METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CERTIFYING PROVENANCE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

• US 20080201094A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eProvenance LLC
• Original Assignee: eProvenance LLC
• Inventors: Vogt, Eric E., Churchill, Ruth
• Granted Patent: US 8,022,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/82
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system for certifying provenance of an alcoholic beverage includes a radio-frequency identification tag and a server. The radio-frequency identification tag, associated with a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage, periodically measures a plurality of values of an environmental condition of the bottle. The radio-frequency identification tag stores the plurality of measured values. The server receives the plurality of measured values for analysis. The server provides, via a user interface, a description of a provenance of the alcoholic beverage, the description generated responsive to an analysis of the plurality of measured values.

Claims

1. A method for certifying provenance of an alcoholic beverage by tracking environmental conditions of a bottle containing the alcoholic beverage during its progress through a distribution channel, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring, periodically, by a radio-frequency identification tag associated with a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage, a plurality of values of an environmental condition of the bottle;

(b) storing, by the radio-frequency identification tag, the plurality of measured values of the environmental condition;

(c) receiving, by a server, the plurality of measured values for analysis; and

(d) providing, by the server, via a user interface, a description of a provenance of the alcoholic beverage in the bottle, the description generated responsive to an analysis of the received plurality of measured values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, by the radio-frequency identification tag, upon receipt of the bottle by a channel member, the value of the environmental condition of the bottle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, by the radio-frequency identification tag, during transit to a channel member, the value of the environmental condition of the bottle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, periodically, by the radio-frequency identification tag attached to the bottle, a value of an environmental condition of the bottle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, periodically, by a radio-frequency identification tag attached to a case storing the bottle, a value of an environmental condition of the bottle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, periodically, by a radio-frequency identification tag attached to a shipping pallet storing the bottle, a value of an environmental condition of the bottle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, by a sensor in the radio-frequency identification tag, an ambient temperature of the bottle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, by a sensor in the radio-frequency identification tag, a measurement of a level of humidity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, by a sensor in the radio-frequency identification tag, a level of vibration of the bottle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises identifying, by a sensor associated with the radio-frequency identification tag, a location of the bottle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein step (a) further comprises identifying, by a global positioning system receiver attached to the bottle, a location of the bottle.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing, by the radio-frequency identification tag, a bottle tag identification number.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing, by the radio-frequency identification tag, an identification number associated with a code imprinted on a neck seal on the bottle.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises encrypting, by the radio-frequency identification tag, a plurality of measured values of the environmental condition.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises transmitting, by the radio-frequency identification tag, the plurality of measured values to the server.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises the steps of:

(c-1) transmitting, by the radio-frequency identification tag, the plurality of measured values, responsive to a query received from a radio-frequency identification tag reader; and

(c-2) transmitting, by the radio-frequency identification tag reader, to a server, the received plurality of measured values.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving, by a server operated by a facility producing the alcoholic beverage, the plurality of measured values for analysis.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing, by the server, via the user interface, statistical data generated responsive to the analysis of the plurality of measurements.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing, by the server, via the user interface, to a purchaser of the bottle, the description of the provenance of the alcoholic beverage.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing, by the server, via the user interface, to a purchaser of the bottle, a display of the plurality of measured values.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing, by the server, via the user interface, to a producer of the alcoholic beverage in the bottle, the description of the provenance of the alcoholic beverage.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing, by the server, via the user interface, to a producer of the alcoholic beverage in the bottle, a display of the plurality of measured values.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing, by the server, via the user interface, to a distributor of the bottle, the description of the provenance of the alcoholic beverage.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing, by the server, via the user interface, to a distributor of the bottle, a display of the plurality of measured values.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing, in a database, the plurality of measured values.

26. A system for certifying provenance of an alcoholic beverage by tracking environmental conditions of a bottle containing the alcoholic beverage during its progress through a distribution channel comprising

a radio-frequency identification tag associated with a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage, measuring, periodically, a plurality of values of an environmental condition of the bottle and storing the plurality of measured values of the environmental condition;

and

a server receiving the plurality of measured values for analysis and providing, via a user interface, a description of a provenance of the alcoholic beverage, the description generated responsive to an analysis of the received plurality of measured values.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag further comprises a sensor for measuring temperature.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag further comprises a sensor for measuring humidity.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag further comprises a sensor for measuring a level of vibration of the bottle.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag further comprises a global positioning system receiver attached to the bottle and identifying a location of the bottle.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag is attached to the bottle.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag is attached to a case storing the bottle.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag is attached to a shipping pallet storing the bottle.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein the server generates a user interface comprising an interface element providing access to statistical data generated from at least one of the plurality of measured values.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein the server generates a user interface comprising an interface element providing access to at least one of the plurality of measured values.

36. The system of claim 26 further comprising a radio-frequency identification tag reader retrieving the plurality of measured values from the radio-frequency identification tag and transmitting the plurality of measured values to the server.

37. The system of claim 26 further comprising a database accessed by the server and storing the plurality of measured values.