a process of monitoring of distribution volumes of things either being commodity products, or not being commodity products as they are distributed free of charge, and together being the items that are distributed at sales outlets. Timely receiving data on distribution of these items through particular sales outlets allows to promptly make management decisions on the manner of distribution, in particular, on the selection of types of distribution outlets, their geographic location, distribution prices, order of display of the items, time of discounts introduction, and other measures to stimulate the distribution. And obtaining time referenced data on distribution of certain types of items at particular sales outlets allows to make a comparison with time intervals of particular types of advertising campaigns and actions, thus making the most accurate and prompt conclusions about the effectiveness and expediency of a particular type of a promotional event. It is obvious that the time referenced sales data on such items can be obtained through cash register equipment or point-of-sale terminals. However, the information which is processed by such equipment is usually owned by a mercantile establishment, and is deemed confidential and restricted. Moreover, such equipment does not register items that are distributed free of charge. While, those mostly interested in obtaining items distribution data are manufacturers, suppliers, outsourcers, marketing specialists, and their representatives.

In practice, items distribution data can be obtained based on data of items inventory levels monitoring obtained at sales outlets, i.e. at retail or small-scale wholesale outlets, which, in particular, may form trading networks. These sales outlets may be a part of a trading network of tens to several hundred thousand independent sales outlets.

Currently, the issue of obtaining and processing data on inventory levels of at least one item type for at least one sales outlet is resolved by organizational measures, in particular, by way of periodic visits to each sales outlet by a supplier sales representative, inventory counting, and forming aggregate distribution data for significant time intervals.

Such a method has several disadvantages which, in particular, include the need for a supplier to maintain a large staff of sales representatives, which significantly increases the cost of distribution of such items, given the need to pay salaries to all the sales representatives, and given additional transport costs. Moreover, the timeliness of obtaining information and the time accuracy of the data is completely doubtful due to supplier representative's permanent movement between different sales outlets, impossibility of his/her frequent stay in one sales outlet. And it is absolutely impossible to get data showing a time referenced dynamic of items distribution for the period between supplier representative arrivals. Moreover, an additional time is required for counting the quantity of distributed items over a given time interval, which can only be the interval between visits of a supplier representative, and for providing such data to interested parties.

In order to speed up the process of items distribution through sales outlets, and reduce the cost of control over the distribution process, usually outsourcing companies are engaged to perform notably the same actions as the above supplier representatives do. However, engaging the outsourcing companies absolutely does not eliminate the above disadvantages. Moreover, in this case the quality of control is lost as the outsourcing companies are responsible for control over distribution of a large quantity of items on behalf of multiple interested persons. Moreover, there is an additional problem of control over the outsourcing company as such, e.g. checking an actual quantity of sales outlets visited by an outsourcing company representative over a given time interval. Moreover, the human factor and the low level of automation increases the risk of a mistake in the calculations.

Thus, given the above, there is an urgent need for an automatic process of remote monitoring of inventory levels of the items at sales outlets, and calculation of the quantity or volume of these items distributed at a particular time, allowing to obtain a sequence of time referenced data on distribution of these items to enable further comparison with respective advertising actions and campaigns. And such a process must ensure the possibility of being used both for a single mercantile establishment and a large trading network with multiple sales outlets, regardless of a quantity of shop equipment and a quantity of item types that are distributed at sales outlets. Moreover, such a process must provide the possibility of its simultaneous use for many of said trading networks with respect to like or different items, i.e. it should provide the possibility of being used by different end retailers, retail or wholesale intermediaries, outsourcing and marketing companies, wholesale suppliers and manufacturers. And a significant role in such a process should be played by automation of periodic capture of data on items inventory levels quantitative indicators to be monitored, by quantity or mass, and receiving such data electronically on various types of items, and various number of spaces for their placing in distribution locations.

In the prior art there is the patent of Ukraine for invention (UA 96722 C2, published on 25.1 1.201 1, bulletin No. 22) providing for a system comprising an in-store product display, a data control device that controls data on the products, and a portable processing terminal that is carried by staff moving between a distributor and the store, and used for acquisition of data on product display layout, and for recording data by said data control device. The portable processing terminal includes an identification receiving unit which receives product identification data and position identification data, and a display keeping unit which keeps the received product identification data and the correlated position identification data. The data control device includes a display capturing unit that captures the product identification data and the position identification data acquired from the product display unit through the portable processing terminal, a warning data storage device that stores product display warnings concerning the products display layout together with at least a part of the product identification data, and a warning unit that provides product display warnings on the portable processing terminal through which the product identification data and the position identification data are received together with the product identification data.

The said system is designed to assist product supplier personnel in ensuring simple and correct display of particular products at particular sales outlets. However, the said invention does not ensure remote automatic receiving quantitative indicators of product inventory levels, with regard to such product placing and different kinds of products.

There is also the patent CN 1979100 disclosing a methodology of a dynamic inventory estimation system comprising RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) equipment intended to identify and put in the said system items with a certain content of electronic tags, a weight measuring device, scales holders for products, and computational tools connected to the weighing equipment of the RFID (electronic tag) equipment. The computational tool determines the whole mass, and additionally, evaluates and registers, depending on the location of the items, the actual weight of the product obtained respectively prior to and after weighing, and weight obtained using RFID (electronic tag) equipment as a result of the identification of electronic tags. According to one embodiment, the methodology of a dynamic inventory estimation system comprises the following procedure: checking a modification of gross weight loaded on the measuring equipment; further checking for increasing or decreasing changes in the content of the electronic tags of the commodity elements of the system due to changes in the value of gross weight which includes the following procedure: in the case of new electronic marking with higher value, the analysis of correspondence of new electronic tags to newly added elements of the system is carried out, the list of product elements is changed, and also the additional weight of each commodity item is assessed separately. In the case of reducing the quantity of the electronic tags the analysis of correspondence of the removed electronic tags to the removed commodity elements of the system is carried out, the removed commodity elements are removed from the list. If the total quantity of the electronic tags has not changed, the weight of a particular category is changed.

The described invention is aimed at creating a fast and easy inventory system enabling to have up-to-date information on the amount of stock by each item of a particular type of commodity products. Additionally, a reduction of time spent and labor is achieved.

However, the said invention is intended only for use within one salesroom. The measuring equipment system does not comprise whatever possibility of external transmission of measurement results data.

In the prior art there is also the patent application CA 2829535 Al published on 10.04.2015 which discloses an inventory management system that includes one or more scales, a portable electronic device, electronic means of data transmission from the scales to the portable electronic device. Also the materials of the application contain a description of a cabinet for controlling and weighing a plurality of items consisting of the following elements: a base with a space for items placing; a weighing device installed under the respective space for item placing and intended for determining the mass of the item; a portable electronic device whereto item data and results of item mass determination are transmitted. The weighing device may be carried out with embedded data on the item position within its space. And the described cabinet may contain a main control unit and a data storage device for storing relevant values which contains data on an item and a space for its placing. The main control unit receives the results of the determination as well as information on the item and its position to obtain an appropriate value. The cabinet may also be carried out to contain the said control unit and a data storage device for storing matching values. The main control unit uses item information which is stored in memory to ensure matching the item data and the results of a subsequent determination in order to calculate the expenditure of the item.

