Portable computing device to retrieve agricultural certification information

• US 9,582,778 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SureHarvest, Inc. (Where Food Comes From, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SureHarvest, Inc. (Where Food Comes From, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dlott, Jeffrey W., Rosenberg, Harry W., Ohmart, Clifford P., Connolly, Rebecca
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Akiba
• Application Number:
  US13/547,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20130013525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/7.11, 705/7.41, 137/118.02, 701/468, 701/494, 701/50, D15/25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a portable computing device to retrieve agricultural certification information. In an example embodiment, an apparatus comprises a hand-held device including a display and one or more input devices to sense product identification indicia associated with or affixed to a food product that is grown or raised in an agricultural operation, the product identification indicia comprising at least a universal product code for the food product. The hand-held device includes at least one processor to determine a machine-readable identification code from the product identification indicia; send the identification code to at least one remote server; receive, from the at least one remote server, agricultural certification information that is associated with the product, the certification information being associated with the product using the machine-readable identification code; and display the certification information on the display in human readable form.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a hand-held device including;

a display; and

one or more input devices to sense product identification indicia associated with or affixed to a food product that is grown or raised in an agricultural operation the agricultural operation being one in a series of agricultural operations in a chain of custody of the food product, the product identification indicia comprising at least one or more of a universal product code, lot code, or combination thereof for the food product;

the hand-held device including at least one processor to;

determine a machine-readable identification code from the product identification indicia;

send the identification code to at least one remote server;

receive, from the at least one remote server, comparative agricultural certification information that is associated with the product at a number of the series of agricultural operations in the series of agricultural operations in the chain of custody of the food product, the comparative agricultural certification information being associated with the product using the machine-readable identification code, the at least one remote server including one or more modules implemented by one or more processors, the one or more modules configured to, at least;

receive first data associated with an environmental impact or compliance aspect resulting from the production of the agricultural product, the first data being received from a single agricultural operation in the series of agricultural operations, the first received data including a first data record from a first custodian device located at a first location in the series of agricultural operations at which the first custodian device read a first code that pairs a data type with the first location, the first data record pairing a first value that quantifies the data type with the first code that pairs the data type with the first location;

receive second data associated with the environmental impact or compliance aspect, the second data being received from a plurality of locations in the series of agricultural operations, the second received data including a second data record from a second custodian device located at a second location in the plurality of locations in the series of agricultural operations at which the second custodian device read a second code that pairs the data type with the second location, the second data record pairing a second value that quantifies the data type with the second code that pairs the data type with the second location;

generate an aggregate result for the data type based on at least the first and second data and a determination that that an aggregated set of data records that includes the first and second data records can automatically generate a report about the data type; and

generate and include in the report the comparative agricultural product information using the aggregate result and at least some of the first or second data, the comparative agricultural product information including one or more of;

a ranking;

a rating;

descriptive statistics;

an inferential statistic;

an end of cycle balance;

a custodial history, an aggregate;

a comparative analysis;

a percentage-based rating;

a nutrient ratio;

a nutrient balance;

a descriptive classification; and

a compliance result;

indicate in the report whether the data type that is paired with the first and second locations by the first and second codes meets or does not meet the aggregate results for the data type; and

cause a user device to receive and display the generated report about the data type, the user device being distinct from the first and second custodian devices from which the first and second data records are collectively received.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more input devices includes one or more of the following:

a keyboard;

bar code reader;

an audio device;

an imaging camera; and

,

a radio frequency identification means.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

a computer including;

a display;

one or more input devices; and

at least one processor to;

receive an identification code from one or more of the input devices, the identification code corresponding to a food product grown or raised in an agricultural operation, the agricultural operation being one in a series of agricultural operations in a chain of custody of the food product, the identification code further comprising at least one or more of a universal product code, lot code, or combination thereof for the food product;

send the identification code to at least one remote server;

receive, from the at least one remote server, comparative agricultural certification information that is associated with the product at a number of the series of agricultural operations in the chain of custody of the food product, the comparative agricultural certification information being associated with the product using the machine-readable identification code, the at least one remote server including one or more modules implemented by one or more processors, the one or more modules configured to, at least;

receive first data associated with an environmental impact or compliance aspect resulting from the production of the agricultural product, the first data being received from an agricultural operation in the series of agricultural operations, the first received data including a first data record from a first custodian device located at a first location in the series of agricultural operations at which the first custodian device read a first code that pairs a data type with the first location, the first data record pairing a first value that quantifies the data type with the first code that pairs the data type with the first location;

receive second data associated with the environmental impact or compliance aspect, the second data being received from a plurality of locations in the series of agricultural operations, the second received data including a second data record from a second custodian device located at a second location in the plurality of locations in the series of agricultural operations at which the second custodian device read a second code that pairs the data type with the second location, the second data record pairing a second value that quantifies the data type with the second code that pairs the data type with the second location;

generate an aggregate result for the data type based on at least the first and second data and a determination that that an aggregated set of data records that includes the first and second data records can automatically generate a report about the data type; and

