Auditable authentication of event histories for shipped and stored objects

• US 7,564,353 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: August, Jason, Stevens, John K., Waterhouse, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/164,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20060293977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/571, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/438, 340/439, 340/442, 340/5.2, 340/10.3, 340/10.33, 701/29, 701/32, 701/33
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and system for auditably authenticating the histories of events (e.g. temperature levels) experienced by objects (e.g. pharmaceutical products, foodstuffs, etc.) during storage in repositories such as warehouses and movable shipping vehicles. The method involves a) sensing an event experienced by an object; b) recording an event signal that defines the sensed event; c) transmitting a temporally ordered series of the event signals to a data storage apparatus, the data storage apparatus being operable to store the temporally ordered series of the event signals; and d) safeguarding the aforesaid data storage apparatus against alteration of the stored series of event signals.

Claims

1. A method for preventing alteration of event histories for objects held in a repository for a period of time, said objects being sensitive to events experienced thereby, said method comprising:

a) sensing an event experienced by a said object;

b) recording an event signal that defines the sensed event;

c) transmitting a temporally ordered series of said event signals to a data storage apparatus, said data storage apparatus being operable to store said temporally ordered series of said event signals; and

d) safeguarding said data storage apparatus against alteration of said stored series of event signals wherein said sensing step (a) and recording step (b) are carried out by associating a tag with said object, said tag comprising an event sensor operable to record an event signal for describing an event experienced by said object, a data storage device operable to store data comprising identification data for identifying said radio frequency tag, said tag being operable to provide data signals comprising said event signal and an identification signal based upon said identification data, and an energy source for activating said event sensor and said data storage device.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein safeguarding step (d) is carried out by selecting a data storage apparatus which is operable to store said series of event signals upon a medium that cannot be readily altered without detection.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said repository is a vehicle operable for delivery of said objects, and wherein said medium is a write-once-only CD-Recordable (CD-R) disc.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein safeguarding step (d) is Carried out by disposing said data storage apparatus at a secure location distant from said object.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said safeguarding step (d) utilizes a selected algorithm to calculate a pair of checksums based on a selected sequence of event signals, said pair of checksums having a selected relationship in the event of data integrity, one of said checksums being calculated from event signals generated at said repository, the other checksum being calculated from event signals transmitted to said data storage apparatus.

6. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein transmitting step (c) is carried out by transmitting said event signals to said data storage apparatus immediately upon recording thereof in accordance with step (b).

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein safeguarding step (d) comprises storage of corresponding temporal data together with each said event signal, said temporal data being obtained from an independent source.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein safeguarding step (d) is carried out by selecting a data storage apparatus which is operable to store said series of event signals upon a medium that cannot be readily altered without detection, wherein said repository is a vehicle operable for delivery of said objects, wherein said medium is a write-once-only CD-Recordable (CD-R) disc, and wherein said independent source is a global positioning system (GPS) satellite.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8, a plurality of said tags being disposed in different areas of said vehicle to sense different events experienced in said different areas.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the object comprises a pharmaceutical material, foodstuff or wine.

11. A method for preventing alteration of event histories for objects held in a repository for a period of time, said objects being sensitive to events experienced thereby, said method comprising:

a) associating a radio frequency (RF) tag with said object, said tag comprising an event sensor operable to record an event signal for describing an event experienced by said object, a data storage device operable to store data comprising identification data for identifying said radio frequency tag, a tag antenna operable at a radio frequency, a tag transmitter operatively connected to said tag antenna, said tag transmitter being operable at said radio frequency to transmit data signals comprising said event signal and an identification signal based upon said identification data, and an energy source for activating said event sensor and said tag transmitter;

b) reading said data signals, which comprise said event signal and said identification signal, from said tag transmitter of said RF tag; and

c) transmitting said data signals to a data storage apparatus, said data storage apparatus being operable to store a temporally ordered sequence of said event signals from said RF tag upon a medium which cannot be readily altered without detection.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11, said data storage apparatus being disposed at a secure location distant from said object, said transmitting step (c) further comprising:

transmitting said sequence of event signals together with corresponding identification signals to said data storage apparatus.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11, said method comprising a step of utilizing a selected algorithm to calculate a pair of checksums based on a selected sequence of event signals, said pair of checksums having a selected relationship in the event of data integrity, one of said checksums being calculated from event signals generated at said repository, the other checksum being calculated from event signals transmitted to said data storage apparatus.

14. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the object comprises a pharmaceutical material, foodstuff or wine.

15. A system for preventing alteration of event histories for objects held in a repository for a period of time, said objects being sensitive to events experienced thereby, said system comprising:

a) a tag carried by said object, said tag comprising an event sensor operable to record an event signal for describing an event experienced by said object, a data storage device operable to store data comprising identification data for identifying said tag, a tag transmitter operable to transmit data signals comprising said event signal and an identification signal based upon said identification data, and an energy source for activating said event sensor and said data storage device; and

b) a data storage apparatus in operative communication with said tag, said data storage apparatus being operable to store a temporally ordered sequence of said event signals upon a medium which cannot be readily altered without detection.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15, and further comprising a central data processor, each tag being connected by cable to said central data processor.

17. A system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the object comprises a pharmaceutical material, foodstuff or wine.