According to the application, the described inventory management system is designed for use with respect to one particular space for placing items, and in the case of use of several weighing devices within the said space for placing items, all these devices are directly connected to one main control unit which has the data storage device, and provides the storing and processing of data with respect to items. I.e. data is processed and stored by a device that is structurally connected to one or more weighing devices located in one particular space for placing items. And any primary item data which include data on mass, volume, item availability, or item shelf life are entered into such a data processing and storing device by its user via a special software application, and are displayed, using the said application, in a user portable electronic computing device. And data related to weight or inventory levels of items are received at user request via the said portable electronic computing device.

Understandably, the described invention has several disadvantages. In particular, it does not provide for the automatic notification upon a change in the item inventory level, the user receives information about item (product) inventory mass only after running the software application. The materials of the mentioned patent application contain only examples of receiving by the user of an automatically generated message on an item being out of stock or expiry of its shelf life, while the mechanism of formation and transmission of such messages is not disclosed. Also, only in the example of the embodiment the possibility of obtaining data on the quantity of items (products) is mentioned, but the mechanism of obtaining such an indicator is not disclosed, it is only mentioned that to calculate the quantity using the mass indicator it is necessary to use a separate software application installed on a separate electronic computing device. According to the described invention relating to an inventory management system, item data are received namely to the user portable electronic device, and all data processing is carried out only in the main control unit equipped with the data storage device which is installed namely at the space for placing items.

The described invention relating to an inventory management system discloses a method for obtaining data on items inventory level in one particular space for placing such items solely using the weighing device, with processing and storing all the data in the main unit, which is structurally connected to the weighing device where items inventory level data may be obtained by a user on request via the special software application which is installed on the user portable device. I.e. the invention is specifically designed for use solely with respect to one particular space for placing items, it can be used only within one particular mercantile establishment in the interests of its owner and only for obtaining information about the status of items (products) inventory at the time of owner's request, without regard to the procedure of calculating items distribution quantitative indicators.

Moreover, the said invention does not provide for the possibility of placing, in the shop equipment used in that method, group packages or containers with a set of similar items (products) in which wholesale or trade units of items (products) are usually supplied. In this case, it is only possible to place piece items without group packaging which has its own weight. Therefore, the described method does not enable to automatically keep record of items (products) in group packaging.

Understandably, the described invention relating to an inventory management system has a very narrow range of application and does not ensure the possibility of implementation of the automated process of remote monitoring of items inventory levels at sales outlets, and calculating the quantity or volume of these items distributed at a particular time, does not provide for the possibility to obtain a sequence of time referenced data on distribution of these items aimed at further comparison with respective advertising actions and campaigns. The described process provides for absolutely no possibility of being applied for a large trading network with multiple sales outlets, a large quantity of shop equipment and a large quantity of types of items that are distributed. That process does not provide for the possibility of being simultaneously used for many of the trading networks with respect to like or different items, it provides no possibility of being used by different end retailers, retail or wholesale intermediaries, outsourcing and marketing companies, wholesale suppliers and manufacturers.

The closest prior art of the present invention is a method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets, the essential features of which are disclosed in the above-described patent application materials CA 2829535 Al published on 10.04.2015.

The common essential elements of the present invention and the closest prior art are as follows: the use of shop display equipment located in a sales outlet having at least one base for placing items and comprising at least one measuring device allowing electronic data being received to an input of an electronic computing device, said data being adapted for being interpreted as quantitative indicators with respect to said items.

No of the above inventions, taken separately or combined with others, has a combination of essential features which fully coincides with the features of the present method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets. The features of this method which are common with the features of the above inventions will enable those skilled in the art to appreciate the degree of improvement that ensures meeting such criteria of patentability as novelty and non-obviousness, and industrial applicability. The bellow description of this method shows distinctions from the above-described prior art which will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The object of the present invention is to provide a universal method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets, comprising calculation of the quantity or volume of these items distributed at a particular time, adapted to obtaining a sequence of time referenced data on distribution of these items and automated transmission of these data to a limited number of interested persons, ensuring the possibility of being used both for a single mercantile establishment and a large trading network, or simultaneously used for many of the networks with multiple sales outlets, irrespective of the quantity of shop equipment and the quantity of types of items that are distributed, and ensuring the technical possibility of displaying or transmitting processed data via technical means of clients, who may include various marketing or outsourcing companies, retail or wholesale intermediaries, as well as mercantile establishments as such.

The above object is achieved as follows.

The method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets comprises use of shop display equipment, located at a sales outlet, having at least one base for placing items. Said shop display equipment comprises at least one measuring device allowing electronic data being received to an input of an electronic computing device, said data being adapted for being interpreted as quantitative indicators with respect to said items.

According to the present invention, the method comprises use of said shop display equipment located in at least one sales outlet, said shop display equipment includes at least one sensor that is configured to allow its output signals being received and subsequently interpreted as quantitative indicators with respect to said items. Said shop display equipment includes at least one control unit that is configured to convert the output signals of said at least one sensor and form messages. It also includes a transceiver connected to said control unit, said transceiver being configured to transmit messages formed by the control unit.

And said control unit is configured to convert signals of said sensor for messages being formed, and to transmit these messages through said transceiver, and to store such messages pending receiving, via the transceiver, a message confirming the receipt of said transmitted messages. Furthermore, said messages formed by the control unit, as a minimum, contain at least one data set which includes a mass or quantity indicator of said items and/or a static image of these items that are placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or on a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and said data set includes a time reference. These messages also contain a respective identifier of the sales outlet and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment base for placing items, and/or a respective identifier of an item placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment, and/or on the respective shop display equipment base for placing items.

This method further comprises use of an electronic control system designed to carry out this method by a preset algorithm, in particular, it is designed for periodic receiving messages in electronic form containing data pertaining to inventory level, at a particular moment of time, of the at least one item type placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on in the respective shop display equipment and/or on the respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and to calculate and obtain, on the basis of said data pertaining to the inventory level of the at least one item type, data on the volume of distribution of the item at a particular moment of time.

Said electronic control system is a hardware-software complex based on at least one electronic computing device configured to be connected to at least one communication network in order to receive messages containing data on said items as well as to provide access to data on said items stored in said electronic control system and/or to send messages containing such data.

Said electronic control system, in particular, contains a server application, recorded in a data storage device, designed to process input data, control the choice of output data based on input data, control the processes of data recording, sampling, reading and reproduction from at least one database which is contained in the electronic control system and is created and managed by the database management system and is designed for data collection, systematization, storage and deletion.

This method comprises creation of said at least one database using said electronic control system server application, the database to contain, as a minimum, data on at least one client who is supplied with data on said respective items, data on at least one sales outlet where items are placed, data on at least one item type.

The data on said client include an array of interrelated data that at least include a client identifier and his/her/its contact details. The client contact details include a client interface identifier of such a client and/or at least one network address associated with an electronic computing device containing such client's client application, and/or at least one network instant messaging system address and/or at least one network account address and/or at least one email address, and/or at least one telephone number.

The data on the sales outlet include an array of interrelated data that at least include an identifier of the respective sales outlet and/or an identifier of the respective shop display equipment and/or identifier of the respective shop display equipment base for placing items.

The data on said item include an array of interrelated data that at least include an identifier of such an item associated with a sales outlet and/or shop display equipment and/or a shop display equipment base for placing such items, and associated with said at least one client.

And this method further comprises receiving, to the input of the electronic control system, incoming messages that were formed by said control unit and sent through said transceiver, and, as a minimum, contain at least one data set which includes a mass or quantity indicator of said items and/or a static image of these items that are placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or on a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and said data set includes a time reference. The said messages also contain a respective identifier of the sales outlet and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment base for placing items, and/or a respective identifier of an item placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment, and/or on the respective shop display equipment base for placing items.

The described incoming messages are received upon initialization of communication by said shop display equipment control unit, or by the electronic control system. Further, the above-described incoming messages are received by a preset time interval, or on request received from the electronic control system, or in each case of receiving by said control unit an output signal from said sensor which indicates a change in quantitative indicators of said items.

This method comprises storing data, received in said incoming messages, in the above-described database using the server application and/or preprocessing a part of the data received in these messages and storing the preprocessed and a part of the received data in said database.

And said preprocessing of the part of the data received in the incoming messages, in particular, comprises obtaining an items quantity indicator based on a mass indicator by calculating, using the preset algorithm, the quantity indicator based on the mass of one unit of the item or obtaining the items quantity indicator or mass indicator based on a static image by recognition of spatial patterns and identification of articles and calculation using the preset algorithm.

Furthermore, said storing of the received and/or preprocessed and the part of the received data is carried out subject to matching and associating to data, in the said database, on an item with the same identifier and/or data on a sales outlet with the same sales outlet identifier and/or shop display equipment identifier and/or identifier of a shop display equipment base for placing items.

Further, the above-described storing of the received and/or preprocessed and the part of the received data, in particular, comprises storing a accounting data set which includes a mass or quantity indicator of said items which are placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or at a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and said accounting data set includes a time reference.

And this method further comprises storing all such accounting data sets or storing only those accounting data sets where each subsequent, by indicated time, accounting data set item mass or quantity indicator differs from the data of the previous, by indicated time, accounting data set, or storing only the latest, by indicated time, accounting data set and deleting the previous, by indicated time, accounting data set provided that its items mass or quantity indicator differs from the data of the previous, by indicated time, accounting data set.

This method further comprises, based on the data obtained from the above- described incoming messages, using the server application, the calculation of an item distribution primary indicator with account for a respective sales outlet identifier and/or shop display equipment identifier and/or identifier of a shop display equipment base for placing items and/or respective identifier of an item that is placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment and/or at the respective shop display equipment base for placing items.

And the said calculation of the item distribution primary indicator is carried out by way of subtraction, where a minuend and a subtrahend are the mass or quantity indicators of the respective item. The item mass or quantity indicator of the above-described accounting data set entered into said database is used as the minuend. And as the subtrahend there is used the item mass or quantity indicator of another accounting data set entered into the database, or the respective above- described incoming message data set, or the incoming message data set partly preprocessed as described above. At that, as the subtrahend there is used the item mass or quantity indicator of the data set having later but closest time reference as compared to the time reference of the accounting set to which the minuend belongs, provided that the subtrahend value is less than that of the minuend.

Furthermore, each such a calculated item distribution primary indicator is associated, as a minimum, with a time reference of a data set to which the said subtrahend belongs, or with two said time references relative to this set forming a time interval, and is recorded in above-described database, and/or an item distribution aggregate indicator is calculated for a given time interval by summing such item distribution primary indicators, and such a resulting item distribution aggregate indicator is associated, as a minimum, with the given time interval reference and/or the latest time reference taken into account when calculating the item distribution primary indicator, or the earliest and the latest time references taken into account when calculating item distribution primary indicators, which form a time interval, and is recorded in the above-described database.

And the calculated primary or aggregate items distribution indicators with the respective time references are recorded in said database with account for a respective sales outlet identifier and/or shop display equipment identifier and/or identifier of a shop display equipment base for placing items and/or respective identifier of an item that is placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment and/or at the respective shop display equipment base for placing items. This method further comprises, using the server application, display of items distribution output data via a respective client interface according to the identifier of the said interface contained in the electronic control system database, and/or formation of electronic control system outgoing messages containing such data. And these formed outgoing messages are sent at respective client contact details which include at least one network address associated with an electronic computing device containing that client's client application, and/or at least one address of a network instant messaging system and/or at least one network account address and/or at least one email address, and/or at least one telephone number.

The said items distribution output data, in particular, include at least one identifier of an item that is placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or at a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and/or an identifier of the sales outlet and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment base for placing items, and further said items distribution output data include:

- a respective item distribution primary indicator with the above-described association of one or two respective time references,

- or a set of such item distribution primary indicators, with respective time references, which is formed in time sequence for a given time interval,

- or said respective item distribution aggregate indicator for a given time interval with the above-described combination of one or two time references and/or a given time interval reference,

- or a set of such item distribution aggregate indicators, with respective time references, which is formed in time sequence for a given time interval.

The said given time intervals, for which items distribution aggregate indicators are calculated, or which meet sets of items distribution primary indicators, or which meet sets of items distribution aggregate indicators, are set automatically or based on clients' requests received to the input of the electronic control system, the requests, in particular, contain a reference to such time intervals and respective identifiers of an item that is placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or at respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and/or the identifiers of the sales outlet and/or identifiers of the shop display equipment and/or identifiers of the shop display equipment base for placing items.

Some embodiments of this method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets may further comprise use of said electronic control system which is a hardware-software complex based on at least one electronic computing device configured to be directly or indirectly connected to the Internet and/or mobile network radio transceivers.

And said messages between said shop display equipment transceiver and the electronic control system are transmitted by data transfer protocol that provides for an automatic confirmation of their receipt.

This method further comprises use of said shop display equipment that contains said at least one sensor that is configured to transmit, to the said control unit, output signals corresponding to the mass or quantity or static image of items that are placed on a shop display equipment base for placing items or are placed on/in the shop display equipment.

