Food quality and safety model for refrigerated food

• US 6,668,240 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2002
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Digital Cold Chain Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc. (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Singh, Abtar, Mathews, Thomas J., Wickberg, Paul, Starling, Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barbee, Manuel L
• Application Number:
  US10/084,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20020193970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 702/130, 702/132-136, 702/176-179, 702/182-184, 702/187, 702/188, 700/276-278, 700/299, 340/580, 340/581, 340/584, 340/585, 340/588, 340/589, 374/101, 374/102, 374/104, 374/120, 236/51, 62/49, 621/27, 621/75
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/00 Frozen sweets, e.g. ice confectionery, ice-cream; Mixtures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/00 Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs preserving foods or foodstuffs in association with packaging B65B55/00
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/36 Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/075 with parallel compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/22 Refrigeration systems for supermarkets
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/195 of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity with cascade operation F25B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/14 Sensors measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator or freezer
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 Sensors measuring the temperature of products
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/06 Remote monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0245 based on a qualitative model, e.g. rule based; if-then decisions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system is provided for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location. The system includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communications network. The management center receives performance information of the remote location with respect to operational parameters of components of a refrigeration system of the remote location, and temperature data, at which food product has been stored. The management center utilizes software modules to analyze the performance information and provide alarms for scenarios such as food safety and quality issues, failure of a component of the refrigeration system or preventative maintenance for components of the refrigeration system. A third party computer may also communicate with the management center and the remote location for reviewing performance information.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and managing a refrigeration system of a remote location, the system comprising:

a communication network; and

a management center in communication with the remote location through said communication network, wherein said management center receives information from the remote location for determining a food product index for a plurality of product types within a plurality of refrigeration cases;

wherein said food product index is a food safety index determined by;

measuring a temperature of each of said plurality of product types within said plurality of refrigeration cases;

determining a maximum temperature for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of said temperature;

determining a maximum shelf-life rating for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining a maximum base bacteria count for said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining a bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases as a function of said maximum temperature, said maximum shelf-life rating and said maximum base bacteria count;

determining a safety factor as a function of said bacteria count and said maximum base bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases; and

determining an average safety factor for said plurality of refrigeration cases.

2. A system for monitoring and managing a refrigeration system of a remote location, the system comprising:

a communication network; and

a management center in communication with the remote location through said communication network, wherein said management center receives information from the remote location for determining a food product index for a plurality of product types within a plurality of refrigeration cases;

wherein said food product index is a food quality index determined by;

measuring a temperature of each of said plurality of product types within said plurality of refrigeration cases;

determining an average temperature for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of said temperature;

determining an average shelf-life rating for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining an average ideal storage temperature for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases;

determining an average base bacteria count for said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining a bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases as a function of said average temperature, said average shelf-life rating and said average base bacteria count;

determining a quality factor as a function of said bacteria count and said average base bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases; and

determining an average quality factor for said plurality of refrigeration cases.

3. A method monitoring and managing a refrigeration system of a remote location, comprising:

providing a communication network;

providing a management center in communication with the remote location through said communication network; and

transferring information from the remote location to said management center; and

determining a food product index for a plurality of product types within a plurality of refrigeration cases;

wherein said food product index is a food safety index determined by;

measuring a temperature of each of said plurality of product types within said plurality of refrigeration cases;

determining a maximum temperature for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of said temperature;

determining a maximum shelf-life rating for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining a maximum base bacteria count for said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining a bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases as a function of said maximum temperature, said maximum shelf-life rating and said maximum base bacteria count;

determining a safety factor as a function of said bacteria count and said base bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases; and

determining an average safety factor for said plurality of refrigeration cases.

4. A method monitoring and managing a refrigeration system of a remote location, comprising:

providing a communication network;

providing a management center in communication with the remote location through said communication network;

transferring information from the remote location to said management center; and

determining a food product index for a plurality of product types within a plurality of refrigeration cases,

wherein said food product index is a food quality index determined by;

measuring a temperature of each of said plurality of product types within said plurality of refrigeration cases;

determining an average temperature for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of said temperature;

determining an average shelf-life rating for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining an average ideal storage temperature for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases;

determining an average base bacteria count for said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining a bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases as a function of said average temperature, said average shelf-life rating and said average base bacteria count;

determining a quality factor as a function of said bacteria count and said average base bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases; and

determining an average quality factor for said plurality of refrigeration cases.

5. A system for monitoring and managing a refrigeration system at a retail location, the system comprising:

a communication network; and

a processing center of the remote location in communication with the refrigeration system through said communication network, wherein said processing center receives information from the refrigeration system for determining a food product index for a plurality of product types within a plurality of refrigeration cases;

wherein said food product index is a food safety index determined by;

measuring a temperature of each of said plurality of product types within said plurality of refrigeration cases;

determining a maximum temperature for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of said temperature;

determining a maximum shelf-life rating for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining a maximum base bacteria count for said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining a bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases as a function of said maximum temperature, said maximum shelf-life rating and said maximum base bacteria count;

determining a safety factor as a function of said bacteria count and said base bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases; and

determining an average safety factor for said plurality of refrigeration cases.

6. A system for monitoring and managing a refrigeration system at a retail location, the system comprising:

a communication network; and

a processing center of the remote location in communication with the refrigeration system through said communication network, wherein said processing center receives information from the refrigeration system for determining a food product index for a plurality of product types within a plurality of refrigeration cases;

wherein said food product index is a food quality index determined by;

measuring a temperature of each of said plurality of product types within said plurality of refrigeration cases;

determining an average temperature for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of said temperature;

determining an average shelf-life rating for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining an average ideal storage temperature for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases;

determining an average base bacteria count for said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining a bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases as a function of said average temperature, said average shelf-life rating and said average base bacteria count;

determining a quality factor as a function of said bacteria count and said average base bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases; and

determining an average quality factor for said plurality of refrigeration cases.

7. A method of monitoring and managing a refrigeration system at a retail location, comprising:

providing a communication network;

providing a processing center of the remote location in communication with the refrigeration system through said communication network;

transferring information from said refrigeration system to said processing center; and

determining a food product index for a plurality of product types within a plurality of refrigeration cases;

wherein said food product index is a food safety index determined by;

measuring a temperature of each of said plurality of product types within said plurality of refrigeration cases;

determining a maximum temperature for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of said temperature;

determining a maximum shelf-life rating for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining a maximum base bacteria count for said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining a bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases as a function of said maximum temperature, said maximum shelf-life rating and said maximum base bacteria count;

determining a safety factor as a function of said bacteria count and said base bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases; and

determining an average safety factor for said plurality of refrigeration cases.

8. A method of monitoring and managing a refrigeration system at a retail location, comprising:

providing a communication network;

providing a processing center of the remote location in communication with the refrigeration system through said communication network;

transferring information from said refrigeration system to said processing center; and

determining a food product index for a plurality of product types within a plurality of refrigeration cases;

wherein said food product index is a food quality index determined by;

measuring a temperature of each of said plurality of product types within said plurality of refrigeration cases;

determining an average temperature for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of said temperature;

determining an average shelf-life rating for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining an average ideal storage temperature for each of said plurality of refrigeration cases;

determining an average base bacteria count for said plurality of refrigeration cases as a function of product type;

determining a bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases as a function of said average temperature, said average shelf-life rating and said average base bacteria count;

determining a quality factor as a function of said bacteria count and said average base bacteria count for each of said refrigeration cases; and

determining an average quality factor for said plurality of refrigeration cases.