Systems and methods for supply chain management
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by a computer-based system and based on scanning at a first location, data for a disaggregation event associated with an item at the first location;
wherein the first location impacts the scanning of the data that is obtained by a proximity-based scanner at the first location,wherein the proximity-based scanner scans a parent electronic product code (EPC) and child EPC at the first location,wherein the proximity-based scanner communicates with the computer-based system;
storing, by the computer-based system, the data for the disaggregation event in a database as ungrouped data elements formatted as a block of binary (BLOB);
tuning, by the computer-based system, the database to optimize database performance,wherein the tuning includes placing frequently used files on separate file systems to reduce in and out bottlenecks;
obtaining, by the computer-based system, the data from the database for the disaggregation event;
in response to the parent EPC at the first location not being known, storing, by the computer-based system, the parent EPC in storage;
associating, by the computer-based system, the disaggregation event with the parent EPC at the first location;
determining, by the computer-based system, that an event sequence exists for the parent EPC at the first location;
in response to the event sequence not existing, initiating, by the computer-based system, an event sequence for the parent EPC at the first location;
in response to the child EPC not being known, storing, by the computer-based system, the child EPC in storage;
associating, by the computer-based system, the disaggregation event with the child EPC;
in response to a decommissioning event existing earlier in the event sequence, setting, by the computer-based system, a parent EPC state to a condition reflecting error;
wherein the decommissioning event is issued in response to at least one of destruction of an unconsumed item, an expired item, a damaged item, a recalled item, an item being dispensed, an item being consumed or an item being discarded;
checking, by the computer-based system, for an aggregation event earlier in the event sequence than a current aggregation event;
in response to the aggregation event not existing for the parent EPC, setting, by the computer-based system, the parent EPC state to a condition reflecting error;
in response to the parent EPC being not reusable, checking, by the computer-based system, that there is only one commissioning event earlier in the event sequence than the current disaggregation event;
wherein the commissioning event includes identifying at least one of a sellable item, a container associated with the item or aggregation hierarchies for the item;
in response to more than one commissioning event, setting, by the computer-based system, the parent EPC state to a condition reflecting error;
in response to an event sequence not existing for a child EPC, initiating, by the computer-based system, an EPC event sequence for the child EPC;
in response to beginning the event sequence with the current disaggregation event, and the child EPC being an item, setting, by the computer-based system, a child EPC state to indicate a missing commissioning event;
in response to the decommissioning event existing earlier in the event sequence, setting, by the computer-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error;
in response to more than one earlier aggregation event existing where the child EPC appears as a child, setting, by the computer-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error;
in response to more than one commissioning event for the child EPC for an individual item, setting, by the compute-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error;
in response to the child EPC being the container, and the container being not reusable, setting, by the computer-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error for an aggregation event earlier in the event sequence in which the child EPC appears as the parent; and
in response to the child EPC being the container, and the container being not reusable and more than one commissioning event earlier in the event sequence than the current disaggregation event, setting, by the computer-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error only.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are directed to supply chain management. In particular, the tracking, tracing, authenticating, and reporting of supply chain events for products, is disclosed. Various embodiments can store, analyze, and track supply chain events and help to coordinate and maintain trading partner connections. Various embodiments also help to enhance patient safety, secure the supply chains for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other healthcare products, and help users to follow regulatory requirements.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a computer-based system and based on scanning at a first location, data for a disaggregation event associated with an item at the first location; wherein the first location impacts the scanning of the data that is obtained by a proximity-based scanner at the first location, wherein the proximity-based scanner scans a parent electronic product code (EPC) and child EPC at the first location, wherein the proximity-based scanner communicates with the computer-based system; storing, by the computer-based system, the data for the disaggregation event in a database as ungrouped data elements formatted as a block of binary (BLOB); tuning, by the computer-based system, the database to optimize database performance, wherein the tuning includes placing frequently used files on separate file systems to reduce in and out bottlenecks; obtaining, by the computer-based system, the data from the database for the disaggregation event; in response to the parent EPC at the first location not being known, storing, by the computer-based system, the parent EPC in storage; associating, by the computer-based system, the disaggregation event with the parent EPC at the first location; determining, by the computer-based system, that an event sequence exists for the parent EPC at the first location; in response to the event sequence not existing, initiating, by the computer-based system, an event sequence for the parent EPC at the first location; in response to the child EPC not being known, storing, by the computer-based system, the child EPC in storage; associating, by the computer-based system, the disaggregation event with the child EPC; in response to a decommissioning event existing earlier in the event sequence, setting, by the computer-based system, a parent EPC state to a condition reflecting error; wherein the decommissioning event is issued in response to at least one