And the shop display equipment includes said at least one control unit which is a microcontroller, and the shop display equipment includes said transceiver which is a radio transceiver configured to be connected to a mobile network.

Furthermore, the items distribution output data are displayed, as described above, via the respective client interface in the form of diagrams and/or tables, and the electronic control system outgoing messages containing data on items distribution are formed, as described above, with the possibility of further display of these data via outputs of electronic computing devices in a form of diagrams and/or tables.

Some embodiments of this method may further comprise use of said shop display equipment that contains said at least one sensor, which is a strain gauge or optoelectronic sensor or electromechanical sensor, or radio frequency identification reader, and said sensor includes a primary signal transducer.

Given that the present invention can be modified and have alternative embodiments, the bellow detailed description of the method is not to be construed as limiting to such described particular embodiments, and instead includes all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the nature and scope of patent protection set forth in the appended claims.

The method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets can be used both with respect to sellable items and items that are distributed free of charge. And those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present method, subject to certain changes, can be used also to ensure timely removal of at least one item, e.g. when collecting products or goods as an aid to orphanages, hospitals, and for other needs.

As explained above, the term "item" refers to a product or thing that may be a commodity product to be sold for money, or may not be a commodity product as it is distributed free of charge. An item may be a packaging, box, pack, sack, or any other container, it can be single-piece being distributed per item. And a general property of an item is a determined mass of its unit. At the same time, an item may be either bulk or poured, such as sugar, cereals, vegetables, drinks on tap, etc. being not packaged in containers and distributed by mass or volume units.

A sales outlet refers a mercantile establishment, premises or place of sale or distribution of items related to a mercantile establishment.

A sales outlet may be any public institutions selling goods or services. These places are preferably, but not limited to, stores, pharmacies, bars, cafes, shopping and entertainment centers, paid health care institutions, etc.

In this method, there is used shop display equipment, i.e. the equipment which is designed for shelving, storing, and selling or distributing goods or items, these may include specialized furniture, refrigerators, or other equipment which enables temporary storage and display of products or items being distributed.

Such equipment is located in at least one sales outlet. I.e. this method includes monitoring items inventory levels not only in one but in multiple sales outlets.

The said equipment has at least one base for placing items allowing to place on each such a base a particular type of item in a required quantity. Such a base may be a shelf, bracket, stand, etc. on which similar objects are based, suspended or otherwise held.

The said shop display equipment comprises at least one measuring device allowing electronic data being received to an input of an electronic computing device, said data being adapted for being interpreted as quantitative indicators with respect to said items.

Said embodied shop display equipment comprises at least one sensor as said at least one measuring device. In this case the sensor refers to a device that includes both a sensory element and a primary transducer of a sensory element signal. Said at least one sensor is configured to allow its output signals being received and subsequently interpreted as quantitative indicators with respect to said items. I.e. sensor output signals are adapted either for being converted, in the control unit, into electronic data that directly reflect quantitative indicators with respect to items, or adapted for being converted, in the control unit, into electronic data adapted for being subsequently converted, in another electronic computing device, into electronic data which directly reflect quantitative indicators with respect to the items.

The said shop display equipment includes at least one control unit that is configured to convert output signals of said at least one sensor and form messages. Preferably, the control unit is carried out in the form of a microcontroller having a data storage device that may be integrated or external. Depending on a type of shop display equipment, one or more of said sensors placed on one piece of such shop equipment can be connected to one control unit. Alternatively, one or more of such sensors connected to one of several bases for placing items can be connected to one control unit. I.e. each base for items placing may have its own control unit or there may be one control unit for one or several pieces of shop display equipment.

Said shop display equipment also includes a transceiver connected to said control unit, said transceiver being configured to transmit messages formed by the control unit. I.e. said transceiver can be connected to one or more control units of one piece of shop equipment or several pieces of shop display equipment. Said transceiver is designed for being connected to a wired or wireless network. Preferably in this method a radio transceiver is used configured to be connected to a mobile network.

As already mentioned, the shop display equipment includes said at least one sensor. I.e. one or more different types of sensors may be combined with one or more bases for placing items. And said at the least one sensor is preferably configured to transmit, to said control unit, output signals corresponding to the mass or quantity or static image of items that are placed on a shop display equipment base for placing items or are placed on/in such shop display equipment. I.e., as already mentioned, the method includes the possibility of converting signals into electronic data both in the control unit and in another electronic computing device. Inter alia, further multiple conversion of electronic data is possible, in particular, the conversion of photosensor output signals into static image electronic data in the control unit for subsequent recognition of graphic images and calculation of the quantity or mass of items. And a static image may be used not only to calculate the quantity or mass, but also for control purposes. Furthermore, the static image may be used simultaneously for both controlling and calculating the quantity or mass of the items. Preferably in this method shop display equipment is used containing at least one said sensor, which is a strain gauge or optoelectronic sensor or electromechanical sensor, or radio frequency identification reader, and said sensor includes a primary signal transducer. The strain gauge may be utilized to measure weight, optoelectronic sensor - to obtain static images. The electromechanical sensor may be utilized to measure distance, e.g. the distance to a movable bracket which position depends on the quantity of items that are stacked up as the bracket is based on the outermost item in the stack. This principle of use of the electromechanical sensor may be used in shop equipment, particularly, for placing packets of cigarettes. And said radio frequency identification reader may be carried out, particularly, in the form of an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) equipment reader to calculate the quantity of items by the quantity of RFID tags attached thereto.

Furthermore, said control unit is configured to convert signals of the sensor for messages being formed, and to transmit such messages via said transceiver.

And the control unit is configured to store such messages pending receiving, via the transceiver, a message confirming the receipt. The receipt confirmation message can be an automatically formed backward message from mobile network equipment, the Internet or said control system. In this method, messages between said shop display equipment transceiver and electronic control system are preferably transmitted by data transfer protocol that provides for automatic confirmation of their receipt. Thus, in case of break of communication between the shop display equipment transceiver and electronic control system, item inventory level data are temporarily stored with the specification of the time of obtaining said data until the communication is restored.

Said messages formed by the control unit, as a minimum, contain at least one data set which includes a mass or quantity indicator of said items and/or a static image of these items that are placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or on a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and said data set includes a time reference. These messages also contain a respective identifier of the sales outlet and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment base for placing items, and/or a respective identifier of an item placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment, and/or on the respective shop display equipment base for placing items.

I.e. this method comprises the possibility of formation of separate messages, each of which contains one said data set and its respective identifier of a sales outlet and/or item identifier, or formation of messages each of which contains a certain quantity of such previously collected data sets associated with their one respective identifier of a sales outlet and/or item identifier, or formation of messages with a certain quantity of such different data sets, each of which is associated with its particular respective identifier of a sales outlet and/or item identifier.

