Method and system for procuring, storing and distributing remotely accessed data gathered by logging devices

• US 6,873,936 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marathon Products, Inc. (Media Recovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Marathon Products, Inc. (Media Recovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Flynn, Kevin E., Nakagawa, Jon Y., Reel, Greg T.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAI, CAROL S W
• Application Number:
  US10/781,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20040167837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 702/187, 705/18, 705/26, 705/29, 705/30, 705/32, 705/40, 705/52, 705/53, 705/44
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method for billing customers over the Internet or other means of electronic communication between an access provider and a customer for use of services. The provider creates access to measurement data obtained by the customer for electronic data loggers which have been programmed for one time use by the manufacturers, distributor or agent for use by the customer or customers. A unique identity is embedded within the measurement device so that the provider can associate measurement data and/or billing information with the customer or end user. The provider then bills the transaction to either the user'"'"'s account or those of designated account holders. This method for billing customers is applicable for all sensor based technologies to include temperatures, humidity, pressures, light, events, voltage, acceleration, shock, strain, flows and any other discipline where electronic sensors are embedded in devices programmed for one-time use and used in either remote locations or during transportation. The system and method may also include device locating means. While having the unit returned enables the manufacturer or agency the opportunity to resell the unit for further commercial benefit, the device may be remotely reprogrammed for further use, because the present invention with its web-enabled technology allows the user to reprogram the device through a central server so that it does not have to be returned and allows the provider the ability to track, monitor, store and bill the customer each time the device is enabled, programmed or read.

Claims

1. A method for billing a customer over a network for use of an environmental data logger, which monitors and stores environmental condition data of contents of a shipping container, the method comprising:

connecting the data logger to a network upon receipt of the shipping container at a destination;

providing a connection to a billing server to a customer via the network;

upon access of the server, allowing the customer to access data stored on the data logger; and

billing the customer for accessing the data on the data logger via the billing server;

wherein the customer is billed for the use of the data logger only upon receipt of the data logger at the destination and subsequent access of the data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data stored on the data logger is transferred from the data logger and stored on the server, such that environmental data relating to the contents of the shipping container can be stored and statistical data can be processed for all of the customer'"'"'s data loggers.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

allowing third-parties to access the data from data logger that is stored on the server; and

billing the customer for each access by a third-party, thereby providing access to the environmental data stored on the data logger and also to any statistical data that has been processed and stored on the server via the network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data includes information regarding one or more members of a group consisting of temperature, humidity, motion, pressure, voltage, flow and sound.

5. A method for billing a customer over a network for reprogramming a one-time use environmental data logger, which monitors and stores environmental condition data of contents of a shipping container, the method comprising:

connecting the data logger to a network upon receipt of the shipping container at a destination;

providing a customer access to a server via a network;

reprogramming the one-time use data logger via the network; and

billing the customer for reprogramming the data logger via the network, thereby facilitating remote reprogramming of the data logger without requiring the customer to return the data logger for reprogramming.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising recalibration the data logger when the data logger is reprogrammed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the data includes information regarding one or more members of a group consisting of temperature, humidity, motion, pressure, voltage, flow and sound.

8. A method of billing a customer for use of a one-time use environmental data logger, which monitors and stores environmental condition data of contents of a shipping container, the method comprising:

connecting the data logger to a network upon receipt of the shipping container at a destination;

providing a connection over a network to a server to a customer;

upon access of the server, allowing the customer to access data stored on the data logger;

reprogramming the one-time use data logger via the network; and

billing the customer for accessing the data on the data logger and for reprogramming the data logger via the network, thereby facilitating remote reprogramming of the data logger without requiring the customer to return the data logger for reprogramming.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising recalibrating the data logger when the data logger is reprogrammed.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data stored on the data logger is transferred from the data logger and stored on the server, such that environmental data relating to the contents of the shipping container can be stored and statistical data can be processed for all of the customer'"'"'s data loggers.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

allowing third-parties to access the data from data logger that is stored on the server; and

billing the customer for each access by a third-party, thereby providing access to the environmental data stored on the data logger and also to any statistical data that has been processed and stored on the server via the network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data includes information regarding one or more members of a group consisting of temperature, humidity, motion, pressure, voltage, flow and sound.