SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR MONITORING TEMPERATURE

• US 20120114010A1
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shockwatch Incorporated (Media Recovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Shockwatch Incorporated (Media Recovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Branch, Clinton A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,870,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/04 in respect of time

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for monitoring temperature of an environment of a sensitive object is disclosed. The device includes a housing configured to be disposed within or affixed to a transport container for the object, a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to obtain a plurality of temperature readings, and monitor logic configured to compare the plurality of temperature readings to a temperature threshold. The device also includes counter logic configured to generate an excursion count indicating a quantity of time periods the temperature readings exceeded the temperature threshold, generate a consecutive count indicating a quantity of consecutive temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold, and generate a cumulative count indicating a cumulative quantity of temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold.

Claims

1. A temperature monitoring device, comprising:

a housing configured to be disposed within or affixed to a transport container;

a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to obtain a plurality of temperature readings;

monitor logic configured to compare the plurality of temperature readings to a temperature threshold; and

counter logic configured to;

generate an excursion count indicating a quantity of time periods the temperature readings exceeded the temperature threshold;

generate a consecutive count indicating a quantity of consecutive temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold; and

generate a cumulative count indicating a cumulative quantity of temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the consecutive count represents a maximum quantity of consecutive temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold based on a plurality of different time periods each having at least one temperature reading exceeding the temperature threshold.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the counter logic is configured to display the excursion count, the consecutive count and the cumulative count.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the counter logic is configured to increment the excursion count responsive to a first one of a series of temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the counter logic is configured to:

determine whether a first temperature reading exceeds the temperature threshold; and

responsive to an immediately preceding temperature reading not exceeding the temperature threshold, increment the excursion count.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the counter logic is configured to:

compare a quantity of consecutive temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold occurring during a first time period with the consecutive count; and

responsive to the quantity of consecutive temperature readings occurring during the first time period exceeding the consecutive count, incrementing the consecutive count.

7. A temperature monitoring device, comprising:

a housing means configured to be disposed within or affixed to a transport container;

means, coupled to the housing means, for obtaining a plurality of temperature readings;

means for comparing the plurality of temperature readings to a temperature threshold; and

means for;

generating an excursion count indicating a quantity of time periods the temperature readings exceeded the temperature threshold;

generating a consecutive count indicating a quantity of consecutive temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold; and

generating a cumulative count indicating a cumulative quantity of temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising means for determining a maximum consecutive count based on a plurality of different time periods each having at least one temperature reading exceeding the temperature threshold.

9. A temperature monitoring device, comprising:

a housing configured to be disposed within or affixed to a transport container;

a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to obtain a plurality of temperature readings; and

a display configured to visually indicate;

an excursion count indicating a quantity of time periods the temperature readings exceeded a temperature threshold;

a consecutive count indicating a quantity of consecutive temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold; and

a cumulative count indicating a cumulative quantity of temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the consecutive count comprises a maximum consecutive count based on a plurality of different time periods each having at least one temperature reading exceeding the temperature threshold.

11. The device of claim 9, further comprising logic configured to increment the excursion count responsive to a first one of a series of temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold.

12. The device of claim 9, further comprising logic configured to:

determine whether a first temperature reading exceeds the temperature threshold; and

responsive to an immediately preceding temperature reading not exceeding the temperature threshold, increment the excursion count.

13. The device of claim 9, further comprising logic configured to:

compare a quantity of consecutive temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold occurring during a first time period with the consecutive count; and

responsive to the quantity of consecutive temperature readings occurring during the first time period exceeding the consecutive count, increment the consecutive count.

14. A computer program product for monitoring temperature during transport or storage of an object, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising computer readable program code configured to;

generate an excursion count indicating a quantity of time periods measured temperature readings exceeded a temperature threshold;

generate a consecutive count indicating a quantity of consecutive temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold; and

generate a cumulative count indicating a cumulative quantity of temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer readable program code is configured to increment the excursion count responsive to a first one of a series of temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer readable program code is configured to:

determine whether a first temperature reading exceeds the temperature threshold; and

responsive to an immediately preceding temperature reading not exceeding the temperature threshold, increment the excursion count.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer readable program code is configured to:

compare a quantity of consecutive temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold occurring during a first time period with the consecutive count; and

responsive to the quantity of consecutive temperature readings occurring during the first time period exceeding the consecutive count, incrementing the consecutive count.

18. A method, comprising:

obtaining a plurality of temperature readings of an environment corresponding to a transport container;

comparing the plurality of temperature readings to a temperature threshold;

generating an excursion count indicating a quantity of time periods the temperature readings exceeded the temperature threshold;

generating a consecutive count indicating a quantity of consecutive temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold; and

generating a cumulative count indicating a cumulative quantity of temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising incrementing the excursion count responsive to a first one of a series of temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

comparing a quantity of consecutive temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold occurring during a first time period with the consecutive count; and

responsive to the quantity of consecutive temperature readings occurring during the first time period exceeding the consecutive count, incrementing the consecutive count.