generate and include in the report the comparative agricultural product information using the aggregate result and at least some of the first or second data, the comparative agricultural product information including one or more of;

a ranking;

a rating;

descriptive statistics;

an inferential statistic;

an end of cycle balance;

a custodial history an aggregate;

a comparative analysis;

a percentage-based rating;

a nutrient ratio;

a nutrient balance;

a descriptive classification; and

a compliance result; and

indicate in the report whether the data type that is paired with the first and second locations by the first and second codes meets or does not meet the aggregate results for the data type; and

cause a user device to receive and display the generated report about the data type, the user device being distinct from the first and second custodian devices from which the first and second data records are collectively received.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one or more input devices includes one or more of the following:

a keyboard;

a bar code reader;

an audio device;

an imaging camera; and

,

a radio frequency identification means.

5. A system comprising one or more processors to perform operations including:

receive a machine-readable identification code from one or more input devices, the machine-readable identification code corresponding to a food product grown or raised in an agricultural operation, the agricultural operation being one in a series of agricultural operations in a chain of custody of the food product, the identification code further comprising at least one or more of a universal product code, lot code, or combination thereof for the food product;

receive or store comparative agricultural certification information that is associated with the product at a number of the series of agricultural operations in the chain of custody of the food product, the comparative agricultural certification information being associated with the product using the machine-readable identification code;

receive first data associated with an environmental impact or compliance aspect resulting from the production of the agricultural product, the first data being received from an agricultural operation in the series of agricultural operations, the first received data including a first data record from a first custodian device located at a first location in the series of agricultural operations at which the first custodian device read a first code that pairs a data type with the first location, the first data record pairing a first value that quantifies the data type with the first code that pairs the data type with the first location;

receive second data associated with the environmental impact or compliance aspect, the second data being received from a plurality of locations in the series of agricultural operations, the second received data including a second data record from a second custodian device located at a second location in the plurality of locations in the series of agricultural operations at which the second custodian device read a second code that pairs the data type with the second location, the second data record pairing a second value that quantifies the data type with the second code that pairs the data type with the second location;

generate an aggregate result for the data type based on at least the first and second data and a determination that that an aggregated set of data records that includes the first and second data records can automatically generate of a report about the data type;

generate and include in the report the comparative agricultural product information using the aggregate result and at least some of the first or second data, the comparative agricultural product information including one or more of;

a ranking;

a rating;

descriptive statistics;

an inferential statistic;

an end of cycle balance;

a custodial history, an aggregate;

a comparative analysis;

a percentage-based rating;

a nutrient ratio;

a nutrient balance;

a descriptive classification; and

a compliance result;

indicate in the report whether the data type that is paired with the first and second locations by the first and second codes meets or does not meet the aggregate results for the data type; and

cause a user device to receive and display the generated report about the data type, the user device being distinct from the first and second custodian devices from which the first and second data records are collectively received.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the processors is further to receive or store at least some of the comparative agricultural certification information that is associated with the product at one or more remote servers.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system further includes a computer or hand-held device comprising at least one of the processors, and wherein the at least one processor is further to receive, from the one or more remote servers, at least some of the comparative agricultural certification information that is associated with the product.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computer or hand-held device includes the display to which at least some of the comparative agricultural certification information is sent.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more input devices includes one or more of the following:

a keyboard;

a bar code reader;

an audio device;

a bar code imaging camera; and

,

a radio frequency identification means.

10. A computer-implemented method, at an agricultural management system, comprising using one or more processors to perform operations including:

receiving, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, a machine-readable identification code from one or more input devices, the identification code corresponding to a food product grown or raised in an agricultural operation, the agricultural operation being one in a series of agricultural operations in a chain of custody of the food product, the identification code further comprising at least one or more of a universal product code, lot code, or combination thereof for the food product;

receiving or storing, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, comparative agricultural certification information that is associated with the product at each of the series of agricultural operations in the chain of custody of the food product, the comparative agricultural certification information being associated with the product using the machine-readable identification code;

receiving, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, first data associated with an environmental impact or compliance aspect resulting from the production of the agricultural product, the first data being received from an agricultural operation in the series of agricultural operations, the first received data including a first data record from a first custodian device located at a first location in the series of agricultural operations at which the first custodian device read a first code that pairs a data type with the first location, the first data record pairing a first value that quantifies the data type with the first code that pairs the data type with the first location;

receiving, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, second data associated with the environmental impact or compliance aspect, the second data being received from a plurality of locations in the series of agricultural operations, the second received data including a second data record from a second custodian device located at a second location in the plurality of locations in the series of agricultural operations at which the second custodian device read a second code that pairs the data type with the second location, the second data record pairing a second value that quantifies the data type with the second code that pairs the data type with the second location;

generating, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, an aggregate result for the data type based on at least the first and second data and a determination that that an aggregated set of data records that includes the first and second data records can automatically generate a report about the data type;

