Fiber or plastic based package, apparatus, method, program and system for wireless data communication by fiber or plastic based package

• US 9,145,232 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stora Enso Oyj
• Original Assignee: Stora Enso Oyj
• Inventors: Maijala, Juha, Mkel, Raimo, Ilkka, Petri
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US13/806,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20130175282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,925 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/66.1, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/90.1, 455/90.3, 455/347, 455/351, 340/551, 340/561, 340/565, 340/568.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/00 Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07737 the record carrier consisting of two or more mechanically separable parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07741 comprising a first part operating as a regular record carrier and a second attachable part that changes the functional appearance of said record carrier, e.g. a contact-based smart card with an adapter part which, when attached to the contact card makes the contact card function as a non-contact card
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A fiber or plastic based package includes: an interface adapted to attach and connect, in a detachable manner, a module to a fiber or plastic based package, the module including a wireless transmitter, and the interface including conductors for transferring package data from the fiber or plastic based package to the module. A module, system and software are also implemented in connection with the fiber or plastic based package. A smart package, its management and various applications thereof are provided.

Claims

1. A fiber or plastic based package, comprising:

an interface adapted to attach and connect, in a detachable manner, a module to the fiber or plastic based package, the module comprising a wireless transmitter, and the interface and package comprising conductors for transferring package data from the fiber or plastic based package to the module, and the wireless transmitter comprising a modem configured for mobile phone communications, and

wherein the interface comprises electrically conductive contact points through which the conductors connect to the electric parts of the module.

2. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the conductor in the fiber or plastic based package comprises at least one or more conductors printed on the fiber or plastic based package for the purpose of collecting package-related information.

3. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the conductor in the fiber or plastic based package comprises at least one or more conductors attached to the fiber or plastic based package for the purpose of collecting package-related information.

4. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a docking station by which the module can be mechanically attached and electrically connected to the package in a detachable manner.

5. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the conductors in the package are configured to monitor the packaged goods and produce package-related information.

6. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the conductors comprise a switch, a selector, a detector, a sensor, or an indicator.

7. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the switch is based on inductance, magnetism, touch, capacitive coupling, or piezoelectricity.

8. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the package comprises a transport package, a storage package, or a protective package.

9. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 8, wherein the package is a medicine package or a food package.

10. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein, when the module is detached, the interface is arranged to attach and connect another module to the package in a detachable manner.

11. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the conductors in the package comprise a push-through detector for detecting when an object in the package is pushed out of the package.

12. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a bent portion of the package so that the module can be attached to the bent portion of the package in a detachable manner.

13. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the interface package is adapted so as to be pushed into the module and thereby faun an interface.

14. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a notch or slot in the package into which the module is adapted to be attached.

15. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises an attachment element for reinforcing the mechanical attachment.

16. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the interface is adapted such that the dimensions of the package and module result in mechanical attachment and electrical connection.

17. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises a flexible element for the attachment.

18. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the module comprises a transmitter and is configured to wirelessly transmit the package-related information to a system.

19. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the wireless connection comprises a mobile connection and the module is configured for a mobile connection.

20. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the module comprises a power supply configured to supply power both to the module and, through the interface, to the package.

21. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the module comprises a controller configured to control the power consumption in the module.

22. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the controller, while in sleep mode, is configured to receive a command from the package, waking up the module to perform the operation corresponding to the command.

23. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the module is configured to additionally perform the storing of data corresponding to the command or wireless transmission of data corresponding to the command.

24. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the module comprises a controller configured to control the battery, power consumption, real time, reminders, alarms, or data transmission, in the module.

25. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to synchronize its clock to the system clock received by the wireless link of the modem.

26. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the module comprises a case so that the module can be handled independent of the package.

27. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the fiber or plastic based package comprises paperboard, paper, cardboard, plastic, or films.

28. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the fiber or plastic based package comprises a substrate whose melting point or plasticity point can tolerate temperatures of 300°

C.

29. A fiber or plastic based package according to claim 1, wherein the fiber or plastic based package comprises a substrate whose melting point or plasticity point can tolerate temperatures of under 200°

C.

30. An apparatus comprising a package according to claim 1.

31. A system comprising:

a fiber or plastic based package,

a module,

a server, wherein;

an interface in the fiber or plastic based package is adapted to attach and connect, in a detachable manner, the module to the package, the module comprising a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter comprising a modem configured for mobile phone communications, and the interface comprising conductors for transferring package data from the fiber or plastic based package to the module and further to the server through the wireless transmitter whereafter the data are received at the server, and wherein the interface comprises electrically conductive contact points through which the conductors connect to the electric parts of the module.

32. A method comprising steps in which:

data are received at an interface adapted to attach and connect, in a detachable manner, a module to a fiber or plastic based package, the module comprising a wireless transmitter which comprises a modem configured for mobile phone communications, and the fiber or plastic based package comprising conductors for transferring package data,

data received from the package are forwarded to the module.

33. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program that comprises a program logic adapted for wireless data communication by a fiber or plastic based package, the computer program when executed causes a processor to perform the steps of:

receiving data at an interface adapted to attach and connect, in a detachable manner, a module to a fiber or plastic based package, the module comprising a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter comprising a modem configured for mobile phone communications, and the fiber or plastic based package comprising conductors for transferring package data, and

forwarding the data received from the package to the module.