These data sets contained in said messages formed by the control unit include a mass or quantity indicator of these items and/or a static image of these items that are placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective display equipment and/or on a respective shop display equipment base for placing items. These data sets include a quantity indicator in case of calculating the quantity of items based on the total mass and the mass of one item unit in the very control unit, or in case of calculating by control unit when receiving signals or data from electromechanical sensor or radio frequency identification reader. These data sets may include a mass or quantity indicator of items and/or static image of items on each base, on/in each piece of shop equipment or in a sales outlet as a whole. The time reference corresponding to each such data set may be the time of signal receipt from a respective sensor or the time of record of such data set or the time of formation of a message by the control unit if such a message is formed exclusively with one such data set. In this method, quantitative indicators and/or static image in the message may be associated with a particular space for items placing (without specifying the type of items) and/or specifying the type of the items, and the identifier can be both a conditional code and name. An item may be identified both by its type and only by the space for its placing. Hereinafter the term "identifier" refers to an identification marking which may be a distinctive character set, including in the form of a name or denomination as a sociolinguistic unit, and in any case this marking is a set of machine-readable characters.

This method may comprise formation of said messages periodically by a particular time interval or upon receiving a request from the electronic control system or in each case of receipt by the control unit of an output signal of said sensor which indicates a change in items quantitative indicators. And the moment of formation by the control unit of said data sets, which include a mass or quantity indicator of these items and/or a static image of these items and a time reference, may not be related to the moment of the formation of said messages. The formation of such data sets may be carried out for the purpose of the accumulation and storage of such sets by the control unit until messages containing the accumulated quantity of data sets are formed. Furthermore, the formation of these data sets for the purpose of the accumulation by the control unit may be carried out at predetermined intervals or in each case of receipt by the control unit of a sensor output signal indicating a change in items quantitative indicators. I.e. the control unit may form messages each of which contains one set of said data, or a certain quantity of such accumulated data sets. Furthermore, the formation of messages containing a certain quantity of accumulated data sets may be carried out at predetermined intervals or upon receiving a request from the electronic control system. And messages containing only one data set may be formed periodically at predetermined time intervals or in each case of receipt by the control unit of a sensor output signal indicating a change in items quantitative indicators.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the described data sets are formed in each case upon receipt by the control unit of a sensor output signal indicating a change in items quantitative indicators, said formed data sets are accumulated, and periodic messages are formed by the control unit at predetermined time intervals containing these accumulated data sets. Said predetermined time interval, i.e. the periodicity of formation of messages by the control unit, may be programmed in the control unit and be permanent, or may be changed remotely via electronic control system. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the above-described periodicity in formation of messages containing the accumulated sets of said data, and their transmission via the transceiver, enable to transmit a large quantity of data in a single periodic communication session with the electronic control system.

Receiving messages, containing the above-described data sets which are formed on the basis of a change in the sensor output signal, allows to obtain data that indicate a change in an item quantitative indicator by one accounting unit, e.g. one bottle or 1 kg of an item, allowing to identify an event where a certain item or a small portion of its weight is removed and returned to the shop equipment, and consider it in the general accounting. For example, a buyer takes a bottle from a shop equipment shelf to read information on its collar and puts the bottle back. Or several buyers do this simultaneously. Or a salesperson mistakenly takes some excess weight of a poured item and after weighing puts back the excess. To recognize these events and remove respective data from records, the server application can be configured to compare the quantitative indicators of items, if they increase, with a certain indicator determined for a particular item and being the minimum quantitative indicator of the item that can be at one time, i.e. at a certain short period of time, placed from the stock reserve of this sales outlet. For example, several bottles put back by clients can be distinguished from the additional placement of twenty bottles from the box delivered from the store warehouse being placed at a certain short period of time.

As mentioned above, this method comprises use of the electronic control system designed to carry out this method by a preset algorithm. Said system is particularly designed for periodic receiving messages in electronic form containing data pertaining to the inventory level, at a particular moment of time, of at least one item type placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or on a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and to calculate and obtain, on the basis of the said data pertaining to the inventory level of at least one item type, data on the volume of distribution of said item at a particular time.

The electronic control system is a hardware-software complex based on at least one electronic computing device configured to be connected to at least one communication network in order to receive messages containing data on said items as well as to provide access to data on said items stored in said electronic control system and/or to send messages containing such data.

Said communication network can be a wired or wireless communication network or a combination of such networks, including global networks such as the Internet or local networks. Preferably this method comprises the use of the electronic control system which is a hardware-software complex based on at least one electronic computing device configured to be directly or indirectly connected to the Internet and/or mobile network radio transmitters.

Said provision of access to system data includes possible third party limited access, including access by a person who controls it, and limited access through the client interface by clients which may be marketing or outsourcing companies, retail or wholesale intermediaries or manufacturers, as well as mercantile establishments as such. Said access to the system may be provided both to set particular parameters needed for calculations, change registration data or correct data, and to obtain calculated data on items distribution by way of their display.

The said electronic control system, in particular, contains the server application recorded in the data storage device. The term "server" is used figuratively, considering a part of functions of this software application pertaining only to the "client-server" network architecture created and the function of this application in the system being performance service (operating) functions on request from "client", or client application, and providing access to certain resources or services. And this server application is not limited to said function and purpose, but has other functions and purposes disclosed hereinbelow.

The server application is designed to process input data, control the choice of output data based on input data, control the processes of data recording, sampling, reading and reproduction from at least one database which is contained in the electronic control system and is created and managed by the database management system and is designed for data collection, systematization, storage and deletion.

This method comprises creation of said at least one database using said electronic control system server application, the database to contain, as a minimum, data on at least one client who is supplied with data on said respective items, data on at least one sales outlet where items are placed, data on at least one item type. The term "client" refers to any person or entity for the benefit of which time referenced item distribution data are collected, calculated and systematized. These may particularly include marketing or outsourcing companies, retail or wholesale intermediaries, or manufacturers, as well as mercantile establishments as such. And in the context of this invention, the term "client" refers to equipment that is used in this method and related to said persons or entities.

Data on a client include an array of interrelated data that at least include a client identifier and his/her/its contact details. The term "identifier" refers to an identification marking which may be a distinctive character set, including in the form of a name or denomination as a sociolinguistic unit, and in any case this marking is a set of machine-readable characters.

Said client contact details include a client interface identifier of such a client and/or at least one network address associated with an electronic computing device containing such client's client application, and/or at least one network instant messaging system address ("messenger") and/or at least one network account address and/or at least one email address, and/or at least one telephone number.

The term "network address" refers to any device identifier in a computer network that provides addressing in global or local networks, including domain addressing. A network account address refers to accounts of social or other networks and services, for example Skype or Viber. A telephone number can be used to send and receive SMS or MMS messages to a respective mobile radio terminal being an electronic computing device.

