Monitoring method

• US 20030146836A1
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wood, Christopher Ivor
• Granted Patent: US 7,009,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• 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: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

There is provided a method for tracking environmental exposure of an object comprising selecting the object; associating a radiofrequency identifier with the object, the radiofrequency identifier comprising an antenna for transmitting or receiving radiofrequency energy; and an integrated circuit chip connecting with said antenna, said chip having a memory,; exposing the object to an environmental condition; measuring environmental condition as an environmental parameter with a sensor physically separate from the radiofrequency identifier, and writing the environmental parameter to the memory of the chip by transmitting radiofrequency energy thereto.

Claims

1. A method for tracking environmental exposure of an object comprising

selecting said object;

associating a radiofrequency identifier with the object, the radiofrequency identifier comprising

an antenna for transmitting or receiving radiofrequency energy; and

an integrated circuit chip connecting with said antenna, said chip having

a memory;

exposing the object to an environmental condition;

measuring said environmental condition as an environmental parameter with a sensor physically separate from said radiofrequency identifier; and

writing said environmental parameter to the memory of the chip by transmitting radiofrequency energy thereto.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said sensor writes the environmental parameter to said memory of the chip.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor transmits the environmental parameter to a reader/writer which writes said parameter to the memory of the chip.

4. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor measures plural environmental conditions as plural environmental parameters.

5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said environmental condition is selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, pressure, electromagnetic radiation, light, acceleration and chemical concentration.

6. A method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said writing of the environmental parameter to the memory is continuously or periodically transmittable from the sensor or said reader/writer.

7. A method according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the writing of the environmental parameter to the memory is transmittable post-production, storage or transport of the object.

8. A method according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein a data processor associated with the sensor or reader/writer processes the environmental parameter data prior to transmitting them to the memory.

9. A method according to any of claims 1 to 8, additionally comprising reading the memory by transmitting radiofrequency energy from a reader/writer to the radiofrequency identifier.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said reading occurs during or post-production, storage or transport of the object.

11. A method according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the memory comprises a unique signature data item and said reading step comprises reading said unique signature data item.

12. A method according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the reading step additionally comprises reading at least one environmental parameter.

13. A method according to claim 12, additionally comprising checking said at least one environmental parameter against a defined compliance criterion.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein non-compliance with any check results in rejection of the associated object.

15. A method according to any of claims 1 to 14, additionally comprising a final reading step involving reading all environmental parameters in the memory by transmitting radiofrequency energy to the radiofrequency identifier.

16. A method according to claim 15, additionally comprising checking all environmental parameters against defined full compliance criteria.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein non-compliance against compliance data results in rejection of the object.

18. A method according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the radiofrequency identifier connects to the object.

19. A method according to any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the object is associated with a container and the radiofrequency identifier connects to said container.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the container assists in transport of the object.

21. A method according to any of claims 18 to 20, wherein the sensor and the object or the container are exposed to the same environment.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said same environment is selected from the group consisting of production facility, warehouse, container transporter and depot.

23. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for a medicament.

24. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a medical device.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the medical device is an inhalation device.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said inhalation device comprises an aerosol canister containing a suspension of medicament in a propellant.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein said propellant comprises liquified HFA134a, HFA-227 or carbon dioxide.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein said aerosol canister comprises a solution of a medicament in a solvent.

29. A method according to claim 25, wherein the inhalation device comprises a cartridge for medicament in dry-powder form.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein said dry-powder cartridge comprises a blister pack.

31. A method according to any of claims 28 to 30, wherein said medicament is selected from the group consisting of albuterol, salmeterol, fluticasone propionate, ipratropium bromide, beclomethasone dipropionate, salts or solvates thereof and any mixtures thereof.

32. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for a food.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein said food is selected from the group consisting of meat, mycoprotein, milk, cheese, flour, pasta, rice, oil, sugar, confectionery, vegetable, herbal, snack, convenience and fruit foodstuffs.

34. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for a beverage.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein said beverage is selected from the group consisting of water, milk, coffee, cocoa, tea, fruit, carbonated and alcoholic drinks.

36. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for a toiletry.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein said toiletry is selected from the group consisting of toothpaste, soap, mouthwash, shampoo, skin and face cream.

38. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for an electronic component.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein said electronic component is selected from the group consisting of semi-conductor, integrated circuit chip, fuse and battery.

40. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for a cleanser.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein said cleanser is selected from the group consisting of soap, detergent, enzymic preparation and organic solvent.

42. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for a disinfectant.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein said disinfectant is selected from the group consisting of sterilant, antiseptic and bleach.

44. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for a light-sensitive material.

45. A method according to claim 44, wherein said light-sensitive material comprises a photographic film.

46. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for a marking material.

47. A method according to claim 46, wherein said marking material is selected from the group consisting of toner, ink, dye, pigment, acid and alkali.

48. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for a covering material.

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein said covering material is selected from the group consisting of paint, pigment, dye, corrosion inhibitor, electrical conductor, electrical insulator and static inhibitor.

50. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for a diesel—

or petrol—

based fuel oil.

51. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for an adhesive.

52. A method according to claim 51, wherein said adhesive bonds materials selected from the group consisting of paper, plastic, wood, rubber, glass and metal.

53. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for an agrochemical.

54. A method according to claim 53, wherein said agrochemical is selected from the group consisting of herbicide, insecticide, fungicide, rodenticide, nematocide, acaracide and plant growth regulator.

55. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for a contraceptive.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein said contraceptive is either a contraceptive device or a contraceptive drug.

57. A method according to claim 56, wherein said contraceptive device is selected from the group consisting of condom, diaphragm, sponge and coil.

58. A method according to claim 56, wherein said contraceptive drug is selected from the group consisting of spermacide, estrogen, ethinyl estradiol, progesterone, levonorgestrel and norgestrel.

59. A method according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the object is a container for a biological material.

60. A method according to claim 59, wherein said biological material is selected from the group consisting of polynucleotide, peptide, enzyme, hormone, protein, cell line and tissue.

61. A method according to claim 59, wherein the biological material is a mammalian or human organ.

62. A method according to claim 59, wherein the biological material is a plant seed derived from a monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous plant.

63. A method according to claim 59, wherein the biological material is an animal.

64. A method according to any of claims 1 to 63, wherein the antenna is capable of transmitting or receiving radiofrequency energy having a frequency of from 50 KHz to 2.5 GHz.

65. A method according to claim 64, wherein the antenna is adapted to transmit or receive radiofrequency energy having a frequency of 125 KHz.

66. A method according to claim 64, wherein the antenna is adapted to transmit or receive radiofrequency energy having a frequency of 13.56 MHz.

67. A method according to claim 64, wherein the antenna is adapted to transmit or receive radiofrequency energy having a frequency of 2.4 GHz.

68. A method according to any of claims 1 to 67, wherein the radiofrequency identifier is on a carrier suitable for mounting to the object or the container therefor.

69. A method according to claim 68, wherein said carrier is a flexible label.

70. A method according to claim 68, wherein the carrier is a rigid disc.

71. A method according to claim 68, wherein the carrier is a rectangular block.

72. A method according to claim 68, wherein the carrier is mouldable to the object or the container.

73. A method according to claim 68 to 72, wherein the carrier encases the radiofrequency identifier.

74. A method according to claim 73, wherein the carrier forms a hermetic seal for the radiofrequency identifier.

75. A method according to any of claims 68 to 74, wherein the carrier comprises an insulating material.

76. A method according to claim 75, wherein said insulating material comprises a glass material, paper material or organic polymeric material.

77. A method according to any of claims 1 to 76, wherein the integrated circuit chip has plural memory areas thereon.

78. A method according to claim 77, wherein any memory area contains data in encrypted form.

79. A method according to any of claims 1 to 78, additionally comprising transferring the environmental data items read from the memory or transmitted from the reader/writer to an electronic data management system comprising

a data memory for storage of data;

a microprocessor for performing operations on said data; and

a signal output for outputting a signal relating to the data or the outcome of an operation on the data.

80. A method according to any of claims 1 to 78, additionally comprises transferring the environmental data items read from the memory or transmitted from the reader/writer to a distributed electronic data management system comprising plural electronic data collectors, each comprising

a data memory for storage of data;

a microprocessor for performing operations on said data; and

a signal output for outputting a signal relating to the data or the outcome of an operation on the data,

wherein said plural electronic data collectors are in network relationship to form said distributed electronic data management system.

81. A method according to either of claims 79 or 80, wherein the electronic data management system forms part of a robotics system.

82. A method according to any of claims 79 to 81, additionally comprising a communicator for wireless communication with a gateway to a network computer system to enable transfer of data between the network computer system and the electronic data management system.

83. A method according to claim 82, enabling two-way transfer of data between the network computer system and the electronic data management system.

84. A method according to either of claims 82 or 83, wherein said data are communicable between the network computer system and the electronic data management system in encrypted form.

85. A method according to any of claims 82 to 84, wherein the network computer system comprises a public access network computer system.

86. A method according to any of claims 82 to 84, wherein the network computer system comprises a private access network computer system and the gateway is a secure gateway.

87. A method according to any of claims 82 to 86, comprising communicating with a user-specific network address in the network computer system.

88. A method according to claim 87, wherein the user-specific network address is selected from the group consisting of a web-site address, an e-mail address and a file transfer protocol address.

89. A system for tracking environmental exposure of an object according to the method of any of claims 1 to 78, comprising

a radiofrequency identifier comprising

an antenna for transmitting and receiving radiofrequency energy;

and

an integrated circuit chip connecting with said antenna, said chip having a memory;

a physically separate sensor capable of measuring an environmental condition as an environmental parameter;

and writing said environmental parameter to said memory of said chip by transmitting radiofrequency energy thereto.

90. A system according to claim 89, wherein the sensor transmits the environmental parameter to the memory of the chip.

91. A system according to claim 89, wherein the sensor transmits the environmental parameter to a reader/writer which writes the parameter to the memory of the chip.

92. A system according to any of claims 89 to 91, additionally comprising a reader/writer for reading data from the radiofrequency identifier by transmitting radiofrequency energy thereto and receiving radiofrequency energy therefrom.

93. A system according to claim 92, additionally comprising an electronic data management system and a network computer system according to the method of any of claims 79 to 88.