Materials handling, tracking and control system

• US 20060119471A1
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Paper Company
• Original Assignee: International Paper Company
• Inventors: Rudolph, Richard F., Mathews, Mark A., Elliot, Ernest A.
• Application Number:
  US09/837,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20060119471A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.410
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A product information system comprises a product package, container or support having an RFID tag including data memory means for storing at least a unique digital identification code for the product and at least one remote storage access code, including a URL, for accessing additional dynamic and/or static data associated with the product which is stored outside the tag and container, the system being operative to retrieve the identification code and remote access code and to access the additional data via the Internet.

Claims

1. A product information system comprising:

a product container;

an RFID tag associated with said container having data memory means for storing at least a unique digital identification code for said container and at least one remote storage access code for accessing additional data associated with said container and stored outside said tag memory means wherein the RFID tag includes at least two read or write updatable fields in said tag memory that contain data being associated therewith; and

means for retrieving said unique digital identification code said remote access storage code from said memory means.

2. A product information system according to claim 1 wherein:

said means for retrieving comprises an interrogator for accessing said memory of said tag and for utilizing said identification code and said remote storage access code to retrieve information uniquely associated with said container.

3. A product information system according to claim 2 wherein:

said uniquely associated information comprise Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) information for contents of said container.

4. A product information system according to claim 3 wherein:

said MSDS information is updated and is stored remotely from said product container.

5. A product information system according to claim 4 wherein:

said interrogator is coupled via an internet connection to said updated MSDS information.

6. A product information system according to claim 5 wherein:

said interrogator is coupled via said Internet connection to at least one data processor which has access to MSDS information for at least one or a plurality of products.

7. A product information system according to claim 6 wherein:

said interrogator further has a access to historical information uniquely associate with said container as identified by its unique digital identification code.

8. A product information system according to claim 7 wherein:

said interrogator has access to manufacture'"'"'s information uniquely associated with each of a plurality of container.

9. A method of providing accessible product related information uniquely associated with each product container comprising:

placing an RFID tag an Internet product container, said tag having a unique coded identifier for each said container;

storing in said RFID tag additional historical information unique to said product container; and

interrogating said RFID tag and coupling to an internet connection to provide unique historical information relating to the specific container and its product contents and wherein the RFID tag includes at least two read or write updatable fields in said tag memory that contain data being associated therewith.

10. A method of providing product information according to claim 9 wherein:

said historical information is selected from the group consisting of MSDS, Manufacturer'"'"'s identity, date of manufacture, product number, item serial number and history of storage locations for said container.