Database systems and methods for consumer packaged goods

• US 9,436,770 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Maverick Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: FASTechnology Group, LLC
• Inventors: Hattrup, Joseph A., French, Ralph P., Lawson, Nathaniel Evert, Allen, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROSS, SCOTT M
• Application Number:
  US14/574,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20150102100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/024 for printing on segmented surfaces, e.g. sticker sheets, label rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1835 Transforming generic data
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1859 involving data processing distributed amongst different data processing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A database device stores a plurality of data records comprising package parameters, each data record corresponding to a unique URL. Each unique URL corresponds to one of a plurality of different, unique, individual scannable codes printed on individual packages so that each data record corresponds to a scannable code which corresponds to an individual package. A parameter portal provides to the database device individual package parameters which correspond to an individual scannable code on each individual package. An access portal provides selective access to at least some of the individual package parameters stored in the database device based on the unique URL. Systems, methods, databases, and computer readable media storing computer executable instructions for individualized product packages are provided. An enabler processor provides the codes and a loader processor linked to the enabler processor populates a selectively accessible database with information corresponding to the code.

Claims

1. A system handling product packages and responsive to a QR code scanning device, said system comprising:

a package handling device receiving the product packages and guiding the product packages through the package handling device;

a printer associated with the package handling device printing one of a plurality of different, unique, individual scannable QR codes on each package as the packages are guided through the package handling device;

wherein each scannable QR code corresponds to only one of a plurality of data records stored in a selectively accessible database and comprises package parameters, wherein each scannable QR code is configured to provide a unique, non-sequential URL compressing a combination of an alpha-numeric manufacturing identifier and an alpha-numeric, unique time-based parameter based on a unique time of printing of each scannable QR code on its package wherein the compressed URL has less alpha-numeric characters than the combination of the alpha-numeric manufacturing identifier and the alpha-numeric time-based parameter,

wherein the time-based parameter comprises a unique obfuscated period of time based on a difference between a preset time and a unique clock time indicating the time of printing of each scannable QR code on its package,

wherein the manufacturing identifier includes a compressed form of at least one of a manufacturer identifier, a plant identifier, and a line identifier, and

wherein each unique, non-sequential URL includes a compressed combination of the obfuscated period of time and the compressed manufacturing identifier;

a database device storing a plurality of data records comprising package parameters, each data record linked to only one, non-sequential URL defined by one of the plurality of scannable QR codes;

an enabler processor configured to link to the printer and configured to generate and provide to the printer the plurality of different, unique, individual scannable QR codes, each of which for printing on one of the product packages guided through the package handling device, wherein the enabler processor is further configured to generate a plurality of unique data files having a preset notation, wherein each data file represents a corresponding one of the plurality of scannable QR codes and the non-sequential URL provided thereby that have been printed on one of the product packages;

a loader processor configured to link to the enabler processor and configured to receive from the enabler processor the plurality of unique data files, said loader processor configured to populate the selectively accessible database with information corresponding to each of the data files after each corresponding different, unique, individual scannable QR code including its unique time-based parameter has been printed on its unique product package, said information including the non-sequential URL represented by each corresponding data file;

a parameter portal of the database device linked to a network, said parameter portal providing to the database device individual package parameters for a particular individual package, which package parameters are added to a particular data record which corresponds to a particular individual scannable QR code on the particular individual package; and

an access portal of the database device linked to a network, said access portal controlling selective access to at least some of the individual package parameters of the data record corresponding to the received unique, non-sequential URL stored in the database device based on the unique, non-sequential URL provided in response to the QR code scanning device, wherein scanning a particular scannable QR code by the code scanning device only provides the data record linked to the non-sequential URL of the particular scannable QR code,

wherein the non-sequential URL comprises 11 ASCII characters compressed from a 16 alphanumeric character code defined as CCCCCsssssssssss wherein;

CCCCC is 5 alpha-numeric characters which includes 9 alpha-numeric characters compressed to 5 alpha-numeric characters; and

sssssssssss is 11 alpha-numeric characters based on a timestamp every 100th of a second.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller executing a portal module controlling the portals wherein the controller is linked to the printer, said controller supplying to the printer at least one of the scannable codes and the unique URLs stored in the database device for printing the scannable codes on the packages.

3. The system of claim 1 for use with a code scanning device:

wherein the code scanning device is configured to scan a particular scannable code on a particular package,

wherein the code scanning device is configured to determine the unique URL corresponding to the scanned particular scannable code,

wherein the code scanning device is configured to connect to the database device via a network and the access portal, and

wherein the database device receives via a network and the access portal the unique URL from the code scanning device and provides via the access portal and a network to the code scanning device at least some of the package parameters of the data record corresponding to the received unique URL.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the package handling device is linked to the parameter portal and provides at least some of the package parameters of the data record corresponding to the received unique URL stored in the database.

5. The system of claim 1 for use with a manufacturing system for manufacturing the packages and for supplying individual package manufacturing parameters wherein the database is configured to receive the individual package manufacturing parameters from the manufacturing system via the parameter portal wherein the supplied package parameters are cross-referenced to the individual scannable codes and the unique URLs, wherein the time-based parameter reflects a period of time based on a difference between a preset time and the time of printing of each scannable code on its package, and wherein the manufacturing identifier includes at least one of a manufacturer identifier, a plant identifier, and a line identifier so that each unique URL is defined by the period of time and the manufacturing identifier.

6. The system of claim 1 for use with a materials system for supplying materials for the individual packages and for supplying individual material parameters wherein the database is configured to receive the individual material parameters from the materials system via the parameter portal wherein the supplied parameters are cross-referenced to the individual scannable codes and the unique URLs.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the database is configured to receive at least one or more of the following:

one or more particular package parameters from a distributor of the particular package via the parameter portal and only the distributor is provided access to the package parameters of the particular package;

one or more particular package parameters from a retailer of the particular package via the parameter portal and only the retailer is provided access to the package parameters of the particular package;

one or more particular package parameters from a manufacturer of the particular package via the parameter portal and only the manufacturer is provided access to the package parameters of the particular package;

one or more particular package parameters from a materials supplier of the particular package via the parameter portal and only the materials supplier is provided access to the package parameters of the particular package;

one or more particular package parameters from a brand owner of the particular package via the parameter portal and only the brand owner is provided access to the package parameters of the particular package;

wherein each of the distributor, retailer, manufacturer, materials supplier, and brand owner provides different certain package parameters and accesses different selected package parameters.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein a group scannable code associated with a group of packages is linked in the database to the scannable codes of the packages in the group, and wherein the group scannable code and its linked scannable codes share at least one common package parameter.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-sequential URL comprises a compressed alphanumeric character code compressed from the following combination:

a compressed alpha-numeric character code compressed from alpha-numeric characters defining at least one of a manufacturer identifier, a plant identifier, and a line identifier wherein the compressed alpha-numeric character code has less alpha-numeric characters than the alpha-numeric characters defining at least one of a manufacturer identifier, a plant identifier, and a line identifier;

an alpha-numeric character code based on the time of printing; and

wherein the compressed URL has less alpha-numeric characters than the combination of the compressed alpha-numeric character code and alpha-numeric character code based on the time of printing.