Intelligent Package For Controlled Product Distribution

• US 20020067265A1
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Paper ZAO (Sylvamo Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Paper ZAO (Sylvamo Corp.)
• Inventors: Rudolph, Richard F.
• Application Number:
  US09/809,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067265A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Abstract

Abstract of Disclosure

An active package system comprising: a package; a first identification tag coupled to the package; a controller that stores identifying data coupled to the first identification tag; and, an interrogator located external to the package, wherein the first identification tag in response to a query from the interrogator communicates the identifying data and the first identification tag is adapted for initiating a query to a second identification tag.

Claims

1. An active package system comprising:

a package;

a first identification tag coupled to said package;

a controller that stores identifying data coupled to said first identification tag; and

,

an interrogator located external to said package,

wherein said first identification tag in response to a query from said interrogator communicates said identifying data and said first identification tag is adapted for initiating a query to a second identification tag.

2. The package system of claim 1, wherein said first identification tag is selected from the group consisting of:

a linear bar code, a composite bar code, a 2-dimensional bar code, and a radio frequency identification transponder.

3. The package system of claim 1, wherein said identifying data is selected from the group consisting of:

a product identifier, a serial number, a user identifier, a URL or other reference to a web site, and combinations thereof.

4. The package system of claim 1, further comprising a computer system that is coupled to said interrogator.

5. The package system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to said package.

6. The package system of claim 5, wherein said sensor senses a variable selected from the group consisting of:

weight, contents, temperature, humidity, duration at a location, arrival and departure times, impact damage, remaining quantity, pressure, and combinations thereof.

7. The package system of claim 1, further comprising an active display.

8. The package system of claim 1, wherein said interrogator transfers said query to said second identification tag.

9. A method for monitoring a package comprising:

(i) providing an active package system comprising;

a first identification tag coupled to said package;

a controller that stores identifying data coupled to said firstidentification tag; and

,

an interrogator located external to said package,

(ii) sending a query signal from the interrogator to the identification tag; and

(iii) responding to the query signal by communicating the identifying data from the identification tag to the interrogator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said first identification tag is selected from the group consisting of:

a linear bar code, a composite bar code, a 2-dimensional bar code, and a radio frequency identification transponder.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said identifying data is selected from the group consisting of:

a product identifier, a serial number, a user identifier, a URL or other reference to a web site, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said active package system further comprises a computer system that is coupled to said interrogator.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said active package system further comprises a sensor coupled to said package.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said sensor senses a variable selected from the group consisting of:

weight, contents, temperature, humidity, duration at a location, arrival and departure times, impact damage, remaining quantity, pressure, and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said active package system further comprises an active display.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising step (iv) initiating a query from said identification tag to a second identification tag.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said interrogator transfers said query from said identification tag to said second identification tag.