The term "client interface", in this case, refers to a user interface which provides limited access to particular specially intended electronic control system data or resources which are intended for a particular client. And the client interface as such is implemented by client access to the system via communication networks from client's electronic computing device. And the identifier of said client interface refers to identification of a certain area for displaying data that is intended for a particular client, such as "user page" or "personal area".

The above term "client application" is used figuratively, considering the basic function of this software application pertaining only to the "client-server" network architecture created and the function of this software application in the system - providing queries and retrieving data from the aforementioned server application, i.e. accessing certain resources or services. And the client application may not be limited to said function and purpose, but may have other functions and purposes, including those disclosed hereinbelow.

The aforementioned data on the sales outlet include an array of interrelated data that at least include an identifier of the respective sales outlet and/or an identifier of the respective shop display equipment and/or an identifier of the respective shop display equipment base for placing items.

The aforementioned data on an item include an array of interrelated data that at least include an identifier of such an item associated with a sales outlet and/or shop display equipment and/or a shop display equipment base for placing such items, and associated with said at least one client.

In this case the term "identifier" also refers to an identification marking which may be a distinctive character set, including in the form of a name or denomination as a sociolinguistic unit, and in any case this marking is a set of machine-readable characters.

And this method comprises receiving, to the input of the electronic control system, incoming messages that were formed by said control unit and sent through said transceiver. These incoming messages, as a minimum, contain at least one data set which includes a mass or quantity indicator of said items and/or a static image of these items that are placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or on a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and said data set includes a time reference. These incoming messages also contain a respective identifier of the sales outlet and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment base for placing items, and/or a respective identifier of an item placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment, and/or on the respective shop display equipment base for placing items. The procedure of formation of such messages by the control unit was disclosed above.

The described incoming messages are received upon initialization of communication by said shop display equipment control unit, or by the electronic control system. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in order to avoid the need for a large quantity of static IP-addresses, communication is initialized by the control unit. The incoming messages are received by a preset time interval, or on request received from the electronic control system, or in each case of receiving by the control unit an output signal from said sensor which indicates a change in items quantitative indicators. Hereinabove, in the description of the procedure of formation of messages by the control unit it is mentioned that according to a preferred embodiment of the method, data sets are formed by the control unit in each case upon receipt by the control unit of an output signal of said sensor indicating a change in items quantitative indicators, said formed data sets are accumulated, and periodic messages are formed by the control unit at predetermined time intervals containing these accumulated data sets. Therefore in a preferred embodiment of this method, said incoming messages are received by a preset time interval.

The said preprocessing of the part of the data received in the incoming messages, in particular, comprises obtaining an items quantity indicator based on a mass indicator by calculating, using the preset algorithm, the quantity indicator based on the mass of one unit of the item or obtaining the items quantity indicator or mass indicator based on a static image by recognition of spatial patterns and identification of articles and calculation using the preset algorithm.

Furthermore, the storing of the received and/or preprocessed and the part of the received data is carried out subject to matching and associating to data, in the said database, on an item with the same identifier and/or data on a sales outlet with the same sales outlet identifier and/or shop display equipment identifier and/or identifier of a shop display equipment base for placing items.

Said storing of the received and/or preprocessed and the part of the received data, in particular, comprises storing a accounting data set which includes a mass or quantity indicator of said items which are placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or at a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and said accounting data set includes a time reference. In this case the term "accounting data set" is used figuratively in order to differentiate this data set from other similar data sets. It will be understood that such accounting data sets are stored related to respective sales outlets and/or item identifiers. Understandably, if there is no need for said preprocessing of a part of data received in said incoming messages, the data of such accounting data sets may fully coincide with the data of the above-described respective incoming message dataset, including a time reference. Along with the described accounting data set, the electronic control system database may also store other data associated with these accounting data sets, respective incoming messages, respective sales outlets, or items as such.

This method further comprises storing all such accounting data sets or, to save electronic system resources, only particular accounting data sets.

Particularly, the present method allows for storing only those accounting data sets where each subsequent, by indicated time, accounting data set item mass or quantity indicator differs from the data of the previous, by indicated time, accounting data set. I.e. data which do not reflect items quantitative indicators and are of no use for calculating the quantity or volume of items distributed at a particular time are deleted.

The present method also allows for storing only a latest, by indicated time, accounting data set and deleting a previous, by indicated time, accounting data set provided that its item mass or quantity indicator differs from data of the previous, by indicated time, accounting data set. Thereby a maximum saving of resources of the electronic control system is observed. In this case it is possible to calculate the quantity or volume of a particular item that is distributed at a particular time, using two latest data sets received pertaining to such an item.

However, as it is expedient to provide for the possibility of validation check of further data processing, control of reliability of the process of incoming messages receiving and avoid data loss, in a preferred embodiment, this method comprises storing only all those accounting data sets where each subsequent, by indicated time, accounting data set item mass or quantity indicator differs from the data of a previous, by indicated time, accounting data set.

This method further comprises, based on the data obtained from the above- described incoming messages, using the server application, the calculation of an item distribution primary indicator with account for a respective sales outlet identifier and/or shop display equipment identifier and/or identifier of a shop display equipment base for placing items and/or respective identifier of an item that is placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment and/or at the respective shop display equipment base for placing items. In this case the term "item distribution primary indicator" is used figuratively in order to be differentiated from other item distribution indicators, particularly from the item distribution aggregate indicators.

The said calculation of the item distribution primary indicator is carried out by way of subtraction, where a minuend and a subtrahend are the mass or quantity indicators of the respective item. Understandably, in this case the minuend and the subtrahend must only be measured in the same units.

At that, the item mass or quantity indicator of the above-described accounting data set entered into said database is used as the minuend.

And as the subtrahend there is used the item mass or quantity indicator of another accounting data set entered into the database, or the respective above- described incoming message data set, or the incoming message data set partly preprocessed as described above.

I.e. as the minuend, in any case, there are used the indicators having been recorded in the electronic system database before the calculation is carried out, as the present method involves storing in the database, as a minimum, indicators obtained from the latest incoming message, provided that they are different from the indicators contained in the previous message.

And as the subtrahend there may be used the indicators having been recorded in the electronic system database before the calculation is carried out, i.e. the indicators of the above-described accounting data set. Or as the subtrahend there may be used the indicators of the above-described incoming message data set, i.e. the indicators that have not been recorded in the database before the calculation is carried out. Or as the subtrahend there may be used indicators of an incoming message data set partially preprocessed in the above-described manner, which also have not been recorded in the database before the calculation is carried out. Thus, the calculation of the item distribution primary indicator may not be necessarily associated with storing all mass or quantity indicators in the electronic control system database.

And as the subtrahend there is used the item mass or quantity indicator of such a data set (the accounting data set or incoming message data set) having later but closest time reference as compared to the time reference of the accounting set to which the minuend belongs, provided that the subtrahend value is less than that of the minuend. The condition that the subtrahend value should be less than that of the minuend is due to the fact that only a reduction of a subsequent in time weight or quantity indicator can indicate a reduction of quantitative indicators of an item, i.e. its removal from a respective sales outlet or shop display equipment or a respective shop display equipment base for placing items.

Each such a calculated item distribution primary indicator is associated, as a minimum, with a time reference of a data set to which the said subtrahend belongs, or with two time references relative to this set forming a time interval, and is recorded in above-described database, and/or an item distribution aggregate indicator is calculated for a given time interval by summing such item distribution primary indicators, and such a resulting item distribution aggregate indicator is associated, as a minimum, with the given time interval reference and/or the latest time reference taken into account when calculating the item distribution primary indicator, or the earliest and the latest time references taken into account when calculating item distribution primary indicators, which form a time interval, and is recorded in the above-described database.

In this case the term "item distribution aggregate indicator" is used figuratively in order to be differentiated from other item distribution indicators, particularly from the above-described item distribution primary indicator. Understandably, this method allows for accounting only by item distribution primary indicators or item distribution aggregate indicators at particular time intervals, e.g. every hour, every day or every week.

Furthermore, the calculated primary or aggregate items distribution indicators with the respective time references are recorded in the electronic control system database with account for a respective sales outlet identifier and/or shop display equipment identifier and/or identifier of a shop display equipment base for placing items and/or respective identifier of an item that is placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment and/or at the respective shop display equipment base for placing items.

This method further comprises, using the server application, display of items distribution output data via a respective client interface according to the identifier of the said interface contained in the electronic control system database. Along with said display of items distribution output data, or instead thereof, this method comprises formation of electronic control system outgoing messages also containing items distribution data. The formed outgoing messages are sent at respective client contact details contained in the database. These contact details include at least one network address associated with an electronic computing device containing that client's client application, and/or at least one address of a network instant messaging system and/or at least one network account address and/or at least one email address, and/or at least one telephone number.

And the items distribution output data, in particular, include at least one identifier of an item that is placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or at a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and/or an identifier of the sales outlet and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment base for placing items, and further said items distribution output data include:

In a preferred embodiment, the output data on items distribution are displayed, as described, via the respective client interface in the form of diagrams and/or tables. And the electronic control system outgoing messages containing data on items distribution are formed, as described above, with the possibility of further display of these data via outputs of electronic computing devices in a form of diagrams and/or tables.

Furthermore, in this method said preset time intervals, for which items distribution aggregate indicators are calculated, or which meet sets of items distribution primary indicators, or which meet sets of items distribution aggregate indicators, are set automatically or based on clients' requests received to the input of the electronic control system. Said clients' requests are messages which, in particular, contain a reference to such time intervals and respective identifiers of an item that is placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or at respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and/or the identifiers of the sales outlet and/or identifiers of the shop display equipment and/or identifiers of the shop display equipment base for placing items. Said clients' requests can be received at electronic control system input from clients' electronic computing devices which meet the above-described clients' contact details.

Understandably, the above-described method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets is a universal automated process of remote monitoring of items inventory levels at sales outlets, comprising calculation of the quantity or volume of these items distributed at a particular time, adapted to obtaining a sequence of time referenced data on distribution of these items and automated transmission of these data to a limited number of interested persons. This method ensures the possibility of being used both for a single mercantile establishment and a large trading network, or simultaneously used for many of the networks with multiple sales outlets, irrespective of the quantity of shop equipment and the quantity of types of items that are distributed. The present method ensures the technical possibility of displaying or transmitting processed data via technical means of clients, who may include various marketing or outsourcing companies, retail or wholesale intermediaries, as well as mercantile establishments as such.

The described method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets ensures the possibility of provision to said limited number of interested persons of time referenced data on items distribution in the form of diagrams or tables. Such timely receiving data on distribution of items through particular sales outlets allows to promptly make management decisions on the manner of distribution, in particular, on the selection of types of distribution outlets, their geographic location, distribution prices, order of display of items, time of discounts introduction, and other measures to stimulate the distribution.

Obtaining, in such a form, time referenced data on distribution of certain types of items at particular sales outlets allows to make a comparison, in electronic computing devices, with the time intervals of particular types of advertising campaigns and actions. Technically, such a comparison can be implemented both separately and in the described electronic control system. The comparison of these data allows making the most accurate and prompt conclusions about the effectiveness and expediency of a particular type of a promotional event.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets, comprising use of shop display equipment, located at a sales outlet, said shop display equipment having at least one base for placing items, said shop display equipment comprising at least one measuring device allowing electronic data being received to an input of an electronic computing device, said data being adapted for being interpreted as quantitative indicators with respect to said items, wherein this method comprises use of said shop display equipment located in at least one sales outlet, said shop display equipment includes:

at least one sensor that is configured to allow its output signals being received and subsequently interpreted as quantitative indicators with respect to said items, at least one control unit that is configured to convert the output signals of said at least one sensor and form messages, and

a transceiver connected to said control unit, said transceiver being configured to transmit messages formed by the control unit,

said control unit is configured to convert signals of said sensor for messages being formed, and to transmit these messages through said transceiver, and to store such messages pending receiving, via the transceiver, a message confirming the receipt of said transmitted messages,

said messages formed by the control unit, as a minimum, contain at least one data set which includes a mass or quantity indicator of said items and/or a static image of these items that are placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or on a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and said data set includes a time reference, and said messages contain a respective identifier of the sales outlet and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment base for placing items, and/or a respective identifier of an item placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment, and/or on the respective shop display equipment base for placing items,

and this method further comprises use of an electronic control system designed to carry out this method by a preset algorithm, in particular, it is designed for periodic receiving messages in electronic form containing data pertaining to inventory level, at a particular moment of time, of the at least one item type placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment and/or on the respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and to calculate and obtain, on the basis of said data pertaining to the inventory level of the at least one item type, data on the volume of distribution of the item at a particular moment of time,

and said electronic control system is a hardware-software complex based on at least one electronic computing device configured to be connected to at least one communication network in order to receive messages containing data on said items as well as to provide access to data on said items stored in said electronic control system and/or to send messages containing such data, said electronic control system, in particular, contains a server application, recorded in a data storage device, designed to process input data, control the choice of output data based on input data, control the processes of data recording, sampling, reading and reproduction from at least one database which is contained in the electronic control system and is created and managed by the database management system and is designed for data collection, systematization, storage and deletion,

and this method comprises creation of said at least one database, using said electronic control system server application, the database to contain, as a minimum, data on at least one client who is supplied with data on said respective items, data on at least one sales outlet where items are placed, data on at least one item type,

and the data on said client include an array of interrelated data that at least include a client identifier and his/her/its contact details, where the client contact details include a client interface identifier of such a client and/or at least one network address associated with an electronic computing device containing such client's client application, and/or at least one network instant messaging system address and/or at least one network account address and/or at least one email address, and/or at least one telephone number,