of destruction of an unconsumed item, an expired item, a damaged item, a recalled item, an item being dispensed, an item being consumed or an item being discarded; checking, by the computer-based system, for an aggregation event earlier in the event sequence than a current aggregation event; in response to the aggregation event not existing for the parent EPC, setting, by the computer-based system, the parent EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to the parent EPC being not reusable, checking, by the computer-based system, that there is only one commissioning event earlier in the event sequence than the current disaggregation event; wherein the commissioning event includes identifying at least one of a sellable item, a container associated with the item or aggregation hierarchies for the item; in response to more than one commissioning event, setting, by the computer-based system, the parent EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to an event sequence not existing for a child EPC, initiating, by the computer-based system, an EPC event sequence for the child EPC; in response to beginning the event sequence with the current disaggregation event, and the child EPC being an item, setting, by the computer-based system, a child EPC state to indicate a missing commissioning event; in response to the decommissioning event existing earlier in the event sequence, setting, by the computer-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to more than one earlier aggregation event existing where the child EPC appears as a child, setting, by the computer-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to more than one commissioning event for the child EPC for an individual item, setting, by the compute-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to the child EPC being the container, and the container being not reusable, setting, by the computer-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error for an aggregation event earlier in the event sequence in which the child EPC appears as the parent; and in response to the child EPC being the container, and the container being not reusable and more than one commissioning event earlier in the event sequence than the current disaggregation event, setting, by the computer-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error only. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A tangible non-transitory computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computer-based system, cause the computer-based system to perform operations comprising:
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receiving, by the computer-based system and based on scanning at a first location, data for a disaggregation event associated with an item at the first location; wherein the first location impacts the scanning of the data that is obtained by a proximity-based scanner at the first location, wherein the proximity-based scanner scans a parent electronic product code (EPC) and child EPC at the first location, wherein the proximity-based scanner communicates with the computer-based system; storing, by the computer-based system, the data for the disaggregation event in a database as ungrouped data elements formatted as a block of binary (BLOB); tuning, by the computer-based system, the database to optimize database performance, wherein the tuning includes placing frequently used files on separate file systems to reduce in and out bottlenecks; obtaining, by the computer-based system, the data from the database for the disaggregation event; in response to the parent EPC at the first location not being known, storing, by the computer-based system, the parent EPC in storage; associating, by the computer-based system, the disaggregation event with the parent EPC at the first location; determining, by the computer-based system, that an event sequence exists for the parent EPC at the first location; in response to the event sequence not existing, initiating, by the computer-based system, an event sequence for the parent EPC at the first location; in response to the child EPC not being known, storing, by the computer-based system, the child EPC in storage; associating, by the computer-based system, the disaggregation event with the child EPC; in response to a decommissioning event existing earlier in the event sequence, setting, by the computer-based system, a parent EPC state to a condition reflecting error; wherein the decommissioning event is issued in response to at least one of destruction of an unconsumed item, an expired item, a damaged item, a recalled item, an item being dispensed, an item being consumed or an item being discarded; checking, by the computer-based system, for an aggregation event earlier in the event sequence than a current aggregation event; in response to the aggregation event not existing for the parent EPC, setting, by the computer-based system, the parent EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to the parent EPC being not reusable, checking, by the computer-based system, that there is only one commissioning event earlier in the event sequence than the current disaggregation event; wherein the commissioning event includes identifying at least one of a sellable item, a container associated with the item or aggregation hierarchies for the item; in response to more than one commissioning event, setting, by the computer-based system, the parent EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to an event sequence not existing for a child EPC, initiating, by the computer-based system, an EPC event sequence for the child EPC; in response to beginning the event sequence with the current disaggregation event, and the child EPC being an item, setting, by the computer-based system, a child EPC state to indicate a missing commissioning event; in response to the decommissioning event existing earlier in the event sequence, setting, by the computer-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to more than one earlier aggregation event existing where the child EPC appears as a child, setting, by the computer-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to more than one commissioning event for the child EPC for an individual item, setting, by the compute-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to the child EPC being the container, and the container being not reusable, setting, by the computer-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error for an aggregation event earlier in the event sequence in which the child EPC appears as the parent; and in response to the child EPC being the container, and the container being not reusable and more than one commissioning event earlier in the event sequence than the current disaggregation event, setting, by the computer-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error only.
