Integrated data acquisition system for product in transit

• US 20040186691A1
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: LeBlanc, Ewart O., Rahimi, Jalal, Malimabe, Matile D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,944,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A data acquisition system includes a product for shipment to an end user, a sensor system removably connected to the product for recording environmental conditions to which the product is exposed, and a computing device, which upon being connected to the product, is operable to retrieve the recorded environmental conditions. The product may be operable to control the operation of the sensor system, or the sensor system may be operable to record environmental conditions independent of the operation of the product.

Claims

1. A data acquisition system comprising:

a product for shipment to an end user;

a sensor system removably connected to the product for recording environmental conditions to which the product is exposed; and

a computing device, which upon being connected to the product, is operable to retrieve the recorded environmental conditions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the product is operable to control the operation of the sensor system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the product further comprises a device for storing the recorded environmental conditions.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system is operable to record environmental conditions independent of the operation of the product.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system further comprises a device for storing the recorded environmental conditions.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device, upon being connected to the sensor system, is operable to retrieve the recorded environmental conditions.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor system further comprises a communication port for providing the recorded environmental conditions to the computing device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system further comprises one or more of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a position sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device further comprises a program operable to analyze the retrieved recorded environmental conditions.

10. A product for shipment to an and user comprising:

a sensor system removably connected to the product for recording environmental conditions to which the product is exposed; and

a communication port for communicating with a computing device, which upon being connected to the product, is operable to retrieve the recorded environmental conditions.

11. The product of claim 10, further comprising a function to control the operation of the sensor system.

12. The product of claim 10, further comprising a device for storing the recorded environmental conditions.

13. The product of claim 10, wherein the sensor system is operable to record environmental conditions independent of the operation of the product.

14. The product of claim 10, wherein the sensor system further comprises a device for storing the recorded environmental conditions.

15. The product of claim 10, wherein the sensor system further comprises a communication port for providing the recorded environmental conditions to the computing device.

16. The product of claim 10, wherein the sensor system further comprises one or more of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a position sensor.

17. A sensor system for removable connection to a product for shipment to an end user, comprising:

an interface to the product; and

one or more sensors for recording environmental conditions to which the product is subjected,

wherein the sensor system is operable to provide the recorded environmental conditions to a computing device, upon the computing device being connected to the product.

18. The sensor system of claim 17, further comprising a controller for operating the sensor system independently of the operation of the product.

19. The sensor system of claim 17, further comprising a device for storing the recorded environmental conditions.

20. The sensor system of claim 17, further comprising one or more of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a position sensor.