and the data on the sales outlet include an array of interrelated data that at least include an identifier of the respective sales outlet and/or an identifier of the respective shop display equipment and/or an identifier of the respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and the data on said item include an array of interrelated data that at least include an identifier of such an item associated with a sales outlet and/or shop display equipment and/or a shop display equipment base for placing such items, and associated with said at least one client,

and this method further comprises receiving, to the input of the electronic control system, incoming messages that were formed by said control unit and sent through said transceiver, and, as a minimum, contain at least one data set which includes a mass or quantity indicator of said items and/or a static image of these items that are placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or on a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and said data set includes a time reference, the messages also contain a respective identifier of the sales outlet and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment base for placing items, and/or a respective identifier of an item placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment, and/or on the respective shop display equipment base for placing items,

and the described incoming messages are received upon initialization of communication by said shop display equipment control unit, or by the electronic control system, further, the above-described incoming messages are received by a preset time interval, or on request received from the electronic control system, or in each case of receiving by said control unit an output signal from said sensor which indicates a change in quantitative indicators of said items,

and this method comprises storing data, received in said incoming messages, in the above-described database using the server application and/or preprocessing a part of the data received in these messages and storing the preprocessed and a part of the received data in said database, and said preprocessing of the part of the data received in the incoming messages, in particular, comprises obtaining an items quantity indicator based on a mass indicator by calculating, using the preset algorithm, the quantity indicator based on the mass of one unit of the item or obtaining the items quantity indicator or mass indicator based on a static image by recognition of spatial patterns and identification of articles and calculation using the preset algorithm,

furthermore, said storing of the received and/or preprocessed and the part of the received data is carried out subject to matching and associating to data, in said database, on an item with the same identifier and/or data on a sales outlet with the same sales outlet identifier and/or shop display equipment identifier and/or identifier of a shop display equipment base for placing items, further, the above- described storing of the received and/or preprocessed and the part of the received data, in particular, comprises storing a accounting data set which includes a mass or quantity indicator of said items which are placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or at a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and said accounting data set includes a time reference, and this method further comprises:

- storing all such accounting data sets,

- or storing only those accounting data sets where each subsequent, by indicated time, accounting data set item mass or quantity indicator differs from the data of the previous, by indicated time, accounting data set,

- or storing only the latest, by indicated time, accounting data set and deleting the previous, by indicated time, accounting data set provided that its items mass or quantity indicator differs from the data of the previous, by indicated time, accounting data set,

this method further comprises, based on the data obtained from the above- described incoming messages, using the server application, the calculation of an item distribution primary indicator with account for a respective sales outlet identifier and/or shop display equipment identifier and/or identifier of a shop display equipment base for placing items and/or respective identifier of an item that is placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment and/or at the respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and said calculation of the item distribution primary indicator is carried out by way of subtraction, where a minuend and a subtrahend are the mass or quantity indicators of the respective item, where the item mass or quantity indicator of the above-described accounting data set entered into said database is used as the minuend, and as the subtrahend there is used the item mass or quantity indicator of another accounting data set entered into the database, or the respective above- described incoming message data set, or the incoming message data set partly preprocessed as described above, at that, as the subtrahend there is used the item mass or quantity indicator of the data set having later but closest time reference as compared to the time reference of the accounting set to which the minuend belongs, provided that the subtrahend value is less than that of the minuend, furthermore, each such a calculated item distribution primary indicator is associated, as a minimum, with a time reference of a data set to which said subtrahend belongs, or with two said time references relative to this set forming a time interval, and is recorded in above-described database, and/or an item distribution aggregate indicator is calculated for a given time interval by summing such item distribution primary indicators, and such a resulting item distribution aggregate indicator is associated, as a minimum, with the given time interval reference and/or the latest time reference taken into account when calculating the item distribution primary indicator, or the earliest and the latest time references taken into account when calculating item distribution primary indicators, which form a time interval, and is recorded in the above-described database,

and the calculated primary or aggregate items distribution indicators with the respective time references are recorded in said database with account for a respective sales outlet identifier and/or shop display equipment identifier and/or identifier of a shop display equipment base for placing items and/or respective identifier of an item that is placed at the respective sales outlet and/or on/in the respective shop display equipment and/or at the respective shop display equipment base for placing items,

and this method further comprises, using the server application, display of items distribution output data via a respective client interface according to the identifier of said interface contained in the electronic control system database, and/or formation of electronic control system outgoing messages containing such data, and these messages are sent at respective client contact details which include at least one network address associated with an electronic computing device containing that client's client application, and/or at least one address of a network instant messaging system and/or at least one network account address and/or at least one email address, and or at least one telephone number,

and said items distribution output data, in particular, include at least one identifier of an item that is placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or at a respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and/or an identifier of the sales outlet and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment and/or an identifier of the shop display equipment base for placing items, and further said items distribution output data include:

- or a set of such item distribution aggregate indicators, with respective time references, which is formed in time sequence for a given time interval,

and said given time intervals, for which items distribution aggregate indicators are calculated, or which meet sets of items distribution primary indicators, or which meet sets of items distribution aggregate indicators, are set automatically or based on clients' requests received to the input of the electronic control system, the requests, in particular, contain a reference to such time intervals and respective identifiers of an item that is placed at a respective sales outlet and/or on/in respective shop display equipment and/or at respective shop display equipment base for placing items, and/or the identifiers of the sales outlet and/or identifiers of the shop display equipment and/or identifiers of the shop display equipment base for placing items.

2. The method for automated receiving and processing inventor levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises use of said electronic control system which is a hardware-software complex based on at least one electronic computing device configured to be directly or indirectly connected to the Internet and/or mobile network radio transceivers, and the above-described messages between said shop display equipment transceiver and the electronic control system are transmitted by data transfer protocol that provides for an automatic confirmation of their receipt, this method further comprises use of said shop display equipment that contains said at least one sensor that is configured to transmit, to said control unit, output signals corresponding to the mass or quantity or static image of items that are placed on a shop display equipment base for placing items or are placed on/in the shop display equipment, and the shop display equipment includes said at least one control unit which is a microcontroller, and the shop display equipment includes said transceiver which is a radio transceiver configured to be connected to a mobile network, furthermore, the items distribution output data are displayed, as described above, via the respective client interface in the form of diagrams and/or tables, and the electronic control system outgoing messages containing data on items distribution are formed, as described above, with the possibility of further display of these data via outputs of electronic computing devices in a form of diagrams and/or tables.

3. The method for automated receiving and processing inventory levels data on at least one item type at sales outlets of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises use of said shop display equipment that contains said at least one sensor, which is a strain gauge or optoelectronic sensor or electromechanical sensor, or radio f equency identification reader, and said sensor includes a primary signal transducer.