Interactive information package
First Claim
1. An interactive information product package, comprising:
- a plastic closure including a top wall portion, and a depending annular skirt portion;
a container on which said closure is secured for closing the contents of the container;
a radio frequency integrated circuit disposed at an inside surface of said top wall portion and within said package when said closure is secured to said container; and
at least one sensing device operatively connected to said integrated circuit and exposed to the interior of said package for sensing a condition of the contents within said package.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A product package embodying the principles of the present invention includes an integrated circuit device which is configured for radio frequency interfacing with associated equipment. The package is configured such that the integrated circuit device is disposed within the package, thus assuring that the device remains associated with the package'"'"'s contents. Notably, this arrangement facilitates use of the device for applications apart from product tracking and inventory control, including product promotions, storage, and dissemination of product information, and quality assurance including tamper-indication. A packaging machine for writing information on, and or reading information from, the integrated circuit device is also disclosed.
89 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An interactive information product package, comprising:
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a plastic closure including a top wall portion, and a depending annular skirt portion;
a container on which said closure is secured for closing the contents of the container;
a radio frequency integrated circuit disposed at an inside surface of said top wall portion and within said package when said closure is secured to said container; and
at least one sensing device operatively connected to said integrated circuit and exposed to the interior of said package for sensing a condition of the contents within said package. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of conducting a product promotion, comprising the steps of:
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providing a product package comprising a plastic closure, a container to which said closure is secured for closing the contents of the container, and a radio frequency integrated circuit disposed within said package when said closure is secured to said container;
remotely programming the integrated circuit from the exterior of the package via radio frequency transmission to write promotional information onto said integrated circuit; and
retrieving the promotional information from said integrated circuit by radio frequency transmission for use of the information in conducting a product promotion. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of monitoring the contents of a package for quality assurance, comprising the steps of:
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providing a product package comprising a plastic closure including a top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion, a container to which said closure is secured for closing the contents of the container, a radio frequency integrated circuit disposed at an inside surface of said top wall portion and within said package when said closure is secured to said container, and at least one sensing device operatively connected to said integrated circuit and exposed to the interior of said package for sensing a condition of the contents of said package;
remotely programming the integrated circuit from the exterior of the package; and
retrieving information from said integrated circuit regarding the condition of the contents of said package by radio frequency transmission. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of providing quality assurance for the contents of a package, comprising the steps of:
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providing a product package comprising a plastic closure, a container to which said closure is secured for closing the contents of the container, a radio frequency integrated circuit disposed within said package when said closure is secured to said container, and at least one sensing device operatively connected to said integrated circuit for sensing a condition of the contents of said package;
remotely programming the integrated circuit from the exterior of the package; and
providing an audio device operatively connected to said integrated circuit to provide a consumer with an audio message regarding the condition of the contents of said package. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of disseminating information regarding the contents of a package, comprising the steps of:
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providing a product package comprising a plastic closure including a top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion, a container to which said closure is secured for closing the contents of the container, and a radio frequency integrated circuit disposed at an inside surface of said top wall portion and within said package when said closure is secured to said container;
remotely programming the integrated circuit from the exterior of the package with information regarding the contents of the package; and
retrieving information from said integrated circuit by radio frequency transmission, wherein said step of remotely programming includes at least one of;
(1) programming information regarding one or more conditions under which said contents of said package were packaged therein; and
(2) programming information relating to the preparation and use of the contents of the package. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of packaging a product, comprising the steps of:
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providing a product package comprising a plastic closure, a container to which said closure is secured for closing the contents of the container, and a radio frequency integrated circuit disposed within said package when said closure is secured to said container;
remotely programming the integrated circuit from the exterior of the package via radio frequency transmission to write product information onto said integrated circuit; and
retrieving the product information from said integrated circuit by radio frequency transmission for subsequent use of the information. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of monitoring the contents of a package for quality assurance, comprising the steps of:
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providing a product package comprising a plastic closure, a container to which said closure is secured for closing the contents of the container, a radio frequency integrated circuit disposed within said package when said closure is secured to said container, and at least one sensing device operatively connected to said integrated circuit for sensing a condition of the contents of said package;
remotely programming the integrated circuit from the exterior of the package; and
retrieving information from said integrated circuit regarding the condition of the contents of said package by radio frequency transmission, wherein said sensing device comprises a biological sensor for sensing the presence of microorganisms in said package.
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27. A method of monitoring the contents of a package for quality assurance, comprising the steps of:
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providing a product package comprising a plastic closure, a container to which said closure is secured for closing the contents of the container, a radio frequency integrated circuit disposed within said package when said closure is secured to said container, and at least one sensing device operatively connected to said integrated circuit for sensing a condition of the contents of said package;
remotely programming the integrated circuit from the exterior of the package; and
retrieving information from said integrated circuit regarding the condition of the contents of said package by radio frequency transmission, wherein said sensing device comprises a chemical sensor for sensing the presence of at least one selected chemical within said package.
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28. A method of monitoring the contents of a package for quality assurance, comprising the steps of:
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providing a product package comprising a plastic closure, a container to which said closure is secured for closing the contents of the container, a radio frequency integrated circuit disposed within said package when said closure is secured to said container, and at least one sensing device operatively connected to said integrated circuit for sensing a condition of the contents of said package;
remotely programming the integrated circuit from the exterior of the package; and
retrieving information from said integrated circuit regarding the condition of the contents of said package by radio frequency transmission, wherein said sensing device comprises a temperature sensor, and said method includes elevating the temperature of said package for heating the contents thereof, said retrieving step including retrieving a temperature history for the contents of said package. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method of monitoring the contents of a package for quality assurance, comprising the steps of:
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providing a product package comprising a plastic closure, a container to which said closure is secured for closing the contents of the container, a radio frequency integrated circuit disposed within said package when said closure is secured to said container, and at least one sensing device operatively connected to said integrated circuit for sensing a condition of the contents of said package;
remotely programming the integrated circuit from the exterior of the package; and
retrieving information from said integrated circuit regarding the condition of the contents of said package by radio frequency transmission, including non-destructively sorting a plurality of said packages on the basis of information retrieved from said integrated circuit of each said package.
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Specification