18. A system for preventing alteration of event histories for objects held in a repository for a period of time, said objects being sensitive to events experienced thereby, said system comprising:

a) a radio frequency (RF) tag carried by a said object, said tag comprising an event sensor operable to record an event signal for describing an event experienced by said object, a data storage device operable to store data comprising identification data for identifying said radio frequency tag, a tag antenna operable at a radio frequency, a tag transmitter operatively connected to said tag antenna, said tag transmitter being operable at said radio frequency to transmit data signals comprising said event signal and an identification signal based upon said identification data, and an energy source for activating said event sensor and said tag transmitter;

b) at least one field antenna disposed at an orientation and within a distance from said object that permit effective communication with said RF tag at said radio frequency;

c) a reader in operative communication with said field antenna, said reader being operable to receive data signals from said RF tag; and

d) a data storage apparatus in operative communication with said reader, said data storage apparatus being operable to store a temporally ordered sequence of said event signals upon a medium which cannot be readily altered without detection.

19. A system as set forth in claim 18, said data storage apparatus being disposed at a secure location distant from said object, said system further comprising:

e) a field transmitter disposed at said repository and operable to transmit said event signals and corresponding location signals to said data storage apparatus.

20. A system as set forth in claim 18, said system comprising a pair of checking devices for utilizing a selected algorithm to calculate a corresponding pair of checksums based on a selected sequence of event signals, the pair of checksums having a selected relationship in the event of data integrity, one of said checking devices being disposed at said repository, the other checking device being disposed at said data storage apparatus.

21. A system as set forth in claim 18, said tag further comprising a tag receiver operable to receive an RF interrogation signal from said field antenna, said RF interrogation signal being operable to cause said tag to emit an event signal.

22. A system for preventing alteration of event histories for objects held in a movable repository for a period of time, said objects being sensitive to events experienced thereby, said system comprising:

a) a radio frequency (RF) tag carried by a said object, said tag comprising an event sensor operable to record an event signal for describing an event experienced by said object, a data storage device operable to store data comprising identification data for identifying said radio frequency tag, a tag antenna operable at a radio frequency, a tag transmitter operatively connected to said tag antenna, said tag transmitter being operable at said radio frequency to transmit data signals comprising said event signal and an identification signal based upon said identification data, and an energy source for activating said event sensor and said tag transmitter;

b) at least one field antenna disposed at an orientation and within a distance from said object that permit effective communication with said RF tag at said radio frequency;

c) a reader in operative communication with said field antenna, said reader being operable to receive data signals from said frequency tag;

d) a geographic position sensing (GPS) detector operable to record a location signal defining a geographic position of said movable repository, and d) a data storage apparatus in operative communication with said reader and said GPS detector, said data storage apparatus being operable to store a temporally ordered sequence of said event signals and corresponding location signals upon a medium which cannot be readily altered without detection.

23. A system as set forth in claim 22, said data storage apparatus being disposed at a secure location distant from said object, said system further comprising:

e) a field transmitter disposed at said movable repository and operable to transmit said event signals and corresponding location signals to said data storage apparatus.

24. A system as set forth in claim 23, said system further comprising a clock operable to generate time signals for transmittal to said data storage apparatus and for storage thereat in correspondence with said event signals.

25. A system as set forth in claim 24, said clock being disposed at said RF tag.

26. A system as set forth in claim 24, said clock being disposed at said data storage apparatus.

27. A system as set forth in claim 24, said data storage apparatus comprising a write-only-once device to assure integrity of data relating to events experienced by objects.

28. A system as set forth in claim 22, said system comprising a pair of checking devices for utilizing a selected algorithm to calculate a corresponding pair of checksums based on a selected sequence of event signals, the pair of checksums having a selected relationship in the event of data integrity, one of said checking devices being disposed at said movable repository, the other checking device being disposed at a secure location distant from said movable repository.

29. A system as set forth in claim 28, said one checking device being disposed on said RF tag.

30. A system as set forth in claim 28, said tag further comprising a display operable to display visible data relating to said event sensor of said tag.

31. A system as set forth in claim 30, said visible data comprising one of said checksums.

32. A system as set forth in claim 22, said movable repository further comprising a central data processor in operative communication with said field antenna, said tag further comprising a tag receiver operable to receive an RF interrogation signal from said field antenna, said RF interrogation signal being operable to cause said tag to emit an event signal.

33. A system as set forth in claim 32, wherein said identification data comprises an internet protocol (IP) address, and wherein said central data processor is operable for communication with an internet router.

34. A system as set forth in claim 22, said system comprising a plurality of said low frequency RF tags and a plurality of low frequency field antennas disposed in different areas of said movable repository and operable to enable discrimination of event signals received from RF tags disposed in different areas.

35. A system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the object comprises a pharmaceutical material, foodstuff or wine.

36. A method for preventing alteration of event histories for objects held in a repository for a period of time, said objects being sensitive to events experienced thereby, said method comprising:

a) sensing an event experienced by said object upon a tag associated therewith;

b) unalterably recording an event signal that defines the sensed event upon a write-once-only data storage device that is part of said tag;

c) transmitting a temporally ordered series of said event signals to a data storage apparatus, said data storage apparatus being operable to store said temporally ordered series of said event signals; and

d) safeguarding said data storage apparatus against alteration of said stored series of event signals.

37. A tag for use in system for preventing alteration of event histories for objects held in a repository for a period of time, said objects being sensitive to events experienced thereby, said tag being adapted for association with a said object, said tag comprising an event sensor operable to record an event signal for describing an event experienced by said object, a write-once-only data storage device operable to store, in an unalterable manner, data comprising said event signal, a tag transmitter operable to transmit data signals comprising said event signal, and an energy source for activating said event sensor and said write-once-only data storage device.

38. A tag as set forth in claim 37, said write-once-only data storage device being operable to store identification data for identifying said tag.

39. A tag as set forth in claim 38, said tag further comprising a clock operable to generate time signals for storage at said write-once-only data storage device in correspondence with said event signals.