Methods for assigning traceability information to and retrieving traceability information from a store shelf
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving merchandise containing produce from a producer in a case, the case bearing a case label including a case code identifying a plurality of the merchandise, the case code comprising both a Global Trade Identification Number (GTIN) and a lot code, wherein the lot code is associated with a set of data comprising lot-specific information, wherein the lot-specific product information includes data pertaining to at least one of a lot of land from which the produce was grown, environment condition during harvesting of the produce, property name from which the produce was grown, type of seed, or fertilizer applications;
providing a shelf label including a shelf code identifying a single merchandise of the plurality of the merchandise, wherein the shelf code is different from the lot code and contains information pertaining to a price of the single merchandise;
stocking a bin with the merchandise from the case;
reading the shelf code with a scanning device;
reading the case code with the scanning device by scanning the case code disposed on the case; and
associating the shelf code to the case code such that scanning the shelf code provides information pertaining to the case code.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shelf code in a machine readable format, such as on a QR code on a printed card, is provided where bulk merchandise displayed in a bin. When the bin is stocked from a case bearing a case code, the case code is associated with the shelf code. Lot-specific and lot-independent information previously associated with the case code is then linked to the shelf code. Consumers scan the shelf code with a mobile device to establish a communication channel to access the linked information. Retailers and producers use the channel to reach the consumer, and to solicit feedback from the consumer at a known time and location. A mobile device can also be used to associate quality assessments of merchandise to the shelf code. Analysis of consumer ratings and quality inspection assessments that are tied to time and location can provide valuable insights to both producers and retailers.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving merchandise containing produce from a producer in a case, the case bearing a case label including a case code identifying a plurality of the merchandise, the case code comprising both a Global Trade Identification Number (GTIN) and a lot code, wherein the lot code is associated with a set of data comprising lot-specific information, wherein the lot-specific product information includes data pertaining to at least one of a lot of land from which the produce was grown, environment condition during harvesting of the produce, property name from which the produce was grown, type of seed, or fertilizer applications; providing a shelf label including a shelf code identifying a single merchandise of the plurality of the merchandise, wherein the shelf code is different from the lot code and contains information pertaining to a price of the single merchandise; stocking a bin with the merchandise from the case; reading the shelf code with a scanning device; reading the case code with the scanning device by scanning the case code disposed on the case; and associating the shelf code to the case code such that scanning the shelf code provides information pertaining to the case code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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receiving merchandise containing produce from a producer in a case, the case bearing a case label including a case code identifying a plurality of the merchandise, the case code comprising a unique serial number linked to a stock-keeping unit (SKU) and production information in a remote database, wherein the production information includes data pertaining to at least one of a lot of land from which the produce was grown, environment condition during harvesting of the produce, property name from which the produce was grown, type of seed, or fertilizer applications; providing a shelf label including a shelf code identifying a single merchandise of the plurality of the merchandise, wherein the shelf code is different from the lot code and contains information pertaining to a price of the single merchandise; stocking a bin with the merchandise from the case stocking a bin with the merchandise from the case; reading the shelf code with a scanning device; reading the case code with the scanning device by scanning the case code disposed on the case; and associating the shelf code to the case code. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification