Systems and methods for tracking products as they move through a supply chain

• US 20030163396A1
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Hepworth, Paul, Powell, George, Hyde, Ryan, Blankevoort, John
• Application Number:
  US10/374,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20030163396A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method for tracking products as they move through a supply chain is disclosed. The method involves using an identification tag reader to scan a machine-readable identification tag that is attached to a first product. The machine-readable identification tag includes an encoded version of a product identifier that uniquely identifies the first product. The identification tag reader decodes the encoded version of the product identifier and obtains the product identifier. A product database is then accessed to determine whether a next action that may be taken with respect to the first product is allowable. The next action is not allowable unless a current value of a state associated with the product identifier in the product database is equal to one of a set of allowed values.

Claims

1. A method for tracking products as they move through a supply chain, the method comprising:

manufacturing a first product;

attaching a machine-readable identification tag to the first product, wherein the machine-readable identification tag comprises an encoded version of a product identifier, and wherein the product identifier uniquely identifies the first product; and

requesting that a state associated with the product identifier in a product database be changed from a current value to a new value which indicates that the first product has been manufactured, wherein the product database is accessible to trading partners in the supply chain.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a server software module controls access to the product database.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the server software module enforces a first rule which indicates that the state is not changed to the new value unless the current value is equal to one of a set of allowed values.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein the server software module enforces a second rule which indicates that the state is only changeable to the new value by a plurality of authorized parties, and wherein the server software module comprises an authentication mechanism for determining whether a request to change the state to the new value is sent from one of the plurality of authorized parties.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising using an identification tag reader to scan the machine-readable identification tag, wherein the identification tag reader decodes the encoded version of the product identifier and obtains the product identifier.

6. A method for tracking products as they move through a supply chain, the method comprising:

using an identification tag reader to scan a machine-readable identification tag that is attached to a first product, wherein the machine-readable identification tag comprises an encoded version of a product identifier that uniquely identifies the first product, and wherein the identification tag reader decodes the encoded version of the product identifier and obtains the product identifier;

accessing a product database to determine whether a next action with respect to the first product is allowable, wherein the next action is not allowable unless a current value of a state associated with the product identifier in the product database is equal to one of a set of allowed values; and

performing the next action with respect to the first product only if the next action is allowable.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein a server software module controls access to the product database.

8. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the server software enforces a first rule which indicates that the state is not changed to the new value unless the current value is equal to one of the set of allowed values.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the server software enforces a second rule which indicates that the state is only changeable to the new value by a plurality of authorized parties, and wherein the server software comprises an authentication mechanism for determining whether a request to change the state to the new value is sent from one of the plurality of authorized parties.

10. A method for tracking products as they move through a supply chain, the method comprising:

receiving a request to change a state associated with a product identifier in a product database from a current value to a new value, wherein the product identifier uniquely identifies a first product, wherein a machine-readable identification tag is attached to the first product, and wherein the machine-readable identification tag comprises an encoded version of the product identifier;

determining whether the current value is equal to one of a set of allowed values; and

changing the state to the new value only if the current value is equal to one of the set of allowed values.

11. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the new value indicates a next action that may be taken with respect to the first product.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the new value is inspected, and wherein the set of allowed values comprises manufactured.

13. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the new value is shipped, and wherein the set of allowed values comprises manufactured and inspected.

14. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the new value is received, and wherein the set of allowed values comprises manufactured, inspected, and shipped.

15. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the new value is sold, and wherein the set of allowed values comprises received and returned.

16. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the new value is returned, and wherein the set of allowed values comprises sold.

17. The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising:

determining whether the request was sent from one of a plurality of authorized parties; and

changing the state to the new value only if the request was sent from one of the plurality of authorized parties.

18. A system for tracking products as they move through a supply chain, the system comprising:

a first product, wherein a machine-readable identification tag is attached to the first product, and wherein the machine-readable identification tag comprises an encoded version of a product identifier that uniquely identifies the first product;

an identification tag reader for scanning the machine-readable identification tag, wherein the identification tag reader is configured to decode the encoded version of the product identifier and to obtain the product identifier; and

a first computing device, the first computing device being in electronic communication with the identification tag reader, the first computing device comprising;

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

a client software module stored in the memory, the client software module being programmed to request that a state associated with the product identifier in a product database be changed from a current value to a new value.

19. The system as defined in claim 18, wherein the new value indicates that the first product has been manufactured.

20. The system as defined in claim 18, wherein the new value indicates a next action with respect to the first product.

21. The system as defined in claim 18, wherein a server software module stored on a second computing device controls access to the product database.

22. The system as defined in claim 21, wherein the server software module enforces a first rule which indicates that the state is not changed to the new value unless the current value is equal to one of a set of allowed values.

23. The system as defined in claim 22, wherein the server software module enforces a second rule which indicates that the state is only changeable to the new value by a plurality of authorized parties, and wherein the server software module comprises an authentication mechanism for determining whether a received request was sent by one of the plurality of authorized parties.

24. The system as defined in claim 21, wherein the first computing device and the second computing device are in electronic communication with one another over at least one network.

25. The system as defined in claim 24, wherein the client software module comprises a web browser, wherein the server software module comprises a dynamic web server, and wherein the at least one network comprises the Internet.

26. A computing device for tracking products as they move through a supply chain, the computing device comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

a product database stored in the memory, the product database comprising a product identifier that is associated with a state, wherein a machine-readable identification tag is attached to a first product, and wherein the machine-readable identification tag comprises an encoded version of the product identifier that uniquely identifies the first product;

a server software module stored in the memory, the server software module being programmed to implement a method comprising;

receiving a request to change the state from a current value to a new value,

determining whether the current value is equal to one of a set of allowed values; and

changing the state to the new value only if the current value is equal to one of the set of allowed values.

27. The system as defined in claim 26, wherein the new value indicates that the first product has been manufactured.

28. The system as defined in claim 26, wherein the new value indicates a next action with respect to the first product.

29. The system as defined in claim 26, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the request was sent from one of a plurality of authorized parties; and

changing the state to the new value only if the request was sent from one of the plurality of authorized parties.