Method and apparatus for issuing product notices

• US 20040068418A1
• Filed: 07/07/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Readytrace Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Readytrace Incorporated
• Inventors: Jʼmaev, Jack I.
• Application Number:
  US10/615,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20040068418A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/014 Providing recall services for goods or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks

Abstract

System and method for issuing an electronic signal to a product. Electronic signal is address directed to product based on product identification such as SKU number, lot/date codes and serial numbers. Other intermediate identifiers are also used. Electronic signal can be recall signal with various levels of criticality. Electronic signal can be transmitted on periodic basis.

Claims

1. A method for issuing a notice to a product comprising the steps of:

accepting a product identifier;

generating a signal message according to the product identifier; and

conveying the signal message to the product.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein accepting a product identifier comprises accepting one or more of a stock keeping unit number, a serial number, a lot code and a date code.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a signal message comprises generating a signal message that includes the product identifier.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a signal message comprises:

determining a digital identification number associated with the product identifier; and

including the digital identification number in a signal message.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein conveying the signal message to the product comprises:

determining a target product group;

determining a communications channel according to the target product group; and

conveying the signal message to the communications channel.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein determining a communications channel comprises determining on one or more of a carrier signal frequency, a numeric sequence, a network address and a telephone number for a target product group.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein conveying the signal message to the product comprises:

determining a conveyance time slot associated with the product; and

conveying the signal message to the communications channel during the time slot on a periodic basis.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising conveying a time beacon to the product.

9. A method for issuing a notice to a product comprising the steps of:

accepting a product identifier;

determining a communications channel to a product;

generating a signal message; and

conveying the signal message to the communications channel.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein accepting a product identifier comprises accepting one or more of a stock keeping unit number, a serial number, a lot code and a date code.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein determining a communications channel comprises determining one or more of a carrier signal frequency, pseudo random number sequence, a network address and a telephone number.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein generating a signal message comprises generating a signal message that includes the product identifier.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein generating a signal message comprises:

determining a digital identification number associated with the product identifier; and

including the digital identification number in a signal message.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein conveying the signal message to the communications channel comprises conveying the signal message to at least one of a wired communication medium and a wireless communications medium.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein conveying the signal message to the communications channel comprises conveying the signal message to at least one of a cable television distribution system, a utility power distribution system and a switched telephone network.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein conveying the signal message to the communications channel comprises:

determining a conveyance time slot associated with the product; and

conveying the signal message to the communications channel during the time slot.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein conveying the signal message to the communications channel comprises conveying the signal message to the communications channel on a periodic basis.

18. The method of claim 9 further comprising conveying a time beacon to the communications channel.

19. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving an acknowledgement of the signal message from the product.

20. An apparatus for conveying a notice to a product comprising:

product identification unit that accepts a product identifier;

signal generator that is capable of generating a signal message according to the product identifier; and

signal transmitter that is capable of conveying the signal message to the product.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the product identification unit is capable of accepting one or more of a stock keeping unit number, a serial number, a lot code and a date code.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the signal generator generates a signal message based that includes the product identifier.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the signal generator:

determines or receives a digital identification number associated with the product identifier; and

generates a signal message that includes the digital identification number.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the signal transmitter comprises:

channel indicator receiver capable of receiving a channel indicator; and

interface wherein the signal transmitter dispatches to the interface a signal message directed according to the channel indicator.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the interface comprises of at least one of a radio frequency interface, a spread-spectrum interface, a network interface, a telephone interface, and a cellular telephone interface.

26. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the signal transmitter is capable of conveying the signal message to the product during a particular time slot.

27. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the signal transmitter is capable of conveying the signal message to the product on a periodic basis.

28. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the signal transmitter is capable of conveying a time beacon to the product.

33. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the signal generator:

determines or receives a digital identification number associated with the product identifier; and

generates a signal message that includes the digital identification number.

29. An apparatus for conveying a notice to a product comprising:

product identification unit that accepts a product identifier;

communications interface configurable according to the product identifier; and

signal generator that generates a signal message according to the product identifier and conveys the signal message to the communications channel.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the product identification unit accepts a product identifier in at least one of the formats including a stock keeping unit number, a serial number, a lot code and a date code.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the communications interface is configurable according to at least one of a carrier signal identifier, pseudo random number sequence, a network address and a telephone number.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein signal generator generates a signal message that includes the product identifier.

34. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the communications interface comprises at least one of a wired and a wireless interface.

35. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the communications interface comprises at least one of a cable television interface, a utility power interface and a switched telephone network interface.

36. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the communications interface further comprises a time-slot unit that determines or receives a time-slot associated with the product and also conveys the signal message to the product during the determined time-slot.

37. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the signal generator is capable of conveying the signal message to the communications channel on a periodic basis.

38. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the signal generator is capable of conveying a time beacon message to communications channel.

39. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the signal generator is capable of recording an acknowledgement from the product.