generating and including in the report, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, the comparative agricultural product information using the aggregate result and at least some of the first or second data, the comparative agricultural product information including one or more of;

a ranking;

a rating;

descriptive statistics;

an inferential statistic;

an end of cycle balance;

a custodial history, an aggregate;

a comparative analysis;

a percentage-based rating;

a nutrient ratio;

a nutrient balance;

a descriptive classification; and

a compliance result; and

indicating in the report whether the data type that is paired with the first and second locations by the first and second codes meets or does not meet the aggregate results for the data type; and

causing a user device to receive and display the generated report about the data type, the user device being distinct from the first and second custodian devices from which the first and second data records are collectively received.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing or receiving at least some of the comparative agricultural certification information that is associated with the product at one or more remote servers.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending to a computer or hand-held device, from the one or more remote servers, at least some of the comparative agricultural certification information that is associated with the product.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the computer or hand-held device includes the display to which at least some of the comparative agricultural certification information is sent.

14. A method, at an agricultural management system, of processing data pertaining to an agricultural product grown or raised in an agricultural operation, the agricultural operation being one in a series of agricultural operations in a chain of custody of the food product, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, first data from a custodian of an agricultural product at a number of the series of agricultural operations in the chain of custody of the food product, the first data including product data pertaining to the agricultural product, the product data reflecting a condition pertaining to the product at a custodial location, the first received data including a first data record from a first custodian device located at a first location in the series of agricultural operations at which the first custodian device read a first code that pairs a data type with the first location, the first data record pairing a first value that quantifies the data type with the first code that pairs the data type with the first location;

receiving, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, second data associated with the condition pertaining to the product at a custodial location, the second data being received from a plurality of locations in the series of agricultural operations, the second received data including a second data record from a second custodian device located at a second location in the plurality of locations in the series of agricultural operations at which the second custodian device read a second code that pairs the data type with the second location, the second data record pairing a second value that quantifies the data type with the second code that pairs the data type with the second location;

generating, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, an aggregate result for the data type based on at least the first and second data and a determination that that an aggregated set of data records that includes the first and second data records can automatically generate a report about the data type;

generating and including in the report, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, comparative agricultural product information using the aggregate result and at least some of the first or second data, the comparative agricultural product information including one or more of;

a ranking;

a rating;

descriptive statistics;

an inferential statistic;

an end of cycle balance;

custodial history, an aggregate;

a comparative analysis;

a percentage-based rating;

a nutrient ratio;

a nutrient balance;

a descriptive classification; and

a compliance result;

indicating in the report whether the data type that is paired with the first and second locations by the first and second codes meets or does not meet the aggregate results for the data type; and

cause a user device to receive and display the generated report about the data type, the user device being distinct from the first and second custodian devices from which the first and second data records are collectively received.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the product data includes at least one or more of a universal product code, a lot code, or an audio code for the agricultural product.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein at least some of the product data is included in indicia applied to or affixed to the product.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein at least some of the product data is included in a bar code.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the data is received from one or more custodians in a series of custodians, each controlling a custodial location along a chain of custody of the agricultural product.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein one or more of the custodians in the chain of custody performs a data capture operation to capture product data reflecting conditions pertaining to the product at the respective custodial location.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the product data includes a visual image of the product at one or more of the custodial locations.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the product data includes location data of the agricultural product at one or more of the custodial locations in the chain of custody.

22. A computer-implemented method, at an agricultural management system, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, first data from a custodian of an agricultural product grown or raised in an agricultural operation, the agricultural operation being one in a series of agricultural operations in a chain of custody of the food product, the first received data including a first data record from a first custodian device located at a first location in the series of agricultural operations at which the first custodian device read a first code that pairs a data type with the first location, the first data record pairing a first value that quantifies the data type with the first code that pairs the data type with the first location;

receiving, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, second data received from a plurality of locations in the series of agricultural operations, the second received data including a second data record from a second custodian device located at a second location in the plurality of locations in the series of agricultural operations at which the second custodian device read a second code that pairs the data type with the second location, the second data record pairing a second value that quantifies the data type with the second code that pairs the data type with the second location;

generating, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, an aggregate result for the data type based on at least the first and second data and a determination that that an aggregated set of data records that includes the first and second data records can automatically generate a report about the data type;

generating and including in the report, by one or more modules in the agricultural management information system, comparative agricultural product information using the aggregate result and at least some of the first or second data, the comparative agricultural product information including one or more of;

a ranking;

a rating;

descriptive statistics;

an inferential statistic;

an end of cycle balance;

a custodial history, an aggregate;

a comparative analysis;

a percentage-based rating;

a nutrient ratio;

a nutrient balance;

a descriptive classification; and

a compliance result;

indicating in the report whether the data type that is paired with the first and second locations by the first and second codes meets or does not meet the aggregate results for the data type; and

cause a user device to receive and display the generated report about the data type, the user device being distinct from the first and second custodian devices from which the first and second data records are collectively received.