Methods and systems for certifying provenance of alcoholic beverages

• US 8,022,832 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: eProvenance LLC
• Original Assignee: eProvenance LLC
• Inventors: Vogt, Eric E., Churchill, Ruth
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEE, ANDREW W.
• Application Number:
  US12/022,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/584, 340/585, 340/588, 340/601, 340/602, 700/213, 700/214
• US Class Current: 340/588
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system for certifying provenance of an alcoholic beverage includes a radio-frequency identification tag and a server. The radio-frequency identification tag, associated with a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage, periodically measures a plurality of values of an environmental condition of the bottle. The radio-frequency identification tag stores the plurality of measured values. The server receives the plurality of measured values for analysis. The server provides, via a user interface, a description of a provenance of the alcoholic beverage, the description generated responsive to an analysis of the plurality of measured values.

Claims

1. A method for certifying provenance of an alcoholic beverage by tracking environmental conditions of a container for the alcoholic beverage during its progress through a distribution channel, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring periodically, by a radio-frequency identification tag associated with a container of an alcoholic beverage, a plurality of values of a plurality of environmental conditions of the container, wherein one or more of the plurality of environmental conditions are measured at distinct locations during the progression of the container through the distribution channel;

(b) storing, by the radio-frequency identification tag, the plurality of measured values of the environmental conditions;

(c) receiving, by a server, the plurality of measured values for analysis;

(d) generating, based on an analysis of the received plurality of measured values a grading of provenance of the alcoholic beverage in the container, the grading selected from three or more provenance grades and traceably authenticating the storage history of the container during the progression of the container through the distribution channel; and

(e) transmitting, by the server to a client device for display to a user via a user interface, the provenance grading generated based on the analysis of the received plurality of measured values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, by the radio-frequency identification tag, upon receipt of the container by a channel member, the values of the environmental conditions of the container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, by the radio-frequency identification tag, during transit to a channel member, the values of the environmental conditions of the container.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, periodically, by the radio-frequency identification tag attached to the container, a value of an environmental condition of the container.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, periodically, by a radio-frequency identification tag attached to a case a value of an environmental condition of the container.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, periodically, by a radio-frequency identification tag attached to a shipping pallet, a value of an environmental condition of the container.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, by a sensor in the radio-frequency identification tag, an ambient temperature of the container.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, by a sensor in the radio-frequency identification tag, a measurement of a level of humidity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, by a sensor in the radio-frequency identification tag, a level of vibration of the container.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises identifying, by a sensor associated with the radio-frequency identification tag, a location of the container.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein step (a) further comprises identifying, by a global positioning system receiver attached to the container, a location of the container.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing, by the radio-frequency identification tag, a container tag identification number.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing, by the radio-frequency identification tag, an identification number associated with a code imprinted on a seal on the container.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises encrypting, by the radio-frequency identification tag, a plurality of measured values of the environmental conditions.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises transmitting, by the radio-frequency identification tag, the plurality of measured values to the server.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises the steps of:

(c-1) transmitting, by the radio-frequency identification tag, the plurality of measured values, responsive to a query received from a radio-frequency identification tag reader; and

(c-2) transmitting, by the radio-frequency identification tag reader, to a server, the received plurality of measured values.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving, by a server operated by a facility producing the alcoholic beverage, the plurality of measured values for analysis.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing, by the server, via the user interface, statistical data generated responsive to the analysis of the plurality of measurements.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing, by the server, via the user interface, to a purchaser of the container, the description of the provenance of the alcoholic beverage.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing, by the server, via the user interface, to a purchaser of the container, a display of the plurality of measured values.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprises transmitting, by the server to a client device for display to a producer of the alcoholic beverage via the user interface, the provenance grading of the alcoholic beverage.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprises transmitting, by the server to a client device for display to a producer of the alcoholic beverage via the user interface, a display of the plurality of measured values.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprises transmitting, by the server, via the user interface, to a distributor of the container, the description of the provenance of the alcoholic beverage.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprises providing, by the server to a client device for display to a distributor of the alcoholic beverage via the user interface, a display of the plurality of measured values.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing, in a database, the plurality of measured values.

26. A system for certifying provenance of an alcoholic beverage by tracking environmental conditions of a container for the alcoholic beverage during its progress through a distribution channel comprising:

a radio-frequency identification tag associated with a container for an alcoholic beverage, measuring, periodically, a plurality of values of a plurality of environmental conditions of the container and storing the plurality of measured values of the environmental conditions, wherein one or more of the plurality of environmental conditions are measured at distinct locations during the progression of the container through the distribution channel; and

a server (i) receiving the plurality of measured values for analysis, (ii) selecting, based on an analysis of the received plurality of measured values, a grading of provenance of the alcoholic beverage from three or more provenance grades and traceably authenticating the storage history of the container during the progression of the container through the distribution channel, and (iii) transmitting to a client device for display to a user via a user interface the one of the plurality of provenance grades generated based on the analysis of the received plurality of measured values.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag further comprises a sensor for measuring temperature.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag further comprises a sensor for measuring humidity.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag further comprises a sensor for measuring a level of vibration of the container.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag further comprises a global positioning system receiver attached to the bottle and identifying a location of the container.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag is attached to the container.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag is attached to a case.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag is attached to a shipping pallet.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein the server generates a user interface comprising an interface element providing access to statistical data generated from at least one of the plurality of measured values.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein the server generates a user interface comprising an interface element providing access to at least one of the plurality of measured values.

36. The system of claim 26 further comprising a radio-frequency identification tag reader retrieving the plurality of measured values from the radio-frequency identification tag and transmitting the plurality of measured values to the server.

37. The system of claim 26 further comprising a database accessed by the server and storing the plurality of measured values.