Handheld device for retrieving and analyzing data from an electronic monitoring device

• US 7,165,015 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cryovac Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Cryovac Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Roberts, William Peyton
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff; Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUAREZ, FELIX E
• Application Number:
  US11/093,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 702/117, 702/122, 702/123, 702/130, 702/150, 702/183, 702/187, 235/375, 235/376, 340/588, 709/224
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/007 Data loggers attached to transport containers for perishable products, e.g. food or medicines
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

The invention is a handheld device that is adapted for wireless communication with an electronic monitoring device, and includes a control unit and dedicated operating system configured to analyze data retrieved from a data logger and determine if the electronic monitoring device has been exposed to an environmental condition exceeding a predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, the handheld device may be configured to generate a sensory output if the data indicates that the predetermined threshold may have been exceeded. The handheld device may also have an associated memory component configured to store the retrieved data. In some embodiments, the reader may also be configured to calculate the remaining shelf-life of an item that is in a monitoring relationship with the electronic monitoring device.

Claims

1. A device for retrieving and analyzing data from a data logger, said device comprising

a. a first interface adapted for wireless retrieval of data from a data logger;

b. a control unit in communication with said first interface;

c. a dedicated operating system comprising one or more executable program modules that are capable of analyzing the data retrieved from a data logger, wherein said dedicated operating system includes a program module that is capable of analyzing the data and determining if an item has been exposed to an environmental condition exceeding a predetermined threshold;

d. an output device operatively connected to said control unit and capable of producing a sensory output;

e. a user interface in communication with said control unit and configured to allow a user to input operational commands;

f. an associated memory component in communication with said control unit and capable of storing data retrieved from a data logger; and

g. a second interface adapted for downloading stored data from said associated memory component to an external computer.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises a microcontroller and said dedicated operating system is embedded therein.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said dedicated operating system comprises firmware.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to instruct the output device to generate a sensory output if the item has been exposed to an environmental condition exceeding a predetermined threshold.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said dedicated operating system includes a program module that is capable of determining the remaining shelf-life of an item based on data retrieved from a data logger.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the program module is capable of determining the remaining shelf-life of an item and comparing said remaining shelf-life to a minimum shelf-life preference.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first interface comprises an RFID transceiver.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said sensory output comprises a visual signal, audible signal, or combination thereof.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said unit interface comprises two or more buttons including a first button adapted to instruct the device to retrieve data from a data logger and a second button adapted to instruct the device to transfer stored data from the associated memory component to an external computer.

13. A method of analyzing data recorded on an electronic monitoring device comprising the steps of:

positioning the device of claim 1 in a reading relationship with an electronic monitoring device;

retrieving data from said electronic monitoring device via a wireless interface;

analyzing the retrieved data with one of said one or more executable programs to determine if one or more environmental conditions has exceeded a predetermined threshold; and

generating a sensory output if analysis of the retrieved data indicates that a monitored condition may have exceeded a predetermined threshold.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of analyzing the retrieved data includes executing an algorithm that is configured to automatically:

analyze the retrieved data to produce at least one result based on the data;

generate a sensory output based on said at least one result; and

store the retrieved data and said at least one result in a first file format.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising transferring the data stored in a first file format to an external computer having an executable program thereon that is configured to convert the transferred data to a second file format.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the first file format comprises a native file format and the second file format comprises a standard file format.

17. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of storing the retrieved data in the associated memory component.

18. A method according to claim 13, further comprising transferring the stored data to an external computer.

19. A method according to claim 13, further comprising generating a sensory output if analysis of the retrieved data indicates that a monitored condition has not exceeded a predetermined threshold.

20. A method according to claim 13, wherein the one or more environmental conditions includes temperature, and wherein the predetermined threshold is based on the mean kinetic temperature to which the electronic monitoring device has been exposed.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of generating a sensory output further comprises displaying an alarm signal on a visual display that is in communication with the control unit and adapted to visually indicate whether the one or more environmental conditions has exceeded a predetermined threshold.

10. A handheld device for retrieving and analyzing data from an electronic monitoring device, said handheld device comprising

a. an RFID interface adapted for wireless communication with an electronic monitoring device;

b. a control unit associated with said first interface and configured for analyzing data retrieved from an electronic device, said control unit including a dedicated operating system consisting essentially of one or more executable program modules that are configured to instruct the handheld device to perform one or more of retrieving data from an electronic monitoring device, analyzing the retrieved data, generating a sensory output based on the data, storing the data, transferring the stored data to an external computer, and enabling a user to select an operational mode of said handheld device, and wherein said handheld device is characterized by the absence of a standard operating system;

c. a visual display in communication with said control unit and adapted to visually indicate device status including whether one or more environmental conditions to which a data logger has been exposed has exceeded a predetermined threshold;

d. a user interface in communication with said control unit;

e. an associated memory component in communication with said control unit and capable of storing data retrieved from an electronic monitoring device; and

f. a second interface adapted for downloading stored data from said associated memory component to an external computer.

11. A handheld device according to claim 10, wherein said associated memory component stores the retrieved data in a native file format.

12. A handheld device according to claim 10, wherein said handheld device is configured for real time analysis of data retrieved from an electronic monitoring device.

22. A method of retrieving, analyzing, and storing data recorded on an electronic monitoring device comprising the steps of:

retrieving data from an electronic monitoring device with a handheld reader via a wireless interface, wherein the retrieved data includes an exposure history and calculation parameters for a condition being monitored;

analyzing the retrieved data with said handheld reader to produce at least one result based on the data;

generating a sensory output with said handheld reader based on said at least one result;

storing the retrieved data and said at least one result in said handheld device in a first file format;

transferring said data from said handheld reader to an external computer; and

converting said data from said first file format to a second file format.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the step of retrieving data further comprises activating a first input on said device that is configured to initiate wireless communication with said electronic monitoring device.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein the first file format comprises a native file format and the second file format comprises a standard file format.

25. A method according to claim 22, wherein the steps of analyzing the data further includes calculating and displaying the remaining shelf-life of an item associated with said electronic monitoring device.

26. A method according to claim 25, further including the step of generating a sensory output if the remaining shelf-life of said item is expired.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein the step of calculating the remaining shelf-life further comprises calculating the remaining shelf-life based on a stored minimum shelf-life preference of a user.

28. A method according to claim 22, wherein the electronic monitoring device is associated with an item and the retrieved data indicates that a monitored condition may have exceeded a predetermined threshold, said method further comprising at least one of the following:

a) disposing of the item;

b) accepting the item;

c) returning an item to a supplier;

or

d) selling the item at a discounted price.