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20. A system comprising:
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a processor, a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising; receiving, by the processor and based on scanning at a first location, data for a disaggregation event associated with an item at the first location; wherein the first location impacts the scanning of the data that is obtained by a proximity-based scanner at the first location, wherein the proximity-based scanner scans a parent electronic product code (EPC) and child EPC at the first location, wherein the proximity-based scanner communicates with the processor; storing, by the processor, the data for the disaggregation event in a database as ungrouped data elements formatted as a block of binary (BLOB); tuning, by the processor, the database to optimize database performance, wherein the tuning includes placing frequently used files on separate file systems to reduce in and out bottlenecks; obtaining, by the processor, the data from the database for the disaggregation event, in response to the parent EPC at the first location not being known, storing, by the processor, the parent EPC in storage; associating, by the processor, the disaggregation event with the parent EPC at the first location; determining, by the processor, that an event sequence exists for the parent EPC at the first location; in response to the event sequence not existing, initiating, by the processor, an event sequence for the parent EPC at the first location; in response to the child EPC not being known, storing, by the processor, the child EPC in storage; associating, by the processor, the disaggregation event with the child EPC; in response to a decommissioning event existing earlier in the event sequence, setting, by the processor, a parent EPC state to a condition reflecting error; wherein the decommissioning event is issued in response to at least one of destruction of an unconsumed item, an expired item, a damaged item, a recalled item, an item being dispensed, an item being consumed or an item being discarded; checking, by the processor, for an aggregation event earlier in the event sequence than a current aggregation event; in response to the aggregation event not existing for the parent EPC, setting, by the processor, the parent EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to the parent EPC being not reusable, checking, by the processor, that there is only one commissioning event earlier in the event sequence than the current disaggregation event; wherein the commissioning event includes identifying at least one of a sellable item, a container associated with the item or aggregation hierarchies for the item; in response to more than one commissioning event, setting, by the processor, the parent EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to an event sequence not existing for a child EPC, initiating, by the processor, an EPC event sequence for the child EPC; in response to beginning the event sequence with the current disaggregation event, and the child EPC being an item, setting, by the processor, a child EPC state to indicate a missing commissioning event; in response to the decommissioning event existing earlier in the event sequence, setting, by the processor, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to more than one earlier aggregation event existing where the child EPC appears as a child, setting, by the processor, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to more than one commissioning event for the child EPC for an individual item, setting, by the compute-based system, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error; in response to the child EPC being the container, and the container being not reusable, setting, by the processor, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error for an aggregation event earlier in the event sequence in which the child EPC appears as the parent; and in response to the child EPC being the container, and the container being not reusable and more than one commissioning event earlier in the event sequence than the current disaggregation event, setting, by the processor, the child EPC state to a condition reflecting error only.
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Specification