Food product contamination event management system and method

• US 20060161392A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ten Media Llc
• Original Assignee: Food Security Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Sholl, Jeffrey John, Harlander, Susan Kay, Jaine, Andrew Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/250,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20060161392A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

An event management system has a first input node, a second input node, and a food event management system. The first input node is adapted to receive epidemiological information. The second input node is adapted to receive food distribution path information. The food event management system is coupled to the first input node and to the second input node. The food event management system is adapted to compare the epidemiological information and the food distribution path information to identify one or more possible correlations and to generate an event output related to the one or more possible correlations.

Claims

1. An event management system comprising:

a first input node to receive epidemiological information;

a second input node to receive food distribution path information; and

a food event management system coupled to the first input node and to the second input node, the food event management system to compare the epidemiological information and the food distribution path information to identify one or more possible correlations and to generate an event output related to the one or more possible correlations.

2. The event management system of claim 1 wherein the one or more possible correlations comprise possible food contamination events.

3. The event management system of claim 1 further comprising:

a graphical user interface operable to display the event output.

4. The event management system of claim 3 wherein the graphical user interface comprises user selectable options related to the event output.

5. The event management system of claim 1 wherein the food event management system is adapted to estimate expenses related to an identified contamination event associated with a correlation of the one or more possible correlations.

6. The event management system of claim 1 further comprising:

a graphical user interface operable to display expense information related to the estimated expenses.

7. The event management system of claim 1 wherein the epidemiological information is received from at least one public health system.

8. The event management system of claim 1 wherein the food distribution path information is received from at least one node in a food distribution path.

9. The event management system of claim 8 wherein the food distribution path information is received according to an existing confidentiality agreement.

10. A processor readable medium comprising:

instructions to compare epidemiological information with food distribution path information to identify one or more possible correlations; and

instructions to generate a user interface to display the one or more possible correlations.

11. The processor readable medium of claim 10 wherein the instructions comprise a software application.

12. The processor readable medium of claim 10 wherein the epidemiological information is received from at least one health system.

13. The processor readable medium of claim 10 wherein the food distribution path information is received from at a system associated with at least one node in a food distribution path.

14. A method comprising:

receiving epidemiological information related to a plurality of reported illness incidents;

comparing the epidemiological information to a plurality of food distribution paths to identify a correlation; and

generating an event output related to the correlation.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the event output comprises a list of locations within a particular food distribution path of the plurality of distribution paths.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

comparing the epidemiological information to a plurality of food borne agents associated with food products to identify probable contaminated food products and associated agents based on the correlation.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the epidemiological information comprises symptoms for the plurality of reported illness incidents.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the epidemiological information comprises an identified agent associated with the plurality of reported illness incidents.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of comparing comprises:

collecting information comprising the plurality of food distribution paths from one or more information sources; and

identifying one or more food distribution paths of the plurality of food distribution paths corresponding to the epidemiological information.

20. A system comprising:

an event detection system to compare epidemiological information of an illness outbreak with one or more food distribution paths, each food distribution path associated with at least one food product, the event detection system to detect a food contamination event based on a correlation between the epidemiological information and at least one of the one or more food distribution paths.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the event detection system is adapted to generate an alarm related to the food contamination event.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the event detection system is adapted to generate a user interface for user interactions to display food event information.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the food event information comprises an icon indicative of the food contamination event.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the user interface comprises user selectable options related to the food contamination event.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein the event detection system is adapted to identify at least one contaminated location in a particular food distribution path based on the correlation.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the event detection system is adapted to provide options for remediation of the at least one contaminated location.

27. The system of claim 20 wherein the event detection system is adapted to identify a contaminated food product based on the correlation.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the event detection system adapted to provide options for containment of the contaminated food product.

29. A system comprising:

a graphical user interface operable to display at least one reported illness incident; and

the graphical user interface operable to display food distribution information related to at least one possible food distribution path related to the illness event.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the graphical user interface is operable to display an icon representing a severity of the at least one reported illness incident.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the food distribution information comprises a line graph.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the graphical user interface is operable to display a map and wherein the line graph is displayed on the map.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein the contamination event window is operable to display one or more possible contamination sources related to the at least one reported illness incident responsive to a user selection.

34. A food event detection system comprising:

a remediation system to provide remediation options responsive to an identified contamination event, the remediation system adapted to generate a list of tasks associated with each selected remediation option; and

a user interface operable to display the remediation options and the list of tasks associated with each remediation option, the user interface to allow user interaction with the remediation options and associated tasks.

35. The food event management system of claim 34 wherein the user interface allows a user to assign each task of the list of tasks associated with each remediation option to at least one entity.

36. The food event management system of claim 35 wherein the at least one entity is selected from a group consisting of an individual, a business entity, and a state-run agency.

37. The food event management system of claim 34 wherein the remediation system is adapted to track a status of each task in the list of tasks associated with a selected remediation option.

38. The food event management system of claim 37 wherein the user interface is adapted to display a status indicator associated with the status of each task.

39. The food event management system of claim 37 wherein the remediation system is adapted to generate an alarm signal related to the status of a particular task in the list of tasks.